Where do you get your hunters from?

[Bernster]

This is more of a random musing, on those days when I'm cruising the sale ads and see lots of ads for 'hunters' who don't seem to have done a day's hunting in their lives.

I know of dealers that specialise in RC types, sj, eventers, but are there ones that are known for hunters? Or do people just get them from Ireland/local hunts/word of mouth? I know some who buy hirelings but, from what I've seen, they are young and green and, once fed, can get a tad lively!

I also realise there is a difference between the leisure hunting I do, where almost any decent xc horse could probably fit the bill, versus out and out hunters.

 

[DW Team]

I bought my hunter from Ireland from http://www.flowerhill.net/ Have been so impressed with the horse would return if anything happened to him

 

[Bernster]

I can see why you'd like em! Friend of mine got hers from somewhere similar, xc riding school in Ireland, although theirs aren't generally for sale. I could def see the attraction for getting a nice Irish type with decent hunting experience. Another site to cruise around, love it

 

[JenHunt]

we had a weekend (2 days) hunting with Oliver from Flowerhill - have to say the horses were amazing, and most did both days!! I wouldn't hesitate to be speaking to him when the time comes to get another.

that said, an awful lot go by word of mouth IMO, and through hunt newsletters...

 

[L&M]

If looking for hunters I never look at an ad unless it actually shows them on the hunting field!

I try to buy from hunting homes and in my experience 'proper' hunting people are far more honest than the average seller as the hunting world is quite small - also it is easier to get references on the horse from the packs they have hunted with.

 

[DW Team]

With my horse was hunting the day before I tried him and I was offered to take him out hunting. The yard where he comes from have the hunt pack there and all the horses are used as hunters and hirelings. Oliver is an amazing man and great host made me feel very much at easy and allowed me to look and try as many horses as I wanted too. it was like going to a big horse candy store every corner you went round you found horses all shapes and sizes. Amazing cross county course to play around too. Watch out for the lake it is very very deep! He arranged my accommodation and then arranged the shipping of my horse to us here in Lincolnshire

 

[Bernster]

we had a weekend (2 days) hunting with Oliver from Flowerhill - have to say the horses were amazing, and most did both days!! I wouldn't hesitate to be speaking to him when the time comes to get another.

that said, an awful lot go by word of mouth IMO, and through hunt newsletters...

Yes, had a little nosey on their site and like the sound of their xc and hunting hols. I've been xc riding at Anna Harvey and am sure they do hunt days out, and it's def on my list of things to do before I die/lose my bottle completely!

If looking for hunters I never look at an ad unless it actually shows them on the hunting field!

I try to buy from hunting homes and in my experience 'proper' hunting people are far more honest than the average seller as the hunting world is quite small - also it is easier to get references on the horse from the packs they have hunted with.

Yes, I really don't think you can say it's a good hunter unless it's been out a fair few times. Potential hunter maybe, but even then it would need to have shown some flair xc or similar. Agree word of mouth/hunt folk but that could be a long slow process and ime most people horse hunting want it NOW !

 

[Addicted to Hunting]

Well I was very lucky, and got a green horse and it's now a very good hunter, who will not be sold!! The last horse I had on loan to give it an education for a year, was the same (alltho current one try's for me more) and then my pony had mainly Showjumped and done some hunting, and was retired to the hunting field, wild but totally trusted each other. So none of mine have been made, but would definitely advice that if anyone wanted a made hunter than to see it out hunting and speak to various people in the field. If they can't think of the horse than it's normally well behaved as you normally rember the ones who don't behave, lol. Or the ones who go brilliantly over everything!!

 

[Goldenstar]

Horse and hound , word of mouth , and I have one waiting vetting that I found online .
Often ours are horses who have done another job for us and 'retire' and go hunting.
I have only bought one 'made ' hunter from an ad and he is a cracker the made ones usually arrive through word of mouth.

 

[FireFly29]

Exmoor Eventing used to deal in hunters, as well as competition horses. Unfortunately they've moved to Florida now but I'm sure there must be others.

 

[Clodagh]

I got my last one from Barbara Rich, but that was a few years ago now.

 

[becca1305]

Where abouts are you based? Can recommend someone who produces lovely hunters (and eventers) in Leics. Personally I would always rather buy something I'd seen out on the hunting field, but at minimum would want references from the pack it hunted with.

 

[spacefaer]

We buy ours in Ireland , preferably young and either lightly hunted or not hunted at all. I then "make" them over a period of time and if they suit us, we keep them and if they don't, we sell them to someone they do suit!

Sometimes one will have more ability than we need (or less lol! ) or would be more suited to a field master or huntsman. Sometimes they're better suited to a hill pack or ditch jumping. ....

In the old days, there used to be the hunt horse sales in Leicestershire where horses were moved on to appropriate packs

Hunters must be one of the most individually particular markets (as opposed to horses that hunt) as you spend hours with each horse and you have to enjoy its company as well as the performance

 

[Bernster]

We buy ours in Ireland , preferably young and either lightly hunted or not hunted at all. I then "make" them over a period of time and if they suit us, we keep them and if they don't, we sell them to someone they do suit!

Sometimes one will have more ability than we need (or less lol! ) or would be more suited to a field master or huntsman. Sometimes they're better suited to a hill pack or ditch jumping. ....

In the old days, there used to be the hunt horse sales in Leicestershire where horses were moved on to appropriate packs

Hunters must be one of the most individually particular markets (as opposed to horses that hunt) as you spend hours with each horse and you have to enjoy its company as well as the performance

And in some ways the most closed (in the sense of not widely known) market? There seem to be a wealth of other types/horses advertised in lots of places (to be fair, a number of them also hunt or have hunted), and a variety of dealers or recommendations, but they seem thinner on the ground when it comes to hunters.

 

[Post and Rail]

Kentonwood, Roger has loads of great hunters all with experience with the Cheshire packs.

 

[tippman]

you are better of if u can get a contact in Ireland to bring u around to proper hunting yards. as the dealers always have the price way up from wat they paid for them.

 

[spacefaer]

you are better of if u can get a contact in Ireland to bring u afround to proper hunting yards. as the dealers always have the price way up from wat they paid for them.

We buy privately.