Parking

[bethanys]

Probably a silly question!
Is it usually at the meet or do you park away from it and hack there? If so, how?

*numpty time over*

 

[Irishcobs]

Normally you park away from the meet and then hack to it. The Sec should tell you where to park.

 

[Gamebird]

Traditionally it is considered 'bad form' to park at the meet. If it's too far from the kennels to hack there hounds are usually unboxed at a friendly farm close by and hacked the last mile or so. Mounted followers did the same, or parked up by the side of a road, on a verge etc.

However recently (perhaps with busier roads, more antis or whatever) people are starting to park at the meet more often. However never assume you can do so - phnone the sec and they'll give you the lowdown.

Personally I'd rather park a mile or two away. My horse has a mean buck when first mounted and I'd rather not try to get on him in the middle of a yard filled with hounds, horses and people. The same goes for any youngsters I'm hunting. 20 mins trotting before you get there makes them much more likely to stand at the meet than being dragged out a lorry in the middle of it all.

 

[combat_claire]

Always check with the secretary, as a general rule we organise parking either in a nearby field close to the meet or actually at the farm where the meet is being held. This keeps all the transport in one place and keeps inconvenience to locals to a minimum. We also try and keep enough hard standing for the lorries - as having to push a stuck lorry at the end of the day pisses the foot followers off!

There is also the issue of security, parked away at the farm you are less conspicuous. I have heard of trailers parked away from the meet, there owner has followed in the landrover and returned to find someone has hitched the trailer and half inched it.

 

[Orangehorse]

In the good old days you could leave a trailer on the side of the road, but I wouldn't do it now. I also used to see rugs just left in the trailer, and still being there at the end of the day!

It is true that lots of meets do have parking now, but if I was taking a young/frisky horse for the first few times I would want to give them a brisk trot to the meet first, so would try and find some parking a mile or two away. It used to be considered very impolite to park at the meet.

 

[combat_claire]

Sorry to be all doom and gloom, but you just can't be too careful in these times. Suggest investing in a trailer lock and probably locking all rugs and valuable kit away.

The best parking anecdote I have was the hunt lorry parking up on a nice stubble field in glorious autumn sunshine. As soon as they had left the heavens opened and when we got back the lorry had sunk into a swamp and was stuck fast - it was all hands on deck to push it free!

 

[JenHunt]

we're always asked not to park at the meet (with the exception of our end of season gallop and champagne breakfast), not to park in villages or in gateways.

We usually park on verges, laybys, gravel tips etc.

Carry a trailer wheel lock, and put rugs, head collars etc in the boot of your vehicle and cover them over.

you can get a little thingy for your keys that padlocks to the underneath of your vehicle that has a code wheel lock (like a briefcase) so that you don't have to carry your car keys all day.

 

[Mickeymoo]

you can get a little thingy for your keys that padlocks to the underneath of your vehicle that has a code wheel lock (like a briefcase) so that you don't have to carry your car keys all day.

I lock the car and put the keys in the spare wheel cover.. Is that really obvious? sometimes you can see a bump, but mostly you cant tell.

I take the trailer lock if i am on my own. I did use the hitch lock for a while until one day I couldnt get the trailer off the car... mmm.. husband wasn't impressed..

Parking, I've always parked in the designated area, verges, fields or farmyards with everyone else.

 

[combat_claire]

Key safes are only £15-£20 if you wanted to invest in something a bit safer Mickeymoo

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/handle-buy-box/ref=dp_start-bbf_1_glance/275-9078572-1260747

I am definitely going to invest in one, I am terrified I will lose my car keys while in the river with the mink hounds and the secretary must be fed up of carrying all my worldly possessions in her back pack.

 

[Mickeymoo]

Thanks combat claire, i will have a look at the safe. I go loads of places on my own, so would be worth investing in one. x

 

[combat_claire]

Here is a working link to them! I might put one on my christmas list!

http://www.freakfish.co.uk/keypod-car-key-safe.html