Hello, greenhorn here

Hello Hemlock and welcome.

I am not sure how to tell you to proceed except to start with riding lessons.

And if you don't plan to own a horse and ride regularly, I would suggest doing riding lessons frequently before one of your hunts.

I own 5 horses. One is is retired, another I let friends ride.

The other three I ride regularly.

I don't hunt but have had to track deer that were bad shots by hunters or poachers.

Also check fence and look for missing cows or horses.

I get sore from riding if I lay off even for just a week.

You are right about a horse being able to go most anywhere.

But you can get in trouble if you don't have the skills to handle the horse.

Please keep us updated on your adventures.

Some more thoughts ...... American men and boys largely have little interest in horses these days. Before the advent of motor transportation, the male sex literally lived and died in the saddle. For males in the US, horses are largely limited to farmers, cowboys, law enforcement, the US Forest Service, Hollywood, sheep ranchers, outfitters and guide services and the Amish. Less than 6% of the American population sport hunts. Deer hunting is mostly likely in a blind or stand close to where the pickup truck was parked. ATV's can be used to haul shot big game out of the woods on private property. BLM/public lands largely prohibit motorized vehicles in the hunting fields. May motorized vehicles ever be used in British deer hunting to recover dead animals from the field?

In America, hunting and horsemanship traditions both are on the verge of extinction. Hunting and horses both have become prohibitively expensive for many people.

Most of the  reason  Men don't learn to ride is pride.  They won't admit to ignorance without it injuring their pride.  Such is part of the reason Men have a rep for not asking directions.  The expense of keeping a horse in the city is another part.   Equestrian sports in general are shrinking.  I won't say dying out, just shrinking.

DH made a good point about the lessons though.  If you won't keep your own saddle, make sure the ones you borrow and rent are in good condition.  You will learn the meaning of pain otherwise.  Expensive as lessons are, they will be money well spent.  Don't go to the local rental string, take lessons from a proper trainer.  Be careful though.  Horses can become an addiction.

I can't see how male pride and horsemanship can't be gotten together from watching cowboy pictures with all those manly heroes like John Wayne and Clint Eastwood. 

No, men will not tolerate disobedience from animals including dogs. Men are impatient about unruly or stubborn animals. 

Well I would have to say patience is very necessary with horses and dogs.

Extremely necessary especially with training.

I've been watching some horsemanship videos for fun lately. Handy Horseman Ted has a good series. The horse is regarded to him as a practical working tool. There are some tricky knots in rope tying. Tacking the horse seems procedural like a military drill movement. I'm now finding out horsemanship takes lots of practice. How does a musician get to Carnegie Hall (on his horse or otherwise)? Practice, practice and more practice. It takes some money, time and energy to boot.

How to Tie the Bank Robbers Knot - YouTube