Do people buy horses just for hacking/hunting

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Tangaroo

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I just wondered, is there a market for horses that are 10yrs old and never really been schooled or jumped? Said horse has only hacked all his life and done a couple of fun rides. He has attended a few pole/ mini jump clinics.
Do people buy this sort of horse or do they all want something schooled and educated?
 
Certainly! A hack is a very different beast to a hunter though. A hunter ordinarily needs to be a sensible hack whereas a lovely hack/fun horse does not need any experience at hunting. The price of a proven hunter is also likely to be significantly more than a horse who may be a fabulous hack but has no record of hunting.
 
Absolutely. Good safe bold hacking horses command a decent price. They are not common & are in demand. Especially now hacking has been become more challenging with traffic, litter, noise etc.

As long as they are physically capable of being ridden in arena should someone wish to do so. If only suitable for light hacking due to soundness issues then not so easy to sell on.
 
Of course there is a market, so long as the horse is well mannered, traffic proof, handy - will stand still for gate opening and closing - isn't worried about cows, will load easily. Many, many people don't want to jump as they get older, but do want a nice horse, not necessarily a plod, for hacking around the countryside.
 
There is absolutely a market - but a horse that has only done a couple of fun riders is not a hunter.

Horses proven to hunt well command a serious premium - second only to dressage horses I think! But you need hunt references from the relevant feild masters. As a solid happy hacker - yes. Certainly a market.
 
A 10 year old horse that just hacks will be worth something to someone, just need to find the right person/advertising site and you can normally get a decent price.

As posts above, unless you have left out the horses extensive hunting experience it is not a hunter. A few days hunting in 10 years or fun rides or being around the yards labradors does not make the horse a hunter (Yes I’ve heard all of them used!). It would be a ‘potential’ hunter and at that age it wouldn’t be something I’d push in the advert.
 
As everyone had said, a good safe hack is very much in demand - plenty of people just wanna horse that's traffic proof, comfortable to ride and good in open spaces, by itself or in company.

A good hunter is a very different kettle of fish. It takes at least a couple of years to "make" a proper hunter, not just being well behaved on a couple of fun rides!

It's also possible to teach a 10 yr old horse to jump and to work in an arena should it be required!
 
theres a hugeee market for solid reliable hunters! plus they normally have the potential to be taught schooling, and make good eventers, providing they have the right brain, and dont get bored in the school.
 
dressage.diva99 said:
theres a hugeee market for solid reliable hunters! plus they normally have the potential to be taught schooling, and make good eventers, providing they have the right brain, and dont get bored in the school.
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I don't think the horse has hunted?
And most hunters need to have jumped, even if it's only the equivalent of a hunt rail
 
Thanks for the answers. He hasnt hunted here but i would imagine he did as a youngster in Ireland. I wouldnt try and sell him as a hunter, just think that lifestyle would suit him. He hacks alone and in company, does gates, good in traffic. He can jump and enjoys it. i just havent done much so hes not very educated in that department. My other option is to loan him to someone who wants to hack and hunt as im not looking for a huge amount of money for him. Thanks for all the thoughts
 
Tangaroo said:
Thanks for the answers. He hasnt hunted here but i would imagine he did as a youngster in Ireland. I wouldnt try and sell him as a hunter, just think that lifestyle would suit him. He hacks alone and in company, does gates, good in traffic. He can jump and enjoys it. i just havent done much so hes not very educated in that department. My other option is to loan him to someone who wants to hack and hunt as im not looking for a huge amount of money for him. Thanks for all the thoughts
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where are you located? Pm me if you prefer not to say on this thread
 
Tangaroo said:
I just wondered, is there a market for horses that are 10yrs old and never really been schooled or jumped? Said horse has only hacked all his life and done a couple of fun rides. He has attended a few pole/ mini jump clinics.
Do people buy this sort of horse or do they all want something schooled and educated?
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You've described every second horse on my yard. We're looking for two more of them right now!
 
Great to hear peoples thoughts on this as I have one of these also to sell - I think we all get so tied up these days in competitive arenas that the pure fun element of horse owning gets forgotten much like in normal life as well - lifes become so competitive & driven, this year is really making me rethink my life that's truly lacking of fun & something I am seriously addressing going forwards.
 
The best thing about the 13h pony I took over a few months ago is she is amazing to hack. Safe and sound on the roads in heavy traffic, will walk on the buckle down the galloping bit of the bridleway and pull up when you want to from a canter.

She struggled to trot a 20m circle when I got her though and fell over trotting poles - that bit is still work in progress!

I'd have a bigger version in a shot.
 
I bought a sensible hack, hacks alone (a big must) & I am schooling on, having lessons, she'll never be a world beater but I can improve the schooling but I really don't want the shenanigans involved with making a good sensible hack tbh.
 
Tangaroo said:
I just wondered, is there a market for horses that are 10yrs old and never really been schooled or jumped? Said horse has only hacked all his life and done a couple of fun rides. He has attended a few pole/ mini jump clinics.
Do people buy this sort of horse or do they all want something schooled and educated?
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Gosh yes. I bought my boy for this reason. Have no desire to begin 4 am starts for shows/events and so on. I've done some pleasure rides and am thinking of doing a fun show next week just to get him out and about, but yes, there is a market.
 
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