Useful Hints and Tips for Hunting!

[JenHunt]

1) always carry a hi-vis bit of kit in a coat pocket (for hacking home!)

2) get a small spring clip carabiner, and use it to keep your car/lorry keys secured about your person whilst out hunting! (attach to a belt loop, or the button hole of the inside pocket)

3) a flask of tea/coffee and a snack kept in the car/lorry for your return will be very welcome before the drive home (to quench thirst on a hot day, or warm you up on a cold one!). For the 5 minutes it takes to consume it your horse won't mind! A horse who won't stand on a lorry/trailer could be lead inhand up and down the road whilst you drink.

4) a pair of tights under one's briches can make a big difference to how warm one stays!

please feel free to keep adding! (if everyone agrees, it might be worth getting TFC to sticky the thread!)

 

[Shavings]

always have a neck strap on!!
never no when you mind need it!!
(that is what i say)

 

[RunToEarth]

A small length of bailer twine tied neatly and kept in your pocket will always come in useful one day.

 

[Happy Hunter]

Fill the water container used for washing down (Or one of these fancy mobiwasher type things) - With hot water - and wrap in your travel home rug.
Takes the chill off washing down water and warms up cold hands if needed!


I do have an 'emergency' bucket - its sealed, only opened/fiddled with in an emergency so I always know the contents.
- A wound kit.
- A hoof pick
- a spare mobile
- a spare Cap!
- string
- spare reins!

Couldnt agree more with always having a neck strap! - Better that than having to find a spare head!

 

[Addicted to Hunting]

Layers!!! And its best if the base one is 'wick away' materail!

A mobile phone on silent, and make sure its got an ICE number espicially if your on your own, on the same lines could be worth having a 'medical card' in your pocket detailing any allergies, and emergency contact numbers etc.

A penknife in your pocket, and I haven't yet put am going to put a little torch in my pocket, will help if hacking back in dusk and will also be useful for looking at wounds.

 

[JenHunt]

I keep a little first aid kit in my truck too - enough to get a horse home or to a vet, or to treat little wounds on site. Also to treat any scrapes one might suffer (after altercations with hedges/trees/fences etc! )

 

[TwoPair]

We were taught during our hunting test to always carry a pen knife, twine, pennies for a phone box, a small chocolate bar like a fudge, and our cap in an envelope with our name, the date and meet on it to hand to the secretary. We were taught rat catcher until you are eighteen, and a pony club tie so it is easier to identify pc members. Always ask who is mastering and say good morning to the master, secretary when you give your cap, and the hunt staff. Try not to leave when hounds are running and if you can notify the secretary / say goodnight to secretary and master. We were taught always to face a horse along the gate towards the latch especially if wearing a martingale, so if the horse moves forward it will not catch on the latch / bolt (when opening gates). We were always told to say ware even if we thought the people behind us had heard the person in front of us.
Hot water in thermos' for washing off (add to cool water in a butt) and always quickly wipe leatherwork before mud dries. Always have something to eat for when you get back, and a haynet for the horse to travel back with. We were also taught that if you are doing a spanking trot on the road it may be kinder to the horses legs to canter as it reduces the concussion rate and increases the moment of suspension.

 

[Bernster]

We were also taught that if you are doing a spanking trot on the road it may be kinder to the horses legs to canter as it reduces the concussion rate and increases the moment of suspension.

Very handy tips! Was interested in this one TwoPair - I cringe for my boys' legs when we are cracking down the road at an almighty trot (only time I get an extended trot mind you), when other people are cantering. Is it actually easier on their legs to canter on the road than do the spanking hunt trot?

 

[JenHunt]

We were also taught that if you are doing a spanking trot on the road it may be kinder to the horses legs to canter as it reduces the concussion rate and increases the moment of suspension.

Very handy tips! Was interested in this one TwoPair - I cringe for my boys' legs when we are cracking down the road at an almighty trot (only time I get an extended trot mind you), when other people are cantering. Is it actually easier on their legs to canter on the road than do the spanking hunt trot?

This is interesting... I would say that it depends on the horse. Some horses just find trot easier than canter, and vice versa. I'd rather a horse was in extended trot than an unbalanced canter and risking a fall on the road.

 

[TwoPair]

Agreed - if you have a gangly horse that is unbalanced in canter absolutely. If the surface is slippy - I would be trying to walk rather than trot anyway. But if you are on a balanced horse and are really hammering along, sometimes canter can be better - the legs get a bigger gap between the concussive strikes, and are less likely to hyperextend below the knee.

 

[maggiesmum]

Never done it but read somewhere to put a spare pair of gloves under the girth straps - one each side I suppose - they're held in place and kept warm and dry for later on.

 

[BombayMix]

I would always carry a pack of Polos in my pocket. They were often invaluable if someone was trying to mount a rather excited horse to take its mind off running circles.

 

[BritasLake]

I tend to canter on roads rather than hammer down the road in trot. Although i quite agree with pacing along in extended trot rather than an unbalanced canter and risking a fall or slip on the road (which i have seen in my many years out hunting)!

 

[Fiagai]

This is one I was always told to follow:

Head up, Hoofs down...

 

[Hairy Old Cob]

When you view the Fox Dont Shout their Goes the Little Brown Bugg**

 

[nikkinoo]

I use a good old fashioned bum bag filled with essential equipment such as alcohol -for cleaning wounds of course

on a serious note I do find a bum bag useful for carrying things as they get bulky in your pockets by the time you put in keys, phone, hoofpick, hi vis vest, munchies, hipflask, money, bailer twine, pen knife, polos.

my bag is a bit like mary poppins' bag

 

[doodleberry]

i alway have a shoe removing kit in my lorry just in case one moves and the nails are sticking out ,then you can take it off before travelling! also you can carry a lil-et in your pocket which is very small and can be used as cotton wool to stem a cut thats bleeding knife baler twine in your pocket and a number of who to contact in an emergency for you and your horse any allergies etc . i also have spare reins stirrups and girths in the lorry and spare headcoller and rug just in case you need to give someone a lift home . i also have jump leads in the lorry !!!!i am sure i have loads of other things but can think at the mo!!