Is this meant to be fun? Yikes!

when I first watched the kid on the ginger I thought grrrr little brat, but replayed it and to be fair looks like he was trying to do a little tap on the neck, just went a bit wonky on the mane! and lost his balance and gave it a bit of a jab!

Not my cup of tea, the got some balls knowing people were somersaulting, but like someone else said the ones who face planted was really rider error, most were leaning forward not back and unbalancing the horse!
 
Abz88 said:
In the other vid shared, I not only feel for the horse falling, but the poor sods asked to canter hard on ROAD!! One thing my instructors always taught me never EVER go more than a steady trot on roads as it trashes horses legs. So much for 'hunting people' being 'horsey people'. Obviously havent a clue about horse welfare, just protensious gain. Pathetic.
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Abz88...I agree that was poor judgement on the behalf of the riders at the side of that road. However horses that hunt are conditioned to be ridden on tarmac if needs be. They usually spend a considerable period building up their time hacking in a process that is designed to harden their legs for the times they will have to be on roads. Unfortunately roadwork is nearly unavoidable in our built up country these days. Hunting people are indeed "horsey people" and I know who have hunters look after their horses better than themselves. Real hunting horses get their summer off generally spending the period from March / April through to September off, eating, they get their shoes taken off and spend the summer being horses - just that (oh and getting fat)

There is no pretensions to be honest - yes people do adopt a particular attire but that is out of respect and is no different in its own way to that adopted for SJ or dressage. I am not aware of any 'gain' either. Many of those that hunt own one or at most sometimes two horses which are kept and who hunt with them for their entire lives
 
Abz88 said:
In the other vid shared, I not only feel for the horse falling, but the poor sods asked to canter hard on ROAD!! One thing my instructors always taught me never EVER go more than a steady trot on roads as it trashes horses legs. So much for 'hunting people' being 'horsey people'. Do you know many people that hunt? It doesn't sound as if you do from that very blinkered commentObviously havent a clue about horse welfare, just protensious ? gainGain?. Pathetic.
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:) I am sure your horse is very grateful that it has a loving, caring owner that never asks it to do more than a little trot now and then.

Don't condemn others just because you wouldn't do it yourself though, I can't think of anything more boring that making pretty patterns in an arena - but if others enjoy it than all power to them :)
 
I think there's nothing quite like watching a good Irish hunter in his natural element. I loved watching this vid - the horses are so neat and clever - you can see them assessing the situation before they go. This is why Irish horses are the best hunters in the world.

I really want a whizzy little Irish pony.
 
Abz88 said:
In the other vid shared, I not only feel for the horse falling, but the poor sods asked to canter hard on ROAD!! One thing my instructors always taught me never EVER go more than a steady trot on roads as it trashes horses legs. So much for 'hunting people' being 'horsey people'. Obviously havent a clue about horse welfare, just protensious gain. Pathetic.
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But it's 2 strides, if that, and not jumping onto or from tarmac hence verge. Really not going to do that much in all fairness - less stressing than trotting on concrete!
 
I hate jumping, but that ditch in the first video looked like fun !

I enjoyed watching horses and ponies that obviously know and enjoy their work. Its amazing how they can really sort themselves out when allowed.
Kx
 
:eek::( omg thats awful and they way they are screaming at their horses. My boy is from Ireland and been predominatly hunted... no wonder he is having a few issues with his pelvis!
 
That guy at 5.12 was blinking lucky :D

And at 6.02 - not so lucky :D :D

And 7.05 PMSL - poor woman!!! :D

Pity for all of them that there wasn't a gate nearby they could have used instead.
 
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1Lucie said:
:eek::( omg thats awful and they way they are screaming at their horses. My boy is from Ireland and been predominatly hunted... no wonder he is having a few issues with his pelvis!
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1) I am very sceptical about problems with pelvises unless it is SI problems flagged up by the vet.
2) How can you possibly know what caused the problem? The horse could have slipped in the field or on the trailer or at any other given time. Tripped whilst out hacking, who only knows what? It's really unfair to say it must be someone else's fault for hunting him is totally unfair IMHO :(
 
Spyda said:
That guy at 5.12 was blinking lucky :D

And at 6.02 - not so lucky :D :D

And 7.05 PMSL - poor woman!!! :D

Pity for all of them that there wasn't a gate nearby they could have used instead.
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:D:D

Erm that would be me making a 3 mile detour to find the first available gate! (Through it though not over it :D:D)
 
I'm so glad I'm not doing their washing! I was surprised that the size of the animal made little difference to their success (or lack of it!)
 
1Lucie said:
:eek::( omg thats awful and they way they are screaming at their horses. My boy is from Ireland and been predominatly hunted... no wonder he is having a few issues with his pelvis!
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I presume you are referring to the Bank (ditch) Video?

Lucie - as explained earlier there are only some areas of Ireland where the country is of this type. In the west for example the country is predominantly stonewalls. Unless you know where in Ireland your horse came from then it is not possible to make such a conclusion imo

As Jesstickle pointed out pelvic problems may be caused by any number of things.

lol - The horses dont appear to be a blind bit of notice at any of the shouting

The Hunters that you see in that video appear all well schooled in handling those type of obstacles. A fit, well schooled horse is much less likley to do itself damage...
 
Brave horses, ponies and riders, I would never have the nerve to tackle that 'ditch', even if the detour was 12 miles I would still choose that option :D

Speaking of related links, this one came up for me and I had a look, very deep water and similar to the previous video in that there's a few falls resulting in dunked horses and riders and a bit of carnage with too many jumping in too close.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=fvwp&v=H6UeTB_ZHKc&NR=1

Again, I wouldn't attempt that either so good on those who did. If a horse doesn't want to it simply won't!!
 
looks like fun to me, if you're only watching lol!! wouldn't want to attempt it myself but then i'm a wuss :o i did have to giggle at the chap who almost graciously sidestepped off his horse and the first somersault into the lovely muddy water raised a proper chuckle.
wouldn't want to be trying to get any of those jods clean again :eek:
 
Its one of those video's where the horse's skill and courage is matched only by the human's stupidity and vanity.

Horses are just too good for some people. These guys would be better off taking up Motocross to get their thrills.
 
I think it looks like fun! Although I would never be brave enough to do that. And I thought most of riders rode really well. The last video link posted by Dunlin I think, looks most fun :) although why when the riders fall, do they not catch their Horse? The man that fell off in this clip, he left his Horse in the water whilst he walked out and then the bystanders caught his Horse for him :confused:
 
Enfys said:
:) I am sure your horse is very grateful that it has a loving, caring owner that never asks it to do more than a little trot now and then.

Don't condemn others just because you wouldn't do it yourself though, I can't think of anything more boring that making pretty patterns in an arena - but if others enjoy it than all power to them :)
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thats ma girl :) :) :)
 
thtas the sort of thing we got up to when we were out 'playing' with our ponies and it's seriously GOOD fun! We also used to do sliding stops on the golf course after it had rained to see who could do the longest skite :D Brilliant carefree days.
PS, our ponies enjoyed themselves too and not one went home injured or lame.
 
That is why people like to buy hunters from Ireland.

There were some very classy animals in the field. Maybe some of them also turn up at Dublin?
 
Fairynuff said:
thtas the sort of thing we got up to when we were out 'playing' with our ponies and it's seriously GOOD fun! We also used to do sliding stops on the golf course after it had rained to see who could do the longest skite :D Brilliant carefree days.
PS, our ponies enjoyed themselves too and not one went home injured or lame.
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WEll you know what they say abour golf courses?

They are a waste of a good gallop!

maybe when they all go bust they can be converted into xc courses - that would be fun :D
 
The video was much tamer than I imagined :cool:

I lived on a ranch for a while in Washington state in the USA. We used to ride all sorts of terrain that in the UK I'd have stayed well away from, or would have had the horse so covered in bandages before we started it wouldn't have been able to move! There was also the Rattle snakes sunning themselves on the rocks to contend with lol.
 
Fairynuff said:
We also used to do sliding stops on the golf course after it had rained to see who could do the longest skite :D
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Norty! They'd have strung you up if they'd caught you! I used to slide down the disused railway embankment on my pony. Was only about a ten foot drop. The bank at Hickstead had nothing on that slope! :D
 
HA JT you rebel! Are you planning on going to hickstead some time soon then?:p

Some very cleaver horses there wouldnt mind a day hunting on one of them, although rather not in that sort of counrty I'd be far to wipmy :o. Thats the reason irish horses are such good horses and can turn their hoof to any thing.
 
Always Henesy said:
:D:D

Erm that would be me making a 3 mile detour to find the first available gate! (Through it though not over it :D:D)
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With my last horse that would be me too:D Live to fight another day and all that ;)
We'd have ended up floundering in the ditch on our backs together, he didn't do water very well - arab you see.

Current 14h stick insect - she'd stand at the top, think about it, slide down, paddle across daintily and pop out the other side - also an arab :)

I've never been to Ireland but the country the Welsh packs cover can throw some pretty hairy stuff in your way too, usually bottomless or vertical. 500 horses riding out of Builth showground and up that little hill out back was an interesting outing!

Looking at that video reminds me of being a kid again, squashed sandwich in anorak pocket, shaggy pony and 10p in our pockets. We'd ride our ponies, up, down, through and over anything, a ditch like that would have been a lark...I think that is what is missing a lot nowadays, the opportunity for many riders to go out and have fun, just because they can, for so many reasons, H&S, traffic, lack of space. I vividly recall one day when I was about 10 spent galloping down hill over hedges with wicked drops, up the hill and race down again, up and race down again...by the end of that day we'd all hit the ground a time or two, the ponies were knackered but never harmed and every one of us had learned to trust and actually listen to our ponies a little bit more.
 
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Sure that's how we roll in Ireland. Half drown the horses, canter them home on tarmac roads and through fire and brimstone then give them a good thrashing with a blackthorn stick so they're good and perky for tomorrow. English pansies the lot of ye. :p

Although I'm pleased to learn the "proper" spelling of shuck!
 
Looks like great fun! It hairy with the dunkings bit apart from the kid that jumped the gun and looked like he ran over his dunked friend, looks well organised and a great laugh. Seen worse dunkings at a local riding club xc for horses and riders.
 
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