would you buy a horse thats hunted to be used as an allrounder?

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silverstar

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Ive seen a few horses for sale that have been mainly hunted would you buy one thats mainly done hunting and what are the pros & cons of buying a horse thats mainly hunted? I can only think of one - a lot of wear on the legs. Has anyone got any others.
 
why on earth not? If they have done alot of hunting chances are legs are fine and they will be mannerly :)
 
i bought an ex hunter, his only role in life before i got him was hunting.

i bought him knowing he had a tendon injury but i'm glad i did as he has a heart of gold, gives me his all and really tries hard to please. nothing phases him at all. i would buy an ex hunter again if it was like my lad.
 
That's what I have, he was born and bred in ireland, hunted for seven seasons - came over here as an allrounder - superb horse and best I'm every likely to own.
 
I'm looking for an allrounder, and I would buy one that has hunted. In fact I'd prefer to buy one that is proven to be a mannerly hunter.

Why? Because part of being an allrounder for me is being able to go out and have a bash at hunting. Maybe not every week but a few times. And I'd prefer not to get out and find that its mind is frazzelled by the very thought of hunting!

I wouldn't discount a horse that hasn't, but it would be a plus rather than a minus.

If all it had done was hunted I would go and look bearing in mind that it may need a lot of schooling and I would query why it was being sold as good hunters are worth their weight in gold and i would be wondering whether it had an injury or wasn't up to the job.
 
If a horse has hunted regularly and is known to be a good hunter then a 'pro' is that he is likely to be good when ridden in company and knows how to look after himself cross country. (Remember that not all horses that are advertised as 'having hunted' have done that hunting in a safe and sensible manner - could have spent 40 mins doing aerobatic manoevres and then been taken home!)

A 'con' could be that although he might jump well out hunting, you can't always guarantee he will have the same boldness jumping in cold blood on his own round a showjumping ring!
 
IMO (humble tho it is) I think the best thing to teach a horse to think for itself, learn manners in company etc is Hunting. My sparrow legged ex-racehorse hunts with Fox hounds, Blood hounds and Drag hunts in any type of going and it's done her the world of good in gaining confidence. I would definately buy a horse that has only hunted in its previous life.
 
Oh yes, have bought and would again a horse that has only hunted.

Ron had only ever hunted, and nobody had ever taught him to jump really! I paid a bit over the odds for him, but only cos I knew him (I'd been exercising him for the people I bought him off). At that point he wouldn't jump for anybody. My instructor said he'd never jump more than 3 foot.

6 years I've had him now, and after reschooling him that first summer we've never looked back! He happily jumps round BE100, or 3'3" hunter trials, he'll open and shut any gate you care to mention, he's virtually bombproof (anything can go past him, and he'll always go past things, but things in hedges make him jump!:rolleyes:), he'll have a bash at dressage (but hates it!) and he never bats an eyelid at dodgy related distances in an SJ round!
He loads himself into the trailer, and waits patiently at the other end!

A horse that's hunted successfully will likely be brave and sensible, able to think for himself and cover country without too much problem, they're usually brilliant all rounders, but a bit of a jack-of-all-trades, so don't expect the earth IMHumbleO

ETA - the downside is that he may not have the cleanest legs, but chances are they'll actually be pretty tough! And they may not be the best when jumping on their own!
 
I've just bought one! He was a masters horse for two years and before that he was a race horse. He's perfect out hacking, great in traffic, loads like a dream and isn't bothered by anything. I just have to work on his schooling as he's never done any before so I'm having lessons to help me. I've only had him 2 and a half months and I've already done a walk and trot test where we didn't show ourselves up and even came 6th!
He's proving to be a lovely horse, I'm enjoying him very much. I bought him to be an all rounder and hopefully after our lessons over the winter we'll be able to do more in the spring.
 
A big pro for a hunter is they are EXTREMELY brave, which will come in useful on hacks or jumping. Will mostly likely have manners to burn as hunting horses are used to standing around straight after a gallop on a stuble field.
Also if you were planning to xc most hunters are amazing, will jump everything and anything at speed as well.
Just be careful its not for sale as it isn't settled on the hunting field, the horse will then take a lot of work, and chances are hunting blew its brains.
 
Only thing Ihave come across is a lady who bought a hunter and all she wanted to do was to hack - exploring the countryside, long hacks, etc.

The horse wouldn't leave the drive by itself. It was a great hunter, perfect, but it had never had to go out by itself and wasn't about to start!
 
We've got one who has hunted 4 seasons in Ireland, is 9 yrs old & passed a stringent 5 stage vetting with no comments at all!

He is an absolute delight - we took his headcollar off to clip his ears, he hacks on the buckle, never spooks, ambles across open fields..... hunts like a star too!

He's learning to work in an outline, having never done it before, but jumps anything from anywhere..... :) fun boy!

Going to be selling him shortly and hopefully he'll sell as a nice allrounder for someone, whether they want to hunt him or not!
 
I bought a nine year old that had done nothing but hunt all his life, latterly as a Master's horse. He passed a 5 stage vetting, had no "war wounds", and had certainly never seen white boards. He did his first CCI* last year. He was so totally chilled, people asked what calmer he was on! Funnily enough, the only thing that truly upsets him is clippers.
 
Yes!!
I think they are lovely horses and a bought a pony a couple of years ago that had just been hunted, he jumped huge was brave and bold, had brilliant breaks and was just a pleasure to own :)
 
Definitely! I know a few and they are absolutely lovely. Bold and brave, have taken to other disciplines easily and brave to hack. They all passed 5 stage vettings and have never had any leg problems, only really a little sore when loosing a shoe out hunting! The ones I know are tough as old boots compared to all of the ex racers and dressage lot!

However make sure you know that the horse was a nice mannerly hunter. Some adverts say "has hunted"...this could mean they have hunted regularly and are brave and honest etc, or they have been once for an hour and was a complete nut...but it "has hunted"!!


I would definitely buy one, and hopefully means you won't be on a complete first time nutter if you ever do want to have a crack at hunting.
 
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Yes, go for it. A horse that has hunted would be a big plus in my book. They are likely to have good manners in company, be bold, wise and think on their feet. Hunting doesn't preclude them doing other things - quite the opposite.
 
If it is sound and is capable of doing what you want to do then I should see know reason why not. Hunters make fantastic allrounders especially if you want to jump and hack out as they tend to be brave, bold and honest jumpers and surefooted over all different types of ground.

Just about every horse from Ireland is hunted as a youngster and Irish horses are known for their fantastic temperament and their ability to be able to turn their hoof to anything! :)
 
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If the horse hunts, then it's probably very sane! I've not hunted for a few years now, all because it blows the minds of the one's I have at the moment, and I've not had nearly as much competition success lately.
I used to do everything on my old hunting horses with my Riding Club, and I really miss having a horse that just gets on and does whatever you want to do.

Just make sure you have a 5 stage vetting.
 
When i bought my horse he was 12 and had hunted in ireland! He has a few splints on his legs but is the kindest natured, well mannered horse i have known!!

He will do whatever is asked of him and when you put all that together, i cant think of any reason NOT to buy an ex-hunter ;-)
 
There are so many ex racehorses with old leg injuries who go hunting (I hunt one.......) The only ones I would be wary of, are a few Irish ones who are hunted from 2 - with good fast jumping packs - who could show some wear and tear after a while, and sometimes their brians are a bit blown too - but 95% are wonderful, as everyone else has mainly said.
 
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