THIS SITE

[skewbaldpony]

QR
the people who aren't interested in horses would need to be on a site called Hound and Hound, though, surely? This is HORSE and Hound, see.
I imagine all the really knowledgeable old codgers are bumbling around in the undergrowth killing foxes like yourself, totally unaware of the advent of the interweb.
Thing is, if you know it all, what does it matter what we do or don't know? I should just let us get on with it?
Anyone who thinks hunting as was would have balanced the books without horses involved needs a weeny little reality check.

 

[combat_claire]

QR
the people who aren't interested in horses would need to be on a site called Hound and Hound, though, surely? This is HORSE and Hound, see.

I still miss the old Hounds forum. For those that prefer to chat about hounds and/or foot packs then I can recommend Liam's Hunting Directory.

 

[wanabe]

Just curious, what caused this rant by gooseman?

 

[skewbaldpony]

OK, Skiddaw Lad, point taken, if you hunt with a foot pack, no reality check required.
But the majority of packs weren't/aren't foot packs, and the majority of (fox) hunting was done by mounted packs, and the majority of those packs would not have been as well supported as they were, were it not for the mounted followers.

M'lud.

 

[lucretia]

and i suppose you were born all knowing skidmarks-lad? some people need to askthings and if you think everyone here is so beneath your great and all knowing-ness, p**s off to some other forum where you wont be bothered by us numpties.
as for your points about hnting i am begining to doubt that you have been within 200 yards of a meet of any type with your attitude to mounted hunting. At the end of the day it doesnt matter what people's motivation is as long as we all stick together and support the activity and all the people whoe livelihoods depend on it. Trolls like you could do with being chased by a pack of hounds IMO.

 

[combat_claire]

But the majority of packs weren't/aren't foot packs, and the majority of (fox) hunting was done by mounted packs, and the majority of those packs would not have been as well supported as they were, were it not for the mounted followers.

Interestingly our master estimates that for every person behind him on a ned, there are 10 on their feet, on bikes or in their cars. Personally I wouldn't award a collar to anyone that hadn't followed on foot at least once, had been jump building and stewarded or helped at at least one hunt event..but then we could argue the merits of which side works harder till the cows come home.

The important thing is working towards repeal. So when the election is called get out there on your feet and start working for Vote Okay to get this shower of a government out of office!!

 

[DressageDevil]

Oh for goodness sake!

skiddaw_law - ok well done, you hunt, you're dedicated and you don't like horses - point made.

At the end of the day people learn by asking questions and reading. Not everyone on here hunts regularly, most people hunts a few times a season, its a hobby. So with that in mind most people have SOME knowledge and will be able to answer SOME questions.

Very few people are all knowing!

I worked for the Quorn for 2 seasons, have hunted 1000's of times all over the world but would never profess to be all knowing and would never presume to have a go at people for not knowing all the answers.

I haven't been able to hunt for the last two seasons due to a back problem but am mobile enough now to start following on foot again.

I will answer questions when I can and defer others greater knowledge when I am not sure.

At the end of they day we all here like hunting, can't we at least unite on that one front in these troubled times......?

 

[skewbaldpony]

I certainly agree with you about the repeal.

But the folks on bikes and feet don't PAY like those on horses, and that was kind of my point. Like it or not, it's the mounted followers who have bankrolled hunting, for most of its history, surely?

Come to that, as you say, you could start saying how about all the endless hours given to Pony Club, to encourage the 'young entry', which is what keeps it going in the end. You totally have a point, but I was talking filthy lucre.

 

[combat_claire]

as for your points about hnting i am begining to doubt that you have been within 200 yards of a meet of any type with your attitude to mounted hunting.

He is not a troll. Skiddaw Lad is probably the most experienced of all the contributors on this here forum - possibly outdone by Gooseman, just because he subscribes to the view that one end of a horse bites, the other kicks and it is uncomfortable in the middle doesn't mean his views are any less valid. I have huge respect for those that go fell hunting, I reckon a day hunting in that terrain would kill me off!

Maybe a late new year's resolution would be for all the mounted contributors to go foot following, beagling or with the minkhounds and for those dyed in the wool footies to perhaps not necessarily get on a ned and start whizzing about, but perhaps try to see things from the equine point of view! :grin:

 

[combat_claire]

Yeah we might not pay the vast sums of a full subscription, but can you put a price on the hours of volunteering that result in the raising of thousands of pounds per year by the Hunt Supporters who overwhelmingly tend to be foot followers, there are plenty of mounted followers who think their contribution to the hunt ends when they write that cheque at the start of the year and are never seen socialising at fund raising events.

