Your horse is not safe to hunt.

[TalkIsCheap]

Looking for pointers here folks…

Fellow boarder owns a gelding that she’s tried several times to hunt this past season & last. (This is not her first horse, nor her first hunt horse.) I’ve trailered them to the past several outings.

The gelding is fine in the schooling show ring, and is okay dinking around on the trails, but quite frankly is a PITA out in a group, especially when we’re moving. Having fun on a Paper Chase/Pace Event is not possible, we’ve had to slow down to a walk for fear of her being run off with. A trail ride last month with 2 other gals was excruciating.

The women members in the hunt club make suggestions ranging from using a different, stronger bit to the men offering a bullet in the head. :eek:

I liken the gelding to the ADD kid on the playground that just cannot settle down & refuses to stand in line. It is clear that he does not respect his rider - he tunes her out, spins, roots and drags her off into the trees.

What she needs at her age, is a bombproof QH or Draft X that will carry her safely out in the field, IMHO. This particular hunt does not rock & roll all over the countryside taking large coops & fences…just a quiet dude is needed to take a few logs.

Our trainer is impossibly patient with her, and this is the only trainer she has ever had. I have told our trainer that this horse probably needs the snot galloped out of him & we’ve agreed that if I take her out on a trail ride, it’s just the 2 of us.

I know she really enjoys the social aspects of the hunt club, but this horse is making it darn impossible to enjoy a few hours out with the hounds.

She will not replace this horse, he is another child to her. I am at the point where I can’t listen to her excuses for his behavior when we are back at the barn cleaning our tack. I cannot be politically correct anymore.

Any pointers for what I should say?

[altjaeger]

Shouldn’t the secretary address this?

[TalkIsCheap]

This particular hunt is a farmer’s pack.

Folks are a bit more tolerant

[Bogie]

It is really something that needs to be addressed by hunt staff or the secretary. If a horse is truly unsuitable, then it is a liability to all.

However, there are a few things you might suggestion.

If your hunt has a leisure field could she ride with them and just go more slowly?

Our hunt introduced a third field last year and it’s perfect for people or horses who are new to the hunt field. It lets them get some experience in a much lower key way.

You might also suggest that she have a pro hunt her horse a few times to give him some disciplined experience in the field. The first few times a horse goes out he’s trying to figure out his job a pro ride might put him on the right track.

A stronger bit or a martingale might help, but it sounds like he’s a bit of a brat out in the field and needs to be ridden through it.

It doesn’t sound to me like her horse is very much fun for her to hunt and also not fun to be around.

[Hinderella]

Is there anyone who might loan her a horse for hunt purposes only? She’s probably not having much fun either, but if she won’t give up this gelding, maybe she’d be willing to borrow or rent a more suitable horse once a week.

[TalkIsCheap]

Bogie- yes, this horse would benefit a younger rider kicking his butt out in the field or even having someone whip off of him.

This particular hunt is smaller, so it’s just one field. Going out with the larger recognized hunts in our area, even in 2nd or 3rd field would be a disaster. She’d be a mess as well.

He goes in a full cheek (smooth) snaffle with a gob strap & a martingale. My vote is for more hardware.

Anyhoo - thanks for letting me vent. Since we board together, over the years my patience has worn thin. This horse is just not suitable for a woman of her age - and she makes it my problem by the constant love/hate dialog in the barn about him to me.

I am ready to scream.

[TalkIsCheap]

Hinderella - that might be a good idea. I was tempted to jump off mine today and insist she ride my guy. I will take her again Saturday & might entice her to switcheroo with me.

I’ll speak with our trainer on this as well. He hasn’t hunted in years but is not above galloping the snot out of assholes. My daughter’s old show horse included when warranted : )

[Come_Shine]

What is her rationale for not upping the hardware or doing something to address the behaviour?

If you’re the one trailering, why not just say you won’t do it anymore?

[stolen_virtue]

Well, I don’t like hunting but all my friends do, including my trainer who helps people out with difficult horses on the hunt. That said, it is common knowledge that many horses do not make it as hunt horses. Traveling in a group at speed it just not an easy thing for many horses.

I tried hunting on my old guy (when he was much younger) and he loved it and I hated it. But it is hard to find horses that can be good hunt horses. Several of the hunt riders have purchased their horses from known hunt clubs for that very reason.

If she really wants her horse to hunt, she needs to find a trainer to work with him. Our local hunt has 3 fields and cubbing which helps but if your hunt does not offer that, then she needs to hunt another horse.

[crosscreeksh]

FWIW…sometimes newbie riders don’t know what a good hunt horse is “supposed” to act like!! They don’t understand how aweful their horse really is. DD and I “adopted” such a pair out in the hunt field one day because we thought the woman was at risk of getting killed!! It ruined OUR day and when we got back to the trailers the woman was raving about how well her horse behaved that day…say what??? Your friend’s horse may never be a proper hunt horse…not the end of the world if she enjoys him otherwise, but the woman should experience a hunt on a nice horse. If she still favors her nutty horse…SHE is a lost cause. At that point, if the horse is endangering others, I’d just refuse to ride with her. Some people can’t be saved from themselves!!
And…more hardware might help the control issue, but won’t fix a nut head.

[whicker]

Sounds like the instructor/trainer needs to spend some time observing the horse in action, since the message isn’t getting through. Have you used the term that the horse is dangerous to be around in the hunt field? I’m thinking that everyone is being too polite to be safe.

