Requirements for a hunt horse?

[equestrianerd]

I’m looking at a horse to buy, and I like pretty much everything about him. However, he’s foxhunted for the last 3-4 years or so, pretty much solely as a staff horse. His owner is selling him because he apparently doesn’t tolerate not leading the field…I gather that he’ll do it, but he’s not very thrilled about it.

I don’t hunt, but would like to at least try it at some point (I do eventing, which I think he would kick butt at). Obviously if I tried hunting, I wouldn’t be leading the field, and would be second flight/hilltopping for a little bit until I got my bearings. Is that doable on a horse like this, or will I have to rely on borrowing someone else’s horse?

And, in case that question is impossible for COTHers to answer (given that you’ve never met him ;)), are there specific questions I should ask his owner? I’m happy with his potential as an eventer, but I would also like to be able to dabble in other things, including potential foxhunts.

Thanks!

[Ray]

[QUOTE=equestrianerd;3622384]
I’m looking at a horse to buy, and I like pretty much everything about him. However, he’s foxhunted for the last 3-4 years or so, pretty much solely as a staff horse. His owner is selling him because he apparently doesn’t tolerate not leading the field…I gather that he’ll do it, but he’s not very thrilled about it.

… I’m happy with his potential as an eventer, but I would also like to be able to dabble in other things, including potential foxhunts.[/QUOTE]

'Doesnt tolerate not leading" does NOT sound good. You want to ask alot of questions as to how “does not tolerate” was manifest and whether they got a pro to try hunting him. Lots of fantastic horses DO NOT hunt well in the field. I would only get him if you are happy to event him and hunt a different horse, that way, if he turns around for hunting, its a bonus.

[spacehorse]

I have to agree with Ray…sounds like the horse won’t tolerate being behind. I probably wouldn’t try to hunt him second field by the sounds of that! Some horses turn inside out, especially if they have been staff horses and know that they ‘belong’ in front.

I have an ex huntsmans horse who I would LOVE to hunt second field, but he absolutely won’t have ANY parts of doing that. I know what will happen. When I worked for the staff and rode him as a whips horse (off to the side of the pack, slightly behind huntsman) he went crazy, jumping around like a monkey on crack! No thank you, not for me!

I had to ride him up beside the huntsman, and never tried that again!

[armandh]

it depends on your skill and determination

the horse pictured in my profile TWH/Clyde was on loan to our field master for a season, while I recovered from some surgery. many suggested he may be a bit strong for the field. He was. but a stout ride the day before, no grain the morning of and a double bridle for the hunt got us over the first 20 minutes [many also suggested happy juce] by the third year he had mellowed to just tack e’m up and go with an easier bit. still strong for the first 20 minutes but not unreasonably so. over the bridge now he provided many years of hunting and never lost a shoe. [possibly due to nails one size smaller than rail road spikes] always loaded and never an off day. 2K-1 season 41 hunts.

the odds are not as good as the made horse but in the end you will have to determine if the effort/risk/reward is right for you. the odds will be better after some time eventing with you

PS they all want to be first. it is the size of the arguement over where you want them to be that counts against those things in the “for” list.
.

[Beverley]

First, I think I have a question- you say ‘doesn’t tolerate not leading the field’ and I can’t tell whether that means he does NOT like being off alone as a staff horse? Or do you mean that when in the field, he HAS to go first?

Also, what breed?

Meantime I will share that I bought a tb who had raced on the flat and steeplechased- bought him as a staff horse but I hunted him in the field a number of times. Yeah, he would get a bit jiggy behind, canter in place, what have you- but, you could hold him with one finger on the reins of a plain snaffle. And when the going got tough, galloping in company, jumping, whatever, he was great.

I will also add that the same horse, when going with the hilltoppers (which I did when a son came with me) was just fine. Yeah, a couple of playful leaps leading the field, 'cause he wanted to go with hounds, but once he figured out where he was supposed to be, going with the slow group didn’t bother him.

I had a warmblood that was fine alone, but in the field, DID get a bit ADD when galloping in a group of more than 6-8 and not first in line. Not terrible, mind you, it’s just that you had to be riding all the time, instead of letting the horse do his thing while you enjoyed watching the hounds.

