What type of horse do you hunt?

[magnolia73]

Just a poll for curiosity. If you would like to expand- do you jump, ride first flight, staff, part of country etc.

[Rt66Kix]

Currently I am hunting Buddy, who appears to be a 15'2 hh QH/TB mix of some sort. When I'm in the Midwest people think he's an adorable QH; when we got to Kentucky everyone says what a nice TB cross I have!

I'm also rehabbing Thomas, an 18 hh Percheron/TB cross who's hunted with Carmargo. Considering how tight and trappy our territory can be, I think I'll have to learn how to hang off the side of his neck whilst we travers parts of our country. Buddy and I can get through the brush, but with Thomas it could be an adventure. And all my friends say that they will let me go first down the trail during cobweb season! LOL:lol:

[xeroxchick]

I need to check multiple boxes.

[magnolia73]

I think you can check multiple boxes on the poll.

[Hotspur]

I'm hunting Riley, my 16.2 hand registered QH. He has a big stride and a quiet mind. He loves hunting and seems to understand the game.

In the off season Riley and I do some eventing.

[Jleegriffith]

So far I have had three tb's all who have raced for their prior career. Two are now 6yrs and the other is a 7yr old. I mostly hunt first flight unless the horse is not fit enough to go that hard and then I will hunt second flight.

Each of them are in their first season of hunting and if I must say so I think they are all amazing:D I am new to hunting myself although not new to riding greenies out in the open. I have not had one instance of bad behavior and all of them are horses I can rely on to take care of me when the going gets tough.

[bosox]

I only checked one box--but if I need to go back and check the rest--I will.

bosox--QH/TB, just brought out my son's QH the last 3 times. Loved him.
little sox--first flight for 4 seasons on little quarter pony that she events, point to points, s/j, polox. Got to work with staff during a jr hunt in November.
This past jr hunt she worked with staff--with her new Morgan--who ROCKS as a whip horse. She was in all her glory--as she galloped by w/the "fastest, most daring whip" she had a big smile on her face--and I swear the pony turned and looked at me and GRINNED a big fat toothy smile too. He was quite bored in First flight. This 14.1 7/8 hh morgan has gone Pre-lim eventing and done the 3'6" jumpers. He was just trained by little sox to do polox--and he took to it quickly and seems like he will love it. quite handy this little guy.

[Elghund2]

Two TB's. The 18 year old is in his tenth season and goes first flight. The 5yr old is in his first season and hilltops.

[Beverley]

I checked quarter horse because right now, I'm hunting my now-6 yo appendix gelding, and my foundation qh mare, age 4, will probably start hunting in 2010. At age 5 the aforementioned gelding hunted first flight, second flight, and whipped in, over a half dozen hunts. But no jumping- paneled country is rare in the west and nonexistent where I hunted him to date (except for Arapahoe which has gates everywhere). He has an ugly front end that would, I expect, not stand up to jumping, so I haven't schooled him o/f (though I do allow him to jump sagebrush and ditches).

Dating back to when I started hunting in 1971- own horses hunted were three quarter horses, one TB, one warmblood (Oldenburg/qh cross) first flight and whipping in, occasionally hilltopping. And my old qh mare packed the kids, she started hunting (hilltoppers only) at age 26.

[HandsomeBayFarm]

I have a Grade that I resecued when he was 2. He is a big bodied QH/TB type. We just arent sure. He has the best brain!! We go second field.

Then my project pony - rescued from the auction - went out yesterday - second field with a student and jumped everything! And was so well behaved! I am a proud momma. He looked like fun - I really want to hunt him but he is 14.2 and I am 6.2! :winkgrin:

[Risk-Averse Rider]

Mr. Blondie is a 15.2 ish registered QH.

We putter along on the outskirts... sometimes with enough other horses to be considered hilltoppers or 2nd flights; sometimes just the "tryin' ta keep up" field of 1 :D

But as we don't jump out here and have a pretty small turnout, there's not a lot of difference between hilltopping & 2nd flight a lot of the time.

If we were with a larger group, especially one that jumped, we would be firmly ensconced in the hilltoppers.

[Jaegermonster]

I hunted my current horse's mother for several years, fieldmastered, whipped in off of her etc. Now she is retired, and I am hunting her 6 year old daughter. Both are full TB.
I whip in at two hunts off of her, and as our JtMFH/huntsman says, she is "fabulous".

