Vindicated
Well-Known Member
What kind of ability as a rider should I have before I take to the hunting field for the first time? I'd be really grateful for any help
Riding ability for fox/drag hunting?
- Thread starter Vindicated
- Start date
posie_honey
Well-Known Member
happy to do all paces, over all terrain - in a group really
i've not yet met a hunt who doesn't have a non-jumping group so that should be fine
what is also important though is the horse - if its a hunter hireling who knows the ropes then it will (should
) be an easy ride and you will mostly just passanger - if however you are thinking of taking a horse for the first time - then i'd recommend trying a few fun rides etc first and see how you cope in company before you try it - as it can (not always but can) blow some horses brains
i've not yet met a hunt who doesn't have a non-jumping group so that should be fine
what is also important though is the horse - if its a hunter hireling who knows the ropes then it will (should
) be an easy ride and you will mostly just passanger - if however you are thinking of taking a horse for the first time - then i'd recommend trying a few fun rides etc first and see how you cope in company before you try it - as it can (not always but can) blow some horses brainslilaclomax
Well-Known Member
Completely depends on the hunt
Our local hunt have their annual farmer's hunt and around 20% of the riders only ride on this event (then struggle to walk for the following few days!) You can also get Pony club hunts which are designed with children in mind.
Drags are set at a faster pace but along a planned route, hunts can involve lots of waiting followed by a mad rush... I would say aim to get both your horse and yourself as fit as possible and try a few 'fast' sponsored rides to get a feel if you have not attended a hunt before.
HTH
Our local hunt have their annual farmer's hunt and around 20% of the riders only ride on this event (then struggle to walk for the following few days!) You can also get Pony club hunts which are designed with children in mind.
Drags are set at a faster pace but along a planned route, hunts can involve lots of waiting followed by a mad rush... I would say aim to get both your horse and yourself as fit as possible and try a few 'fast' sponsored rides to get a feel if you have not attended a hunt before.
HTH
Wagtail
Horse servant
You need a good level of control over your horse. You don't need to look pretty, but be able to jump to a reasonable level and be familiar with jumping natural obstacles such as hedges and ditches. You should also be able to open and close gates from your horse. Most of all, you should make yourself familiar with hunting ettiquette.
OWLIE185
Well-Known Member
My advice is to find someone who regularly hunts to adopt you.
This is what happened to us. We where all happy hackers in London and one of our friends organised hunting holidays on the Quantocks and Exmoor for us. None of our horses had seen a hunt let alone hunted before.
This is what happened to us. We where all happy hackers in London and one of our friends organised hunting holidays on the Quantocks and Exmoor for us. None of our horses had seen a hunt let alone hunted before.
hessy12
Well-Known Member
This is correct. I'd add that you must be able to keep your horse under control and be able to turn him to face hounds when they pass. IMO, hunting is not for novice riders. The pace is fast, it's exhausting (you need to be fit, so does horse) and it goes one for hours.
I would go cubbing first as it's much slower.
Make sure you are familiar with hunt etiquette too. see the hunting forum 'advice for newbies' posts. Hope you enjoy it!
Honey08
Waffled a lot!
A lot of the drag hunts around us do "taster" days at the end of the summer for people who haven't been before. They do a shorter version of a hunt, with experienced hunt members to help and advise novices. It may be worth contacting the secretary of the hunts that you are considering to see if they do anything like that.
MissMincePie&Brandy
Well-Known Member
Depends on the hunt and the individual meet, as to what the terrain and the general pace will be like. It's unusual for there not to be a way around a jump or a ditch.
However, I would say you need to competent enough to be able to control your horse, as it is likely that he'll become stronger and more excitable than normal. You need to make sure your horse is fine with the hounds too.
The most important thing of all is that you need to be able to keep your horse under control, and look out for yourself and your fellow riders. If you're new to hunting, I would suggest reading up on hunting etiquette before you venture out. This will stand you in good stead, and you wont make any silly or dangerous mistakes. For example, don't leave someone holding a gate if your last in the field, and warn those behind you of low hanging branches, etc, etc
Have fun
However, I would say you need to competent enough to be able to control your horse, as it is likely that he'll become stronger and more excitable than normal. You need to make sure your horse is fine with the hounds too.
The most important thing of all is that you need to be able to keep your horse under control, and look out for yourself and your fellow riders. If you're new to hunting, I would suggest reading up on hunting etiquette before you venture out. This will stand you in good stead, and you wont make any silly or dangerous mistakes. For example, don't leave someone holding a gate if your last in the field, and warn those behind you of low hanging branches, etc, etc
Have fun
MissMincePie&Brandy
Well-Known Member
Yes, I agree. My novice OH is competing at intro and prelim dressage on my horse, so he's mastered his own self balance, on a well schooled horse, in a very controlled environment, but I wouldn't allow him out hunting yet. He'd last 5 minutes before overtaking the master and being dumped on the floor!
You do see a lot of very dodgy riding styles out hunting, but everyone will (or should) have their horses under control. Putting others into danger because your horse is misbehaving and you have little control is the worst sin of all.