Boxing Day Hunting

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Crosshill Pacers

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Come on, who went? Tell me all about it!

I took Big Ears to our local meet, first time she's been out for a month. The weather was absolutely horrendous, could not have been worse. The ground was so wet and boggy where the hunt normally goes that it was decided to cover a different area which naturally set me off worrying as I've never been that way before. I needn't have worried as yet again Big Ears just got on with things without any fuss!

We went up rocky paths and through a thick fir tree plantation where it was a case of close your eyes and hold on (we came out the other side and all I could taste was Christmas trees!) and down the other side, slipping and sliding on some of the wettest and steepest ground I've ever come across. Not long after that I called it a day with a few others as we were soaked and there wasn't much happening. Big Ears needs a bit more practice at her mountain pony skills but self preservation is still apparent, all I need to do is drop the reins and sit tight!

So what about everyone else? Share your days out :)
 
I went. Second time I've been hunting, first time Boxing Day. But I have a very sensible cob, who u trust completely which is why I wasn't worried about going on a busier day. It's also the first time I've been on my boy. He's been lots though. He dozed until he heard the horn and everyone set off. Then that was it away we went. Ground was mostly ok surprisingly. I didn't jump though. Not much happening and friends horse started to go a bit nutty, and weather was getting worse so we headed back to the box. With some others. Then it started hailing. That hurt! Enjoyed it had a good time though. :)
 
No just went on foot. Horse isn't sound enough and the ground is so waterlogged that they were only parading the hounds anyway.
 
Nightmare! Took a youngster out for the first time - wonderfully well behaved at the meet. Then the mad move off, got a bit paniced at the first gate, but survivied - then a bit boundy up the field - then the line up for the next gate......landowner, had a mains electric fence, my horse backed into it - then went into complete panic mode (suffering from a 1,000 volts plus) I flew off after the third bronc (so I am told) face down in the mud and skidded for about another 10 feet! Horse loose, and really scared - kept bouncing off the wretched fence - got shocked at least another three times......one of the kids had him at one stage - but his horse kicked him in the face (the horses idea of giving a hysteric a slap.....perhaps?) Eventually I got hold of the horse and whilst it was still in panic mode, saw no point on trying to get on, so did my best to get it out of the field, whilst the rest of the hunt was moving on - 2 fields of leading a paniced horse, on foot across a slippery wet meadows, me covered in mud, hunting jacket weighing a tonne.......got the horse into a stable yard, where it calmed down, and I was eventually able to get on it. Easy option would have been to have taken it straight home- but decided that was not a good education, so trotted it up the hill and around the valley where I ran into the hunt again - lots of photos being taken of the very stig of the dump me.......got back to the field who were standing in the road - reunited with children......Good nip of someones hip flask, and decided to head for home - as I went up the road a hound came out of the hedge from the left, and horse thinking it must be another 1,000 volt electric fence gave it both barrels......hound knocked out...dead? MFH said ride on - and so me and theehorse did - still quite electric really! Got home in one piece - called MFH later - Hound OK. I am OK, but will be terribly stiff tomorrow!
Sad for the horse really - he will be OK - but did not need the electric fence thing - why do landowners give permission for the hunt to go across their land, and leave the fencers on (on Boxing Day, when there are far too many horses out?)
But then of course I should have taken my youngster out on a quieter day - but when hunting days are weekdays, and I work full-time, I am limited in the times I can go out....Hind sight is a wonderful thing!
 
Bloody brilliant! One of the favourite meets of the year. Took my 14yo eventer who only hunts a few times a year so he was very happy.. made for enormous fun despite a bit of rain and hopefully burnt off yesterday's food! (Although since returning home i've gorged myself on leftovers and quality street, so perhaps not).
 
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piebaldsparkle said:
Because the fence is probably connected to fencing round a field they still have stock in.:rolleyes:
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Yes, I led my horse through 'the stock....' a couple of hobby Dexters.........We too are landowners who allow the hunt across our land, and make it as easy as possible for the hunt on the day......but you are right, keeping stock in is imperative - but mains electric fencing is a little extreme, you might acknowledge?
 
And how many cattle do you have PBS? We have some 110 that are kept in by usually well fenced fields, and where the fencing is a bit dodgy, a normal electric fencer run off a battery........
 
Tbh it's plain insanity taking a young horse out for the first time on Boxing Day?!