Has the trainer ridden the horse? recently? Outside the ring? In a group on a trail ride? That would bring the problem into better clarity. There’s some sort of quote, to the effect, that nothing focuses the mind like facing one’s imminent demise.

If you have the courage for it, Don’t ride with her in situations that you feel unsafe. Explain to her How you feel when she is out of control.
She may be feeling the same way, but needed the opening to express it. Being overfaced and intimidated is no picnic.

Since you have been trailering her, you have become the person she relies on. If you don’t take her, then she isn’t able to go…
She could become a social member of the hunt, go third field on a hireling, or car follow to participate.

The Master of your pack might not have understood how much of a liability issue this pair is.

[whicker]

Arghhh!

I just read your post about the trainer. If he hasn’t hunted in years, they are Both not aware of the realities of the Hunt!:eek:

I would be screaming and pulling my hair out! (Banging head on the desk!!!)

It is sounding like the lady in question is of too advanced age to have a crashing fall. My hunt just had an older member, (over 60 years of hunting) fall out hacking a young horse. She was found dead in a ditch along the road. She also wasn’t wearing any sort of protective helmet for that ride. You really don’t want to have to deal with that scenario, do you?

I would be at risk of hurting her feelings to keep her alive. And letting her know that, too. I also wouldn’t agree with her, when she excuses the horses behavior. Sometimes it takes a number of times of being blunt to get the message across.

I’m jumping up and down enough that my son has gotten involved in this. He is now 25 years old. He adds it took a number of family meetings to get my to give up on one of my home grown horses that Was Not Going To Suit hunting or me. He broke my back when we got hit by a deer. Then, he really wouldn’t hunt. Now he is someone’s lovely dressage horse and both of them are very happy.

[Bogie]

Not nearly enough bit!

I’d start by putting a pelham in his mouth and then getting a pro ride.

While it would probably benefit her to ride YOUR horse, why would you want to ride HER horse?

Last year I swapped horses with a friend whose mare was consistently dumping her over fences. I got the horse over a few and then she got me off with a really dirty stop where she started to jump then changed her mind. I wasn’t hurt but while I was lying on the ground, I wondered why I thought putting myself at risk had been a good idea. Couldn’t for the life of me come up with a reason other than hubris that i could get her mare to jump. won’t be doing that again.

[ridingagain]

Off topic, but, yeah, it’s funny how horses have a way of humbling us!

Whicker... that's awful about that old woman in your hunt... how sad. Those are the dangers that we face every time we ride, tho. Some of us have learned to play it more safe at an older age. Hope the OP can talk some sense into her friend before she has an injury to herself or someone else!

[whicker]

Our hunt member’s funeral is today. The whole hunt is going to pay their respects.

She was apparently alone on that hack, too. I wish it were easier to find riding buddies when one keeps the horses at home.

[Artemis_Agrotera]

I hunted my own horse my first season out. He was completely unsuitable for hunting since being in the group drove his OTTB brain wild. I had no idea how unsuitable he was though since no one outright told me. Once he injured his suspensory (not in the hunt field) and I borrowed other horses to go out on, the light bulb went off. Hunting was so much more pleasant when I wasn’t fighting the hot, pro-only ride constantly.

So, I vote someone lends her a good horse for awhile so she can see how good it can be. I’m assuming she already has been told how unsuitable her horse is, so this will help prove it.

Whicker, I think it’s fantastic when hunts require riders to wear helmets. Safety is darn more important than fashion, especially when it comes in a traditional style.

BTW, does your son happen to be single and straight by any chance? :winkgrin:

[whicker]

Artemis,
Yes, he is. And he would love to find a lady who rides, hunts, events or just trail rides in beautiful country. :winkgrin: Know anyone?

[whicker]

Artemis,
sent you a p.m.

[witherbee]

Ugh, sounds like no fun for you or others who have to deal with both the ADD horse and the rider who needs coddling.

If you do say anything, I would at least not start off with saying the horse needs his butt whipped into shape. While it may be true, and may eventually be appropriate to say, if you are really looking to get her to allow another rider to work with him, I’d remember this is her “baby” and just call him green or pushy or forward.

Sometimes bitting up doesn’t help much if the rider is not handling things well. While it might stop the horse from dragging her into the woods, she may get too grippy and he’ll start going up. A stronger bit is great in the right hands, but she does not sound like she has enough of an educated hand to deal with it.

If I were you, I would try to talk to her and the trainer in a really calm way without using emotional “judgy” words. Talk about safety and the danger to others as well as herself. Talk about how disruptive it is and how much of the ride others spend worrying about her instead of enjoying the ride. Talk about how a horse has to be trained to be a good hunt horse, and not just by showing up, and that some never are good hunt horses. Talk about how fun it is to hunt on a well behaved mount… Maybe have the trainer make some suggestions like having someone else ride this horse once a week for a while and at a couple of hunts.

If that does not work, I would just be honest and say she is on her own. Listen when you can, but when you can’t just be polite but move away or change the subject.

As for you riding the horse - probably not a good idea since you seem to dislike the horse and that will show. Also, you don’t want to get hurt if he escalates his behavior with a stronger rider.

[SmartAlex]

[QUOTE=Artemis Agrotera;6212702]
BTW, does your son happen to be single and straight by any chance? :winkgrin:[/QUOTE]

AND he’s a very nice young man! :yes: