Visiting from Australia - joining a hunt??

[miava]

Hi All!

I am travelling to England from Australia later this month and I was wanting to ask a question of those involved with hunting. I show ponies and hacks here in Australia and have always loved the idea of hunting, however it is a fairly limited sport here, even for those actively involved in equestrian sports.

Is is possible to join a hunt for a day on a borrowed horse? If so how would I go about arranging this??

Thank you!!

 

[joe_carby]

hiya yes its very possible. most hunts have somebody who provides hirelings o literally turn up and get on but they can be pricey. i have never really looked into it myself but i think they cost between £200-£300 depending on what hunt. where about are you coming over to.

Im meant to be goin to NZ hunting next year.

 

[miava]

Thank you for your reply!

I am coming over with a friend and we are coming purely to visit some pony breeders and see some shows (Hickstead and some HOYS & Cuddy qualifiers) so traveling to an appropriate location wouldn't be an issue. I will google now and see what I can come up with!

 

[tractor]

The best idea is to find out where you are staying etc and work out the nearest hunt....MFHA website will help you. Then give their secretary a ring and ask them for advice. We had a girl from Melbourne out with us a few years ago, she loved it!

Just one thing....if you're over for Hickstead I guess that means you'll be over in summer? Practically all hunts have closed their season now, we stopped hunting in March and won't start again until September....only Minkhounds are going as far as I know, they hunt on foot....

Hope this helps, and keep us updated!

Sarah.

 

[rosie fronfelen]

hi Joe, pig hunting in NZ? i gather it's a very popular sport out there, we get alot of info. from relations in North Island- did you pick up my message by the way, sorry it was late!

 

[joe_carby]

hi salimali. well im not sure its a friend of my gfs i believe they hunt hares and wallabies. pig hunting sounds good might have to have ago at that while were there aswell. does NZ have an equivalent of our MFHA

 

[rosie fronfelen]

it is known as the New Zealand Hunts Assoc. there are approx. 28 officially recognised hunts there, consisting of drags, harriers and the ones that pig hunt-( not sure if those are recognised!!) they hunt from march to july.

 

[Festive_Felicitations]

Sorry minor post hijack...

Pig hunting in NZ is great fun!!!!
All done on foot though. The pigs vary from 'Westen/Welsh (?) Saddle-Backs' gone wild to true wild pigs small, black and very hairy (good eating too).
Worked on sheep stations over there a couple of times and it was the evening entertainment. Mainly seemed to consist of running flat out across uneven country in the twilight following the pig and dogs purely by noise and trying to avoid the 100m drop to the river =) If you are fast enough you get to see the dogs working. There is no way you could use the term hounds with out insulting all the English packs =).

Never been out with an offical hunt just with the farmers, who seem to have 2 pig dogs and the rest of the pack is their sheep dogs.
If you can not find a pig hunt try contacting the owner of a large station (on the South Island) and they will probably be able to link you up with someone.
Have fun!

 

[Janeyg]

Cub hunting will start at the end of August (harvest permitting) and these are great - early mornings, very laid back. A great way to meet people. Depending where you will be staying there are some great hunts around.