How can you train a horse for hunting?

Yes you can.


You train them just like you would a gun dog.





Start young and small bang and work your way up to the largest bore you have and start moving closer.How can you train a horse for hunting?
Ideally you can start when the horse is just born. When everything is a new experience, things that would normally be scary, such as gun fire, are just another new experience. This way, later, when you are ready to train it to ride and not be gun shy, it isn't afraid of the new noises.


Another thing to consider with horses used for hunting, is that many horses will freak out over the smell of blood when used to pack game out. It's another thing to make sure that the horse can handle before trying to strap an elk quarter on to it.How can you train a horse for hunting?
a good trail horse can deliver you to a hunting spot.





a good trail horse can help you pack out whatever you need to return with





So I train a hunting horse to be a ';trail horse'; ...thats the primary job and one in the same as far as I am concerned.





shooting from a horse.. I dont recomend it unless your a mounted shooter or really have a need to do it... some horses wont have the temprament for it and it can be pretty dicey situation ... especially if the horse is a little spooky or hot anyway.





shooting off a horse... that takes a little thought. I start out with a horse that is loose in a small pen... I let him smell a fired pistol... and snap the action until he wont react to that... after a while I shoot a 22 or blank pistol at a distance and watch for reactions... and bring that noise closer after I dont see any reaction from the horse.





After a few days ... I see if the horse will accept the noise with me in the pen... and keep working closer as the horse accepts the noise...





After a few days of that ... I start to fire the blanks over the horses back... between his legs etc.





anything that pressures a horse to escape can eventually be accepted by the horse... they just have to figure out that the noise or action wont hurt them. be patient ...take your time and quit while your ahead...





If you ever get to the point you can shoot off the horses back... never fire over the horses head... ear damage can occur... I always try to shoot at a pretty big angle away from the head...it helps.
start out with firing a gun around the horse, then on it. then after he's used to it, move on to field training where you actually go on hunts. it's best to go with other people who have experienced horses. your horse will learn as you go.
The only way to train an animal is to go do it, over and over.