Thread: Off for a ride...

Originally Posted by Dundee

This might sound like a dumb question and I know for a fact that my Grandad was in 'The Mounted Rifle Brigade'.

But how do the horses react if you fire a shot at a deer? Or do you dismount tie the hag up then go for a hunt?

That was always a dilemma 'dundee' The fact is that deer will let you ride right up to them. I guess they don't recognise the horse rider shape as a dangerous combination. So taking a shot was always a temptation, but I never had a horse I could shoot off and mine would have headed for the tall timber if I did. I knew guys that could shoot off their horse.

Also ours were equipped with pack saddles, not riding saddles and if your lost your balance you would end up impaled on one of the 4 U shaped, sharp metal hooks they were quipped with.

Mostly it happened like this, see deer, panic, jump off, drop reins, shoot deer, carry deer back to vehicle and then drive one hour back to last gate to catch runaway horse.