What are hunts up to now?

[poiuytrewq]

I’ve been invited on Saturday. I’m not a hunter so have no idea what to expect. I have been a few times years ago but so long ago and in the proper winter so was more full on and the first time, in fact possibly both could count as disasterous


This is fairly local, will need to box there but probably can peel off at home early on.

I’ll be on my own and not sure how fit the horse needs to be (or is tbh, only had him a few weeks)
I’ve got my clothing sorted, kind of. I have breeches the right colour and the kind loan of a tweed jacket. Daughter said a stock and shirt will be fine.,
Do I need a breastplate/ martingale really?
I don’t ride in either atm but obviously never put this horse in that situ. Although he has hunted years ago and we had the hunt in hearing distance on the farm yesterday and he seemed not to notice

 

[Clodagh]

Stock should be coloured, not white, with tweed.
Breastplate or martingale up to you, I’m a fan of the neckstrap!
You’ll just have to see how much they are doing and judge your day accordingly. There will probably be a lot of not very fit horses out so just play it by ear.
Enjoy!

 

[Tiddlypom]

This time of year they will be cubbing autumn hunting. The meet will be early or late.

Even though it will be shorter in duration and much less fast paced than in the season proper I still wouldn’t take a horse that wasn’t fit. The tack should be whatever is suitable for the horse.

You’re in posh Shires big hunt country, aren’t you? I’d ask a local in case you make some inadvertent faux pas. You shouldn’t have to plait, but check that.

 

[Ladybird L]

I only went hunting once without a martingale! Pony was so excited (full-on giraffe neck!) she nearly broke my nose with her head.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Oh I’m not definitely going!!
Yes daughter said coloured stock, she bought me a lovely one which has never seen the light of day so that’s fine.

 

[Clodagh]

Never plait before the opening meet!

 

[poiuytrewq]

I luckily have daughter on hand, she was a die hard hunter but is always out and busy atm.
It’s a 7am meet (so what time do I aim
To arrive?)
Fitness is my only worry really, Alfie should I’m theory be fit enough but I’ve been riding my other horse out with some hunters and I’m not sure Alf is up to that really. Ziggy would be the one to take but I don’t have a death wish so that’s not happening!

 

[poiuytrewq]

This time of year they will be cubbing autumn hunting. The meet will be early or late.

Even though it will be shorter in duration and much less fast paced than in the season proper I still wouldn’t take a horse that wasn’t fit. The tack should be whatever is suitable for the horse.

You’re in posh Shires big hunt country, aren’t you? I’d ask a local in case you make some inadvertent faux pas. You shouldn’t have to plait, but check that.

Am I in posh country?! No idea.
Alfie horse would have coped with what I did a few years ago in proper hunting I think. I’d hoped this would be quieter.
I went with the masters mum who took a quieter lot round

 

[poiuytrewq]

I must try and find my “on the way home” photo to give you all a laugh
I came off, lost the horse who lost a shoe. Somehow lost my hat silk and the buttons off my jacket!
We looked amazing on the way out daughter is amazing at turning out horses, she plaits beautifully

 

[poiuytrewq]

Oops!!! Bit dishevelled

 

[poiuytrewq]

That was after horse being caught and me literally being thrown back on board
Sadly couldn’t continue. He had rubbish feet and couldn’t risk a missing front shoe.
Mr P had to come to the rescue with the lorry

 

[I'm Dun]

Am I in posh country?! No idea.
Alfie horse would have coped with what I did a few years ago in proper hunting I think. I’d hoped this would be quieter.
I went with the masters mum who took a quieter lot round

you are in big hedge country I think, being not a million miles from me. Certainly nearby if not in big posh hunt country. Who is it your going out with

 

[poiuytrewq]

you are in big hedge country I think, being not a million miles from me. Certainly nearby if not in big posh hunt country. Who is it your going out with

Maybe going with!!

I'm not jumping anything though, do they jump this early? The VWH

 

[I'm Dun]

yup, posh hunt country then

 

[I'm Dun]

Maybe going with!!

I'm not jumping anything though, do they jump this early? The VWH

no jumping this early, but thats what hunts in that area are known for

 

[SEL]

Autumn hunting right now, so horses still gaining fitness.

Shouldn't be big hedges just yet......

 

[Tiddlypom]

Never plait before the opening meet!

I’ve never ridden with a posh hunt, maybe they have weird rules that common people like me aren’t party to . I never plaited at all.

I’d certainly want to know exactly what was expected of me before going out with a posh pack too, poiuytrewq. Like confirming whether any jumping expected or not.

 

[Clodagh]

I’ve never ridden with a posh hunt, maybe they have weird rules that common people like me aren’t party to . I never plaited at all.

I’d certainly want to know exactly what was expected of me before going out with a posh pack too, poiuytrewq. Like confirming whether any jumping expected or not.

Well absolutely to wanting to get it right. I know tradition is roundly mocked on here but it counts.
And I’m not sure hunts in Essex were ever very posh. .
But no plaiting before the opening meet and if you want to be super old fashioned not on a Monday, as it used to be connected to the grooms day off.

 

[ester]

What goes out and is ok essex hunting is a bit different to my experience of not essex

 

[Clodagh]

What goes out and is ok essex hunting is a bit different to my experience of not essex

I did stop post ban when it started looking like The Only Way is Essex on Horseback special edition.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I’m beginning to back out. It was one thing going with my daughter to tag along and she hunted every weekend pretty much so knew what was what.
I don’t feel comfortable just rocking up and not having someone alongside to ask “what now”
I should have gone earlier but of course didn’t have the horse!

I don’t think they will be hunting our farm or many locally next year from what I hear because of the possible land owner repercussions.

Ah well, it was a fun idea for a while. I’ll do the fun ride instead

 

[Tiddlypom]

Who gave you the invitation to go out? Could they suggest an old hand to tag along with and to advise further?

 

[poiuytrewq]

Who gave you the invitation to go out? Could they suggest an old hand to tag along with and to advise further?

Umm, I believe he masters, not all the time but definitely some days. Yes I'm sure. I don't want to hassle anyone though or make someone I don't even know feel like they are having to nanny us!
Its a shame we are Saturday area because i think they have quiet mid week days further afield but I like the idea of knowing where i am and being able to go home when i want- without wondering where on earth I left the box!

 

[Clodagh]

Umm, I believe he masters, not all the time but definitely some days. Yes I'm sure. I don't want to hassle anyone though or make someone I don't even know feel like they are having to nanny us!
Its a shame we are Saturday area because i think they have quiet mid week days further afield but I like the idea of knowing where i am and being able to go home when i want- without wondering where on earth I left the box!

I always had to stay out to the bitter end as I was lost as soon as we left the meet

 

[Tiddlypom]

The OS map is your friend if you don’t know where you are!

You can set it up to track your ride from the start so you can work out where you are and how to get back to the start if necessary. It doesn’t eat up much battery life, either.

The one time I was nearly sent home - my horse raised a leg to a hound which had crashed into his hind legs - I was in in the middle of Dartmoor and hadn’t a clue how to get back to the trailer . This was well pre mobile phones. Luckily a friendly senior member of the field tucked me under his wing and kept me away from the irate master, I was only about 15.

 

[Clodagh]

The OS map is your friend if you don’t know where you are!

You can set it up to track your ride from the start so you can work out where you are and how to get back to the start if necessary. It doesn’t eat up much battery life, either.

The one time I was nearly sent home - my horse raised a leg to a hound which had crashed into his hind legs - I was in in the middle of Dartmoor and hadn’t a clue how to get back to the trailer . This was well pre mobile phones. Luckily a friendly senior member of the field tucked me under his wing and kept me away from the irate master, I was only about 15.

I’m pretty sure that wasn’t invented in my hunting days. . Nowadays definitely yes.

 

[Tiddlypom]

I don’t think they will be hunting our farm or many locally next year from what I hear because of the possible land owner repercussions.

I’m a suspicious old fart .

I’m suspecting that you living and your OH working on the farm and the fact that you suddenly have an invitation to go autumn hunting *may* be connected to the hunt possibly being barred from your farm in the future.

They might be hoping for you to have a fantastic time and to put in a good word for the hunt with the powers that be.

No hard evidence at all for this, just conjecture, but if there’s not an element of truth in it I’d be very surprised.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I’m a suspicious old fart .

I’m suspecting that you living and your OH working on the farm and the fact that you suddenly have an invitation to go autumn hunting *may* be connected to the hunt possibly being barred from your farm in the future.

They might be hoping for you to have a fantastic time and to put in a good word for the hunt with the powers that be.

No hard evidence at all for this, just conjecture, but if there’s not an element of truth in it I’d be very surprised.

Ah I've no doubt that's why we get invited! They were banned from the farm before we moved here, It was actually nothing to do with us, the new owner said yes. Mr P did always do round the night before and open gates etc. They do try and work alongside the shoot here and every one gets on pretty well, eg they kindly avoided us once when they were local and I had a very lame horse that i couldn't risk getting wound up. I've been invited the past 10 years but apart from the old horse above had nothing to take, or the interest tbh.
They buy us drinks in the pub and drop bottles in at Christmas etc. I doubt we would get any of that otherwise. He knows full well that it's coming to an end with or without our support. As I understand it's the land owner potentially up for prosecution and they have already said if that comes in this and the other farms they farm will be a no go.