Bloodhounding

[poiuytrewq]

Hi, Im not a hunting person (as in I've never been not I'm anti!) so not too clued up on things.
Last winter my daughter, then 13 now 14 hunted for the first time and several times after. She absolutely loved it and so did her horse who proved strong and a little lively but safe and I was able to drop her off at the meet where she would find some friends and off they would go for a few hours.
Soon the blood hounds are meeting locally and she would like to go with them.
A friend of hers is going, she's been before so they will stick together.
Is there a lot of difference? As she's coped well with her horse regular hunting should she be ok here?
Also I've heard in the past people say once a horse has followed blood hounds they wont stand again at a regular hunt! Is this the case?
Is there anything else I should know or be aware of before the day? Do I need to contact the hunt before hand to say she will be joining them?

Sorry a gazillion questions!

 

[Orangehorse]

I think you should telephone the secretary of the bloodhounds - well you would have to do that anyway to ask if your daughter could go out with them. Ask what sort of day it will be and how long the lines will be and what sort of jumping there will be and is it suitable for your daughter.

I don't see why a good hunter can go with the bloodhounds as well as an ordinary pack.

I was going once just to watch and I phoned the secretary who said I was welcome but don't bring my 4 year old hunter, and I could see why. The fences were just huge, and they were going fast and would have left a "normal" field stuck at the second hedge!

Sometimes the Bloodhounds are invited by a pack and they tend to meet in the best country to give the field a full-on day.
However, they will obviously have days when they would be suitable for younger people - so get info first.

I must say, it all looked very socialable. You know where the meet is and you know where to join up for a break and you know where they will be coming back to.

 

[Judgemental]

I have never heard it called Bloodhounding but then that is what is happening.

The dilettantes of following Bloodhounds refer to it as, "Hunting the Clean Boot".

 

[MileAMinute]

I've never been 'normal' hunting as I don't particularly like the idea of it. I recently joined a local bloodhound hunt (they are fairly new formed pack) and I can honestly say I love it, and as it's a clean boot I keep a clean conscience!

I go with my 5yo (and we both went as total numpties last year having neither done it before!) and it's pretty relaxed, however the pace can be fast and there isn't a lot of waiting around. We have a jumper group and a nonjumper group. I stick with the NJ but there are optional jumps to try if you are feeling brave. They tend to be around 2ft3/2ft6 although the jumpers are met with some hefty hedges!
Quite a few kids come along too. There are even a few shetlands that cover the ground and jump along with the best of them!

Best bet is to ring the secretary and explain your situation

 

[marmalade76]

The Farmers, I presume? I used to go out with them regularly, though that was a good few years ago now. The Farmers look after you exceptionally well, better than any foxhound pack I've been out with. You also get very well fed so make sure you're there for tea afterwards!

They do get a move on, though, and can cover up to 20 miles a day and meets in the area offer fantastic jumping. I think they do have a second field master now for the slower and non jumpers but they didn't when I used to go and back in those days you have to make sure you kept up or you'd get left behind! There was the odd pony out when I used to go, but not many, all kept up and jumped well. I, myself started out on a 14.1.

I never had a problem with my horses not standing. They do have a stop or two between lines and get the drinks out again, so there will be a bit of standing around.

Lack of bottle, funds and a suitable / sound mount prevent me from going now

And JM, we've always called it bloodhounding

 

[marmalade76]

if it's this weekend it's still hound exercise so should be fairly steady. Loads of kids go on hound exercise.

 

[Matafleur]

We've been with the Farmers several times both on Hound ex and hunting. They are absolutely lovely people (I much prefer them to our local pack) who will look after you and make you feel very welcome. Hound exercise is not really fast at all, sometimes there are optional jumps but you can always go round.

I have gone on days when we've chosen to jump very little and on days when we've had some really good jumping. There is always jumping available but you don't have to jump - either follow the non-jumping field master or, if there is a particular fence you don't want to jump there is pretty much always a way round. I find it calmer in a lot of ways than fox hunting as it's better organised and I think the horses get less wound up.

I would highly recommend

 

[poiuytrewq]

Well she's gone! So excited for her and of course slightly nervous! They haven't had the opening meet yet so I believe it's a bit steadier than proper blood hounding which makes me a bit happier!
She's gone with the Farmers bloodhounds who I have to say on first impressions are a really lovely friendly bunch, more welcoming than the hunt she follows to new comers.
Everyone just seemed happy and polite which was refreshingly nice.

 

[marmalade76]

Let us know how she gets on

Feeling a little envious..

 

[poiuytrewq]

She had a brilliant time thanks! I got there and everyone was tucking into sausage sandwiches and cake, looked great.
I think she is hoping to go again in a few weeks