Thoughts on this?

I'm sure my boy would quite happily do that if I asked him to - but I wouldn't. I'd find a better way around, there always is one. Some of those in the video shouldn't have attempted it IMO, but I did like the older guy's method of grabbing a bit of mane high up his horse's neck to stay balanced and avoid catching his horse's mouth!
 
Ned would fly over that if asked - he loves ditches and is very clever about them too, like Irish horses.
He was the only one that successfully navigate a particularly tricky ditch (not deep, but there was a broken bridge - hence the reason we jumped it!) without slipping, refusing or making a fuss! I wish I was brave enough to hunt him and he was fit enough!!

I'd never ask him to do one that big though :O scary!!
 
Stunning horses.

Most looked quite happy in what they were doing.

Was I happy watching? Not at all. Not something I can see as worth risking.

ETA: So, was what we saw cruel, no. Was reckless, yes. And any injuries could have been called 'cruel' because of the recklessness. Similar to anything else we do that pushes horse/rider combos to their limits and could increase the chance of a life changing/ending injury.
 
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Being Irish myself, I used Hunting as a method for horses to find their '5th leg'. However, it's quite alright for those at the front of the queue, they get the best ground, the rest get the 'remains' to navigate through.

As seen in the vid, those first few in front got the good grip and plenty of time to find it, then after a couple more the banks changed shape and was nothing the horses could judge as a potential 'landing', so in the ditch they went and left to find a way out.

Not very pleasant for a horse to slide into a narrow ditch with no easy option out, nor for the rider either.

Some say this is why Irish horses make great eventers, I disagree. Many a horse is sent to sales as it's only use is as a Hunt horse and had it's confidence shredded from being overfaced.

When I hunted, there were always like minded people that realised stupidity, we left them to it and found a safer route for our horses.

Potential eventers will either be or they won't, hunting them won't change that. They either have brains, balls and balance or they don't.
 
WelshD said:
Goodness that looked a bit hairy! They surveyed it before jumping, took steps to not jab at their horses mouths and went slowly one by one so I don't see a big problem with it. There were a few moments where I sucked in my breath but overall I think they did blooming well.
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This, good long reins didn't interfere with the horse. Got a bit slippery before they had all gone but everyone coped well. I am actually disgusted by the disgusted remarks!! I wouldn't do it now I am a geriatric, but did plenty of trappy places like this on my ponies as a kid. Have we gone too pc??
 
Having only ever been out with the beaufort in the UK, i am not going to lie, when i moved to Ireland in 2003 and was offered the chance to hunt i was excited. until i saw a drain like that. i nearly crapped myself. but a few shots/bottles of whisky and off we went! people would cheer when u fell in a drain and the muddier the better! having hunted with the tipps, wexfords, island and scarteen hunts i can say i never got braver, just brought more whisky and thoroughly enjoyed it!!!!!!!!!!
Ive seen more animal cruelty at my local pet shop!!!
 
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