Friendly questions for newbies/occasional hunters

[Simsar]

Have your masters been helpful/approachable. They should be so if you have any questions please ask them when you are next out hunting.
Do your hunts have etiquette days? Or do you feel that you have been thrown in the deep end and just follow the rest?
How can the hunts make it better for you to understand what is going on. What would you like to see to make it more educational??

 

[A1fie]

Hi - This is my first season and I have found everyone very helpful and welcoming. I haven't yet spoken to the masters at a meet, but nor would I expect too. They haven't been rude at all, just busy. I have no doubt that they would be approachable should I need to, but I haven't had any reason to yet and am sure they appreciate not having to make inane chat!

I recently went to a hunting talk for newcomers which the hunt had put on and that was great. There was a talk from the master who described a typical day hunting and what goes on behind the scenes to make it possible and then the huntsman spoke about the hounds and the kennels and finished by sounding the horn and explaining all the different calls and what they meant - it was amazing.

It was followed by a Q & A session so everyone could ask anything they ever wanted to know or were unsure about. It was really useful.

I don't feel like I was thrown in at the deep end at all but then I made a concerted effort to read as much as I could before going out so that I would at least know the basics of what I should and should not do.

So from me no complaints at all. But then I think that I should make an equal effort to join in, contribute and be part of the hunt and it's not just for them to make all the effort.

 

[TangoCurly]

I have started to hunt with the Taunton Vale Harriers this season and they could not have been more helpful or friendly. I wasn't able to go to one of the newcomers meets (as they were mid-week) so the master kindly offered that my 5 firends and i could come to a saturday meet just before opening meet which had a hunt lunch after it.

Speaking to Alun (the master) on the phone, he was so helpful and we must have spoken for about 20 minutes

We were given a pilot (Jo, who is one of the field masters) to look after us who was fantastic, she explained everything that was going on, including the different horn notes, what the hounds were doing, why we had to do certain things, etc, etc. Not only was Jo really really helpful, but she introduced me to lots of the subscribers so I had a fantastic day and really felt that i was part of the hunt, rather than a new person. The hunt lunch afterwards was also great and another good opportunity to meet people.

After that, we were then asked to the hunt ball which was a fantastic night out.

I then went out with them again last weekend, and again could not have been out with a friendlier group of people who were all keen to help. As it is a small field we were able to be very close to the hounds and really see them work.

In summary, the Taunton vale Harriers could not be more helpful and welcoming to new people and i can't wait till i next go out with them. i don't think they do etiquette days as they just look after people properly when they ride with them!

bye!

 

[humph]

This is so great to hear - I'm so pleased hunts are looking after newcomers so well.

My brother in law isn't a newcomer but working for a broadsheet newspaper means he has to live in london so doesn't get to hunt often but likes to have a few days with various hunts over each season.

He went out with the Blackmore & Sparkford Vale at the start of the season and is still brimming over with what a great day he had. Not only a great day's hunting but he was overwhelmed by how friendly and inclusive everyone was. He doesn't get to hunt often so a HUGE thank you to the B&SV for giving him such a great day.

 

[glenruby]

I had my first day out iwith an english pack this week. The Masters all introduced themselves (it was a fairly small meet as midweek) and everyone was very friendly and chatty. I already knew some of the hunt staff though which definitely made it easier.

 

[skewby]

I have started hunting with the Cotswold, and they have been fab. Went out once last season and was all over the place, they were just great, advised me, helped me, and allowed me to go back!

I did a lot of research (mainly on here, there is loads and everyone is very helpful) before I went. I'm not afraid to ask questions when I go though. I mostly ask about exactly what the huntsmen and hounds are doing.

Masters have been lovely, were fab to me when I kept passing them cubbing we sorted it out eventually and the secretary, throughout, has been just awesome.

Brill hunt, very addicted now, no annual leave left this year and a bit dodgy about Saturdays but frequently daydreaming about next time out!