There are some who say that a good hunter is a good hunter, regardless of its size, shape or breeding. But there are others who find a type that suits them — and their country — and refuse to hunt anything else.
Some preferences are inherited, others are honed over time and, for everyone who loves a certain type, there are a hundred others who won’t go near them.
Find out which hunt country suits your horse:
Thoroughbreds: galloping country with lots of hills, anywhere with lots of plough — Dartmoor, West Percy, Blankney
Native ponies: places that are trappy, wild and woolly, such as the Staintondale
Cobs: any of the Welsh packs
Showjumpers and eventers: big jumping countries — Cheshire, Wynnstay, Blackmore and Sparkford Vale
What gives your horse the edge out hunting?
Thoroughbreds: the Duracell bunny of the hunting world, with the speed and stamina to stay at the front all day
Native ponies: cleverer than a cartload of monkeys when it comes to crossing rough and ready terrain. Don’t need a lot of pampering when they get home
Polo ponies: keen to please, handy to get on and off and unfazed by being in a crowd
Cobs: the quad bike of the hunting field, loved by traditionalists; smart, low-maintenance and endlessly biddable
Eventers: trained to jump the most taxing obstacles with skill and speed
Ex-showjumpers: talented and accurate, with experience of being around other horses
Find out what puppy walking entails
Read the full article about different types of hunters in this week’s issue of Horse & Hound magazine (22 May 2014)
