Eugh! Don’t think any of the village would wish*that* on a much loved
nag, hunt lovers or otherwise.
Unless things have changed a lot "since my day" I think you are wrong,
actually, Chris. Possibly not in the case of the "otherwise" but it was
always considered a very fitting way for an old, loved horse to end up,
and even more so if the horse itself had enjoyed hunting.
My great-niece is very involved with her local hunt and her family had
to deal with a dear departed equine just a few years ago (1) so her
knowledge will be more up-to-date than mine.
(1) Young cousins of said GN were visiting from abroad shortly
afterwards and something came up about riding and I found myself
struggling for the right way to express the fact that Splodge was no
longer with us. As I hesitated, the short silence was broken by
approx-5-yr-old-Great-Nephew, "he's dead!"
--
Jenny M Benson
http://jennygenes.blogspot.co.uk/