First time cubbing tomorrow...couple of questions!

jenbleep

jenbleep

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Ohh this is a new part of the forum for me, be nice! :o

I'm going cubbing tomorrow for the first time, I'm excited and a little nervous!

Questions -

Do I need to plait?
Can I wear a black hunt coat, shirt and stock?
Charisma is not a habitable kicker, but has kicked in the past. (In the 3 years I have ridden her, kicked out about 4 times. Bit funny when horses come up behind her). But then again she has never been hunting.....red or green ribbon? Both?! :D She will look like a Christmas tree!
Do I have to take a hip flask, or is it a bit early in the season for that..... ;)
Horse boots? No?
Erm what is the general pace? Not 100% sure I have 100% brakes but will ride with bridged reins!

Anything else I should know and general tips! I have just been on the phone to one of the Masters and he seemed nice enough, just said keep out of the way of the hounds!

Jenny x
 
oooo i went out for the first time last week :D

shall try to help but im by no means an expert!! I wore black jacket shirt and stock (and was the only one!!) checked with the secretary first and she said as long as i was smart id be fine.

I'd prob go with red ribbon but try and stick at the back if you can so theres less oppertunitys for things to go wrong!

I wish i'd taken a hip flask as i was terrified!!

I didn't boot but i don't jump and she doesn't knock herself.

I only stayed out for about an hour and a half but we had a few fairly quick blasts and LOTS of standing around which was the undoing of my mare, but i guess how fast will depend on the country your hunting.


Hope you have as much fun as i did :)
 
I'm probably not much more help as have only been twice but if still autumn hunting (some people call it cubbing) then generally tweed with beige/cream jods and tie or stock - main thing to be smart. No need to plait and most people dont seem to boot up.

I was told green ribbon rather then red even though mine is a kicker - this indicates you are new and everyone should give you room. My chap did have a pop at the hounds and I was mortified - they startled him jumping out of crops - although this is no excuse - you really really have to take the horse to task over it !!

as jennywren07 said it seems to be the standing around that is the issue not the fast work - I stayed out the full stretch (4 hrs) on first outing and was really glad I did as they settle more and more the longer you are out and also the field lessoned so that there were only half a dozen left by the end.

Eveyone is nervous first time - I was a jibbering wreck !

You will love it - even better you will love it even more the second time.

HAVE FUN
 
No plaits, tweed jacket, cream/beige jods, shirt and tie or coloured stock :)

Tbh I would put a red ribbon in if your horse is at all likely to kick but it doesn't absolve you - if your horse kicks it is your responsibility. If your horse does kick a hound then give it a good beating! (I obviously don't mean this literally but there are hunts who will ask you to leave if your horse does kick a hound and it'd really not good to let them get away with it.) Meesha, I would put a red ribbon in your horses tail too.

Hip flask is generally a no for cubbing but if you feel you need it then people probably won't mind!

I never boot for hunting :)

Jen, have fun, don't worry too much - let everyone know you are new and I'm sure they will look after you :) Ask as many questions as you want about anything that's going on - people will be glad you are interested :)
 
Also new to hunting been out 5 ish times I think?! Lost count but twice the last week and twice this week I'm not much more help.

Ive found that the more interested in hunting you are the more people make an effort I'm fascinated and want to know everything and was worried people were getting annoyed with me asking questions so much but was asked to ride with the hunt chairman who at 78 was eyeing up 5 bar gates and who gave me a fantastic 2 hours of pure knowledge probably the best 2 hours of my life! I asked every q I could think of and he answered them all. People including me before you go out have a perception that the hunting lot are snobby and posh some are I presume I havnt met anyone like that yet!!

I wear tweed cream jods coloured stock brown boots and hat with a silk as do most people and I make sure my pony and tack are as clean as poss after a brief telling off from lizziej on my first outing after I admitted I never clean my tack I now wipe it over every time I ride! Sorry I'm rambling and being on my phone can't see how much I'm writing so apologies if this is very long.
Other advice from a newbie:
1. Offer your cap before being asked if poss
2. If it kicks put a ribbon in
3. Likewise if it kicks a hound tell it off!! Learnt that sadly through experience but pony hasn't done it again.
4. Say goodnight to the master and not night night as keeps slipping out ;)
5. Make sure you have some form of brakes
6. Have a good time and don't worry about your riding ability im pretty crap but no one cares or comments!

Hope you have a smashing time and make sure you let us know how you get on you will come away with a tired horse a tired you and a brain buzzing with info!
 
I'm guess you'll have set off by now Jen - but all the advice above is pretty sound.

