Why are hunters so expensive?

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DD265

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Question in the title - seeing lots advertised on the RH and they can be thousands of pounds but not have any serious affiliated competition history etc which is generally what I would expect to push a horse's price up.
 
I imagine because a great hunter takes a lot of time to "make".
Despite the lack of competition records, you can tell the goods from the greats quite easily out hunting.
 
I think a very good hunter is a special type of horse. People who hunt don't necessarily want to compete so competition records aren't always relevant. Someone who wants to hunt is looking to have fun, and to produce a horse who can give someone a fabulous day's hunting, no matter what the weather, what the terrain, what time the meet ends, how long they have to spend standing about, takes time and money. A really safe, trustworthy, capable and fun hunter is worth it's weight in gold I think.
 
They are top class 'competition' horses.

Balanced on all terrain , up hill, down hill, deep, slippy - dressage
Jump cleanly gates, wire - show jumper
Cross country, hedges, dykes, ditches - event horse

Add on carry weight, last from 11 to 3, turn out 2 or 3 times a week, quality bone to stay sound, brave, careful, mannerly.

= mega £.
 
While I do think they're over priced in general, going off ads I see on here, a good hunter is a well built, athletic, safe, comfortable, forgiving kind of horse, and often nice looking, so that should attract some value, shouldn't it? You often find that at the end of the season hunters are sold much cheaper.

I have two horses. One is beautiful and bold, with a good record BE, yet would be dreadful out hunting due to having an attitude and hating being behind or waiting. My other horse has barely any competition experience, yet is big, well built, handsome, superbly calm yet athletic, and would happily canter along jumping hedges (with the comfiest canter ever) yet gladly stop and have a rest at any chance. He would be a superb hunter.
 
AdorableAlice said:
They are top class 'competition' horses.

Balanced on all terrain , up hill, down hill, deep, slippy - dressage
Jump cleanly gates, wire - show jumper
Cross country, hedges, dykes, ditches - event horse

Add on carry weight, last from 11 to 3, turn out 2 or 3 times a week, quality bone to stay sound, brave, careful, mannerly.

= mega £.
Click to expand...

This ^^^ and I personally do not think they are overpriced at all. I think a good hunter is worth every penny.
 
Worth every penny and more, if they are good, safe and sound imho. Riding is a dangerous sport, so adding mud, trappy country, up and down terrain etc makes a reliable horse vital if looking for a good ride.
 
I was initially unsure whether you were referring to the wellies or the horses...evidently it's the horses.

They are so expensive because of the time it takes to produce them - it takes not only this but a very special animal with a relatively calm, patient, sympathetic and reliable mentality, something which not all horse have! On top of this, they need to be as safe as safe can be because as we all know, riding is a dangerous sport which obviously becomes many more times more dangerous when you through hounds, 5ft hedges, ditches, gates and a shed load of other horses into the mix.

In my opinion, I would rather pay for a hunter than a top class competition horse. I would value the safe, yet incredibly fun ride they would give me across the country far more than I'd value their performance in the showjumping or dressage arenas. If they were capable of this too then that would be a wonderful bonus but a hunters competition record would not be a deal breaker for me.
 
I agree a good hunter is worth its weight in gold. Fortunately, if you have an eye for a good rough diamond and the wherewithall to produce your own, you can avoid paying the hefty price tag.
 
I paid £2k for a very, very good hunter. Don't think the person I bought him from knew how good he was. His only real fault is that he would kick if something shoved up his backside.

He also wasnt that keen on show jumping at home. Not sure if this would have translated out hunting, as I never put him to the test. I didn't go out hunting that much, and the times I did, there was no requirement to jump anything, apart from ditches, which we could do.

However apart from that he was a very mannerly hunter, would go first, middle, or last. Would happily wait behind if the main pack were clearing off into the distance and I wanted to stay and the back and chat with anyone.
 
Perhaps they are the recession proof type? Seems to me the price of hunters rises with inflation whereas the bottom has dropped out of the market for many others. (Assuming they are selling at these prices). Plus there's a bit of a window of opportunity to sell the top ones at top prices ie now.

The prices don't seem out of line for the quality of horse, required training, fitness etc.

And the price of a bad one can more easily be a broken neck.
 
Well given that a day's hunting isn't too cheap you might as well spend some money on something that will make it a fab day :D
 
Totally agree with Bakewell's last sentence - quite simply your hunter holds your life in his or her hooves, worth every penny. Having said that you can make your own to suit you and your hunt country so doesn't have to be megabucks. I have a great time with my boy who is a freebie ex-chaser, jumps what I want to, goes anywhere in the field, has brakes, doesn't kick, loads with no problems etc. Don't hunt with a "big" pack, I'm not even brave enough to jump all our fences, but he probably would with the right person, he's been around Aintree ...
 
With a hunt subscription costing well over a grand over season for most and having a horse fit, mannered and up for the life of a proper hunter.....then you need your moneys worth for what it costs you and the special kind of horse that is needed! Jump insane hedges, wire and 5 bar gates and similar height various other fences, in all ground and over all terrain.....whilst retaining manners, sorting itself out and taking care of its rider, and hacking bombproof in traffic/leading a pony/leading horses/trailering and travelling on own(often waiting quietly too), standing still, keeping a level head throughout all the other craziness.....the list goes on in the life of a hunter!
 
AdorableAlice said:
They are top class 'competition' horses.

Balanced on all terrain , up hill, down hill, deep, slippy - dressage
Jump cleanly gates, wire - show jumper
Cross country, hedges, dykes, ditches - event horse

Add on carry weight, last from 11 to 3, turn out 2 or 3 times a week, quality bone to stay sound, brave, careful, mannerly.

= mega £.
Click to expand...

Completely agree. I think people pay mad money for competition horses but genuinely haven't thought any hunters on HH are over priced. My horses absolutely make my day, I see others pratting about and I am just so grateful for my superstars. :)
 
echo the PP who said a good hunter is worth thier weight in gold was spot on, & if youve ever had a day on a bad hunter, then by christ you know it, its not like you can just put your hand up & retire, even when they totally flip thier lids or throw the towel in, you can be miles from your lorry, cold, wet & on your own!

having made all my own hunters it takes time, patience & a certain type of horse, ive also been lucky enough to ride some serious (10k plus type of hunters) horses & you do know the difference, its hard to explain to someone who doesnt hunt why they are so good, but i think its the combination of being balanced across any ground, able to jump wire/gates/hedges without question, but stop 20 yards later & instantly switch off, then back on again.

they are special, in a way that 'competition' horses arent, a hunter is an extension of yourself i think, certainly mine once theyve had thier first full season, become very much part of me, in a way that doesnt develop quite the same when you are just eventing or SJ etc....... you have to trust them totally to keep you safe, far more than any other sport we do, becasue actually we dont always know/can see whats on the other side of the hedge we're approaching, so we need them to have a sixth sense

& yes, its hardly a cheap sport so actually 10k over the horses lifetime is actually quite reasonable when you add up the number of hours you spend together each season!

(sorry.... got rather carried away there!!)
 
ChristmasSparkles said:
With a hunt subscription costing well over a grand over season for most and having a horse fit, mannered and up for the life of a proper hunter.....then you need your moneys worth for what it costs you and the special kind of horse that is needed! Jump insane hedges, wire and 5 bar gates and similar height various other fences, in all ground and over all terrain.....whilst retaining manners, sorting itself out and taking care of its rider, and hacking bombproof in traffic/leading a pony/leading horses/trailering and travelling on own(often waiting quietly too), standing still, keeping a level head throughout all the other craziness.....the list goes on in the life of a hunter!
Click to expand...

Hi CS, thanks for this - I was just mulling over what makes a great hunter when I read your post. As someone who has never hunted (except in PC), I understand about the conformation, build etc, but was wondering about the other bits that go into making a great hunter, rather than just an average one.
 
Spring Feather said:
This ^^^ and I personally do not think they are overpriced at all. I think a good hunter is worth every penny.
Click to expand...

I agree, when you are out hunting tired a bit scared and all the horse around you are a bit feisty, there is nothing I wouldn't pay to be on the good mannered hunter who knows its job - and that takes time and bravery to make.
 
As per previous replies, a well mannered hunter is worth its weight in gold. Added to which, IMHO there are a number of people who hunt who are not really interested in learning to ride well. As long as they can stay on most of the time, and keep up with the action, they are happy. Their long suffering mounts, who were probably 'made' by a true nagsman, continue to cover up their riders' shortcomings and enable them to enjoy their day.

They are beyond price.
 
A good hunter will gallop at the front and be bold, will go quietly at the back with a child on a lead rein. Will stand whilst you have a wee, drink, fag or whatever takes your fancy whilst everyone else gallops off. Will happily leave the field, without napping, when you want to go home and will load easily. Will be tough and sound, honest and careful. Will happily hunt twice a week and be super fit without dumping you on the floor.

Horses like that are priceless.
 
We have a super hunting pony,we didn't know until we took her out,as the people we bought her from never hunted her.She is fabulous,goes first or last,if the rest of the field gallops off and you ask her to stay behind,she does as she is asked,never gets fizzy and really looks after her jockey.My daughter did a full day with the Quorn on her when she was 8 years old,no lead rein but kept up with her baby sitter all day.However,I can count the number of clear rounds show jumping she has done on one hand,her speciality is the dirty stop and she's had years of practice at perfecting her technique.Every time she goes hunting though,someone wants to know if I'll sell her or loan her out,not bad for a pony that cost £950 inc tack.
 
Lol so did I! A lovely long blue evening gown which was on a size 18 hanger with a 16 tag attached to the dress and in reality it was a size 10 and fitted perfectly!
 
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