Recent content by Karswell

I currently pay £130 p/w but I exercise. This is paid in advance. The only thing which hasn't been mentioned is clipping which I would expect to be included although some yards charge extra. Last season I was quoted £250 p/w all in which just seemed ridiculous.

Darkly Dreaming Dex - We're looking forward to seeing you. The going is very deep at the moment but what fences we have are jumpable and the ditches are a bit more interesting than usual. Watch out for the Percy Specials at the meet - I know the downside through bitter experience. If you want...

I often hunt alone and have found that if you do get into trouble people are incredibly helpful - they really can't do enough. Thinking about it, I managed to break a leg when I was hunting on my own and my horse was whisked away and returned to my livery yard, an ambulance called and the...

This will horrify some of you. We hunt in the heaviest clay and have to deal with this problem week in and week out. Most of us use the hosepipe and the horses don't seem to mind too much. For the mud under the belly, I hose down thoroughly and then use the sweat scraper then the hose again...

Very unlikely that you will blow his mind! The more hunting you do, the more he will calm down. The enduring benefit is that he will be quite a bit bolder x country. All those strange things he will meet out hunting and successfully negotiates will give him huge confidence.

Are you looking for someone to ride your horse or to accompany you? Either is possible. Where abouts are you?

Please tell!

I've just won the auction. £51 for a day's hunting for two. I've no idea what the cap is normally but this sounds like a bargain. Anyhow, much looking forward to it. Any suggestions on what the good meets are? I am happy to go mid week.

I wouldn't worry at this stage. He's still very young and if you keep hunting you will find that he becomes more relaxed. If you reassure him when he is even a few yards from his friend, he will gradually get used to it. You'll find that next year he will be a different horse.

What a great idea! I've just put a bid in.

Gamebird - that's a frighteningly accurate description of me! Fortunately I managed to get married years ago before all my hair had fallen out and while my OH slightly disapproves of hunting, it gets me out of the house with the children. There are some definite advantages in having a non...

Hunting yesterday, a pretty friend asked me if I knew of any single blokes who hunt. She is involved in the polo scene which is apparently hopeless (although she didn't explain why). Anyone have any views?

Received wisdom is that you should limit yourself to 3 days a fortnight. Obviously it should depend on what sort of a day you have - is there lots of galloping in heavy plough or have you just stood around in a large covert? For myself I watch my boy's weight and when the girth is starting to...

Can't come tomorrow because I am with the Fitz on Wednesday. I am keen to do a Cottesmore Tuesday - I've heard they are brilliant. In fact I have joined the Melton Hunt Club so I can have a day. Can you recommend a good meet in January; ideally it would be easily accessible from the A14?

We only have about 5 hedges in the whole of our country - but endless ditches. Nothing beats charging at a hedge. With big ditches we sort of creep half way down one side and leap up the other - scary if you are not used to it and not that exciting when you become accustomed.