Foot Following

[jkenny]

I am working up to going hunting at the end of this season but would love to foot follow a few times in order to get an idea of the etiquette, skill level required, what to do etc. For any experienced hunters, are foot followers a) people actually following the horses through the fields, going (with the exception of woods and coverts) pretty much where they go or b) the folk in landrovers, cars etc having a peek through their binoculars from the roadside. I am young and fit and the latter option doesnt much appeal. The question then is can foot followers actually follow (albeit being left behind one imagines)? and are the mounted field tolerant of such sloggers? If anyone does this, or sees it being done, any advice appreciated.

 

[icklemadame]

I regularly foot follow if I cannot ride, and I find it almost as fun as hunting on my pony!! The easiest way is to do a mixture of both, on foot through the fields etc. for most of the time, you get to see a huge amount and learn a huge amount this way, the hounds and the hunt staff at work, the horn noises and what they mean, the field's role and if you're lucky the jumping as well You also learn the country really really well this way, which makes hunting on horseback more fun, less worrying and you are much more help to everyone if you know where you are and where you're going!! I tend to try and keep the car as near as possible, and I'm lucky that I have a landrover with big mud tyres so I can go whereever I please, so can often just keep the car with me, and you have to listen and get to know when to move on with your car so as to try and stay one step ahead!! The seasoned foot followers are a huge help, they tend to know where the hunt are heading and the quickest way to get there, talk to them and get to know their cars, then if you pass them in the wrong direction you can turn around and if you see them parked up you know you're on target!! The field are used to foot followers, and as you tend to be where the action is you are often more useful than the field itself to the hunt staff!! I have many many times been asked to line out roads and railway lines where you just can't get a horse in the right place.

I hope this helps, and I wish more people were sensible like you and hunted on foot before attempting it on horseback - it just means you understand so much more!!

 

[JStockbridge]

I'd be very wary about trying to be too mobile with any sort of vehicle. Hunts are of course, always somebody's guest! If there are plenty of lanes and bridlepaths perhaps take a bicycle. Otherwise, a very good way to learn about hunting is going out with a foot pack - beagles, bassets or (up north) the odd pack of foxhounds. The 'etiquette' is much the same and you are quite likely (if young and fit) to be roped in to help the huntsman, perhaps watching cover or carrying a whip. You are much more likely to see hound work too, than if you are desperately bashing round the lanes in a car.

 

[Chumsmum]

Agree with icklemadame, it is a great way to get into hunting and almost as much fun! We do a mixture of both, following partly in car and on foot depending on where we are.

Hope you have a good time and follow the regulars - it's amazing how quickly you can lose sight of a pack of hounds and a whole field of horses....