[Cruise Control]

I hunt a 14.2 welsh/tb and a morgan this year.

[strawberry roan]

I hunt a Dutchie. He is fabulous! :) He is great for hilltopping but can't jump anymore, except little logs. I have another Dutchie I am bringing along who can jump. Wasn't looking for Dutch horses, just happened to work out this way. Also have a draft cross who is still green but has been out a few times, just needs more miles--and maturity! :)

[EmmyTheHemi]

Okay, so I marked "full draft" with reservations, after toying with "warmblood" -- my 8yo gelding is a 15.3h purebred Irish Draught who is jelling into a pretty good low-level event horse. It's the first season hunting for both of us, so we've been back with the hilltoppers. I'm addicted, and he seems to like it, too. Wait 'til he finds out there's running and jumping involved :D

[LookinSouth]

I hunt an APHA/TB cross. We jump if the fences are within my level, if not, we go around. We recently moved up to 1st flight this season. This is with a live hunt in New England. The hunts can last anywhere from 2 hours to (from what I have been told ) 6. The longest hunt we have been on was 3ish hours.

[Ray]

My horse is 7/8 TB 1/8 Clyde. we call her a poor (wo)man's warmblood :) I ride first field; my horse is a fabulous jumper and is still waiting for me to catch up (we show in low Hunters; my SO showed her in level 3-4 Jumpers). She has great speed but limited stamina; since our hunts in suburban Massachusetts are often under 2 hrs, its not an issue.

[tbmorgan]

Historically, I've always ridden TB's, but next time I get the opportunity to hunt, I'll be taking out my TB/Morgan cross. It's going to be very interesting to see how he does...he's tough as nails, both physically and mentally, so I'm hoping he loves to hunt like his TB mama did!

Katja

[SLW]

My plain little chestnut mare is a 14.2 hand (that might be stretching it according to my farrier) lost papered Quarter horse. The pace, terrian and groups aren't an issue so she can go first flight as long as we can skirt around a jump larger than 2'. She has some physical issues that prevent her from being a safe jumper though she'll go over anything mentally without hesitation. According to the legend she is probably 16-17 years old nowdays.

A gelding I just started hunting this fall is a Qtr/Arab cross and he took to hunting pronto. He sticks shy of 15 hands and is, again according to legend, 17 years old. I've been jumping low fences whenever possible and he is pretty good. In my hunt country I can't think of anything over 3' so it's possible he'll work out to be *complete* first flight horse.

Our second flight follows right on the heels of first flight so a horse gets game if you get out regularly. Both of my horses are terrific in groups or going out solo on rides. Like Ray, our weekend hunt tends to *pause* at the two hour point to allow some to leave if they want. I kinda like that since during the winter my horses's only get ridden on hunting days so they aren't solidly fit, IMO. I decide to stay out depending on how my horse feels and what pace the first two hours were like.

[kokopelli00]

I hunt my 8yr old Morgan gelding! We hunt first flight. I'm a Morgan person anyway, but I have to say they have everything going for them in the hunt field. They are quick, agile, smart, kind, sensible, sturdy, tough, etc. We're great in the mud, across the water, galloping across a field or zig-zagging through the woods. As a bonus, he's 15h so it's easy to get on and off if we need to open a gate. :D

[florida foxhunter]

Here in the south, hunting Coyotes in BIG territory, you need a horse with a lot of TB blood. An Appendix QH or WB/TB cross is my preference. There are a few draft crosses that do well, but they can't be too heavy or they can;t take the heat AND the running/distance. I've led a coyote run 25 miles.....and I'm not exagerating!! (someone had a GPS!!). The past two hunts, we were out over FIVE hours (each day).....it takes a FIT horse, and some just can't get that fit! It's brutal, but fun. The trick and only fair thing for your horse is to have one that is FIT and athletic enough to do it.

[Painted Wings]

Three of which have hunted this season. Once hunt this season, all three were in the field. One of the others is a retired eventer/hunter, the other two are future foxhunters. All of the ones that have hunted have hunted first flight, but I have also hunted other flights with them.

Two are huntsman's horse's when I beagle, one of them is a one of the future foxhunters. Yes, she lets beagles climb all over her but at three she's too young to take on a regular foxhunt.

