Maybe they were just jealous of your lovely horse! 
Or they just didn’t know who you were and were just curious. You’re the new guy - that’s all. It takes time for everyone to get to know each other.
A little late to the party, but I wanted to add that in my hunt, I’ve found there is very little concern about the breed you are riding, and more for the ability of the horse to do the job at hand, as others have said.
I began hunting my Friesian in 2008. We did get some comments in the beginning…“My that is a high-headed one” and the like, but once she had proven herself in the field, it didn’t matter if she was a purple cow, she would still have had the respect of my fellow foxhunters. And myself!
I started hunting her as an exercise to increase her boldness and ability to gallop over terrain and jump whatever came her way.
2010 is our thrid season, and what began as an exercise has become an obsession! We love to hunt and when we are sailing over 3’9" stone walls behind our MFH, it doesn’t matter one bit that her heritage is “non-traditional” for a foxhunter. Not one bit. 
So, continue your hunting adventures. You may find more enjoyment than you expected!
No pics with that post?
Wow - what a beautiful image I have in my head of a Friesian sailing over a stone wall on a hunt!
Any pics to share? I love the non-traditional breeds (I have a Morgan, and do all kinds of sports with her that are dominated by TB/WB types)
[QUOTE=Daatje;4836414]
A little late to the party, but I wanted to add that in my hunt, I’ve found there is very little concern about the breed you are riding, and more for the ability of the horse to do the job at hand, as others have said.
I began hunting my Friesian in 2008. We did get some comments in the beginning…“My that is a high-headed one” and the like, but once she had proven herself in the field, it didn’t matter if she was a purple cow, she would still have had the respect of my fellow foxhunters. And myself!
I started hunting her as an exercise to increase her boldness and ability to gallop over terrain and jump whatever came her way.
2010 is our thrid season, and what began as an exercise has become an obsession! We love to hunt and when we are sailing over 3’9" stone walls behind our MFH, it doesn’t matter one bit that her heritage is “non-traditional” for a foxhunter. Not one bit.
So, continue your hunting adventures. You may find more enjoyment than you expected![/QUOTE]
Well, I do have this little collection of proofs from the All New England Hunt’s Joint Meet last year.
http://daatje2009.webs.com/10_31_09%20proofs%20tiny.JPG
I have pictures of some of our hunting adventures on her site at www.freewebs.com/daatje2009.
Unfortunately, there was no photographer at the big stone wall!
I don’t know much about Haflingers but I was at a little local h/j show and there was a really cute one doing the some pony hunters division. He wasn’t A show material but he had a really cute jump. The owners said he was green but he popped around with his kid and did his job well. I would have been happy to load him in my empty spot on my trailer and take him home.
My friend in VA hunts both a haffie and a black and white TWH (originally bought for her husband). Both are excellent field hunters.
It was especially good for the haffie because he really needed a serious job. And he loves to hunt!
Another haffie hunter here!
A good hunt horse is a good hunt horse. Worth there weight in gold, no matter what the breed.
My haffie doesn’t realize he’s not a typical hunt horse. He loves his job and that’s all that matters. He’s just having a ball hanging with the big guys. (We even won our division at my hunt’s hunter trial in the fall against more typical hunting breeds.)
He goes first flight and does all the big fences to boot.
yes, I can confirm that HappyHoppingHaffy’s Haffy has a lovely jump and does his momma proud in the hunt field
[QUOTE=Ray;4850521]
yes, I can confirm that HappyHoppingHaffy’s Haffy has a lovely jump and does his momma proud in the hunt field :)[/QUOTE]
Thanks, Ray! I am a proud momma.
HappyHoppingHaffy - so your little haffy jumps everything? Wow!
Yes, I think they were staring at my fancy boy b/c while standing at check, 3 of the ladies turned and told me how cute he was and asked where I bought him.
great input everyone, I firmly believe it’s not the breed, but manners that count.
JBC-
Like other posters have said, if you show up on time, cleaned up and ready to roll, good horse people will welcome you out hunting. Check out my profile pic. Certainly not your typical hunt horse here in Ol’ Virginny, but he is a bit of a mascot at our hunt now. Everyone knows his name. These little guys get invited to do all sorts of stuff (gates, limbs, help w/ hounds). Hope you keep coming back!
[QUOTE=juanbadcat;4858940]
HappyHoppingHaffy - so your little haffy jumps everything? Wow!
Yes, I think they were staring at my fancy boy b/c while standing at check, 3 of the ladies turned and told me how cute he was and asked where I bought him.
great input everyone, I firmly believe it’s not the breed, but manners that count.[/QUOTE]
Yup, he does everything. My hunt’s fences are typically 3’-3’6" with some taller and some smaller jumps in the mix. There is one 4’ stone wall at one of the fixtures and he jumps that one, too.
Hopefully, no one tells him he’s supposed to be pulling a cart! 
Beau’s Mom - Great pic, I’m sure he does do it all. My QH is also a sorrel paint, double registered.
HappyHoppingHaffy - and your haffy is 14.??? hands? Unbelievable.
You’ve all given me encouragement to do it again.
[QUOTE=juanbadcat;4860776]
Beau’s Mom - Great pic, I’m sure he does do it all. My QH is also a sorrel paint, double registered.
HappyHoppingHaffy - and your haffy is 14.??? hands? Unbelievable.
You’ve all given me encouragement to do it again.[/QUOTE]
My haffie is enormous. He’s 15 hh. He is a tank! (Pic of us jumping a ~3’ stone wall if you follow the link at the bottom of the page)
You should definitely give hunting another try! There are always icky people no matter what you do or where you go. Enjoy yourself and your horse! Hunting is a blast and so much fun.
Great Pics! Love your Duke, Love the Oh Sh*^& Seat too:)
HappyHaffy - Oh yes, icky people everywhere!! I need to get past that!!
