Getting involved without a horse to hunt?

[chestnut cob]

A quick question for everyone...

If you couldn't hunt your horse anymore, would you still want to be involved with hunting? Or are you only interested in following on horseback?

I was pondering this earlier as I can't hunt my horse anymore (ringbone in one front pastern means he can't cope with the roadwork, though I will probably take him after Xmas on a quiet week day and possibly a few day's cubbing next season) but I still enjoy going to the meets, following on foot, and generally being involved.

I am imagining that most packs like people to get involved as much as possible rather than simply stop going altogether if they're in a situation like mine with their horse? I know what people involved with my hunt say (primarily that it's a bit disappointing the number of people who come out on horseback but don't show any interest in anything else) but interested in what others think.

 

[rosie fronfelen]

i think, horse or no horse to ride, once you get the hunting bug its good to follow somehow, and still stay involved. we have alot of "old boys" who feel too knackered to continue to ride but are still faithful followers.

 

[montmol]

Loads of people involved in our hunt dont ride very often, or not at all.
Do your hunt have a supporters club which you could get involved with? Ours is cheap to join and they hold loads of events.
Also in our hunt, if someone is without a horse to hunt, others will often lend them a horse, if they cant ride it, for the odd day every now and then!!

 

[chestnut cob]

I do need to join the HSC actually though for the meantime, I've been volunteered into selling raffle tickets for the whiskey draw so that's one way of getting involved and a good excuse to get out to the meets

Quite nice to know I'm not the only person who wants to be involved but can't take my horse. Am going to treat myself to a hireling after Xmas though!

 

[spacefaer]

Chestnut cob - I'm sure you've gone down this route - but we have a an old boy with ringbone and had his joint medicated this summer... so he's able to cope with days we choose for him and will keep going a bit longer.

He doesn't do anything other than hunt (not even enjoying hacking) so we have to try to keep him going somehow!

 

[Serenity087]

I did as much as I could and I never went out on a horse!!
Got into the papers that way too

South Shrop are doing a lot politically in 2010, they badgered a load of us students into helping out on the promise of beer!! You helping with that too , CC?

 

[burge]

Try Beagling. Great way to hunt without a horse. I followed for a season then got asked to whip in the next season. Beagling folks are really friendly and you do feel very involved as everyone is on foot.

 

[natalia]

If i'm not riding I love going on foot, helping at the meet, collecting ect. are all good fun. I was on foot on boxing day this year first time in 6 yrs and had a fab time.

 

[chestnut cob]

I did as much as I could and I never went out on a horse!!
Got into the papers that way too

South Shrop are doing a lot politically in 2010, they badgered a load of us students into helping out on the promise of beer!! You helping with that too , CC?

I'm not a South person Buns, am the other end of the county ;-)

 

[chestnut cob]

We (as in me and vet) were hoping that we wouldn't have to medicate the joint. He's had his hocks medicated and has had 2 courses of Adequan but when he is x-rayed again in Feb he's having his pastern injected. Vet said to me last week that if I want my horse to be useful for anything else, he really shouldn't go hunting again. I do others things with him besides hunting so much as I enjoy taking him out, I'd rather he had a useful life doing something else rather than risk breaking him hunting. That said.... once he's had his pastern medicated, I will most likely take him out once (there are a couple of meets that I'm told are all off the roads) and will probably take him cubbing a couple of times at the start of each season.

How has your old boy been since having his RB medicated?

 

[chestnut cob]

Try Beagling. Great way to hunt without a horse. I followed for a season then got asked to whip in the next season. Beagling folks are really friendly and you do feel very involved as everyone is on foot.

Thanks Budgie, I will investigate!