Gates

Irishcobs

Irishcobs

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After reading the article in H+H today saying pony clubbers and children should be the first to offer to do gates.
I was wondering how many youngster's in your hunt do the gates?
We have a fair few children hunt with us but I have not see one do a gate in the season and a bit I have been hunting.
When I am in the field more often then not the field master will shout for someone to open the gate ahead and most people suddenly find their boots, horses necks, the hedge next door very interesting so a very small few end up doing the gate again. I don't mind doing gates, especially if on my cob, but when everyone b*ggers off and leaves you to close it does make you think twice about doing the next one.
 
When I hunted in England I was always doing gates/picking up bodies/catching loose horses :D both as a child and as an adult.

Now I hunt in Ireland and as a woman am in the minority amongst a load of men, and I have a tall horse, and I haven't had to do a gate in years :grin:

I do actually think kids need to be taught a bit of hunting etiquette, as much for safety as anything else, but it's a bit much to expect them to struggle with gates and cope with being left behind while every one else bogs off, so I don't think it should be expected of them as such.
 
Thats what I thought. I stuggle with some of the gates so a child would never be able to do them.
We do have gate shutters (sometimes) but it's usually the opening that no one offers to do.
 
our master and huntsman take a couple of the kids up front with them and the kids do the gates, and give the staff leads over fences! (shocked!) but the kids never complain, in fact they argue amongst themselves about who's older/better/taller/more important and should go. The staff have to make sure they rotate to give everyone who wants to have a go a turn.

as for the rest of the field, it's whoever is last through, and it tends to be adults.

Having said that, our gates are pretty good, and most don't require anyone to get off. works for us, and the kids love to up front with the hounds.
 
I used to gate shut for bloodhounds and have always been happy to open and shut gates when not officially on gate shutting duty. All the horses I have had have had to be good gate horses, because there are loads on the bridleways that I use. I have no problem with being left on my own to shut a gate, in fact, when with the bloodhounds, I found company more of a hinderance, as they could not keep up with my horse when catching up, even a point to pointer on one occation! Although my horse was quite a hot head, he knew his job, was well trained and obedient and his reward for waiting was a jolly good gallop to catch up again!
 
I really enjoy gate shutting but then i usually like being towards the back and in my own space so it's ideal.
As everyone has already said most of the hunts round here have pre determined gate shutters who should open and close gates.
I haven't really seen any kids doing it, always adults. Guess because a lot of gates are heavier or awkward kids would struggle.
Even when not on duty i still offer to open/close gates, but then my lad is made for it so i suppose it's easier for me to offer.
 
Kids aren't that great at opening gates with us (some are but not all)... but I wasn't that brill when I was a kid either so can't really talk! They say stuff like they can't because they can't get back on! :p

I do a few but tend to get back on and let someone else shut it, you just seem to end up waiting forever for people at the back who've stopped off for a pee/drink. :P
 
I do a few but tend to get back on and let someone else shut it, you just seem to end up waiting forever for people at the back who've stopped off for a pee/drink. :P
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I shut the gate and let them sort themselves out. I keep up with the field and the master. If someone stops for a pee/drink then that's up to them :)
 
I am always doing gates / picking up fallers/ nannying the young and generally enjoy it BUT it really annoys me when a teenager on a 14.2hh pony says "i cant possibly do a gate as i couldnt get back on" and proceeds to sit there whilst a pensioner (with a heart condition) gets off to do the gate WTF??? its just laziness and thats why i end up doing so many as i cant bear to sit there and do nothing to help. I get annoyed when people dont say "thankyou" for holding open a gate...although someone will always wait for you at our hunt- Dex will stand quietly but you can almost hear him muttering "come on, hurry up" then he loves galloping to catch up ;)
 
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