How many foxhunters compete in eventing?

[SLW]

Because of the recent national issues in eventing I’ve been following some of the threads on the eventing forum and what the background of the riders are. How many of us foxhunters compete in eventing? Which came first for you, hunting or eventing??

I’ve never evented unless you count my circa 1971-1973 Pony Club 3 Day events and 1 Day Rallys. I’ve hunted off and on since then though I no longer jump in the hunt field. The trappy terrian and pace doesn’t bother me, I just don’t have the eye for a jump or good balance O/F anymore.

Started thinking about Hunt Club members who currently event and I can think of half dozen, maybe a few more, that are active eventers. They don’t necessarily hunt their eventing horses but they ride first flight.

What do you all see out there in your hunts?

[Outfox]

My club usually has a half-dozen members that dip their toe in Eventing, annually.

It is a great cross-over sport for Hunting. All the cross-country training makes even the scariest coupes appear jump-able.

But these recent happenings in Eventing are at the upper levels. Seems to me that most hunt members are happy with the competition at Novice and Training levels. And these levels have not shown to the be as taxing.

Personally, I have enjoyed Eventing at every level of the sport. Going through the finish flags on cross-country is a similar feeling to being right behind the hounds as they are in full cry on a long run. It’s a great feeling!

[xeroxchick]

I evented at a very low level (novice) before my instructors took me fox hunting. After that, eventing just wasn’t fun anymore. Then I had a horse in the 90’s I evented some, but it was way more expensive than hunting and more nerve-wracking too. In hunting, I could get to a good place and do it and feel great about it. In eventing we were always at a deficit, always feeling that there was no accomplishment until we could improve that dressage score, move up a level, train with so and so, etc. I am not competitive enough for that. Competitors at that level obsessing over fence height and footing seemed silly. Plus there’s no hounds! How boring! What’s the point? haha
I admire eventers and think we have a lot of riding skills to learn from them, but no thanks.

[Elghund2]

I dabbled in it some before hunting. My horse had the scope to do prelim but not the courage. He is great at following the field.

The new horse is very brave and may be able to event. So ponder doing some events with him. However, the fees are so high that its hard to justify for 15 minutes of riding.

[Firefox]

I do

I do both and love both sports! they are great cross overs!

[LookinSouth]

@Elghund2;3229251

However, the fees are so high that its hard to justify for 15 minutes of riding.

Sadly that is very true.

I started out in the lowest of levels of unsanctioned Events (elementary 2’3) before foxhunting. I just started foxhunting this past season (hilltoppers w/ the option of taking the jumps) .
I’ve actually only been jumping for a little over 2 years so I’m still at the 2’6-2’9 level. I still love eventing and I plan to do a few unrecognized series this year at BN because they are fun and low key.

Like another poster said, even at the lowest levels to be REALLY competitive you have to sink a great deal of money and time into the sport. As a young working adult I don’t have the finances to do this so Foxhunting really suits my lifestyle better.
I’ve found you get alot more riding XC and great fun for the money in foxhunting. I’ve enjoyed the hounds as well. Generally much lower stress as far as preparation too.

I know quite a few eventers that foxhunt on occasion and vice versa. I don’t really know very many serious foxhunters that also competitively event. It seems to be one or the other.

[Painted_Wings]

I do both

And my horses do both although I have one that is more of a foxhunter than an eventer.

In our hunt club we have one rider that hunts rarely because she goes to Florida for the Event season there. She events at Preliminary and is very competitive. She hunts probably 5-10 times a season.

We have four others including myself that event at lower levels and foxhunt. One is a junior.

We have a couple of foxhunters that are just starting to dabble in eventing, going to one or two unrecognized local events a year.

I evented before foxhunting. I go to about 5 or 6 recognized events a year and hunt about 18 - 20 times a year.

[Little_Valkyrie]

I started out in the hunter/eq world, but then we moved up state and I discovered the worlds of hunting and eventing, and I was out of that ring faster than you can say “Tally Ho”. I suppose, technically, I was hunting before I ever evented, but I now do both. It gets a little tough juggling hunting and eventing in the fall, and I am trying to work my college schedule so I can whip in on Wednesday mornings I think they are sports that compliment themselves very well.

