Hunter

       

Introduction:  If you have any comments or suggestions, please click here.  The horse in the above right picture may not appear as attractive as the one in the painting on the left, but it is an Irish Hunter, one of the best-bred hunters in the world.

Names:  "Hunter" is not a breed name.  Any horse that performs creditably on the hunting field may be called a hunter, whether it be an Appaloosa or a Connemara pony.  But "hunter" generally refers to an animal of the type specially bred and trained for fox hunting.  The breed that dominates among hunters, due to its speed and incredible endurance, is the Thoroughbred.  The description given below will be that of a Thoroughbred Hunter.  (The latter was my original plan; however, my most recent source speaks of the "English or Irish Hunter" so the kind spoken of will have to be identified by its description until I can sort this page out.)

Origin:  The hunter is found all over the world; I am placing it under England for now and will probably have links to it in other countries eventually.  Breeding areas and studs--everywhere in the English-speaking world, particularly in England, Ireland, South Africa and Australia.  (Hunters Improvement and National Light Horse Breeding Society.)  Crossing between Thoroughbred and local strains since foundation of the English Thoroughbred.
    This type, not breed, of horse is classified according to the weight of the rider.  British standards define a lightweight Hunter as one which is expected to carry a rider weighing under 182 pounds; a middleweight Hunter, from 182 to 205 pounds; and a heavyweight Hunter, over 205 pounds.  The height of a Hunter is usually from 63-66 inches.  The weight generally ranges from about 1100 pounds for lightweight Hunters to 1300 pounds for heavyweights.  Hunters are derived mainly from Thoroughbreds, often crossed either with American Saddle, Standardbred, Hackney, or Cleveland Bay horses, depending upon which weight-class of Hunter is desired.  Sometimes even draft blood is used if a particularly heavy Hunter is wanted.

Breeding:  He is anything from a bloodhorse to a native pony and is both rare and extremely expensive.  Crossbreeding of Thoroughbreds with cold-blooded horses is sometimes done to produce characteristics such as great size or heavy bone.  Breeders in Ireland and England have gotten bold, hardy hunters out of crosses between Thoroughbreds and wild ponies.

Description:  Full, hard muscling and sound bone give him "substance" to endure the punishment of the ride, perhaps under a heavy rider.  He appears closer to the ground than his flat-track brother, sturdier through the neck, shoulder, and barrel.  (The hunter, of course, is a mature and fully developed horse, while the two- or three-year-old race horse is still a juvenile.)
    The skeleton of the horse is its inner spring, and the hunter's is well designed for his function.  Powerful hindquarters provide the lift he needs to sail over obstacles.  Sloping shoulders absorb the shocks of landing.  Prominent withers keep the saddle from slipping in the helter-skelter of the chase.  During the long and careful training process, a hunter's leg bones are allowed the necessary time to "set," to become dense, hard, resistant to injury.  When put to full use at age five, he is in condition for the worst kind of country.  Whereas the hard-used racing
Thoroughbred is often broken down at age five, the hunter is just beginning his career.
    If the selection for breeding has been done with sufficient care the result is a good-looking, useful horse.  Noble, large-framed, long lines.  The best types acquire fame as show hunters, show jumpers and point-to-point horses.

Action:  Walk; should cover much ground.  Fast, striding and enduring gallop.  Above-average jumping ability.  (The Irish Hunter is generally cleverer and more talented for jumping.)

Size:  Heights vary considerably, but seldom below 15.2 hands.

Temperament:  Good temper is another quality necessary for the hunter.  A field member is no asset to the hunt on a horse that reacts excitedly, kicks at the hounds, refuses jumps, or is disobedient to commands.  The animal's inborn disposition has much to do with his deportment, but training is equally important.  If properly schooled, the spirited hunter learns to take the most awesome jumps fearlessly and to stay calm amidst the general excitement around him.  He will show a knack for doing the sensible thing.

Features:  A good hunter stands quietly, ignores hounds, horses and "refusers," and jumps anything from wire to water safely and at any speed.  He will go first or last without a fuss, will not pull unduly and has the stamina for two-and-a-half days' hunting a week throughout the season.
    One of my favorite books put it this way:  The beast that can stay the distance and leap like a cat is what makes the hunt, be he all
Thoroughbred, all cart horse, or betwixt and between.
   
Thoroughbred, half-bred or pony-bred riding horse with jumping ability and often up to weight.  Energetic, fast and with lots of stamina.  Robust, healthy constitution.  Strictly speaking it is not a separate breed, but is generally a direct corss between the Thoroughbred stallion and mares of more or less good quality from the counties of England and Ireland--such as Cleveland Bay, Suffolk Punch, Irish Draught mares.  Therefore it is a half-bred in the true sense of the word.

Uses:  The demands of the hunting field require certain qualities in the hunter not associated with the Thoroughbred as flat racer.  The streamlined racer propels himself at great speed over a smooth course of less than two miles.  The hunter performs as a jumper and a long-distance runner all day over difficult terrain.

Accomplishments:  

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Conclusion:  

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