Greetings, i am a new member to the site, this is actually my first post and boy is it a long one

I have a question/questions for the experienced members:

I am a new rider, owned a horse since last Feb and have been riding significantly since July 10th (day the horse came back from the trainer)

I've got a decent horse and since July 10th I've only missed a few days in the saddle, i ride trails and an obstacle course (hills, steep climb over obstacles, holes, holes with water, pipes, gates , etc. ..

I'm able to trot and canter somewhat now and feel comfortable riding up and down inclines and cross country in the woods. If you point her at an obstacle and give her her head, she'll figure out how to get around or over it!

I bought a pretty decent horse and spent some coin with a competent trainer and i have been working hard at it myself. I have over 150 miles on the horse in the last 60 days, the trainer put over 100 miles on her in the 30 days preceeding that and put a significant amt of ground work into her..

My goal for this horse is to take her to the west and hunt the high country. What do you all do to prep? She's a decent horse, doesn't blow up and clearly indicates when something is getting under her skin or scaring her so i can deal with it. this morning I was riding cross country across the woods (only deer trails and a lot of dead broken timber) and when we got up close to a bull doze pile those ears went up and she made her booger noise (don't know how else to describe it) She got very light and alive feeling and I could tell something was there that she was concerned about.. I immediately dismounted and walked her up around and there had been something there that bothered her. she nosed the heck out of the ground, just like a hound would! then i got back on and we finished making the loop. she doesn't like mud(deep mud) but will go thru it if i ask, but you can tell and i can feel by her heart beat that she does not like it!!.. Some stumps and logs get the big eye and a booger noise, but we go past them.. Only issue once was when a red squirrel decided to come blasting down a horse eating log she was watching closely.. She gave a hop, and stopped..

that is usually the extent of her spook, one hop or big step to get a look at what spooked her..

doesn't happen much anymore, takes something unexpected and fast moving to get that response.

I've been pretty amazed about how willing she is under saddle, cause she's a mare and can be a bit ornery and pushy on the ground.. But put the saddle on her and she is a different animal.

I'm learning a tremendous amount but have so much further to go.. I spent the money and bought a top notch custom saddle from a local maker fitted for her and me. Next step is a packhorse/riding horse for my wife.

I'm up to my ears in the horse game and none of my friends are involved, i've met a number of folks recently and will be looking to join a local saddle club (Indiana)

Any advice would be appreciated!

How old is she?
If she is a newly broke 2 yr. old, she's probably not mature enough physically to handle a lot of mountainous riding.

I admire you for continuing to ride the horse regularly. NOTHING like a lot of wet saddle pads.

Good luck with her.

she turned 6 in july so physically she's fine

and she's in pretty good shape, far better than me, though i have lost a few pounds and inches riding regularly myself..

never would have thought riding would be so physical.., she's just under 15 hands and is a stocky type horse, not fine and wispy, broad chest and hind quarters and solid legs..

She's a paint horse, tobiano dun is the color on her papers.

If you are riding the horse on a regular basis, It will do fine physically. You will want to be able to read your horse's biometrics. know how to take it's pulse, respiration, hydration. Know what it's resting rates are and how long it normally takes to recover after a work out. Basically be able to tell when it becomes stressed. While hunting just be observant of these and give your horse the extra rest it might need. You probably ride at lower elevations. Hunting out west will be 8,000 to 11,000 foot. A horse making a few laps around an arena is not the same as climbing 3000 foot mountain.

The biggest things you want to do before you come, is get the horse trusting you. You can not know what surprises you may encounter during a hunt. Logs to cross in the trail, creeks and streams, of course horse eating boulders. shadows behind trees, getting tangled in the high line at night, who knows what? Imagine your self quartering an elk during a microburst of wind. Trees crashing down around you, the leaves swirling around as the wind blows them off the trees. the horse smelling blood and wild game scents as you work at trying to host a quarter into a panier. It is a whole lot more managable if the horse really trust what you are doing. It's a wreck if your horse doesn't trust you.

