The good old days of a "paper chase"!

Penryn, California "Mock Hunt"

I know they still have hunts around the country but I hear of very few if any anymore "Paper Chases" or "Mock Hunt". Not a sanctioned event with the hounds, more like a practice round. It would still seem to me appropriate and attractive to test your "Hunter" horses skills in the field. Now I am not suggesting the X-C as in the 3 day test, but just a countryside hack with a few obstacles. The picture above was from one that was put on in the sixties era up in Penryn, California. Sponsored in part by my old friend and mentor Judson Wright, 

Judson son "Skip" on "Debated Issue" 1960 west Coast
 open working hunter champion

 

.     I used to spend a week every year at the farm on my way to show in Indio and later worked out of Judson's farm in 2007-09 after his passing and then later made my move to Marin in the North Bay Area of  San Francisco, now I am in the Wine Country of Santa Rosa and love the area. They trained on regular outdoor obstacles as well as in  the ring 40 years ago you would find Amateurs riding Thoroughbreds across the fields and in the many show rings. Not so much anymore.

So I am thinking ,"Why do most Hunter/Jumper horses never have the opportunity to go do what they are purported to be so good at"?  I know, because a large percentage of the riders often lack the skill set to deal with just a simple country hack, nor the horses. Why? Because it takes time to haul out for a country hack, trail rides are rarely sponsored or even suggested by most that I know. It is too risky some say, I know with the advent of the Derby it has been (greatly) an improvement, but I would still like to see Hunters and Jumpers out in the country, hacking in the woods. Jumping a natural obstacle in a real life setting is quite refreshing and your horse will appreciate the change from the endless circles around the ring. In this respect I support the Eventing discipline in that they do expose the horse to a more natural way of going on the X-C course, though there is often a little to be said of the technique in the stadium jumping arena.... Every disciple can learn something from the other!!!

Clay schooling a young horse X-C Woodside, California

I was so fortunate and sorely miss our family farm, where I grew up with thousands of acres of BLM space behind us. When I started a young horse, as soon as possible I would head for the hills where they would develop both mind and body in a way that can't be replicated doing endless laps around a ring. I believe a good horse should be more rounded by the experience and I have proven it so many times. I don't have the same out the gate availability but must haul to a regional park to accomplish this. I can assure you my horses love it!

Ten years ago I was bringing young horses in from Holland and the first few times they went on a country hack they were often "lost"! I would ask them to open up on the trail, just gallop and they held themselves back! I had to encourage them to GO! When they finally loosened up, it was very cool.... their ears stood up and they flew along in a freedom they had never experienced other than perhaps in a jump off around a course and that was even structured.

Take them out as much as possible for their goodwill and for your experience, it's a blast!

Clay Jackson