Hunts Subs in the "Credit Crunch"

[WiltshireWays]

Without doubt it must cost a lot to keep a hunt running, but equally if subs are set high and have to be paid regardless of the amount of hunting that you may do, then potentially people are discouraged from going at all, so hunts actually could loose out.
Aside from Visitors caps, is there a workable solution for those who can't pay a full sub, but would still like to hunt?

 

[combat_claire]

Well here we offer a range of solutions - there is the full subscription which allows the person to hunt all season. Then we offer a 7 day special, this is a greatly reduced subscription, which as the name implies only entitles the holder to hunt 7 days during main season - it works out far cheaper than paying 7 individual caps at £55.
If this is too steep then you can look at options for 1 or 2 day caps or autumn hunting mornings, and then buy a car subscription to foot follow for £35 a season.

If £35 is still too much - pay £10 and just get the meetcard.

In addition to this they offer discounts for children, under 25s and farmers over whose land we hunt.

I'm guessing we aren't unique in offering payment options as flexible as this.

 

[WiltshireWays]

I will admit to not really knowing what other hunts subs would be. Our full sub ( all in inc cap etc ) would be close to £1000, and a visitors cap £70plus. I'm guessing this is at the higher end of the scale.

 

[Darkly_Dreaming_Dex]

Our hunt offers subs via Direct Debit which is very popular

 

[Scarlett]

As someone who wants to hunt but who cant afford a full sub up front in current climate I'm really interested to read this thread. I'm sure the hunt comment in H&H this week mentions something similar?

How many hunts offer flexible subscription payment? How many are thinking about it?

 

[WiltshireWays]

I'm sure many would offer a direct debit over a season or similar. But if I pay a full sub even by dd, and I get to hunt ten days, its around £100 an outing. Or worse still, horse gets injured in Dec and I only have a day or two's hunting, the full sub is still due.
When I was writing this thread, I was thinking that probably get some responses saying that the hunts need the money to keep going, and I do realise that, I really just wanted to see if any hunts had an innovative system for somewhere in between an ocasional visitor and some one who can hunt most Saturdays and maybe has more than one horse, for whom a full sub makes economic sense.

 

[blackcob]

Being a busy one-horse owner who only wants to go out on the odd saturday here and there, and who being a student can neither afford a full day's cap or get away with paying pony club rates any more, I would also be interested in the responses to this thread. I am too scared to ask our hunt if there is such a thing as a student rate for fear of being thought a cheapskate!

 

[Darkly_Dreaming_Dex]

Always contact your local hunt's secretary and ask what deals they offer as most hunts have a tier system of subscription rates depending on the number of days hunted or a specific day eg saturday. As CC said you can purchase a 7 (our hunt its 5) day sub for that number of days taken as and when. Dont be embarassed about asking Oh and BC- our hunt has a "young person's" subsidised rate for 18-24 year olds

 

[Weezy]

Our hunt offers:

A book of tickets (not transferable) for 8 days’ hunting maybe purchased for £680 for any day, £520 for Wednesdays and Mondays. A book of tickets (not transferable) for 4 days hunting (any day) may be purchased for £350.

But I only hunt on a weekday, which is £80, so if I buy tickets I have to pay extra, but I cannot hunt more than 3 times unless I subscribe or buy tickets! So absolutely NO savings offered from my lot I am afraid, and full sub is £1070 for one day a week or £1350 for full. I hunt at the most twice a month with this pack, sucks.

 

[tractor]

We offer various "deals", for young subscribers, families, ten day tickets etc etc...tbh as long as someone comes to the table with a sensible offer we will consider it. so as someone else has said, don't be afraid to ask.

And most of the time, if someone's horse is injured and they can't come out then we will roll their subs over.

I'm secretary of a pack of hounds btw, so kind of speaking "from the other side"!!

Sarah x

 

[SamuelWhiskers]

Ask, Ask, Ask!! It really does pay off! As long as you are polite and honest, in reality, most hunts prefer some income, compared to no income from people being deterred from the high caps! If a reasonable offer is made, they do consider it! I know, i've asked!

 

[WiltshireWays]

I have asked, but unfortunately no give..so I find myself in same situation as Weezy. It a shame as the end result will be that the hunt will get less money from me this season, than they may otherwise. As i understand it, they see any sort of "deal" as unfair to those who do pay full sub.. which is valid I guess.

 

[Springs]

I pay mine monthly which is £77 per month for 12 months there are no additional charges except for the hunt ball! and contents of the hip flask.

this works out great as the oh dosn't give me a huge rollicking on the money I spend on hunting.

ther are also packages, junior, farmer rates etc.

North Shropshire - some of the best

 

[L&M]

I pay £48 pounds per month over 10 months - compounded so do not have to pay cap. Our hunt encourages this method of payment as it provides a 'drip fund' during the non-hunting months. I save around £100 compared to a full subscription and by not having to pay cap can hunt as many days as I have time and energy for!

 

[LindaW]

Readyfield is £35 per day for everyone and £20 for under 18's (correct me on that if I'm wrong on that, didn't go and check, my kid is 6yo so def £20) which apart from the lovely atmosphere and great days out is why I love going out with them - I can afford to. They offer tickets too with some saving.

I don't think I'd be able to get out very often at £80 per day. I had to stop going out with the local foxhounds when their prices went up, no problem with the hunt, just couldn't afford it sadly.

 

[cavalo branco]

I'm also unable to afford our local hunt this year - but they do have a voucher system where you can buy a book of 8 vouchers - still works out at £65 per meet though!! I think that you can now share a book between two people. What is really galling (sorry to those who benefit!) is that kids STILL only pay £10!! So the hunt has virtually no adults left.....

 

[seche]

U25 8 days hunting = £200 - amazing!! and full sub U25 is £325! incredible - credit crunch - what? (I have been saving all year for my hunting!) other more commercial hunts around us ie the Herefs packs, South Shrops etc are v expensive and not as fun either!!

 

[WiltshireWays]

There does seem to be a great variety of annual subs out there and obviously some hunts are a lot less ( possible some more) than ours... but does anyone know how their hunt deals with the issue of flexible payments depending on the number of days hunted versus people who pay a full sub up front and feel this is unfair ?

 

[combat_claire]

It's a case of you makes your choice and you pays your money. Everyone gets the subscriptions card detailing the various options and the prices, so there shouldn't be any resentment against someone who doesn't hunt very often and pays the reduced price.

What does get my goat and is a complete tangent is people who hunt mounted twice a week or more and don't ever contribute to the hunt events either in attendance or helping out. They think their involvement ends with the payment of a sub.

 

[kick_On]

The folks i hunt with do monthy payments or pay in full - 5 days either mid week or sat, just mid week, just sat or all days so covers all bases.
You can do 1 or 2 days (with payment) but then you have to pay a subs rate at which you want to hunt.
So i'm sorry, i think it's a bit of a cheek (and not cricket) asking for a deal. In our packs does do very felxiable days and they not have put a stop to folks trying to hunt on cheap deal or trying to hunt on other folks sub (friends of friends stuff grrrrrrrrr) etc..... Plus there is a reason it costs as much as it does. It's not cheap thing to run, and i know in my hunt's case margins are very tight.
I have to work very hard to pay for my subs, so in past I have found it very annoying when your hunting with someone doing on the cheap, trying not to pay or lying about age to get it on cheap. Cos in end it doesn't benefit hunting allowing IMO this sort of lack of payments. Cos if everyone paid maybe they could bring rate down for ALL.
Plus if you had to pay to do a XC course for 4-5 hours over hedges, timber and cutting up ground, pay staff. Farmers having to move livestock to accomodate 80-100horses, folks not shutting gates and mixing up livestock etc... (i could go on) i'm sure you would have pay a lot more, around at BE starts at £60 and that only last 4-5mins, makes hunting look postively cheap!!!!!

 

[WiltshireWays]

I hadn't thought that my original posting in any way implied that the level of the subs was the issue under discussion..I was simply trying to illicit comment on whther or not there were more flexible arrangements in place at hunts than a simple flate rate for the season or a very limited number of days on the coupon system.
I'm not sure that there is any clear answer yet....... but interesting to see that so many people are reading the thread

 

[kick_On]

Er sorry but i think i've answered your question about felxiablilty:-
you can do
1-2day(either mid week or sat)-pay on day with agreement with Sec - then if you want to do more you can choice from below
5 day mid week or 5days sat -Can pay monthly or in Full
All mid week- Can pay monthly or in Full
All saturday - Can pay monthly or in Full
Everyday - Can pay monthly or in Full

sorry, I think that's a good list

As for trying to do 'cheap deals' (not in original posting), i think i've asked that question in previous posting

 

[Weezy]

if you can keep a horse then why quibble at a full subscription ?

I can quibble about over £1000 for a sub!!!

 

[Weezy]

I WISH!!!!

 

[Darkly_Dreaming_Dex]

WW-I didnt take your OP as being a cheapskate!
SL - We all have a limited budget for our horses (some more limited than others) and what i meant was by talking to the hunt secretaries , they may have a level of subs or a payment method that makes it afforable- As in BC case- she is a student so i am assuming is under 24 and at our hunt she would be eligible for the Young Persons rate which she wouldnt necessarily know about UNLESS she spoke to a secretary.

It doesnt make you a cheapskate to take up a reduced/restricted sub that you are ELIGIBLE for.

CC - i agree that its galling to see people week in week out who never help at hunt events but if you can find a way to "make" them help , i would be delighted to know. Mind you , the ones that REALLY annoy are those who swan in at the last moment and take all the credit for others hard work...

 

[combat_claire]

"but if you can find a way to "make" them help , i would be delighted to know."

And for my next trick I'll turn that trough of water into wine..

I was seething last season when someone rubbished the jumps we had spent a whole weekend building. She wanted to know why there wasn't three height options. If she'd bothered to come jump building then she would have had a say on the design....

Still it won't ever change, 20% will continue to do 80% of the work...

 

[JenHunt]

We are only a small hunt in the grand scheme of things, and our full sub is £350, and compound cap is £82, or £5 day money each day
we do a family sub (for 2 or more adults plus kids) for £450 plus £5 day money per adult each day
we do a 10 day ticket for £250 plus £5 day money each time
we do a 3 day ticket for £120 plus £5 day money each time
we do a visitors cap on an individual day basis of £40 plus £5 day money
we do a farmers sub, a junior sub, a restricted income sub (eg students, pensioners)
and if none of that suits, our treasurer will work something out for you.

 

[Groom42]

With regards children's/PC caps......are most hunts still £10? I am quite disappointed that our pack has increased PC cap to £25, which is a whopping 150% increase on last year! My daughter quite often would pay her own cap,and if she couldn't I would happily pay for her.However at £25 she won't be hunting this year, as it is just too much of a hike. Without wanting to sound insensitive,it is easier to "find" ten pounds (bottle of wine, or two packets of ciggies, or a cheap takeaway),but £25 takes more of an effort and more of a debate on whether to spend it or not. With all the other horsy bills, £10 was an affordable treat, but the higher price equates to diesel,feed,entry fees and we just can't do it all.

 

[combat_claire]

Ouch, that is a bit steep groom42 - we charge £15 for a Children's day cap.

Just out of interest here are the figures for subs:

Adult Full £695
Farmers £325
7 Day Special £270 (Equivalent to £38 per cap)
Children £115
Farmers' Children £85
Point to Point £300 per horse

2 in family pay 1 1/2 of the full subs due

Caps are

Adults £55
Associates £30
Children £15
Associates 17-25 £145