Good luck and have a great time.

It seems the implication is going to hunt in the mountains by yourself. There are a few guys I've known that I wouldn't worry about doing that but I wouldn't do it on a bet.

Horses are crazy and are even crazier than mules and some just more crazy than others. She throws you, you get hurt, she gets hurt, blah, blah. Are you tough enough to survive or crawl out fifteen miles? Not me.

If I were bent on playing cowboy, I'd go on an organized pack hunt but just bring my own critter. That way I have backup insurance.

That's what I used to do.

thanks for all the responses! Been away from the computer for a while..

I don't plan on going it alone, not quite that brave.. I'm still putting a lot of time into the horse and am planning on being ready for next year

I've come along way in the last few months, and now i see there is so much I don't know yet..

but its an interesting journey..

thanks again

The more time you spend "out there", the more experiences you will encounter. Hopefully only the "close calls."
Aquire a little savvy & a "good" horse & you will have some great times. " They," say it's not safe to go alone, BUT....Baby, the Rain Must Fall..........
20yrs, 100's of trips,....alone.

I like your style, the road less traveled and solitude have always been high on my list

horseback in the mountains alone? someday, but i have way much to learn first and will go with experienced folks until i do..

getting ready for a trip to Brown County, IN (lots of small hills compared to you all)

that will be my first all day adventure and weekend of riding.. I'm pretty pleased with my horse, she's not perfect, but not crazy either..

if something scares her she doesn't blow up or get stupid.. And usually i can tell by her body language what's up.. And i am not going to the rodeo if i can help it.. I get off when something new/unexpected comes up when possible to check it out.. worst spook i've had out of her was a couple of hops when a fawn exploded out of the grass right under her nose.. first time i ever rode her alone, scared the bleep out of me.. But i stuck in the saddle..

I would encourage you to NOT dismount when you feel her about to spook. I HAVE seen horses that learned to buffalo you to get you off their backs by threatening to get scared. This behavior is not much different from bucking, and can lead to bucking. Stick it out if you can, get off only if you must. MY.02. Good luck.

Daniel

thanks for the advice. it happens pretty infrequently, only three four times over a couple of months and there has always been a signicant event involved.. Had a pretty good spook yesterday riding around the pond down the road. a deer came boiling out of the weeds about 30 yards ahead of her and she got pretty exicted, but after a couple of lopes she gave to the reins and stopped completely. No bucking or rearing just a couple of quick hops and stopped. Darn horses are exciting! I'm still riding very regularly but going to lay her up for three weeks in November while deer hunting around home here.. But plan to get back after it in December.

[quote]Had a pretty good spook yesterday riding around the pond down the road. a deer came boiling out of the weeds about 30 yards ahead of her and she got pretty exicted, but after a couple of lopes she gave to the reins and stopped completely. No bucking or rearing just a couple of quick hops and stopped. quote]

She'll get over that, with more time & exposure. Just ride & watch her improve.

thanks!

I hope so too, i can see a huge difference in her over the last 90 days.

you can pretty much go out of the barn alone, point her and go.. without too much excitement..

I just wonder how many hours/miles it takes to get one of those been there, done that models..
now I understand why good horses, good horses cost so much even now.

LH

You're lucky the deer got up so far away. They usually let you get within ten feet of so before they take off (at least here, but we have some pretty thick vegetation), and it is understandable that a horse would get scared by this, as I generally spook a bit myself. Quail are worse, as they generally fly up right in the horse's face. You're doing the best thing you can by putting those miles in, and getting to know your horse as an individual.

As to the time it takes, that depends. Some horses are born broke and gentle. Others never really get there (they are advertised as "needs experienced rider"). In general, a horse is considered in his prime at 8-12 years. If they were broke as a 2 yo that gives you an idea of the time and miles it takes to make a truly solid mount, triple that for a mule.
Life's too short to fool with ugly women, or ride a mule.

i appreciate the encouragement,

been traveling for work, so the mare has had four days off

riding tomorrow!

have a good weekend all