They are all Paints or Paint/TB and I refuse to call them QHs so I checked the "other" box.

[asb_own_me]

I've borrowed a couple horses this year....TB and draft cross. I did gate group with my 5 y/o Saddlebred gelding who is my current ASB Hunter show horse, before he got kicked in the knee and then had the whole heart infection thing....a whole other thread! I did one day of gate group and then went to first flight with my retired-show-horse Saddlebred mare (13 y/o) and when she keeps her head together (i.e. not rearing) she's great. She will jump anything and go over/through anything without hesitation. I'd like to learn to whip next summer and then use her as a whip horse. She'd love being off away from the field, and I never have to worry that she'll stop or balk.

[SteeleRdr]

Through the years I've mostly hunted TB's, but my favorite is 7/8 TB, 1/8 QH. Currently in our hunting "stock," we have two 1/2 Hanoverian 1/2 TB, two TB, one pure Hanoverian, and one 3/4 TB 1/4 Perch. All go first flight with Greenspring, which is big, fast country with a variety of jumps, including 4 board fences, etc.

[armandh]

my first hunt horse was a tall QH
#2 was a TWH/Clyde ... Paint [Photo in my profile]
and #3 is a DWB/Clyde

[DLee]

Well, only been out once with plans to go again, but I hunted my handsome grey OTTB, third flight (which he didn't mind a bit!) and had a fabulous time!

[HappyHoppingHaffy]

I hunt a 15 hand, 1200lbs (all muscle and bone) haflinger, of course!! Some haflinger people consider them WBs but I am not one of them, so I checked "other".

We hunt 1st flight and we've jumped up to 4' (so they say, I have a sneaking suspicion it was not quite that big) with one particular drag hunt (Norfolk) in our area.
You know, the heights of some of these fences is not the big thing for me, it's the drops some of these jumps have! Holy moley! His front end has gone out of my visual field on occasion! :eek:

Three hours is the longest we've hunted 1st flight. That's up front first flight, too! ;) And with two gone aways thrown in for good measure.

I have not yet seen him pooped out from hunting. Apparently my conditioning program kicks *ss! :cool:

We're not members of a hunt but hope to join one soon!

His pic is in the link below my signature line...

[beanie&boomer]

I hunt TBs for the most part right now, and an occasional draft cross as a re-sale project, but my alltime favorites are the Cleveland Bay/TB crosses. Several of mine seem to be born with a hunting gene and know their job right from the beginning. My best ones have been at least 3/4 TB, even with the Cleveland cross.

[harehound]

Mostly draft crosses, and now also Irish Sport horses. The draft crosses ranged from hot 15.2h cobs to giant gentleman's hunters to sleek, mostly TB types. Their similarities came from breeding rather than size - the Clyde crosses are quite different from Perch crosses, Belgian crosses, etc. My favs : TB x Clyde/Hackney, and Irish Draught crosses. Currently I have one of each.

[JulesGirl]

I haven't hunted - yet - due to my lack of transport. When I do, I will be following the hilltoppers on my Arabian. :D

[gabriellemg]

Purebred Cleveland Bay mare I whip off, been field master or have been in the field. My other purebred mare preferred to be a fieldmaster.
My partbred Cleveland Bay mare (1/2 TB) mostly stayed in the field.

GMG
Texas USA

[SunnysideJate]

I have not hunted yet but will be taking my Standardbred, Sunny to the fox hunting clinic this year that is held by our local hunt. I am excited to learn about this sport as I have always wanted to fox hunt. I also wanted to mention even though Sunny was trained to harness race he has been under saddle for 1.5 yrs and does have a great canter and does not pace :D

[SidesaddleRider]

I mostly hunt (Dutch) WB/TB crosses, or a full Trakehner. My husband prefers hunting his TB's.

[Everythingbutwings]

I have not hunted yet but will be taking my Standardbred, Sunny to the fox hunting clinic this year that is held by our local hunt.

The clinics we attended with Cassanova had just about every breed imaginable represented. They were very open about wanting to introduce anyone who loves to ride to the sport and fun of fox hunting. :)

[SunnysideJate]

I am excited to hunt with him and in my part of NJ there are so many STBs around enjoying thier second careers that it is not unusual to run in to another STB owner. I have a friend that has gone capping with our local hunt and has always had a great time and said how welcome she felt. I hope Sunny enjoys hunting too he likes to move out. For fun I added his pic- he is quite chubby right now and not fit. My 31 yr old AQHA has had some issues lately and I have been spending ALOT of time with him.

Sunnyside Jate:
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk244/fanzidanbar/Sunnynewyear.jpg

[ErinW]

This was my first season to hunt and I took my 16 hand Percheron/Quarter Horse cross, so I checked draft cross. I hope I will be able to find a trailer soon to take him more. When I don't take him, I ride other draft crosses as that's what our hunt has for guests (mostly Percherons and Clydesdales crossed with TBs and QHs). The draft crosses are my favorite. I like a nice calm horse with a good brain! :)

[IrishRydr]

Registered Irish Draught, first flight all the way!!! :D

[Painted Wings]

I see the Thoroughbreds have taken the lead. Good to know. My first hunter was a Tb and I have borrowed a couple of others to hunt.

[middy]

I have not hunted yet but will be taking my Standardbred, Sunny to the fox hunting clinic this year that is held by our local hunt. I am excited to learn about this sport as I have always wanted to fox hunt. I also wanted to mention even though Sunny was trained to harness race he has been under saddle for 1.5 yrs and does have a great canter and does not pace :D

I have a STB too. He hunted his first hunt last week and did wonderful. He does all 4 gaits, walk-Trot-Pace-Canter. I cann't discourage the pace completely because he will race down here at Colonial Downs this fall. He is just getting some time off from racing since the STB track in MD is closed for now.

I have hunted all 3 of my horses and I think the Iberian Warmblood will be the best once she settles some. She just gets a little wound up but this is her nature.

[Daatje]

I hunt a carriage breed, the Dutch Friesian. We worked our way to first flight last season, but that really is too much for her.

Usually, we start hilltop and may move up to 2nd if the day is right.

I'd MUCH rather be hunting a TB!!! The Friesian is not sensitive enough, and does not possess the stamina to keep up well in the hunt field. (hence the hilltop status. :))

These days I can only have one, and the Friesian is such a sweet horse in all respects....I can't bring myself to sell her!

Some day, I'm going to get an athletic, sensitive, keen, brave, and intelligent TB to hunt, but for now.....it's the beast! :)
http://www.freewebs.com/daatje2008/easycare%20daatje%20jump.jpg

[SunnysideJate]

Hey Middy, My Sunny was training as a trotter but did not qualify for any races he was given to my prior BO and then I fell in love and the rest is history. His father (Jate Lobell) was a pacer and I believe so was his mother. I don't really know a great deal about harness racing but have been learning more about it. There are a ton of STBs in my part of NJ and we have a very active SPHO. I have to say they are a wonderful breed and I am hooked. I used to ride a pacer and he paced when I first rode him then as time passed he began to trot more and pace less (usually when I did something stupid.) The fact that your STB hunts, etc in addition to racing is a testament to the true versatility of the breed. :)

Elaine

[Aven]

I ticked other cause I am not sure what he is. :D

I have done a few intro meets and capped went out first flight each time. I rode different horses and brought students out too. I loved it so much I planned to join and bought a horse for hunting. Then I decided to go back to school (silly I know.. hunting is more fun than school) I am taking a year off between studies and I am going to join this year.

This is my boy (not with me on him though) any guesses as to which box I could have checked?

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd125/Grey-Run/peekjump.jpg

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd125/Grey-Run/peekwalk.jpg

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd125/Grey-Run/peek.jpg

Best thing about him :D ... is that he has a saddle shaped marking on his back where the saddle goes!
http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd125/Grey-Run/Darienpeek-1.jpg

[bird4416]

I don't hunt much any more but when I did I hunted a trakehner mare with the regular field, then I've had 2 paints that I hunted with the field, and my favorite by far is my Belgian/t'bred cross who I also hunted with the field. He is like hunting on a couch. He know his job, keeps his place in the field and is a great jumper. The only downside is that he is more work to keep fit.

[Leather]

If all goes well, this year I'll be hunting on a 14.1 h Paso Fino!

Quite a change from my previous 16.1 tank of a QH.

The only thing I'm worried about is being constantly asked to do the gates since I'll be one of the few that can mount from the ground. :lol: