Info on packs near Swindon/Wootton Bassett - hunting newbie

[mbf938]

Hello

I was wondering if anyone can help me with finding a hunt for the coming season?

I've never been hunting before, but it is something I have always wanted to do but I never got the chance to try on my old pony. I have a new horse now that hunted and team chased with her previous owner and keep her near Junction 16 of the M4.

I'd really like to know the names of the hunts in the area, links to their websites for more info and also insights into the sorts of days you can expect with them, how friendly/welcoming to newcomers they are, and any advice on getting started.

I tried the 'find a pack' link on the MFA website but the link appears to be broken?

Thank you!

 

[spacefaer]

Beaufort and VWH to the north
Tedworth to the south


Anyone else, any thoughts? Bit far south for me =D

 

[asmp]

May be too far from you but I'm sure I saw in local tack shop yesterday a leaflet for a beginners intro day to hunting with the Royal Artillery Hunt at Larkhill. Looking on their website they don't advertise their meets so you'd have to phone the secretary.

 

[Countryman]

You're in VWH Country - they hunt mostly North of the M4, but also around Wootton Bassett and Wroughton.

The Beaufort hunt the land to the West of you - you're close to the border, they sometimes meet at Dauntsey and Grittenham, so their meets are probably just as close.

The Beaufort in particular, but also the VWH are quite smart packs, hunting 4 days a week.

The Tedworth and the Vine & Craven Hunt hunt the downlands to your South - the Tedworth are closer, as the V+C are more the Eastern side of Junction 15 of the M4. These are both quite small packs, hunting two or three days a week.

Other hunts you could consider - ie within a 20-30 minute drive, are the Avon Vale who are kenneled in Lacock and the Old Berks who hunt right up to the Eastern edge of Swindon, sometimes meeting at Liddington and Foxhill.

If you are interested, I can tell you more about the VWH, Vine & Craven or Old Berks - but I'm sure there will be people here who hunt with the Beaufort/Avon Vale/Tedworth who can give you particulars of these packs.

 

[mbf938]

That's brilliant - thank you.

By smart packs, do you mean turnout-wise or how often they hunt? I'm hoping my mare's mane will have grown back a bit more by the start of the season as she rubbed it out last winter and now has a bitty mohawk going on. I'm reluctant to hog her and start again as I am also hoping to show her but that may be my only option. She is a full TB so wouldn't look too out of place being hogged but if plaiting is mandatory, would this be acceptable if her mane doesn't grow back sufficiently to plait up in time?

I'd love to know more about the VWH, Vince & Craevn and Old Berks if you are happy to share? Especially with regards to how suitable each of them are to newbies? Thank you.

 

[Countryman]

That's brilliant - thank you.

By smart packs, do you mean turnout-wise or how often they hunt? I'm hoping my mare's mane will have grown back a bit more by the start of the season as she rubbed it out last winter and now has a bitty mohawk going on. I'm reluctant to hog her and start again as I am also hoping to show her but that may be my only option. She is a full TB so wouldn't look too out of place being hogged but if plaiting is mandatory, would this be acceptable if her mane doesn't grow back sufficiently to plait up in time?

I'd love to know more about the VWH, Vince & Craevn and Old Berks if you are happy to share? Especially with regards to how suitable each of them are to newbies? Thank you.

By smart I meant both really-and more expensive than other packs (The Beaufort is probably the only hunt that actually has a waiting list for subscribers!).

All 3 of those hunts are very welcoming to newcomers - it just depends what days you want to hunt on, if you have a preference for the type of country they hunt over, or prefer small fields etc.

Briefly though - the VWH hunt a varied country, much of which is in the Cotswolds - lots to jump, but not many hedges-more timber/walls. They have big fields, especially on Saturdays, often of 100+ riders. Very good hunting.
The Old Berks have a mixture of rolling downs, where most jumping is hunt jumps, and a vale with plenty of hedges. Decent size fields, and very friendly.
The Vine & Craven are a small hunt, with lots of trainers and jockeys. There's not much to jump, as their country is mostly downland, but they have some great days, and some not so good days depending on where they are.

If you PM me, I could explain in more detail, let you know who to contact etc.