Does my horse look fit enough for hunting in the winter?

Question

my 'friends' said that because i can only usually ride my horse around 2 times a week she wont be fit enough for hunting, so i was just wondering if she is? personally i think she would be fine if i started her off slowly. what do you think? shes a 15.2 tb ex racer, 13 yrs

this is her when i was trying her out before we brought her (i look very nervous her as we didnt get off to a great start! lol)

http://s251.photobucket.com/albums/gg300/shesagem2662/?action=view&current=DSC00622.jpg

this is her 4 months after we brought her....

http://s251.photobucket.com/albums/gg300/shesagem2662/?action=view&current=DSC00736.jpg

this is her now....

http://s251.photobucket.com/albums/gg300/shesagem2662/?action=view&current=woopwwww208.jpg

http://s251.photobucket.com/albums/gg300/shesagem2662/?action=view&current=woopwwww086.jpg - gems feet are a bit bad in this 1 but we got a brill new farrier now......

http://s251.photobucket.com/albums/gg300/shesagem2662/?action=view&current=woopwwww165.jpg

this is us jumping... i need to work on me abit.... lol

http://s251.photobucket.com/albums/gg300/shesagem2662/?action=view&current=2496005138a8317048303l.jpg

we easily go for 4 hour hacks, which includes lots of galloping and cantering with a bit of ditch jumping, so do you this she looks fit enough for hunting?

Answer 1

What a nice mare, and you seem to have done a lot of work on her appearance.

Right now she looks fit for hunting, and I think that riding her out 4 times a week would be good. The question is, how is she kept for the rest of the time during the winter? In the stable all the time, or does she get a few hours out in the paddock? They tend to exercise themselves if let out for a few hours during the day.

One thing I would be concerned about if she doesn't get out during the day, and that's setfast. They need a small amount of gentle exercise the day after hunting, and they also need to be watched, in case of setfast, also called azotoria or Monday Morning Disease.  

Answer 2

no she wont be fit enough for a full days hunting but u can start of doing half days and see how it goes. u obviously pay someone else to care for her on the days u cant go and see her as horses need daily attention, can u pay them to exercise her too? or get someone to exercise her in return for looking after her part time? she does look naturally fit so she might cope with half days ok

Answer 3

Being a tb i think she will be fit enough for the season. But the only way to get a real answer is to go an try it . From what you have said i would say yes. But don't take her straight to a mad hunt where they jump. Take her to one of those hunts where they don't jump or on a kids hunt. Gradually build it up. I think after two or three times doing a flat hunt (if she is ok) than take her to a jumping mad hunt. I hope you go hunting. Go and give it a go. In my opinion yes. Go 4 it  

Answer 4

if she is turned out and being exercised, then from the photo she looks as if a little hunting won't hurt.  hunting can be fast and furious, but sometimes involves a lot of standing around.  in which case no matter how fit your horse is won't be any different from going on a hack.  perhaps stay with the hunt for an hour or so.  then come home.  if you stay longer, then come home at the first signs that your horse is tired.

a very nice looking horse i think.   enjoy your hunting.  

Answer 5

It dosent matter if your horse "looks" fit enough. We had a standardbred mare who raced for 9 years and she always had a grass belly. You would never know she was in shape.

Does she look "fit"? Somewhat yes. I would like to see more topline muscles for a hunt horse. If you can take her for 4 hour hacks she should be just fine. I just suggest slowly increasing the work length until she seems better with it that increase the work load. Try www.horseforum.com.  

Answer 6

I hunted my old boy when he was about 22. He was fit enough to do a one day event (dressage, show jumping and cross country) and was ridden 5 days a week at least an hour hacking with 30 mins schooling or circuit training. When we hacked out we cantered up lots of hills and trotted along all the bridleways. He still was not fit enough for a whole days hunting and we came home by 2pm. What you have to remember is that horses can travel miles at walk, trot, canter, back to walk, etc, etc. But hunting is mainly trotting from the start with long bouts of cantering and the odd jump. If your horse is tired, they will not wait for you. I would definitely recommend circuit training as it is great for fittening and you can do it in virtually any field, arena or bridleway!

Answer 7

She wont really be fit enough. You need to introduce exercise slowly though dont give her loads to do in 1 day if shes not used to it.  

Answer 8

Of course you can go hunting. you don't have to gallop everywhere and lots of people take kids on the lead rein. Just do as much as you feel suits her, then stand with the foot followers (good training for her) .or go home

Hunting will get her fit!

Answer 9

I work as a groom looking after hunters and although you horse looks well, it probably is not fit enough to go for a days hunting, you need to ride for at least an hour every day for four to five weeks to get your horse ready, if it is not fit you run the risk of injury to yourself and your horse. I don't want to tell you what to do but i would be very careful if going hunting without a fit horse.

Answer 10

You sould be riding at least 3times a week to be showing.

Less than 4 if it is big show.

Answer 11

If possible, you could increase the length of time you work your horse. If not, each time you go hunting gradually work your horse harder until she gets used to it and she will eventually be able to go hunting for a longer period of time.

Answer 12

Personally, I would forget hunting this season and use the rest of this year to get her fit and working correctly, this will also help strengthen your partnership.

It's hard to visually assess fittness from a photo, anyone who tries to do so I think would be a bit misguided (sorry if anyone here has done so!).  Personally, I'd be working her more regularly and be concentrating on muscling her up too.

Ask a local riding instructor to come out and help you devise a fittening plan, or you could google fitness plans for horses.  I'd look at starting from scratch and assuming that she is completely unfit and bring her up to fitness accordingly.

There are several good books that you can purchase from Amazon about fittening.  Also, ensure that your own fitness levels have not been neglected.

Hope this all helps.

Answer 13

Nice horse she has nice scope.

Yes she seems well fit. Just try and keep riding her when you can.

Do some interval training once a week and she should be fine.

And i don't know about your hunt but at mine they have flights so you could take like flight 2 or 3 till you find out where her fitness level is.

also can you see her veins when she is at rest. This means she has good blood flow and is well fit.

Answer 14

You can't really tell by looking at a horse.

But she looks in pretty good condition.

I would work more on your jumping and give her a good diet.

But if she can do a 4 hour hack she should be fine for hunting but just work more on the jumps and keep up the good work.

It's up to you wheter she's up to hunting.

Set up a course of jumps and give her new jumps to look at and get used to because some of the hunter jumps are h**l to get horses over as they get spooked by them.

Good Luck! I would take her and if she coundn't do it them mabye next year! =]

Answer 15

Here is an article that might help you. No matter what condition your horse is in now, it will benefit her to have a steady progression of increased exercise if you plan to do hunts during the winter. The better condition she is in, you'll be less likely to come up with any injuries.

http://www.womenandhorses.com/newsletter...