I don't understand!

[moocow]

I haven't been hunting in years, I enjoyed it when I did hunt but i wasn't a regular, no box so I would just go out and join the local hunt when they were close by. I have NEVER seen a fox being killed on any of the hunts I have gone on. Its not that i turned away or anything its just either a fox wasn't killed that day or if they were it was doen so quickly and out of sight it was overwith before i knew what was going on. No one likes thought of an animal "being torn limb from limb" blood guts the whole nine yards but my experience is that this isnt an accurate discription of what happens.

I am all for open discussion and am really enjoying reading the posts about people going out for the first days hunting etc. especially as i have just bought a horse and would like to go out again. What i am confused about is if you are offended by talk of hunting, judging by the tone of the posts, why would you enter a forum on the horse and hound website? you can say well horse and hound is about more than just hunting but why then go in particular to the hunting forum?

I think everyone is entitled to his/her own oppinion but it just seems that there are loads of just barbed anti comments and I was just wondering why would someone who is anti be interested in a hunting forum? i just don't see the point. it will obviously be postinsg from pro hunt people and it just seems like a stress that can easily be avoided.

Maybe I am missing the point entirely. This is not meant to be a post to start an arguement or anything.... sorry if it comes across that way....I am just curious.

 

[buckybee]

I know what you meen, maybe they want to convert all the pros.

It used to be a hunting debate forum and they changed the name a month or so ago.

 

[moocow]

Oh that makes more sense. Thanks for your reply.

Am enjoying it anyway especially seeing all the people that are going huntin for the first time or going back after years away. gives me hope that I will get back out there one day !

Has anyone else noticed that as the years go by you loose that bravery that you once had and the propect of falling off means bones shattering rather than just bouncing and getting back up like you used to do when you were a kid?

 

[Ereiam_jh]

I'm learning to ride and have been hassled by the staghounds to come out with them. I think I need a few years practice first though.

I hope you do get out again moo cow

 

[moocow]

Well I had a fantasic looking hunter on trial when I was looking to buy but she failed a vetting so had to go back. I bought an allrounder unbroken so he is just being backed at the moment. I am so unfit and its been so long since I was out hunting I don't think I would have the courage to take him out myself.

just looked up one of the hunts and tehre is a meet about 200 yards from my house in feb so there goes the excuses! Looks like I am aiming for february!!!!

 

[buckybee]

I'm only 23 and I'm get much more scared now than I used to! Quite pathetic really!!

You could get someone else to take him a couple of times before your february meet.

good luck with it! I'm sure you and your horsey will have a great time!!

 

[moocow]

thanks buckybee. think is I have just moved here from the UK and I know NO-ONE!!!

think I will just work on him for the winter and get his fitness up - maybe do some road work and show him what a car looks like! just basically take him slow and then nearer the time will contact the hunt and explain the situation - appologise in advance for any mishaps and go for it. It is close enough to home that i can just pull out at any stage if I need to and let them know I have had enough for one day.

getting excited now about it and its months away. i haven't even rode my new fella yet.....hope he has good brakes!

 

[lucecaldicott]

where are you based now moocow?

 

[Burnsall]

Who's "offended by talk of hunting"? Antis talk about hunting all the time. It's aspects of hunting itself which may perhaps offend them.

 

[moocow]

Lucehunter I am based on the east coast of ireland.

 

[moocow]

Sorry for my misleading turn of phrase Burnsall- but i think its pretty clear what I meant.

I did also say I wasn't looking for a arguement.

 

[Burnsall]

I don't really understand your point, moocow. Antis come here to debate the rights and wrongs of hunting with pros. I personally don't undersand, for example, why people enjoy chasing a deer for literally hours until it's so exhausted it has to stop and face baying hounds. For people like Giles and Tom and perhaps yourself this affords an exquisite pleasure, whereas to myself and, I suspect, most civilised people this is a clear-cut and grisly example of animal abuse.

 

[Ereiam_jh]

"chasing a deer for literally hours until it's so exhausted it has to stop and face baying hounds"

I've never in my life done such a thing.

Why do you suggest that I would?

What exactly do you mean by 'people like Giles' what people are they exactly?

Giles

 

[moocow]

And I likewise don't understand how people who claim to be respect animals can scare horses on hunts, can grab hold of bridles and pull so hard as to tear a horses mouth causing it to bleed, who think its entertaining to cause horses to bolt by sticking pins in them. That’s animal abuse in my mind but that may just be down to my own personal ignorant opinion we can't all be so civilised!

I posted my question and it was explained to me that the name of the forum has changed recently and that may be the reason. I have no idea who Tom and Giles are.

I wasn't trying to cause agro. You have clarified my point by your reply.

 

[Burnsall]

I agree with you completely, moocow, about the people who scare horses etc. It's a disgusting thing to do and the great majority of antis condemn them unequivocally. Does this happen in Ireland by the way? Do you have sabs there?

 

[moocow]

I have never hunted anywhere else.

 

[Ereiam_jh]

There's no doubt there are some very dubious characters on the anti side.

However this whole debate is characterised by prejudice on both sides.

 

[Burnsall]

Sorry! I thought you were from Ireland for some bizarre reason.

 

[moocow]

I am from Ireland - I said that in an earlier post on this thread and my reply was that I have never hunted anywhere else i.e. I have never hunted anywhere else other than Ireland.

 

[moocow]

I agree on both points ereiam_jh

 

[Burnsall]

Sorry again - having a brain drain moment. Do you get sabs in Ireland? Do you take a flask of poteen out with you?

 

[moocow]

yes ... yes we do and we actually hunt leprechauns.......

no... i don't take a flask of poitin out with me....

 

[Burnsall]

I don't mind you hunting the little green fellas - they're incredibly irritating. Drive them into some bog and let them swim their way out!!!