Hunt Livery in NJ - is there a calling for one?

[pleasantmeadowfarm]

I’ve spoken to many people that would love to give foxhunting a try, but just aren’t sure they, or their horse is up to the job. I keep thinking it would be nice to have a couple of hirelings in the barn that are suitable to introduce “nubbies” to the art of foxhunting.

During my first season foxhunting, I hired horses to join other hunts, depending on where I was traveling. There were about 10 hirelings out in FLA the day I hunted, and more available in VA when I visited a hunt there.

These horses would also be in a small lesson program, do regular trail rides, and go out hunting once, maybe twice a week. Certainly, they would also be for sale at some point as well.

Do you think there may be enough interest in NJ to have hirelings? My hunt is very supportive to guests and the terrain is easy to negotiate.

Any suggestions where else I could get a feel for local interest?

Thanks for any input

[Beverley]

Well, if I were going about it, I’d probably contact the MFHs in your neighborhood to get a feel for how much demand for hirelings there might be. I know out west lack of hireling availability can be a deterrent to potential visitors. I bet Hunter’s Rest can give you some good input.

You might also want to consider partial lease arrangements for folks in your area who want to hunt, but can’t afford or don’t have time for acquisition and full time upkeep of a decent hunting horse.

[anon68314200]

Well, the prices in VA that I saw for hiring a hunting horse were basically $200/ride, decreasing as you signed up for more extensive deals. Now I wouldn’t deny that a rock solid hunt horse is not worth that/ride. But the cost is going to scare folks away.

There are certainly a few folks within hunts who go lacking for a horse when theirs is lame. So that will give you some business automatically if you are friendly with the folks. But I imagine you will need to already have some saintly equines-for-hire at your disposal. The initial start up costs will be considerable if you don’t have the animals at hand already.

Also, I would recommend advertising them as hire for Hunter Paces also. I know some DQs who imagine might venture outside of their 20x60 for a Pace on an extremely reliable equine. But I don’t think you would EVER get them in a hunt field.

I imagine you would have to market the horses use as Hunter Pace, Trail Pace, etc. mounts in addition to the Fox Hunting to help make ends meet.

[Major_Mark]

Sign me up. I live next to Philadelphia and would love to hunt in New Jersey. I currently hunt in Virginia because of the hirlings available. I used to keep a horse, but office travel commitments are keeping me from owning another horse until I retire in three years.

Jeez, I miss my last horse. Lovechild was my best friend. Damm near destroyed me when he died.

[pleasantmeadowfarm]

Beverly, the Masters of my hunt think it’s a wonderful idea. Now to get input from another local hunt… I’ve been out with Betsy a couple of times now, and would love to get her input as well. I’ll send her a PM. The hunt lease is a great idea. Thanks!

Isabeau - thanks for your input as well. As it would be an investment in made hunt horses, I’m tring to to thorough due diligence. Thanks.

Major Mark - condsider your self signed up! Have you hunted Amwell Valley before? I consider it a petite Old Dominion - beautiful rolling countryside. I find it awe inspiring, and our breakfasts and teas kick butt

Thanks again for your input folks!

[HillaryH]

I’m another person who thinks this is a fabulous idea & would certainly sign up!!! I am lucky to have a super event horse but I do not feel comfortable introducing him to hunting. He is strong and wants to be in front ALL the time (even on group trail rides and paces). Although I’m an experienced rider, I do not know all that much about hunting specifically & would feel a lot more comfortable learning the rules/mores while on a quieter (or at least experienced) mount. I had the priv. of hunting as a guest once many years ago when I was still a Junior and LOVED it.

[linquest]

[QUOTE=Isabeau Z Solace;4920581]
Well, the prices in VA that I saw for hiring a hunting horse were basically $200/ride, decreasing as you signed up for more extensive deals. Now I wouldn’t deny that a rock solid hunt horse is not worth that/ride. But the cost is going to scare folks away. [/QUOTE]

Doesn’t need to be that expensive. I’ve paid only $50 in IL and $75-150 for a hireling in MA. The lower prices were from stables that only rented out to students in their lesson program though.

[Beverley]

@Isabeau Z Solace;4920581

Well, the prices in VA that I saw for hiring a hunting horse were basically $200/ride, decreasing as you signed up for more extensive deals.

Good food for thought from another angle. If it costs you $3k a year to own a horse- just the board, shoes, vet, etc., and you hunt 30 times a year, that’s $100 per hunt. Add the whole lotta time to keep the horse fit for hunting and the expenses you have for hauling yourself, and considering the convenience of someone handing you a horse at the meet and taking it home to care for afterwards, $200 per day isn’t really outrageous. I know it does vary widely around the country. Just thinking out loud…

[CLEMENTINE04]

I’m In!

Sign me up to rent one!

[Painted_Wings]

If $200 a day includes hauling its really not too bad. Problem is people don’t think of all it costs to own a horse. Really depends on if there’s a demand. Also you do have to have REALLY good horses.

I don’t think there is one in my arean.

[pleasantmeadowfarm]

Thanks again everyone!

I’m still trying to weigh all the pro’s, cons and expenses. The insurance carrier I use for my farm policy sounded like she almost fainted when I told her what I was looking into doing. I did get a call back with a basic mortality rate… really it’s the liability that’s the question though.

Yes, I would expect to tack and ship horse(s) to fixtures where the only thing lessor would need would be a check to the secretary for capping fees, a foot in the stirrup, and a smile on their face.

Now… to find the perfect hunt horses that don’t break the bank. Of course the one boy I’d love to pick up (yes, he’s on the market) is one of the fine hirelings I rode this past season down in FLA! Unfortunately, he’s out of my price range… So, out a shoppin’ I will go (of course with hardly more than a couple of cents to rub together - it might be tough). Hmmm.

Oh, and Clementine - I know you’ve got yourself a fine huntin’ horse already;)

[whicker]

Have you talked with the MFA about the idea? I’m thinking of someone like the former president, Mrs. Woods of Live Oak, for example. I wonder if the the association has advice on insurance, and the business aspect of the hireling business. There may be a policy through them, for instance.

Please, also keep some guest stalls for those of us who come up to visit. You run a happy, beautifully organized barn. We had a fabulous time last weekend at the Amwell Valley Hunter Pace! What warm, kind people and great hospitality!

[Major_Mark]

$200/day is very reasonable. The New Jersey area would probably support $250+/day, mainly because there are lots of Brits visiting New York city who would jump at a chance to hunt in nearby New Jersey.

[Hunter_s_Rest]

$200 a day is ludicrous (on the low side, I mean) when you figure in all the capital costs, training, tack, etc. Trust me when I say that few (any?) make it into a $ making proposition.
If you want to do it as goodwill philanthropy for the sport, go for it, but don’t imagine in 2 lifetimes that you’d capitalize on that type of business.
Even the very best one here in Virginia (now disbanded) looked like it was an uphill battle to stay ahead of the hayman.

[Ravencrest_Camp]

[QUOTE=Hunter’s Rest;4930326]
$200 a day is ludicrous (on the low side, I mean) when you figure in all the capital costs, training, tack, etc. Trust me when I say that few (any?) make it into a $ making proposition.
If you want to do it as goodwill philanthropy for the sport, go for it, but don’t imagine in 2 lifetimes that you’d capitalize on that type of business.
Even the very best one here in Virginia (now disbanded) looked like it was an uphill battle to stay ahead of the hayman.[/QUOTE]

I totally agree with your post.

I think the only way to make it work is if the horse can do double duty. That is, have some other way it generates income for you, such as being used in a lesson program. The the hunt livery is just gravy.

But a stand alone hunt livery service, that’s a tough slog.