[Bogie]

I used to event. Now I foxhunt. It fits into my schedule better, it is less expensive, and I think it’s more fun. There are several people in my hunt who also event.

[Beverley]

I hunted first, then evented sporadically over the decades. Four of the five horses that I hunted from 1973-2006 also evented. I don’t rule out eventing again at some point…except that in Utah there is only one recognized event, and if I must haul 8 or more hours to do something on horseback, I prefer to go hunting. Cheaper and more time in the saddle!

[Beverley]

And, ‘famous’ eventers I’ve known to hunt more than occasionally include Bruce Davidson, Karen O’Connor, Denise Rath among others.

[sophie]

I used to event, and I foxhunted years ago with my my mare, then got into the off-track horses and evented again a bit.

Now that my current exracers has grown up a bit mentally (finally, at age 10!) I am considering foxhunting her. We’ve been to lots of Hunter Paces, which are my favorite event these days (well worth the money since they’re about 2 hour rides, no stress, great company and gorgeous land to ride on - bliss!) .

Foxhunting may be a challenge for her but I might try it this Fall!

How about Hunter Trials. Those sound like a blast. Especially the “pairs” division…although I am a bit worried about the “jumping the last fence abreast” part…I can see her land, spook at the other horse landing next to her, and take off bucking. LOL!

[LookinSouth]

@sophie;3230539

How about Hunter Trials. Those sound like a blast. Especially the “pairs” division…although I am a bit worried about the “jumping the last fence abreast” part…I can see her land, spook at the other horse landing next to her, and take off bucking. LOL!

I am very much looking forward to the Hunter Trials this fall in New England. I agree the pairs classes sound like a BLAST as do the Handy Hunter classes!

[gabriellemg]

All the horses I hunt compete in eventing in the off season.

GMG
Texas USA

[Good_Old_Sledge]

My hunters event a little - but I remind them that they are hunters who event and not the other way 'round!

[Mudroom]

my whip horse and I event up through prelim.

[sunnycher]

Hunted first, then event

When I lived in Nevada, we fox hunted - there weren’t any events/derby close. Nearest one about 5 hours away, so we’d do that 1-2 times a year.

Now I have moved and there is no hunt, but more derby type shows, great clinics,etc.

If I had my ‘perfect world’, I’d live close to both and have lots of $$$.

But… there is nothing like hunting to get balance/ strength, fitness for you and your horse. I loved it!! gina

[fleabites]

I have been eventing for a little over a year, and hunted as much as I could this winter. The hunting did wonders for both my horse and I cross country: we “get it” now! I got into hunting through eventing, mainly the people, like Painted Wings

[florida_foxhunter]

I use event courses to school for hunting!! (you can often pay a schooling fee and just go out to practice…without paying to show) I took Debonair to Poplar Place, Rocking Horse, Canterbury and Red Hills to school for the Centennial Championship! (Don’t be too impressed, I only jumped through Training and a maybe a couple of Prelims without realizing it!)…Unfortunately we don’t have as many fences at Live Oak, and no hills…and when I go “visiting” up to VA, MD, NC, TN…I like to have practiced a few drop coops!

I did take my special foxhunter, Dakota, to a few real events…and even won a second at Rocking Horse. He competed under the name “Her Foxhunter”…he’s now living with (and owned by) Rachel Looney at Hillsboro Hounds! I’ll attach my favorite photo of him (the pinto)in the Randolph Fieldhunter Championships…jumping an event jump on the final course…so it paid off <smile>

[cjmicro]

I do a little eventing too, a couple events here or there, just novice. I would like to do more but budget and time don’t allow for it. I also find they are great compliments to each other.

One very good thing is even if I don’t do an event, I’m always thinking in that direction. This keeps me working on my dressage (not nearly as much as I should) and practicing jumping. Keeping all the eventing “training” in mind, just makes me a better foxhunter.

Fox hunting has made me a braver eventer, and done my horses a world of good fitness-wise too.

It’s all good.

Stonewall Hounds, central Virginia
www.stonewallhounds.com