I hope you've had a good morning, and that you can let us know how it went! (very jealous - would much rather be out autumn hunting than sat in my smelly office :()
 
Hey guys!! :D

Well we had a brilliant morning! I am so proud of Charisma, she was so well behaved and took it all in. Even when we did get going she was bouncy but not silly, and even our whipper in was impressed with her :D

I had to wear black because I don't have tweed :o And I was probably the only person! Not to worry the opening meet is in a couple of weeks so won't look so out of place then :)

It was quite a quiet meet, maybe about 25 horses, and set off at a steady pace. One poor gilr got carted off down the road and was never to be seen again? Rather her than me! C enjoyed herself and did want to canter down the road to keep up (she is only little! :D) But wasn't rude with it. So happy.

There was a lot of waiting around but again she was so polite and stood still looking over the hedges at the huntsmen :D Half the hunt went off but the whipper in said they'd probably have to come back anyway, so one half of the hunt was on one side of the valley and the other half on the other! In the end we followed the rest of the hunt and had to go down and over a big hole :o (I don't do such things out hacking!) But C was foot perfect. Bit bouncy now but still rideable! Popped over a log that was in some gorse, and then we had to go through a very boggy area, a stream and then up a steep bank! I'm not exaggerating either, even my friend who is way more experienced than me was a bit :o And her horse to! Mud went up to her hocks. Friends horse panicked so I said I'd take C through and whilst she tentatively went through, over the stream and then I was like :o at the bank! WI basically said 'get on with it' (In a nice way, haha!) So I gave her a squeeze and up she went! So brave for not such a bold horse :D

Again more standing around but once we got going she was bouncy but not silly, I bridged my reins when cantering in case she got excited (likes to pull!)

Got back to the trailer around 11.30am. Can't wait to go again and really try her out :D

Thanks for all the tips peeps! Liz I think I will use a red ribbon next time, she's ok when standing still (just stands and looks about!) but when we trot or go any faster if something comes behind and to the side she flattens her ears and humps a bit! :o

Erm also need a coat that fits, it fits on my body but a bit short on the arms!

:D :) :D
 
Glad you had a good day, welcome to the world of hunting.

If your horse has a history of kicking, definitely put a red ribbon in its tail. Green means "I don't know whether this horse kicks or not." You do.

But, as LizzieJ says, the ribbon is only to warn other people to keep clear of you - it is still your responsibility if your horse kicks to keep it out of positions as much as possible where it might endanger other people or their horses.

It is still perfectly possible to have a good day out on a horse with a red ribbon, but you don't have the flexibility and freedom that a non-kicker gets.

Enjoy your next day out. :)
 
Herne said:
It is still perfectly possible to have a good day out on a horse with a red ribbon, but you don't have the flexibility and freedom that a non-kicker gets.
100% agree here Herne having had 3 seasons on a horse that 'just might' kick and now started this year with him and a second horse that doesn't!!

On the boy that might kick I always have red tape, I am always aware of who/what is around me, try to stay at the back or at least in plenty of space and (this of course comes with a bit of time and experience) try to anticipate what the huntsman, hounds and field will 'do next' and take appropriate action to keep the horses back-end and them apart....even though for two years he hasn't actually 'raised a leg' I don't think.

I Still have lots of fun with him though and actually because I have to be so aware, I have probably learned more because I've had to concentrate on what's going (and that thought has JUST occured to me) :D
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Another convert!! I think the best thing is getting up early and knowing that despite all actions to wipe it out all over the country there are hundreds of other mad souls desperately scrubbing grays fighting with their stock or shovelling breakfast down in a hurry!

So pleased you had fun! its amazing how quick you will become madly addicted!
 
Thanks guys - I had a blast!

And Jenhunt I do wonder what she'll be like the next time but I think seeing as I've been once I'll be more confident to deal with anything she throws at me :D I can't wait! Hopefully next Saturday!
 
VoR said:
Herne said:
It is still perfectly possible to have a good day out on a horse with a red ribbon, but you don't have the flexibility and freedom that a non-kicker gets.
100% agree here Herne having had 3 seasons on a horse that 'just might' kick and now started this year with him and a second horse that doesn't!!

On the boy that might kick I always have red tape, I am always aware of who/what is around me, try to stay at the back or at least in plenty of space and (this of course comes with a bit of time and experience) try to anticipate what the huntsman, hounds and field will 'do next' and take appropriate action to keep the horses back-end and them apart....even though for two years he hasn't actually 'raised a leg' I don't think.

I Still have lots of fun with him though and actually because I have to be so aware, I have probably learned more because I've had to concentrate on what's going (and that thought has JUST occured to me) :D
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Tbf VoR you almost go beyond the call of duty and certainly if anyone had been kicked by yours it would have been great lack of awareness/control on their part!
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