If I totted up just how much I gave in ticket prices and donations alone it would be close to matching a full sub for someone of my age! Not to mention the time freely and willingly offered to do such things as fence building that lead to added enjoyment for the field!

 

[DressageDevil]

its the same questions over and over again , for a start , blue spotted "stocks" or hunting tie to be correct how many times has that come up , when i started there wasnt this thing we have now - internet , you had to go and find out for yourself , you went to the kennels or the stables and asked and if you were liked then you worked for the knowledge for free and you learned quickly . before anyone kicks off and says you were born and bred into it of my parents were involved , wrong , i saw hounds hunting one day whilst fishing , found out where the kennels were and went on the bus and asked

Yes but the modern day equivalent is to ask on a forum like this one

Yes it can be frustrating when threads exist with the answers already but sometimes people are excited, its their first time out and they want to post about the fact they are going hunting as much as to get answers

I just feel that we should be supporting and encouraging as many new hunters as possible, without them there will be no hunts......

 

[skewbaldpony]

combat clare, yes, you do have a point.

skiddaw lad, yes, but that was then and this is now. Surely you weren't theo ONLY person to fetch up at the kennels asking questions. Surely other brave lads came and asked the SAME questions?

 

[DressageDevil]

The other thing to remember is that a lot of kennels won't let people 'help out' because of the risk of them being 'monitors' and a lot would love to have the help but the Health and Safety aspect along with the insurance simply won't allow for it...

Some people are just too scared to be that up front about things so they go to a source of information - here! lol

 

[lucretia]

i think you make a good point country clare about both side experiencing how the other side live but that doesnt excuse the disgusting attitude of someone who should be old enough to know better.
the really important thing is that we all work together as several people have said to get a repeal of the hunting act. anyone who is foolish enough to think that the ignorant have no place is going to hinder the effort more than help it becuase sadly supporters are in the minority.
and of course skidaw whatever went down to the kennels and asked in his day like mine there was no internet, so you had to go your self. i am not disputing that getting in there is the best way to learn but i cant be irritated by people discussing stocks with tweed jackets because they didnt have the advantages i had when i grew up. traditions were traditions then and the pony club had a special book about hunting and you got tested from d test level on basic ettitquette (sp) but that is not the case now is it? I would have DIED before i wore a stock wit a tweed coat but things are differnt now and i am generally gratefully people are aware they dont know and ask. we should encourage that attitude not squash it. :grin:

 

[skewbaldpony]

I think our Pony Club must be behind the times then (hurrah!) because ours are grilled from D on. And visited frequently by the Master and sundry other hunt servants and supporters, and taken out hound exercising and encourage to go out other than to the Children's Meet. I grew up with unhorsey parents, but a lovely Pony Club and a not too smart hunt, so I knew how to dress/behave etc at the time, but would not necessarily know the correct answers now, so I'm glad PC drills my children so well.
But equally, I would come on here to ask a question, as I have done before about children's showing, and other things which 'just weren't my thing' or I'd forgotten. I don't see it hurts to ask questions, where people are happy to answer.

 

[lucretia]

forgot to say hello skewbald! and maye other pony clubs still do especially if they are in a good hunting area but remember i hang round the posh home counties now dear, where one is so tied up with ascot and henley darling!!

 

[skewbaldpony]

hello lucretia!
Oh yes, of course, and I suppose as the PC tries to become more PC, it will de-emphasize the hunting side.
Although I was surprised to find that some girls I know from a Centre Pony Club went out last season. Which can only be a good thing.

 

[lucretia]

indeed. yeah i forget about the PC tree huggers. they get in everywhere.

 

[LindaW]

For a long time, many people didn't go hunting because they felt intimidated. No one likes to look foolish, and lots thought their riding may not be up to it.

The internet, and forums like this have helped to change that. People can now ask questions without feeling silly, get the answers they need, and find information to their hearts content.

Yes if you're the dyed in the wool, hunted for years type, some questions may seem tedious to you (esp if they haven't thought to do a search), but they aren't tedious for the person asking the question. If you do find the questions all a dreadful bore, then ignore them, you DO have that choice! Let someone who feels a little more generous and friendly answer.

Hunting has a lot of enemies, don't alienate people just for the sake of it.

 

[Girlracer]

For a long time, many people didn't go hunting because they felt intimidated. No one likes to look foolish, and lots thought their riding may not be up to it.

The internet, and forums like this have helped to change that. People can now ask questions without feeling silly, get the answers they need, and find information to their hearts content.

