Hunting with a difference!

The majority of these horses and ponies will be out every week doing this. They may look scruffy and hairy but they will be by no means be neglected. Hunting attire in Ireland can range from full hunting coat to wellies and waterproofs. They are no where near as strict with the dress code. Hunting country in Ireland is big. Big drains are common. Mud is common, hell it rains nearly every day. I'm not saying that it looks nice but it is what it is and I have no doubt that half of these kids on their scuffy mounts probably have more horsemanship skills than the majority of spoilt brats riding around on pretty, clean ponies costing thousands of pounds. In Ireland tack is tack if it stays on it's fine. It's practical, does a job and that's it. It's not a contest about who has the best. It's all about a good day out, staying on and having the craic. The horses do enjoy it and have you ever wondered where Irish horses find an extra leg from? Well I can bet you they found it out hunting over country like this.
 
T_K said:
Would also wonder where he got his hat from - doesn't look up to standard for a riding school/club to give out.
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I've seen some minging old hats at some 'establishments'.
I always tell friends who are thinking of taking their kids for lessons to make sure they buy their own hat even for the first lesson.
 
Also, the girth one... The saddle's in about the right place though, which is more than many photos that crop up on here!

I want that little chestnut with the blaze. It is far too game and cute!
 
Little Squirrel said:
The majority of these horses and ponies will be out every week doing this. They may look scruffy and hairy but they will be by no means be neglected. Hunting attire in Ireland can range from full hunting coat to wellies and waterproofs. They are no where near as strict with the dress code. Hunting country in Ireland is big. Big drains are common. Mud is common, hell it rains nearly every day. I'm not saying that it looks nice but it is what it is and I have no doubt that half of these kids on their scuffy mounts probably have more horsemanship skills than the majority of spoilt brats riding around on pretty, clean ponies costing thousands of pounds. In Ireland tack is tack if it stays on it's fine. It's practical, does a job and that's it. It's not a contest about who has the best. It's all about a good day out, staying on and having the craic. The horses do enjoy it and have you ever wondered where Irish horses find an extra leg from? Well I can bet you they found it out hunting over country like this.
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This is very true... As I said earlier, its hardly a huge case of abuse, but Im glad its not how things are done around here. Nothing wrong with having some standards... (and some tack that is fitted correctly)
 
Little Squirrel said:
The majority of these horses and ponies will be out every week doing this. They may look scruffy and hairy but they will be by no means be neglected. Hunting attire in Ireland can range from full hunting coat to wellies and waterproofs. They are no where near as strict with the dress code. Hunting country in Ireland is big. Big drains are common. Mud is common, hell it rains nearly every day. I'm not saying that it looks nice but it is what it is and I have no doubt that half of these kids on their scuffy mounts probably have more horsemanship skills than the majority of spoilt brats riding around on pretty, clean ponies costing thousands of pounds. In Ireland tack is tack if it stays on it's fine. It's practical, does a job and that's it. It's not a contest about who has the best. It's all about a good day out, staying on and having the craic. The horses do enjoy it and have you ever wondered where Irish horses find an extra leg from? Well I can bet you they found it out hunting over country like this.
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This. I've seen worse horsemanship at unaff shows in England by far. I couldn't care less about how the kids or ponies are turned out - heck I don't groom my horses in winter, they're not really any better than these, unless I'm competing.

Some of the tack is mis-used, but again not any different to many owners in this country. At least the kids in these photos aren't precious little dears who fall off and cry for mummy...
 
Lolo said:
Some of those kids are bloody impressive though.

You can't judge off photos alone on soundness, dehydration, condition, etc- I didn't see a single horse looking thin, and many appear to have their ears pricked and be ready for the next challenge. It may not be what you approve of, but the horses mostly seem to be in good conditions... Some of the comments are totally uncalled for on the photos... "Jesus, let go of his mouth much!"- the reins are visibly slack and the pony is in a snaffle?!

It may not be to your taste, but I'd guess some of what you do isn't to theirs either.
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The pony may be in a snaffle but the rider is using the reins to balance! The slackness you see is the martingale!

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...8.165492706814526&type=1&theater&notif_t=like
 
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfg9GQQw8GM

Here is a video of hunting of a pretty decent sized drain in Ireland. If you notice 90% of the riders leave the horses head alone. However if you took a picture of the landing it would most probably look like they are socking the horse in the gob. It's how drains are jumped. Although the Oriels would be a bit more proffesional than the good old Kerry Club it's the same sort of obsticle.
 
Little Squirrel said:
The majority of these horses and ponies will be out every week doing this. They may look scruffy and hairy but they will be by no means be neglected. Hunting attire in Ireland can range from full hunting coat to wellies and waterproofs. They are no where near as strict with the dress code. Hunting country in Ireland is big. Big drains are common. Mud is common, hell it rains nearly every day. I'm not saying that it looks nice but it is what it is and I have no doubt that half of these kids on their scuffy mounts probably have more horsemanship skills than the majority of spoilt brats riding around on pretty, clean ponies costing thousands of pounds. In Ireland tack is tack if it stays on it's fine. It's practical, does a job and that's it. It's not a contest about who has the best. It's all about a good day out, staying on and having the craic. The horses do enjoy it and have you ever wondered where Irish horses find an extra leg from? Well I can bet you they found it out hunting over country like this.
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I don't really have no problem with the tack and turnout if that's acceptable for hunting in Ireland, and I think most of the horses are in fine condition. However, I have a problem with horses being ridden so badly and I strongly disagree that the horses are enjoying themselves, they look most uncomfortable to me!

No wonder Irish horses are good hunters with a fifth leg, they have to carry around passengers who can barely stay on!!
 
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I used to live and work in this part of Ireland for a brief period last year. Everyone did seem very much 'get on and go' and not at all like horse people in England. It was a bit of a shock tbh, the horses certainly weren't mollycoddled and these pictures, although not very palatable, I don't find hugely surprising.
 
Jeez! That is terrible. Poor horses. :(
Am loving all the abuse they are getting on their Facebook wall now though!! Good ol' HHO! ;)

Gives a whole new meaning when you see a horse for sale ad and it says "has hunted in Ireland"!!:eek::(
 
Double_choc_lab said:
Puts a whole new view on the phrase "Hunted in Ireland as a youngster".

Knack*red in Ireland more like.

Appalling.
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If you buy a horse and take 'hunted in ireland as a youngster' for granted - more fool you.

The phonenumbers of every registered hunt pack in Ireland are freely availible on the net, and its a *small country* when it comes to horses.

Someone has already posted the link to the kingdom harriers, the registered pack in that area, and there is an album of them hunting the same exact same country... looks nothing like whats pictured on that 'hunt'. Most like, the kingdom had already been through in the weeks previous.

We've had the worst winter for rain this year, our hunt was cancelled last week ( the day those photos were taken) because of the ground conditions - obviously some people have no scruples.
 
i don't give two hoots if it happens every week- it doesn't make it right.

we don't have hunts up here in the highlands for the very reasons you mention little squirrel- bogs, moors, extremely rough terrain.

these photos made me feel sick. if you are going to ask your horse to jump the near impossible, you could at least not whack it in the mouth as it tries to do as you ask it, sit a foot out of the saddle and come crashing down on its back, or head for that matter. :mad:

also if you are going to hunt your horse at this time of year and in these wet and muddy conditions the least you could do is clip the poor thing. i only noticed a hand full clipped. :(
 
you know what had shocked me the most?!
what most of the riders were wearing! *cringes* if that was my hunt they would of sent them home!
surely they would have the common sense not to ride them in that weather also?
and the tack.. well dont get me started..;)
 
Gosh there's a lot of uptight people on here.

Personally I think it looks great fun. No the pictures aren't elegant - I doubt there's a single person here who would look poised and perfect jumping a drain like that. I would guess that most of those riders have far more guts and stickability than many on here.

And what a great way to get a horse jumping literally anything you put in front of it, and gain a true fifth leg. These horses will be brave, agile and tough.
 
There is no way in hell those horses enjoy that - some of the pictures look like a scene out of warhorse. I understand that riding out hunting is tricky and muddy, but its is something else when your horse in on its knees at every ditch!
 
I too feel indifferent, I dont find it unpleasant or cruel - for all we know those horses could live for those meets... who are we to judge!
 
That whole album makes me angry!

The turnout doesn't bother me, nor the tack so much. But the lack of knowledge in riding does, for some of the riders any way.

Horses=amazing animals
 
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