First time out hunting/ eeekkk

[BringoutheBest]

Right, am new here, so first off, I apologise if I do anything wrong etc...

Am out hunting for the first time on saturday, and have just got a few specific questions about what to wear etc, have been told a black jacket but read in an article that show jackets look out of place and it needs to be a hunt jacket, and I don't really want to buy something new for just one hunt? I do have a tweed jacket but not sure if that is acceptable at this time of year...? And just to double check, is a white stock correct?
as far as tack goes, plain black snaffle bridle? and unobtrusive numnah (brown/black)
Also, the pony I am taking currently has a very spikey mane (is an appaloosa and mane just refuses to grow ) , he has to be sedated to be clipped/hogged so left it a bit late to sort out, will this matter?
I know I probably sound like I am panicking, but really don't want to make a fool of self, especially in front of the people I am going with!
Thank you in advance for replies!

 

[combat_claire]

Okay take a deep breath. Don't panic Captain Mainwaring, Don't panic...

You will never be incorrect wearing a tweed jacket at any time in the hunting season. You will also probably be a lot warmer in that, then a flimsy show jacket - especially as the forecast is showers for most parts of the UK on Saturday. If you go for the tweed jacket then wear either a coloured stock or a collar and tie. The white stock should only be worn if you go for a dark jacket.

Tack sounds absolutely fine. You might want to add a martingale or a neck strap as it doesn't sound like neddy has an awful lot of mane to hold onto in an emergency!

Have no idea what to do with the mane, but sure someone on here will have a bright idea.

 

[combat_claire]

Oh and I forgot to add, have a wonderful time and report back to let us know how you both get on.

Hopefully you will have a really spiffing time and join the hunting addicts on here. Before you know it, you will be buying that hunt coat and subscribing!

 

[Sanolly]

OK first of all, doesn't matter what bridle you use as long it is spotless! I would use your XC bit, I took my very soft snaffle mouthed cob out in his snaffle and promptly lost all brakes! I would also suggest a flash to be safe.

 

[BringoutheBest]

Thank you so much! am a v bad person, just been out and bought NEW tweed jacket as decided this new one fits better than the old...oops Have got a coloured stock to go with it, realised have no stock pin, but sure will be able to borrow one off the people I am going with. So, black velvet hat, white shirt, coloured stock, tweed jacket, black gloves, beige jods and black long boots (leather), does that all sound ok?
Is a hanging cheek snaffle ok? And thank you very much re the neck strap tip, didn't think of that but will def be wanting! Will put on martingale loosely.

The people I am going with are lovely and have hunted for years, and the trail-layer (who is not trail-laying but hunting on Saturday) is looking after me, but still terrified I will do something very wrong and show them up :/ Just smile and thank everyone and say good morning to anyone who looks important yes?

eeek so excited though and will definitely be letting you know how we go

Thank you everyone!

 

[combat_claire]

Haha! You have caught the hunting shopper bug quickly!

You will be absolutely fine and dandy. I had my first day mounted last season and everyone looked after me and made sure I was okay.

Might be wise to take a mars bar or some easy snacks in your jacket too to keep energy levels up.

 

[EAST KENT]

A plain white hunting tie would be much better than coloured.

 

[Fiagai]

....So, black velvet hat, white shirt, coloured stock, tweed jacket, black gloves, beige jods and black long boots (leather), does that all sound ok?
Is a hanging cheek snaffle ok? And thank you very much re the neck strap tip, didn't think of that but will def be wanting! Will put on martingale loosely.

The people I am going with are lovely and have hunted for years, and the trail-layer (who is not trail-laying but hunting on Saturday) is looking after me, but still terrified I will do something very wrong and show them up :/ Just smile and thank everyone and say good morning to anyone who looks important yes?

eeek so excited though and will definitely be letting you know how we go

Ref on the neck strap- a very important piece of kit! Sounds like you are all storted. Have a great day - you will love it....

 

[JenHunt]

sounds spot on... is the mane long enough to get plaits in at all? if not then just leave it, it won't be a problem and you might be glad of something to grab once in a while!

as for the stock, a coloured stock with tweed is what is generally worn, but it's not a big problem if you only have a white one. stock pin should be worn horizontally (see the sticky at the top of this forum for tips on how to tie stocks).

have a brilliant day and please come back and tell us how you got on!

 

[BringoutheBest]

thank you guys! have got a coloured stock (also happened to be most expensive in tack shop oops) - this hunting shopping bug thing does not sound good think I need a vaccine against it!
Mane is about 5cm sticking up of the thinnest mane you've ever seen, tbh when I say "mane" referring to it most people just look at me blankly! Not good but think too late to do anything about it, he is awful having anything done to it, never mind taking whole thing off.
Thank you so much everybody, am so excited, just got to hope the pony behaves now
off to start mass tack clean now!

 

[Rosie Round The Hills]

Ha ha, my mare let me hog her mane at the beginning of the hunting season, and since then hasn't let me come anywhere near her with the clippers. So at the moment she looks more like a Trojan war horse than a tidy hunter. No one will mind - so long as you smile, be polite, and enjoy yourself!

 

[BringoutheBest]

It was fabulous!! lovely friend of mine somehow got plaits in mane - no clue how but love her v much for it! and loved the whole dressing up part of it! and yep whole thing was amazing, am still on such a high from it all, am hooked! Pony was incredible, no one could believe it was his first time and all loved him!
only had one near death experience, where I went through what I thought was a puddle and turned out to be more of a pond, almost ended up in it and mud all over everything, poor spuds head almost went underneath so bridle was caked in mud! amazing little boy managed to regain balance and save us both though also had brakes, without a flash, was gobsmacked but v proud. ooft just so happy

Everyone was so lovely also, really looked after me and helped out, also was in good books as was always the one to get off and do gates when they needed doing from floor and spud is so good (and little!) to get back on

Also, they all kept looking at me and laughing because apparently I didn't stop smiling through the whole thing, I didn't even realise

But yes was fabulous, definitely got to have a proper hunt jacket next year methinks

happy happy happy

 

[Starbucks]

Yay!! glad you had a nice time!!! Nothing better than the mood you get in after a good days hunting!

 

[JessPickle]

This post has really made me want to give it a go

 

[Sanolly]

JP go for it!!

 

[Dovorian]

Not with ratcatcher tweed surely?

 

[BringoutheBest]

agreed, def give it a go JessPickle
and dovorian what do you mean by not in ratcatchcer tweed? that I shouldn't have had a good time in it or something else? :O

Am off again for closing meet in a couple of weeks

 

[JenHunt]

sounds like you had a brilliant day out! And I'm glad you're hooked - it happens to all of us!

 

[combat_claire]

So glad you had a brilliant time

I think Dovorian's response was about a white hunting tie with ratcatcher, not saying you shouldn't have worn ratcatcher. Darned threaded view...

 

[VoR]

Trust me, it gets better the more you go out, the confidence in yourself and your horse grows, get to know the other members of the field, you start to understand the etiquette and what the huntsman/hounds are doing....ah roll on saturday