Yes if you're the dyed in the wool, hunted for years type, some questions may seem tedious to you (esp if they haven't thought to do a search), but they aren't tedious for the person asking the question. If you do find the questions all a dreadful bore, then ignore them, you DO have that choice! Let someone who feels a little more generous and friendly answer.

Hunting has a lot of enemies, don't alienate people just for the sake of it.

Well said, i agree 100%!

 

[spookypony]

Speaking as one of said newbies, I moved here from a country where hunting with a mounted field is far less common than here. I wouldn't have had the foggiest idea how to find out about hunting, or how to make contact with people who hunt. When our riding instructor said he would take us hunting, I was really happy to find a forum where I could ask questions and get my preconceptions and worries dispelled!

I just got a bit annoyed at gooseman, because he seemed to think that an innocent remark about a pair of warm breeches meant that I thought of the whole exercise as a fashion show.

One of the preconceptions I had was that hunters are very concerned with etiquette and proper turnout, so out of respect, I wanted to make sure that I didn't cause offense.

I still think that a warm dry bum is important, btw.

 

[skewbaldpony]

Ah, but back in the day, they gave nary a thought to a warm dry bum. They would run all day with icicles hanging off their moleskin kneelers. With only a harris tweed jock strap and a sound thrashing from the Master for comfort, they went without food, water, and marital rights for weeks at a time in pursuit of the fox. Sterner stuff, see.
Mind you, I'm not even fit enough to hunt on horseback these days, and I was never fit enough for fell hunting, even when I was young and as fit as I was going to be, so you've got to realise, I am taking the p*ss from the very lowest of moral low-grounds.

 

[combat_claire]

And anyway with the pants search engine on here I'm not surprised people can't discover if their question has been asked already!!

 

[RLF]

Can the person with the mahosive siggy please adjust it please :smirk:

 

[combat_claire]

The other thing to remember is that a lot of kennels won't let people 'help out' because of the risk of them being 'monitors' and a lot would love to have the help but the Health and Safety aspect along with the insurance simply won't allow for it...

The present political climate is less welcoming to a newcomer turning up unannounced at kennels and then asking a lot of questions, one port of call is to get in touch with either a hunt secretary or a master to get the basic gist of what to do. I asked some really idiotic questions before I went on foot for the first time.

However as you become known, you will be welcome up at kennels to learn more, I'd been hunting a year when our whip had a fall and ended up off work for weeks, it was all hands on deck and I spent a week doing the knacker round and walking out. Learnt a hell of a lot about hounds and hunting and appreciated just what the staff do.

 

[disco]

Think I'll stick to ShowJumping!!

 

[Lucy_Nottingham]

I would love to go hunting, unfortuantly being at uni at the moment means I can't afford a horse (yes I would want to do it mounted) and also don't have the time to put in to do it.

HOWEVER
If I did start, I would feel confident in asking for peoples advice on this forum, thats all it is.... ADVICE ... NOT absolutes! It is up to other peoples opinions as to whether or not they follow advice.
I think it is interesting to read people opinions of hunting fom both sides..... however as stated by claire and a number of others, surely in this current climate of hunting is evil (thank you government) surely it doesn't matter if you are on horseback, on foot or bike etc, you should work together to stick it to people in parliment rather than start on each other?!

But then again I am a showing and dressage diva so what do I know?! :grin:

 

[wanabe]

I'm all for newbies asking questions here (and not even using the search function!). Why? Because I've noticed this and other hunting forums are pretty lacking in activity without such posts.

We COULD have some sticky FAQ posts, I suppose, but I don't think just one, for newbies, would be a good idea. Perhaps:

1) Attire
2) Ettiquette
3) Finding a hunt
4) Appointments and equipment
5) My newbie hunt horse

But if we had faqs like that, then I think the forum would be pretty dead.

 

[nick3216]

1) and 2) are answered already on H&H.

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/competitionnews/article.php?aid=98752

It's the number 1 result returned by Google if you search for 'hunting etiquette', so it's actually easier to find than coming on here and asking! Another advantage of Google is that lots of the hunts have their own versions, so it's easy to find the specific etiquette of the hunt you'd like to go out with.

Whatever your reason for hunting I think we should all appreciate that other people have other, different reasons for hunting. After all, if we all wanted the same thing it would be easier for those who want to stop it to stereotype us. Let's celebrate the diversity of hunting.

 

[kickandshout]

HOW VERY DARE YOU !!!!
there's more to competing horses than blooming badminton !!!!

we don't all have ridiculous amounts of money for eventing entries. and the people who actually do go round badminton had to start somewhere !!!!!

for every person competing in the ring /arena there blooming loads sitting watching criticising who wouldn't even give it a go !!!