[equestrianerd]

[QUOTE=Beverley;3622737]
First, I think I have a question- you say ‘doesn’t tolerate not leading the field’ and I can’t tell whether that means he does NOT like being off alone as a staff horse? Or do you mean that when in the field, he HAS to go first?

Also, what breed?[/QUOTE]

He’s fine being a staff horse, I think he gets annoyed when he’s in the field with the other horses. Apparently he has a superiority complex, or is finally into being in front (he never won on the track ;)). His owner has ridden him with other hunts (in the field, obviously, not as a staff horse), and supposedly it went OK, but I don’t know what he did to express his dislike of hunting with the field.

He’s 100% Thoroughbred, off-the-track, ran 8x as a 2-3yo, then hung out in a field for a couple years before hunting.

[Beverley]

@equestrianerd;3622796

He’s 100% Thoroughbred, off-the-track, ran 8x as a 2-3yo, then hung out in a field for a couple years before hunting.

Sounds much like mine- yeah, superiority complex, yeah, a bit dancy, but as previously mentioned, so easy to hold while being goofy that he was not overly unpleasant or, more importantly, out of control in a way that might be dangerous to others. Actually, I figured out after a couple of seasons that his occasional jigging had nothing to do with his Secretariat complex- he jigged when he smelled cows 'cause he was scared of 'em.

So, for me, with your horse, it would depend on just how unpleasant/ out of control he might be. If he were mine, I’d start with some low key trail riding, first w/small groups, and then small groups at long trots, and then see if the person in front will move off from you at the canter and see what the reaction is. If that sort of testing goes well, next step would be seeing if your local hunt would allow you to tag along during summer roading/ hound exercise, this would be a good opportunity to test his reactions to hounds and other stimuli before you actually get out hunting.

[Ponyclubrocks]

[QUOTE=armandh;3622555]

PS they all want to be first. it is the size of the argument over where you want them to be that counts against those things in the “for” list.
.[/QUOTE]

Not to quibble with you but you couldn’t pay my horse to be first. She will go in any flight but she wants to be at the back of whatever group she is in! She will whip but would never be a masters horse. Actually, it makes for really relaxed hunting for me because nobody ever cares if I go last!

On the other hand I had a horse that I hunted for two years and then he was a staff horse when I went to college. After that, he was never a good field horse, it just fried his brain not being in front. If the owner is giving up on him being a field horse I would pass…JMO

[Carol_Ames]

try him, and choose carefully

there should be a Major price adjustment for the:yes: horse; try him out in company , and see how he is: ’ there are nice horses who will go happily in the:yes: field. don’t settle for a horse you do not feel comfortable with:no:

[equestrianerd]

I think I will be passing on him, both because his potential suitability for me doing hunting is in question and because his sellers are being fairly car-dealership with me about “buy, buy, buy!”. They sold the other horse they had out from under me, so I wouldn’t be surprised if it happens again if it takes me longer than 10 minutes to decide to sign a check or not.

The ability to go out hunting is an extremely minor issue for me, as I have no idea if/when I will ever go hunting. Since this guy has already done hunting, though, I figured it could be fun to try, if he’d tolerate it. Now I think I’ll have my list be “experienced eventer, potential foxhunter” rather than the other way around!

Thanks for all the input.

[Carol_Ames]

Good decision!

Your first experience should be fun and safe with a horse who “knows the game:lol:” not,one who has his own ideas :eek:about how it should be done:no:

There are other horses:yes:;

[Lauren]

I would probably ask the owner exactly what he wasn’t good about and what he did when asked to do it and go from there. I’d honestly ask the owner if he would hunt second field towards the back too… they probably know the horse best.

And if you want the horse (primarily) as an eventer, and think he’ll be great at it, and you like him, then get him… not all eventers take to hunting and vice versa (I bought one TO event, made it to BN, and he now wants NO part of ring work… and I may have to take up hunting… not that I’m complaining…), IMO buy for your primary sport first, and if he ends up being good for a second one later on, even better!