Hunting on Holiday - Ireland??

[Walrus]

Hello,

I've never been hunting before but have always wanted to go. I was wondering about going on holiday to Ireland to go riding and especially hunting. I'd be going on my own so something organised would be good. I'm a fairly competant and confident rider but haven't got much experience with cross country and jumping fixed and natural fences but am hoping to have a few lessons over the summer. I was wondering if anyone had done anything like this or knew of anywhere that did this type of holiday.

Many Thanks

 

[CastleMouse]

Flowerhill - www.flowerhill.net

 

[DidiR]

Look on the top of the New lounge post... and offer to go on one of H&H's research trips!!!

If you get to go, I'll come with you, as I would love to do the same!

 

[Ravenwood]

On Exmoor we don't do jumping! - but have the most fantastic hunts both fox and stag. There are plenty of hunt yards that do hirelings, perhaps that might take your fancy.

 

[AmyMay]

From what I know of hunting in Ireland there is a lot of ditch jumping.

I know of a few very experienced people who've hunted over there - and have no wish to repeat the experience. For the bravehearted only I think.

Perhaps start here first??

 

[moocow]

From what I know of hunting over in the UK, its a very different "kettle of fish" over here. I know a few people that have hunted regularly in the UK and have come over and certainly have found it a hair raising experience. The obstacles vary depending on where in Ireland you go. Around here (east coast) it is mainly ditches. The west of Ireland is mainly stone walls but you will expected to jump wire. Its not everyones cup of tea. Flowerhill is a brilliant place - they have a fantastic cross country course as well. I haven't been in years but when I was there, their horses were really good ( on the XC anyway - I have never hunted with them).

PM me if I can help - although its been a long time sice I have hunted but I do keep my horse at a hunt yard and follow sometimes so I might be able to help.

ETS - just re read your post - I would suggest going somewhere like flower hill or just google some of the other places and doing some XC as part of your holiday - get to se the terrain and take it from there.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Have PM'd you.

 

[amage]

Bare in mmind Hunting in Ireland is nothing like the UK...there is some pretty hairy country and i know alot of UK visitors who are always surprised at some of the stuff jumped over here

 

[gothdolly]

I was thinking of booking a hunting holiday in Ireland for me and my mother one day but reading this I think I will pass and just watch Mum!! Sounds too scary. Mum would probably be OK though - shes much braver than me!

 

[Walrus]

Thanks for all the info guys, maybe something I need to build up to I feel!!

 

[CorvusCorax]

I don't know, where I hunt there is nothing you HAVE to jump, almost everything has a run-out or you can go the long way and join later on.

The last day of the season the joint master was trying to cajole me into jumping a ditch with him but I was having none of it - just told him he would have to tell my mother why I was coming home in a sling!

I thought I was a bit of a wuss, to be honest, I don't think it's as scary as all that!

 

[chester1234]

I hunted in Ireland at 11 - it was such an experience!

We stayed at Devils Glen in the Wicklow Mountains. Beautiful scenery, self contained bungalows / flats / houses [depending on the number in your party]. They had everything from pingy ponies to "the flying armchairs" which my mum rode. She'd not ridden to hounds in 25 years and not jumped a XC fence in 20. They stuck her on "Codie" and she stayed out all day - a real point, fire, pull up pony, that knew the country.

If you go somewhere like that they've got experience and they know the country. Devils Glen actually run a hirelings yard, so all the horses know the local country too. I'd really reccommend them, they have amazing horses, amazing staff, and an amazing XC course on site.

well worth it.
xxx

 

[Colleen_Miss_Tom]

Another vote for flowerhill , its fantastic , been there a few times myself , oliver is great craic and will show you a good time over the x country course . :grin:

 

[annunziata]

YES!!! Felw into Shannon and hunted with the scarteen, stonewall harriers, limarick and a couple others I can not remember, basically we were there for 7 days and hunted 5 everyday with a different hunt it was the most amazing thing ever!!

 

[mdcwheeler]

I hunted a couple of times up near the Scottish border on a friend's horse and thoroughly enjoyed it so when my godfather invited me to stay with him and go hunting in Ireland, I was there in a flash! (hunting in the UK now pales in comparison!)
Going mid week is the best, all the young horses are out for a training session and the field is much much smaller. But real hunting in Ireland (I was thrown into the thick of it, largest ditch country on the island) has no escape routes, no nice alternatives. You follow or you go home! So I agree, not really for the faint hearted. And you can only do it on a horse from the country, a horse that knows the lay of the land otherwise you don't have much hope of getting over that first (very impressive) ditch!

 

[CorvusCorax]

OK, I must ride with a wussy hunt then - but that's fine by me :grin: