IN the same way that prices for houses, cars and dogs shot up during the Covid pandemic, so too rose the value of horses – and none more so than hunters. This winter, if you’re looking to buy a decent horse for the hunting field (and some fun in the summer, too), you are unlikely to get little change from £15,000.
A hunter must be brave and bold, never sick or sorry. They must have manners to stand patiently and keep their head, not kick hounds or horses, yet jump all manner of fences and ditches when asked and cross country at speed, carrying their rider for a full day. They must be tough – after a hard day, they must pull out sound the following morning.
It’s a big ask and producing a quality hunter takes time, money and a lot of work, so it’s no small wonder that dealers across the UK say that prices are finally fair.
“I was always told that a good hunter should be the same price as an acre of land and if you’ve got a good horse, you’ll get your price, ” says Northumberland-based JackThomas Watson, a field master with the Tynedale and who buys horses from Ireland to produce as hunters, competition horses and “general sports horses” from his yard in Belsay.
“Horses were too cheap for too long. A lot of good broodmares went offto factories in Ireland [for slaughter], as there was no real worth to breeding a horse. Now two- and three-year-olds are making great numbers and people are breeding again.”
SUPPLY AND DEMAND
Esta historia es de la edición December 09, 2021 de Horse & Hound.
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Esta historia es de la edición December 09, 2021 de Horse & Hound.
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'Sorry, but I wasn't feeling it'
Fresh from the opening meet, Tessa Waugh hasn't quite yet been bitten by the hunting bug. Without the crisp autumnal air and cheek-pinching cold she hoped for, it's a sluggish start
New pair pull off a win
A former European Championships pony is on form with his new rider, while elsewhere former showjumpers and eventers take ribbons
Lording it over the rest
Horses who have returned from injury, a second generation homebred and a long format specialist score on the final weekend of the British season
Smith hits flying form
A \"her way or no way\" mare helps Zoe Smith to an impressive ribbon haul and a rider beats his own boss to the top spot
Jankorado hits the jackpot
Paul Sims is triumphant despite his interrupted jump-off preparation and a borrowed horse comes up trumps
Peanut
From \"dangerous, scary\" to hedge-hopping brilliance, hunting has been the making of this unstable but very lovable equine character
She's a corker
Communication, says long-standing and highly respected Belvoir master Lady Sarah McCorquodale, is the key to all, as Catherine Austen discovers
Access all areas Cavalier Centre
The Cavalier Centre is a fully accessible, state-of-the-art equestrian centre designed to improve lives through horse-based activities. Ellie May Forrester pays a visit
'Use it or lose it'
Not everyone wants to reach for the pipe and slippers at a certain age. Becky Murray speaks to some veteran horse-and-rider combos for their secrets of human and equine longevity
A new way forward
Worm control in horses is vital, but established methods will not remain effective for much longer. Tim Mair FRCVS explains why and how we need to change
