confused - different hunts/hound exercise/hunt rides

[BringoutheBest]

I am fairly new to all this hunting thing, went out a bit last year and had a great time, went on a hunt ride yesterday and really caught the bug again, these are mostly walk/trot style rides to get new people/horses involved etc. Was planning to go to another on the 31st but on the same day there is hound exercise about 3 minute hack from mine, but with a different hunt (farmers bloodhounds). is it accpetable to sort of, be part of 2 different hunts (is farmers bloodhounds even a proper hunt, or something else?). I cant quite understand as they both seem to go over the same country. From conveniences sake going out with them would be easier, but then again I like it that I know more people with my usual hunt and thought it might seem weird to go off somewhere else?
Sorry, I may be talking nonsense, but thought I'd try and check!

 

[marmalade76]

Go for it with the Farmers, I used to hnt with them and they are fab, so much fun and so friendly!

Bloodhounds hunt a runner over a pre-arranged route so they can choose where they go, choose the jumps, etc. Rather than having their own country, they cover the country of a few other hunts and therefore cover a wider area.

You can hunt with as many hunts as you choose, no one will mind, and you might find a few from your local hunt out with the Farmers when they're in the area.

I'm hoping to go out on hound exercise with them this season for the first time in six years, sooo looking forward to it , but will have to wait until they're meeting a bit nearer!

This will give you a bit more info about them:-

http://www.farmersbloodhounds.co.uk/

 

[BringoutheBest]

Thank you so much! Will go for that then!
Is hound exercise with jumps,canters etc, or a slower pace?
And ratcatcher dress?
Thank you for being so helpful

 

[marmalade76]

It will be steady as they've only just started and horses and hounds won't be all that fit yet, but there will still be canters and a few jumps. They will up the pace as they get closer to the opening meet.

Ratcatcher is correct dress for for hound exercise, but they don't mind if you go out in your shirt sleeves if it's a hot day.

Enjoy, and I want to see a report!!!

 

[BringoutheBest]

Thank you!! that should be great then, to be honest I'm not fussy what pace we go out, I just love seeing all the people and getting dressed up. And my pony definitely thinks he was born to be a hunter so I've become kind of addicted - just cant wait for cubbing to start hehe!
And I can assure there will be most definitely reports as I can never shut up about a day out, my poor parents just really can't understand it all!

 

[Orangehorse]

Farmers Bloodhounds - splutter, splutter. I watched once and thought it was the most terrifying thing I had ever seen. OMG the height of the fences and the speed! I could see what the secretary meant when she said don't come out on your 4 year old. I was pleased I had my feet on the ground.

 

[BringoutheBest]

oh dear!!! hopefully it will be fairly nice as it just hound exercise, and if not, well, I'll just kick and hold on haha! my pony's a saint so hopefully he'll look after me!

 

[marmalade76]

Farmers Bloodhounds - splutter, splutter. I watched once and thought it was the most terrifying thing I had ever seen. OMG the height of the fences and the speed! I could see what the secretary meant when she said don't come out on your 4 year old. I was pleased I had my feet on the ground.

Hound exercise is quite sedate in comparison, the main reason why they get 100's out for that and only a handful for hunting proper!

 

[BringoutheBest]

Just to quickly say - it was today I went out and oh my god I had the most fabulous time! Jumped some fairly large stuff (well to me anyway, especially seeing as was on smallest pony there at 13.3)and neither of us had ever jumped out hunting before, he just FLEW! Everyone was so lovely, I ended up going on own as "friends" cancelled last minute, but stayed for hog roast after and met some people and scavenged a lift back instead of hacking! My favourite hunting experience by far, jumped almost everything apart from the last one (he was getting tired) a hedge and another scary take off one
Also the first jump, I have no idea what happened but horse in front of went wonky and somehow so quickly we weren't in front of the jump, we were in front of the 4 rail proper fence and my pony just went for it! I was so scared and he caught it with his back legs ( I have no clue how he came away without a single scratch?) but despite my many apologies and huge feeling of guilt for obliterated fence, couldn't help being a little bit wowed about how my pony even had the guts to try that! and to carry on jumping well after!
I'm just so happy, such an addict
Cubbing v soon!

 

[marmalade76]

So glad you enjoyed it!

I was thinking that my hedge hopping days were over now I'm old and have downsized to a 14.3, sounds like I've got no excuse now! We're hoping to do the hound ex at Evenlode in October (will be my first time out with them for six seasons! ), will we be seeing you there?

Oh, and have you found the Farmers on FB?

https://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100000842457648

 

[BringoutheBest]

lol, I had someone come up to me and say "I can just tell your pony thinks he's a 16.2 hunter" and I was like yep
The only other one I can hack to is the poundon one in october. And doing some cubbing in the meantime (although the only hackabale meets are on school days, need to to do some mother persuading... )
Oh and I don't have facebook, have got their website though!