Please tell me all about Bloodhounding?

[Girlracer]

I am looking at going out with the Farmers Bloodhounds on the 22nd as they are meeting about 5 miles from me.

Can anyone tell me a little more about it, I am comfortable jumping normal hunt jumps, but not really anything too huge (up to around 2'9 I guess) and hunt when I can with the NCH. Horse is a saint to hunt and fit as a fiddle, but jumping isn't our strongest point, but we do get along okay.

Are there jumpers & non jumpers? Thing is I don't want to not jump at all, but equally I don't want to be jumping 4ft hedges.

Any info greatly appreciated!

 

[MileAMinute]

I went with my local bloodhounds the other week. It was a beginners meet but apparently it's not that different to the norm.
We had a jumper and non jumper group - I was in the non jumpers. We still went past rails and some did go over them so it's still possible. They tended to be in the 2ft3-6 range.
The jumper group tended to jump some meaty hedges, ditches, gates etc so wouldn't say it was for the faint hearted!

If you want to know any more feel free to PM

 

[Hairy Horror]

I went out with the fourshires and it was brilliant, I did the non jumping leg, it was very well organised and they are a very friendly. I really enjoyed my day and I will be going again.

 

[TGM]

Obviously not all bloodhound packs are the same, and even then with the same pack the meets may vary in the type of jumping required. Your best bet would be to contact one of the representatives and ask about that particular meet. That said, the pack our family hunt with usually say that for normal meets you need to be happy jumping up to 2'9" and anything over that there is usually a way round. However, that 2'9" may be jumping down a hill with a sharp turn afterwards, or from a trappy bit of wood, or have a water ditch underneath it, so you are best to have a range of jumping experience! However, they do have a few meets where the jumping is optional, and equally a few big hedge days where you need to be prepared for some more serious jumping.

 

[Doug]

I have been out with the Farmers Bloodhounds, incredibly friendly bunch.
Granted we only went out on exercise but there were two field masters, one jumping and one non jumping. The pack would split up to take jumping and non jumping options at points then rejoin each other.
That is obviously very much dependant on the country you are covering that day and the options available to the masters.

They have a video on their website that describes the jumps etc (from 3 mins)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grjQmdUiTIk

Even more footage of the sort of jumping they do:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20V9AOJAHnI

I'm sure you will have a great day out!

 

[louisepolox]

We hunt with the South Downs Bloodhounds based in Froxfield Hampshire. Great days out for all the family - riding, following or quarrying. We go hunting over private land where we are invited to so could be in the New forest one day or Aberdeen the next! Mostly though we hunt around the Hampshire/Surrey/West Sussex borders www.southdownsbloodhounds.com