Should I hunt?

[TS_]

So I've been hunting before and always enjoy it, have been wanting to get out regularly for years and have been thinking recently that this season could be the season I actually do.
However I have a few worries.. My mare can sometimes kick and whenever I take her anywhere she wears a red band on her tail. So am I right in thinking I'd have to stay at the back of the field? I took her on hound excersise last week and she was fantastic and didn't show any signs of wanting to kick but I like to be cautious.
My main worry about having to stay at the back of the field is that my friends, who regularly hunt, are unlikely to want to stay there with me so I'd be on my own, just as fun?
For the first few times should I try and get a friend to go with or just go alone?
She was great on hound excersise and I stayed relatively near the back and all I had in was a happy mouth snaffle and she wasn't at all strong and just stopped when everyone else did. Obviously hound excersise is a bit different but I guess I should just get out and do some autumn hunting and see how we go?

Sorry for my pointless ramblings and I think I already know the answers really but just would like others opinions. Thanks for anyone who can make sense of what I'm trying to say.

 

[Aniseed]

My mare also kicks and although I try to stay at the back it is often easier said than done, not because of a lack of breaks but because people tend to appear behind you from no-where or the field stops and turns back in your direction. The only thing you can really do is put a red ribbon or tape in her tail and yell at people that get too close (normally small children who like to use your horses backside to stop!).

If you have friends who go then it's probably a good idea to tag along with them to the meet but you will probably find you get separated anyway and being on your own is no big deal. You are more likely to meet new people that way.

All this talk of hunting has got me dying to go out now. Roll on the start of the season!

 

[SimonH]

Yes. Big red flag on his bum and words of warning to the blind.

And make friends with all the other people vainly trying to stay at the back.