Entirely well-mannered

Think of a decent hunter and your mind most likely goes to a three-quarter-bred Irish type with enough bone to stand up to work and that’s sporty enough to get you out of trouble. The majority will picture a gelding, some will picture a mare – but almost never would one picture a stallion.

If you start them correctly, however, stallions have proven to be invaluable assets to hunt service over the years. Embla Stud, run by Yvonne Hill, has been home to several hunting stallions, including full Irish draught Embla George. After being introduced to hunting and being allowed to mature, he joined the Albrighton kennels in 1988, hunting their hounds for 12 seasons. His stablemate, Embla Statesman, also an Irish draught, was introduced to hunting as a four-year-old by Hill and hunted hounds on a few occasions, and George’s son, Embla Alfred, was kept by Hill and hunted a lot in the field. All proved exceedingly mannerly and trustworthy – with Hill being able to do them all herself on a hunting morning. “You can get these wellbred stallions who have never jumped a jump, seen a show or