Cheapskate hunting

[LEC]

So could anyone help me with the following?

Newcomers days or special rate days for the following hunts?
Berkeley
Taunton Vale
Taunton Harriers
Avon Vale

Managed to go hunting today for £40 with my local pack but I blagged that a bit as helping at hunt supper. I would like to do some more hunting but refuse to pay over £40 for a day hence asking about newcomers days/special rates. I will probably go out with Mendip because I understand they do a rate of £25 if you have never hunted with them before and these are the kind of deals I am looking for!!

 

[severnmiles]

Haha, probably cheaper to drive up to us

 

[LEC]

If I was still a student I could hunt for £10 with my local hunt!! Sadly they do not jump enough for me and today coughed up £40 and only jumped 3 hedges.

I find hunting a bit secretive as often you do not know these things unless somebody tells you as nothing is advertised so very hard for a visitor unless you get the details of the secretary.

Last season went out with West Somerset Vale and as soon as I got to the meet knew they would jump bog all as they had the ugliest, lacking in quality horses I have ever seen and I was right!!

 

[LizzieJ]

The West Somerset Vale are pretty open to negotiation normally! TV and TVH are the most expensive in the area and the TV don't hunt on a saturday. I guess you're round about W&BH?

 

[LizzieJ]

You really do need to get insider knowledge on the country - none of the packs round here jump loads unless they're in a particular area. I did a day with the taunton vale last year but it was £90. The better the jumping the higher the cap. Blackmore Vale are worth a day with if you can afford it.

 

[LizzieJ]

And my mare would quite likely be one of those ugly, lacking in quality horses yet she hunted hounds for 2 years with the Blackmore Vale so can cope with some of the biggest hedges you're likely to find.

 

[LEC]

WBH is exactly who I normally hunt with. Have hunted with them since I was 5. Now I have my lovely horse do not want to crap him up by putting him in a massive filthy ditch as come March he needs to jump into water and over ditches without a 2nd look eventing. I will jump nice ditches but not filthy horrible ones so really pick and choose my meets and see what I can blag for free!!

My mother has visited the TV a few times mid week and that is an option for me as get a day off mid week. But again looking for insider info about good meets so if I do cough up I know I should have a good day.

 

[LEC]

I have seen plenty of ugly hunt horses who are machines but these looked like they came off the meat mans truck.

 

[LizzieJ]

Fridays with the TV are generally better vale days - TVH don't jump any more that the WSVH. Mendip are ok on a good day - I don't know the country so well up there so just risk it.

I have been in those ditches a few times - think I can still smell it on my jacket when it rains!

 

[LizzieJ]

What time of year did you go out?

 

[LEC]

Hunted with Mendip last year only saw roads and tracks. Have heard a rumour its better up there when dry so getting a meet card faxed through at work with all the good meets highlighted!!

I am obviously very difficult to please! I am sad about TV as I have kept my horse fit this winter on the dream of finding a hunt that goes like stink and jumps so much that you are knackered by 1pm!

 

[LEC]

I went to the WBH & WSV shared meet. Must have been in Feb?? It was at the Blue Boar.

 

[LizzieJ]

I heard about that - worst day of the season apparently! Think they lost hounds? Yeah, when they meet on the hill the hunting is extra rubbish and you generally get mainly stag hunters out because us vale people don't take our nags up there. The joint meet with you lot always used to be in november at stockland lovell. It is better in the vale but it's mainly rails and tiger traps - not many big hedges round this side of the hill.

 

[LEC]

The only good thing that came out of that day was my horse rearing up over backwards and breaking his saddle so now I have a lovely new one.
Maybe I will give up on hunting and save my money for eventing
Have just had a quick look on meet card for WBH and does not look like we have a joint one with WSV this year?

 

[LizzieJ]

I've only got a monthly one for the WSVH, I think they are biannually. Tbh, I'm unlikely to make it out much this year - might get a few days in with the BSV but I can't really afford it either and haven't got any holiday left for a day in TV country. I might go and lunge my mare over a few ditches and come out with you - I did start her hunting life off there so she should remember how to swim!

 

[Haniki]

Our hunt doesn't advertise it's meets due to the fear of anti's. However we don't jump much either. I thought Tuesdays in the Taunton Vale was a jumping day?

 

[Bossanova]

Come out with the Wilton- lots of jumping (though nothing of any great size) nice runs on good ground (I can pick out some good meets) and you get the added bonus of being able to laugh at me on my naughty connemara pony

 

[LizzieJ]

It maybe tuesdays - I asked a farmer in the vale and they said fridays! I guess it varies!

 

[tractorgirl]

Have you thought of Cotley? They jump a fair bit - lots of hunt jumps - and are quite reasonable for a visitor

 

[LizzieJ]

Are they up near stockland?