Hunter’s Rest, aren’t you an ex-steeple-chase jockey? You’ll be fine. 
[QUOTE=Hunter’s Rest;7166986]
Ok, now the real scoop - what’s the deal with riding a ditch (and bank) in good order?
I have the Limerick Harriers video (the one with just footuhage of people in and out (on and off!) on ditches/banks there. I need to watch it carefully, but some people just did it awful and others make it look easy, and they don’t seem to be the ‘pro’s’ or anything, just people who’ve figured out how to … what – kick on? Increase to the ditch? Grab mane? Collect and bounce-bounce-bounce into it? Eyes up? Heels down? [/QUOTE]
You want to ride with your stirrups a hole or two longer (flat length) than you would do for hunting here. Stay in the center of the horse, with a light half-seat, slip the reins a bit, close your legs, and kiss/cluck if necessary. If you are riding experienced hunt horses, they should know their jobs - yours is to stay out of their way.
Here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piKL1JD3HoQ&noredirect=1
Well I don’t think you’ll be coming home without at least one new horse – their sales horses are gorgeous!
I have 20 horses. Don’t need any more.
In addition to the video in my link above (which I fixed, sorry!), here are a few more to show you the way to sit going over a drain:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLVA1Bv5lBo&noredirect=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cDjrD19dHs&noredirect=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BK-gKgbAD0&noredirect=1
Oh, and you notice all the people standing around? If you come up to a drain, and there are a lot of people watching, be prepared for it to be a pretty challenging one! There are lots of foot followers in Ireland, and they know the best places to stand to be entertained. 
Would you be able to swing a practice trip to Bear Creek in GA? The fixture we hunted when I capped there a couple of years ago has ditches around all the fields. It looks a heckuva lot like the ditches shown in video 2 from SSR.
Fly 'em. It’s FUN!
[QUOTE=Hunter’s Rest;7167412]
I have 20 horses. Don’t need any more. :)[/QUOTE]
OK, then you can stuff Loughnatousa Anton into your suitcase for me! 
Just wanted to offer my congratulations and anticipation at hearing the stories you’ll bring home. We’ll have to do another HP dinner at the Black Bear so you can regale us!
Jetjocky – what a PERFECT idea!
Irish intell Debrief at the Black Bear. Maybe the week after Thanksgiving.
Everybody local (and heck, maybe some local Irish Mafia and some interlopers from around the 'hood) can come and share wild hunting stories from around the world.
Side-saddle - Is Anton the gray? I’ve BRED one that looks just like that (a yearling filly) - same cross, too, I’d guess (I’m thinking he’s a RID+a sustantial Tb pointer mare; mine is the same! Looks just like that!) I’ll bring him back but let my little gal grow up and I swear she looks like she’ll carry your finest sidesaddle someday1
PS You have way bigger kahunas than me, by a longshot. Doing what I’m whinge-ing about, aside. Good lord.
I have nothing practical or useful to add, but I’m so very happy for you!!! You’ll have a wonderful time, and I’ll have to come down afterward to hear all the good stories.
I am so excited for you! I totally want to see the video footage the next time I come see you!!!
Riding the Irish drains is very simple. Not easy, but simple! Mostly done from a standstill or very slow walk. I believe there is really no way to do it nicely … just sit tight, look up, and let the horse do the job. It won’t be comfortable, but those horses certainly know their jobs. They are done from a standstill or slow walk because you never know what lies on the other side so the horses know to jump them carefully and be prepared to stop dead on landing if need be. Just trust your horse - if it’s a hunter it will know the job inside out.
Ok, now the real scoop - what’s the deal with riding a ditch (and bank) in good order?
Ask the locals for advice: you will get plenty. Mainly, leave it to the horse and Do Not look down, always look ahead.
[QUOTE=Hunter’s Rest;7167631]
Side-saddle - Is Anton the gray? I’ve BRED one that looks just like that (a yearling filly) - same cross, too, I’d guess (I’m thinking he’s a RID+a sustantial Tb pointer mare; mine is the same! Looks just like that!) I’ll bring him back but let my little gal grow up and I swear she looks like she’ll carry your finest sidesaddle someday1
PS You have way bigger kahunas than me, by a longshot. Doing what I’m whinge-ing about, aside. Good lord.[/QUOTE]
Yep, Anton is the gray working hunter on their page. Hubba-hubba! Hmm, I can’t wait to see your girl. I would love a nicely built IDSH for ss hunting.
LOL, no, YOU are braver than I to do it astride! Jumping drains aside is a heck of a lot easier than a leg on each side, IMO.
I will second the advice on rubber boots. It was something I found out after I got there. All the masters & staff had rubber boots. I ruined my good leather ones on that trip… the mud just NEVER would come out.
[QUOTE=Finn’sMom;7166727]
I’ve rented cars and driven in Ireland several times with just an American driver’s license.[/QUOTE]
Absolutely
I bought a fault Barbour at MD tack exchange instead of re wax…it’s icky for travel
Cliffs of 'Mohr
And look for a pub having local music nite…real deal…
Who knows about buying a Barbour, and Blunnies for that matter, while there? Prices relative to the US?
I did that when I spent a season at a jumps trainer in England 1,000 years ago - bought new Champion helmet at 1/5th the cost of US, Blunnies ditto, Wellies ditto but I never got a Barbour over there. I think I got all those things at a farmers store (like our Tractor Supply Co.) not a tack shop and they were accordingly priced.
Thoughts?
You could check out a website to compare prices. When in the UK (2000 & 2008) I bought wellies & rain jacket there. The rain jackets were awful (cheaper place like Tractor Supply, no-name brand) which surprised me since I thought, “it’s wet here, they should know how to make waterproof stuff”. The wellies were great, 19 quid and had such comfortable footbeds that I wore them for an 8+hour day at the wettest-summer-in-100-years Burghley
Lots of coats available at cheaper price than a Barbour: you pay for the name.
Check out http://www.rydaleclothing.co.uk or http://www.shiresequestrian.co.uk At those prices you could bin it after your visit. The design of the Barbour riding macs has changed over the years and it is not as good as it used to be. They went through a phase as a fashion item on urban streets.
The alternative to wax is to look for a breathable fabric that is more comfortable for a few hours in the saddle.
So much good information here!
Thanks!!!
Here’s another quiz question:
How to best convert US dollars to Irish funds (pounds still, right?)
Here at a bank? There at a bank? On my credit card??
I’ll owe the man a goodly bit of cash - he’s not asked for a deposit so I’ll just take him a big chunk of change for when we arrive, I guess.
How best to do this?
I’ll want a bit of spending money I suppose too - a little cash. Where/how to get that?
Is putting stuff on a credit card good or bad overseas?
… discuss
