THE hunting season is finally underway much to the delight of horses and riders alike. Everyone wants to make the most of the season ahead so the first thing is to keep your horse is the best shape possible. Simple care and management tips are worth considering so you can get the most out of the season.

MAKE A PLAN

This sounds very simple but having a clear plan can help to keep everything running smoothly. Each plan is unique to the horse and rider, consider your work schedule, your horse’s fitness, basic care such as shoeing and worming and how often you are going to be out hunting.

Whether you’ve been out hunting already this year or not, both horse and rider fitness should be well underway and should continue throughout the season. Include plenty of road work and hacking throughout the season.

Keep a record of when your horse gets shod, this will allow you to plan when your horse is likely to need shoeing so you can minimise the risk of missing a good day’s hunting. You should also keep a record of when your horse is warmed, vaccinated and checked by an equine dentist or veterinary surgeon.

When you are getting your horse shod ask your farrier to include pins on the shoes, these will help to give your horse some extra grip especially on the roads. Avoid using studs out hunting because they are unlikely to be of much use on very soft ground and they will cause a lot more harm if you fall off and happen to get stood on.

PREPARATION

You and your horse should be in good shape and ready for the season. Horses should be clipped. It is best to leave leg hair on hunters as this will offer them protection especially during the depths of winter.

You should also be prepared when you go hunting, bring plenty of water with you so you can offer your horse a drink at the end of the day and so you can sponge off any sweaty areas. Always bring a warm cooler rug, possibly two on a very cold day, with you to travel your horse home in.

Have a basic veterinary kit with you – it’s worth permanently keeping one your jeep, horse box or lorry and replenish as needs be. This means if your horse does get a small cut or injury you will be able to treat it without having to wait until you’re home.

Basic items that should be in your travel veterinary kit:

    • Bandages
    • Epsom salt
    • Cotton wool
    • Wound powder and spray
    • Scissors
    • Vet wrap
    • Poultice

    • BRAN MASH

    Bran mash is the ideal feed to give your horse after a long day on the hunting field. You can easily add some electrolytes into a bran mash to help rehydrate your horse.

    To make a bran mash:

    • Add boiling water to bran (use approximately 500g bran per horse)
    • Mix with a wooden spoon until it becomes a dry crumble like consistency
    • Add it one measure of electrolytes and a double handful of oats (rolled or crushed oats, not whole)
    • Cover with some loose hay and a tea towel for half an hour and then feed

    • HOMEWARD BOUND

    If it has been a very wet and muddy day you can wrap some dry clean straw around your horses’ legs and bandage over the straw. This will take off all the mud as it dries and saves you from washing down their legs. Once your horses’ legs are clean it will be a lot easier for you to tell if there are any small cuts that need to be treated and cleaned.

    When you get home make sure to check your horse over for any lumps and bumps and treat any minor ailments as soon as possible. Often problems occur from minor ailments because they are left untreated so think ahead, putting a poultice on immediately might save you some trips to the veterinary surgeon couple of days later.

    If it is a very cold night when you get back and you use water buckets, add some hot water to the water bucket so it is not icy cold for your horse to drink.

    Have a nice, warm clean stable to put your horse back when you get home. Check them all over again the following morning to check that you haven’t missed anything and trot your horse up in hand to make sure that they are sound.

    Try to let your horse have plenty of time out in the field the day after hunting and take them for a gentle hack, this will help them stretch their legs and move about. The last thing they should do, if you can avoid, it is stand in a stable all day long.