First timer going hunting - what to wear?

[ycbm]

This may be a stupid question but IF hunts are hunting within the law,and laying a trail rather than hunting foxes shouldn't it be safer as crossing safer ground. As I said a stupid stupid question?

No genuine question is ever stupid.

Yes, marginally safer, but safer doesn't mean safe. The main risks with drag and trail hunting aren't unknown ground, they are other out of control horses and riders, travelling at speed on uneven or slippy ground, and fence post/rabbit/other holes/hazards that havent been spotted and marked.

Also, fox hunts cover a relatively small area and the huntsman and field master generally know the ground in the area in detail. The field never, except in error, overtake the field master.

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[palo1]

A half decent field master knows that a big part of their job is to keep everyone safe (within the constraints of horsee/rider abilities/unforeseen accidents) and to make sure no-one gets left behind. They should also always be signalling any obvious hazards - this should be a call such as 'ware wire to the left/holes to the right etc. This way, it should be entirely reasonable for everyone to cross the country safely. However as ycbm says other horses and riders are the key liability. A good field master is key to other safety matters.

 

[ester]

I do remember discovering the bird scarer had been left on...

 

[Tiddlypom]

I do remember discovering the bird scarer had been left on...

I hope that you then pointed it out to the other followers in good time .

 

[ester]

I think there were some quick calculations of the gap between bangs to get everyone past.

 

[gunnergundog]

Dolly is going on the Boxing Day Hunt with a friend too so we shall see how she gets on.

If I was looking to give a horse a good introduction to the hunting field, with a view to making it into a sane, safe hunter in the future, I would NOT be taking it out on Boxing Day.

Idiots abound on Boxing Day - those that only hunt once a year, those that have never hunted before, those that are half cut etc etc. Many are totally out of control, many will ride up the rear of any horse they see in an attempt to stop, many swear blind that their horse has never kicked before etc etc. I could go on.

I would go so far as to say that taking a young horse out, that has never hunted before, to a Boxing Day meet is a sure way to blow its brains......this is regardless of whoever is sat on top.

 

[Tiddlypom]

^^^^ Agee with gunnergundog. The Boxing Day meet is the maddest, least typical hunting day of the whole season. Lots of clueless once a year types with no idea of hunting etiquette.

I think there were some quick calculations of the gap between bangs to get everyone past.

IME bird scarers trick you into thinking that you’ve worked out their timings, then they’ll throw in a few extras just as you think it’s safe to go past them .

 

[ester]

Yup I've never been to a boxing day it would definitely not have suited/been fair to F.

I do remember we all survived TP had a terrier man been around they would probably have switched it off but we were all moving on quite quickly at this point.

 

[milliepops]

does that depend on your area then? I never did boxing day but did New Years quite a few times, and it was a quick jog up the road and a little jolly round the woods then home. weird! I still go the meet most years on foot, and they seem to do the same thing now.

 

[ycbm]

Dolly is going on the Boxing Day Hunt with a friend too so we shall see how she gets on.

I missed this post yesterday AE. I echo the above. This is a dreadful day to choose to introduce a new horse to hunting.

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[ycbm]

does that depend on your area then? I never did boxing day but did New Years quite a few times, and it was a quick jog up the road and a little jolly round the woods then home. weird! I still go the meet most years on foot, and they seem to do the same thing now.

New Year's day was never anything like Boxing Day when I was hunting. People who did make it out were too hung over to cause trouble and the field was much smaller than Boxing Day with far fewer inexperienced people out.

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[Ambers Echo]

Maybe it depends on the hunt? She is going with a group of other kids and their parents who go every year. I'll ask what other years have been like. A very experienced child is riding her - one who hunts regularly including on Boxing Day and competes BE100 in the U18s. Going with other younger children. Oh god I thought I had a plan!

 

[ester]

I used to go Xmas eve/NYD quite happily.

 

[gunnergundog]

Maybe it depends on the hunt? She is going with a group of other kids and their parents who go every year. I'll ask what other years have been like. A very experienced child is riding her - one who hunts regularly including on Boxing Day and competes BE100 in the U18s. Going with other younger children. Oh god I thought I had a plan!

Which hunt is it?

Why are you so keen to get the pony out hunting now mid-season? The going is atrocious, if the pony isn't hunting fit it is a recipe for potential soft tissue injuries, plus, as I said before, a sure way to blow a 5 year olds brains.

Why not spend the summer doing hunt rides and then start autumn hunting at the beginning of the season next year when everything is a lot quieter and slower? Hunting isn't just about being able to sit on top of something that is looping the loop; you need to be safe and in control for the safety of others to whom you should have a duty of care. That means PREPARING!!! Preparing the horse both mentally and physically. Remember the old saying 'preparation prevents piss poor performance?'

Goldenstar has posted many times in the past of how she preps her hunters as youngsters.....if you can find some of her posts they would be worth reading.

 

[Ambers Echo]

It;s not that I am particularly keen - as I said in the first post, my RI recommended my daughter take her out hunting. The pony club she is in is linked to the hunt so I contacted the DC who said fab - send her along. So in my naivete I was just going to do exactly that until HHO posters told me that was a bad idea. But people also suggested that a more experienced rider take her for her first hunt. So when a friend's daughter posted asking about whether anyone had a pony they could hunt on Boxing Day as her pony was lame, I offered Dolly. Which I am now regretting....

 

[gunnergundog]

Totally agree with a more experienced jockey for the first three outings. Horses can be totally non-plussed the first time out and only show their true colours on subsequent outings when they know/think they know what to expect.

This is why it is so important that they start out when all we are doing is standing around. They need to learn that hunting is BORING. This is also why Boxing Day is a bad idea for a first outing.

 

[palo1]

If I was looking to give a horse a good introduction to the hunting field, with a view to making it into a sane, safe hunter in the future, I would NOT be taking it out on Boxing Day.

Idiots abound on Boxing Day - those that only hunt once a year, those that have never hunted before, those that are half cut etc etc. Many are totally out of control, many will ride up the rear of any horse they see in an attempt to stop, many swear blind that their horse has never kicked before etc etc. I could go on.

I would go so far as to say that taking a young horse out, that has never hunted before, to a Boxing Day meet is a sure way to blow its brains......this is regardless of whoever is sat on top.

This!!! Many times over.

 

[Michen]

That's a good idea! There is some team chasing around us - I keep being asked to join a team with Amber but noooooo thanks!

Dolly is going on the Boxing Day Hunt with a friend too so we shall see how she gets on.

Oh AE no just no!!!!! Argh!

 

[ycbm]

I used to go Xmas eve/NYD quite happily.

Boxing day is different!

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[AmyMay]

Even when I hunted regularly I would never go out on Boxing Day.

 

[Tiddlypom]

So when a friend's daughter posted asking about whether anyone had a pony they could hunt on Boxing Day as her pony was lame, I offered Dolly. Which I am now regretting....

Most of the experienced hunting peeps on here are advising swerving Boxing Day with a newbie horse, and many of us would choose not to go on that one day even when hunting regularly ourselves.

Then someone pops up wanting a ride specifically for the maddest day of the hunting season . Alarm bells on at full volume, methinks.

 

[JGC]

If you have insurance, don't forget that hunting is sometimes a higher category of risk, so check you're covered.

It just seems like the whole thing is a bit of a gamble - she might gain in fitness and boldness vs. risk/she might blow her mind? I mean, if you/Katie were really desperate to get into hunting, then it makes sense, but if that's not the case surely you've got a lot to lose? Apologies if I sound really pessimistic - feel free to ignore.

 

[Ambers Echo]

I am just showing how utterly clueless I am. I guess I need to pull Dolly out but arggghhh!!! That's an awkward conversation!! My friend who has been several times before says it is busy but very steady with loads of hanging around as there are so many people there. Any chance that hunt is a sane one?

 

[ester]

It's the hanging around we struggle with, my oft so zen he's horizontal mount struggles with too much hanging around. Usually fine after the first blast and better if hacked there.
As an aside our dressage scores improve quite a lot during hunting season.

 

[Michen]

I am just showing how utterly clueless I am. I guess I need to pull Dolly out but arggghhh!!! That's an awkward conversation!! My friend who has been several times before says it is busy but very steady with loads of hanging around as there are so many people there. Any chance that hunt is a sane one?

Even if it is a sane one You could do irreversible damage to this pony mentally or physically if you do this. Everyone pretty much has said- take her autumn hunting and do it properly. Not to mention it’s actually poor form for those around you too (not that plenty of people don’t take unknown horses out on Boxing Day but doesn’t make it right). Sorry to be blunt but have some respect for what is a super pony and don’t subject her to this. However sane the hunt may be (or not). If I was around at the moment Boggle would not be jumping anything (or probably not even hunting since the last two days of rain) the ground is so wet it’s just not worth the risk. Sorry this probably sounds so dramatic but you are clearly a very educated and caring owner and this is one of those times you really need to say no whoever’s feelings it upsets!

 

[ycbm]

It's the waiting that's often the problem AE. It blows some horse's brains. You don't know if Deedee is one of them until you try and Boxing Day is not the day to do that.

One of mine got so aerated at queuing for a fence he jumped the barbed wire beside it instead. The horse who followed him got it wrong

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[Ambers Echo]

Dolly not Deedee!
I've pulled her out. Thanks all.

 

[ycbm]

Dolly not Deedee!
I've pulled her out. Thanks all.

Sorry! Dolly, of course. Well done for pulling.

 

[DressageCob]

One thing which might be worth looking at AE is the North West Bloodhounds as they used to be (previously Cheshire Bloodhounds). They've changed to just do fun rides now. I've done a couple and it's a good middle ground between hacking/farm rides/standard fun rides and hunting. You go en masse, normally with a jumping group and a non jumping group, walk, trot, canter (and gallop sometimes) but there are no hounds and the route is very much planned ahead. There's even a lead rein section on some rides.

They have rebranded now as Five Counties Fun Rides and I think their first ride is on the 1st January around Delamere. That will be a steady one.

otherwise I agree with the others to try autumn hunting or hound exercise. I wanted to do that with my big cob but couldn't find anyone to go with and I won't do that type of thing alone. Maybe next year! I took the little guy out twice and had an absolute blast ?

 

[ycbm]

One thing which might be worth looking at AE is the North West Bloodhounds as they used to be (previously Cheshire Bloodhounds). They've changed to just do fun rides now. I've done a couple and it's a good middle ground between hacking/farm rides/standard fun rides and hunting. You go en masse, normally with a jumping group and a non jumping group, walk, trot, canter (and gallop sometimes) but there are no hounds and the route is very much planned ahead. There's even a lead rein section on some rides.

They have rebranded now as Five Counties Fun Rides and I think their first ride is on the 1st January around Delamere. That will be a steady one.

otherwise I agree with the others to try autumn hunting or hound exercise. I wanted to do that with my big cob but couldn't find anyone to go with and I won't do that type of thing alone. Maybe next year! I took the little guy out twice and had an absolute blast ?

That sounds interesting. I cant find any info any info online under any of those names, have you got a pointer?