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
Denne historien er fra December 09, 2021-utgaven av Horse & Hound.
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Denne historien er fra December 09, 2021-utgaven av Horse & Hound.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Gemirande provides 24-carat magic
Venetia Williams sparkles again in the December Gold Cup and jockey brothers dead-heat
‘Happy hunting, everyone'
“The season for talks, dinners and parties has finally arrived for Tessa Waugh, whose distress about the snags of middle age fades away with some rousing festive spirits
'Monaco deserved this victory
Seemingly destined always to play the bridesmaid’s role, Harrie Smolders’ great partner Monaco finally tops an incidentpacked Rolex grand prix
'It had to end sometime'
The closure of beloved Hampshire saddlery Calcutt Sons is a loss to the hunting and wider equestrian worlds, as Octavia Pollock reports
'You couldn't want for more
The Ludlow's peaceful country makes for a day in \"hunting paradise\"
The greatest gift of all
Christmas is fast approaching and while we all like a bit of tinsel, the festive season is also a perfect time for giving to a horse charity. Niki Hinman finds out some of the options
Winter him well
A horse's winter routine can differ dramatically from his summer structure but what’s the knock-on effect? Ellie Hughes asks vets how to optimise routine management for the season
Neat feet
Excellent hoof care is a year-round concern but the winter months present their own problems. Richard Stephenson MRCVS explains the seasonal challenges afoot and how to stay one step ahead
In bygone days
Modern vets have much scientific knowledge behind them, but what about their forebears? Kieran O’Brien MRCVS opens up the world of Victorian vets in London
'When I joined the Pony Club it was just two boys and 48 girls'
Pepsi Kohler on being delightfully outnumbered by girls in the Pony Club, a leg-up from a royal and the H&H advert that changed his life
