How can you keep a hunt horse fit if you can’t ride? Or longe? If you kept your horse out 24/7, but he hadn’t been ridden in a consistent program for a month or two, would you still ride second flight or hilltop?
Truth be told, between my work schedule and the weather events, the reality that I can’t keep my horse fit for hunting has finally hit. I’m throwing in the towel and pulling shoes until spring. I couldn’t and wouldn’t expect my boy to go out and hill top with the level of fitness he has right now. It wouldn’t be fair or fun IMO.
I even tried to haul him to a local indoor in the evenings after work to try and maintain some level of fitness and it was just too exhausting by the time I got home. My gelding wasn’t exactly thrilled with that plan either!
We had a great and fun early season and perhaps might get back out to a few in the early spring before hunting ends, but for now, I live vicariously through others.
Trotting up the (gravel) road. Endlessly. When possible.
Otherwise, playing on the computer. :o)
Borrrrriiiinnnngggg. I hate snow/cold/yuck/wet.
Both of mine were very fit and from the displays in the pastures are still pretty fit. They didn’t work at all from the day of the storm until last Friday. We hacked out on Saturday and again yesterday. So that is some hill work. Both will be getting hill work again today.
We’re supposed to hunt Wednesday but I’m not sure which horse is going yet.
I have been either riding in the snow, hauling to a local indoor or hauling around the corner to the local trail system which has sandy footing. I plan on selling my horse (he is also my event horse) come spring so I want to keep some sort of fitness on him. I have three horses that I hunt so realistically it is impossible to keep them all fit. Seems like the Tb’s keep themselves fit which is nice. I will use common sense if and when we ever do hunt again to make sure they don’t go to hard for their fitness level.
Looks like we are in for another dose of bad weather starting Thursday. So tired of it and trying not to complain but I really need to ride/hunt to maintain sanity:lol:
JMHO!
I feel like hunting doesn’t have to be an “all or nothing” concept. Why not still go hunting but come in early when you feel it appropriate? Better than nuthin’!!! It’s a lot of trouble for an exercise outing but you never know when a hunt will be a quiet one with a small group or not be a fast/go far kind. Be flexible. It’s ok to wean them from hunting fitness too. Full turnout will keep them fitter longer also. It’s still wise to use the weather & footing as guides too. A gravel driveway or road can be your friend!
2nd Wateryglen’s suggestion
My horse is no where near fit and I am unable to get him there. However, on the one day we did manage to go hunting, he went out Hilltopping for an hour plus or minus a few mintues and had a blast. Horse did not want to come in but he lost the discussion.
You don’t have to stay out the entire hunt.
Going in early sounds like a good plan for me, but how do you ask to go back in, and how the heck do you find your way back by yourself? 
This is only my second season hunting, so I am still learning the ins and outs of etiquette. Everyone is very nice, and I don’t want to be a PITA, but my horse comes first. I’ve chosen not to go out at all because I was worried he might not last through the day.
I am new to hunting as well (my second season) but I always ask permission for our field master during a time when we are close to the trailers and we are at check. There are times when you can’t predict how the day will turn out. Sometimes you barely move and sometimes you go so hard even the fittest horses are tired. I just try to do the best for my horse and when they are tired we go in. Seems like each time I think my horse is ready to go in there are a few other people that go in as well.
I also don’t hesitate to take a green horse in or move to another field if they are having “moments.”
VA’s not the only area with nastiness! We got a few inches a few weeks ago followed by 17" at my farm and the interstates around Des Moines were closed down for about 30 hours. We had an ice storm a few days before Christmas that left a couple inches of ice everywhere, and now several more days of a few inches each over that mess. Add winds and the roads keep drifting shut several times each day. With all the ice underneath - even out on the fields, and out on the roads - I can’t even do trot sets up and down the gravel. It’s too darn slick.
I’ll wait it out and weather permitting, I’ll go do a little and come in early, as others have suggested. No need to sit out completely!
I would suggest that if you are planning on going in early then you let the Master know at the start of the meet. That way they can be aware of things and help you out.
Can’t hunt in VA, then come down I-81 and hunt with us at Tennessee Valley in East TN. We ran two coyotes today with our great pack of PMD’s.
In my experience- in VA- a horse that is hunting fit will hold his fitness for 4-6 weeks during a winter shutdown. Mine were out 24/7 which does make it easier. As HR noted- trot down the road when you can. But don’t worry about it when hunting resumes!
