Everything you need to know about hunting horses
Hunting horses are a separate category of horses with skills and performances adapted to the forest, racing, climbing. They are athletic horses. To know them better, you must discover the data contained in the following lines.
The breeds concerned
Hunting takes place in an open environment, often on natural terrain where trees and animals move as they please. You decide nothing, except the direction the horse will take, and its performance to a certain extent. To be sure to achieve your goal each time, it is then advisable to choose the horse that can adapt to this environment and, above all, to provide it with the appropriate protection described on La Sellerie Française . If necessary, breeds predisposed to hunting will show interesting performances.
The Selle Français has an athletic build that allows it to cover long distances and perform impressive jumps. When well trained, it offers its rider an interesting advantage during group hunting trips.
The thoroughbred is a tough opponent for the Selle Français when hunting. Indeed, this horse is a work of horsemanship perfected for years. From generation to generation, for its reproduction, a selection is made in order to optimize the transmission of its extraordinary skills to the new generation. Moreover, to increase the performance of other breeds, the thoroughbred intervenes for a genetic cross.
The Anglo-Arab is also a candidate for the exercise not to be ignored. It is fast, responsive and very efficient. It has also accompanied hunting champions for generations.
The training to be carried out
A hunting horse is therefore a breed predestined to race on particularly hazardous terrain. The rider and his mount discover a hole, a ditch, clumps of trees or larger obstacles in front of them. At this point, there is nothing better to do than to move forward and overcome the obstacle. To do this, the horse must be in perfect harmony with its rider and carry out the instructions to the letter. The training involved involves all these details.
To begin with, the horse must be trained outdoors, on rough terrain. It is necessary to prepare it beforehand to do exercises alone, on foot or with its rider. It must get used to performing basic technical gestures and movements included in its specialty.
Then, the horse must be brought to discover its world, the people who will surround it during hunting parties. Above all, it must get used to the dogs and their cries. It is also necessary that they can enjoy the atmosphere of the hunt, precisely the whistles, horns, whips and ambient noises.
Finally, the horse must be in athletic shape for every hunting trip. An extroverted outdoor horse with good reflexes is recommended. He must never be afraid of anything. As long as his rider gives him an order, execution must be his first reaction.