Classical Horsemanship
As a child I always had horses as my dearest companions. I rode through out my childhood. At the age of 9 I started racing. Without doubt I was the youngest but luckily equestrian sport is known for equality between young, old, men and women. I raced for two years always placing among top three and stopped because my horse got more excited routing for the race rather than being in it.
In Estonia equestrian sport is a big deal. I competed some in steeplechase, show jumping and equestrian games after i quit racing. Our international horse shows drive a huge riding community and the atmosphere is very competitive and tense.
At the age of 15 I was hired at a sport horse breeding facility in Warrenton VA, USA. The stock varied from young colts and fillies just going under the saddle to retired special care broodmares. They also had projects coming in that needed some tuneup and then went back into sport or sale.
I split my time between Estonia and USA for many years. In Estonia I had couple of horses I rode steadily and developed the ability to ride without tack. At that time I thought that was my calling- to show people there is a kinder way to handle these animals. I performed in Latvia and Estonia. I also was invited to perform in Tallinn International Horse Show, which is the main sport event for equestrian sports in Estonia and the neighboring countries. At the same time I was also working at internationally known akhal-teke breeding farm in southern Estonia. I was mainly working with young stock getting them ready to be handled and ridden.
By this time I was also giving lessons at the capital and riding clients horses for living.
At the age of 23 I moved to the States permanently only visiting Estonia once a year. In that period I fox hunted with Old Dominion for two years on various horses advancing or preparing them for sale. In addition I was filling the need for tuneups and starting few colts in VA, MD, PA, NJ, WV, DE. At the age of 25 I started my business Hunt Classical Horsemanship, LLC in Middletown VA. I run a training facility for starting, training and rehabilitating horses. I am also very lucky to have the kind of boarders I have in my barn. One couldn't ask for a better bunch of people to work with.
I visit Estonia annually to give clinics every fall concentrating on the start of the horse and helping backyard horse owners, breeders and schools.
I have had great help and influence in my life to guide me through thick and thin. Through teachers like Cathy Borsody, Tony Hernandez, Buck Brannaman, Tim Smith, George Morris, Martin Black;
literature from Ray Hunt, Tom Dorrance, Bill Dorrance
and people like Anu Hunt, Epp Hunt, Kaido ja Kätlin Leisson, Terry Tabrowski, Linda Malmgren
Life with horses is my passion and I feel so lucky to be able to pursue it and help horses and people along the way.
Mirjam Hunt