Poor horse, no wonder it got into a state.
 
dressedkez said:
And how many cattle do you have PBS? We have some 110 that are kept in by usually well fenced fields, and where the fencing is a bit dodgy, a normal electric fencer run off a battery........
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I don't, but have kept my horse at yards that did and FWIW my horses own field is fenced with a mains electric fencer.;)

Batteries are a PITA as keep having to charge and change - fine for back up during power cut though.
 
TheMule said:
Tbh it's plain insanity taking a young horse out for the first time on Boxing Day?!

Poor horse, no wonder it got into a state.
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It got in a state becaue it got a 1,000 volts up its backside - it was doing well up until then - and got home Ok as well - don't be so judgemental......I have taken loads of nags for their first spin on Boxing Day - do you know, when I took my first horse pointing, I asked the steward if he could reduce the field from 18 to 5 (in the Maiden) - do you know what he said?
Similar when the first of my kids did an egg and spoon race......
I am sharing with you guys what happened - because it was quite funny, and no lives were lost (even the hound we tried to murder, made a full recovery) and it does just got to show what can happen. I got back on the horse, I returned to the field, we got home safely - the horse will remember that aspect of the day now - though, if I had called it a day when I fell off it - then what would he had remembered then......?
 
Recipe for disaster. Maybe you should consider starting your youngsters on a quiet early morning in Sept/Oct when young horses have the best chance of a successful, confidence-building experience (as was suggested by so many experienced people in your other thread). Glad you and other field members were OK but shame your young horse had such a hellish intro to hunting.
 
autumn7 said:
Recipe for disaster. Maybe you should consider starting your youngsters on a quiet early morning in Sept/Oct when young horses have the best chance of a successful, confidence-building experience (as was suggested by so many experienced people in your other thread). Glad you and other field members were OK but shame your young horse had such a hellish intro to hunting.
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Was it that hellish? Yes he got zapped by an electric fence (mains - arghhh) but I eventually calmed him down, got back on him, and finished the day (he does not know he almost killed a hound) so in my book, not that bad really......The pain was mostly for me really - and I do know that tomorrow I will not be able to move, hence my reluctance to go to bed now!
 
I went out, had a lovely day, horse behaved perfectly had some compliments on him being 'a real gentleman' :D

Just arriving at the meet- hacked over in the pooring rain so please excuse the rain coat

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LOL Lovely thread!! Where in rural Devon??!!! Which hunt??!! I have lovely memories of East Devon, Cotley and Axe Vale hunts.....!!! And the area of New Zealand that I live in reminds me of rural Devon - minus the lovely lanes that go everywhere!! No plains here!!
 
dressedkez said:
Yes, I led my horse through 'the stock....' a couple of hobby Dexters.........We too are landowners who allow the hunt across our land, and make it as easy as possible for the hunt on the day......but you are right, keeping stock in is imperative - but mains electric fencing is a little extreme, you might acknowledge?
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Far less extreme than you taking that horse hunting when everyone told you not to :rolleyes:

Hobby dexters need kept in same as the next beast.

(I am shepherd in charge of cattle and sheep before you ask for my qualifications. Proper farmers don't mess around with battery energisers, you know)
 
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Sorry but Boxing Day ALWAYS proves my point that its no place for horses first time out. It is possibly on of the most stupid and dangerous ideas anyone could have taking youngsters first outings to Boxing Day. Your horse should be well used to meets, hounds and crowds before you take them, anything else is just plain irresponsible. Our Boxing Day yesterday was shall we say "interesting" for similar reasons ( novice horses and riders unable to cope and everyone else left to pick up the pieces).
 
Dressedkez we have cattle on the farm here and apart from the fact that battery fencing DOESN'T keep cattle in, even if it did we've got better things to do than tit around charging batteries.

I saw your other thread and think you were incredibly silly to take that horse hunting. You scared it and got decked for your troubles.
Plus, if you'd kicked a hound with our pack you'd have been sent home.

Can't believe you think it was a funny day out!!

:eek:
 
dressedkez said:
We are talking rural Devon here - not the great plains of the Aus or NZ........
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Clearly clueless about stock :rolleyes: a battery fencer wont keep heiffers/bullocks/sheep/dairy cows in I know from experience for a fact!

Also cannot believe you didnt get an ar$e kicking for the hound getting whalloped :mad:
 
Our hunt was cancelled due to the ground conditions but about 20 of us turned up to show support at the meet. It was lovely to see so many of the townspeople turn out in support as well.
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My poor daughter was due to go but was taken ill xmas day and didnt get back from the hospital until 3 in the morning. She didnt even manage to come and see her friends off. She was so disappointed , really felt sorry for her. She has only been out three times before
 
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