Cubbing?

[vallin]

Hi,
I am hoping to be a newbie to hunting this coming season and it was suggested to me that I take my horse 'cubbing' (sp?) as neither of us have done it before and this would be a good way to ease ourselves into it. I keep my horse in girton, cambridge and wondered if anyone knows if this is possible or if anyone has any suggestions of how to ease both myself and my horse into hunting,
Thanks
Vx

 

[muffinino]

The whole idea of cubbing (or autumn hunting as it’s now often called) is to get young hounds & horses used to their job, so it tends to be a bit quieter going than normal hunting. It’s ideal for first time riders, too, as the pace is slower. The only problem is it often starts very early in the morning to take advantage of the light – some hunts will meet at 6am! But it depends on the individual hunt as to what time it is, but usually no later than 9am (hunt meets tend to be at 11am). Best thing is to contact the secretaries of a few local hunts and see if there is a meet you can get to. That’s how I started out as a hunting virgin with my newly broken horse 3 years ago and it was the best thing I could have done

Remember turn-out is different to normal hunting – you wear a ratcatcher (tweed) jacket, brown boots if you have them and you don’t have to plait up for it (which saves time on an early autumn morning). You’ll find a list of hunts local to you here: www.mfha.co.uk

 

[combat_claire]

Pre-ban cubbing or autumn hunting was a job of work to a, introduce hounds to hunting; i.e teaching them what not to hunt and b, to disperse the fox population. Post-ban hunts replicate this within the exemptions open to them. Some hunts will flush to a gun or a bird of prey or simulate their trail laying to represent autumn hunting in a covert.

The early starts are to make sure there is scent, as the day warms up scent weakens and a hound will struggle to pick up the trail. At the start of autumn hunting in late august/early September the starts will be 6am or 6.30am, as the light fades and the mornings cool off they push back to 8am or 8.30am. Usually finishing by 12pm at the very latest.

It is always worth having a word with the hunt secretary as to which meets might be suitable, as some involve jumping as the only direct way round the draw - particularly in the fen areas of Cambridgeshire where horses may have to cross a dyke. It might also be worth going to a meet on foot first or asking if you can join in hound exercise before autumn hunting commences to get your pony used to hounds without all the excitement of a meet.

Local packs to try will be the Fitzwilliam www.fitzwilliamhunt.com or the Cambridgeshire with Enfield Chace.