Which hunt, and what preparation for total newbie

[scheherazade]

Hi All

I have a lovely ISH who needs to be more forward thinking, I have done loads of work in the school and on hacks trying to get him to think more forward and have been advised by my trainer that I need to take him hunting to get him thinking forward and thinking for himself rather than relying on me to do it all for him.

Trouble is I am not the bravest of souls, and I have no idea whether he has been hunting before, nor what to expect really. I am not particularly interested in taking up hunting as a sport, but hoping to do this to further his education and make him more forward for cross country next year.

There seem to be so many different kinds of hunt out there - drag hunting / bloodhounds / foxhounds etc and I really have no idea where to start, nor what the differences are - who to go out with, or how to go about it. Please can somebody explain what I need to do, prefereably using words of one syllable, and if you can suggest a good beginners hunt (I have no desire to jump 5ft plus hedges with whacking great ditches in front of them either - I am too old. And very definitely mortal) in the Kent / Surrey / Sussex areas I'd be really grateful.

Plus anything else I need to know.

Tea and cherry cake on offer

Many thanks

S x

 

[arizonahoney]

Hello! You could test the waters by doing a mock hunt - http://www.wdhc.org.uk/EventsClinics/MockHunts/tabid/63/Default.aspx with these guys. Michael Potts who is one of the organizers hunts regularly with the Old Surrey and Surrey Union hunts, so I'm sure he would be happy to field some of your questions about different kinds of actual hunting.

 

[Orangehorse]

You need to find out which hunts are in your area - does your instructor know? Many now have introduction to hunting days and almost all have a group that doesn't jump or only jumps tiny things, there usually is a way round.

You need to know how much it is going to cost, because hunting is quite expensive and you might get a nasty shock. Then your horse needs to be reasonably fit, by that I mean that you are doing hunter trials or eventing where you are galloping for several minutes.

What you really need is someone who goes hunting regularly, whose horse is well behaved so you can go with them and answer all your questions about turnout and etiquette. Your horse may well have hunted before, but if not some can be good the first time and then lunatics the second and third time, and then hopefully settle down a bit.

As an alternative, can't you find a couple of friends who would give you a lead over a cross country course to get him going a bit?

 

[ivandenisovich10]

Hi, p.m me if you like, I will be hunting with the coakham bloodhounds and old surrey and burstow fox hounds. Also poster above mentioned the mock hunts. They are a lot slower and many of the jumps are cross country jumps an the horse club that run them are really helpful and friendly

 

[scheherazade]

thanks for your answers, I will try to find a nanny. Local to me (ish) are Coakham, Old Surrey and Surrey Union, Ashford Valley not too far, there's probably others too. Fitness wise, he is certainly fit enough to go eventing, I just haven't taken him yet because there are certain elements to his schooling I wanted to improve on first before taking him out competitively. Is it more expensive than BE?? I like the look of the mock hunt, think this would be a good starting point.

 

[scheherazade]

ID thanks, I have PMd you

 

[PolarSkye]

Nothing constructive to say - but will be following the advice given with interest because we are in exactly the same position . . . Kal has hunted before (four years ago - before I bought him) but we will be hunting him this season for exactly the same reasons . . . will have to be thinking about what bit, which hunt, which meet, etc.

Best of luck with your season .

P

 

[Ditchjumper2]

Whilst your horse does need to be fit, yoo do not want him too fit otherwise he will be fitter than you. Find a local hunt, ask the secretary for a suitable day for a first timer.

Make sure you have stronger brakes than normal as you will probably need them! Wear a martingale even if he does not need one...neckstraps are SO useful in moments of stress If you become a regular you can invest in a hunting breastplate.

Make sure your tack is good quality and clean and wear a discrete numnah. Wear comfy knickers a good bra (unless you are a bloke!!)and clean breeches/jacket and go and ENJOY.

Keep out the way and find a kindly soul to point you in the right direction and give you some tips. Take your horse home before he has had enough.

If he is a complete nightmare, try not to kick anyone or any hounds, apologise profusely, smile sweetly and go home. Then find young, brave person to take him out for you

 

[Nicnac]

Am in same situation OP. The Coakham had a puppy hunt (no they don't hunt puppies!) tonight just up the road from me, but I was stuck at work until 7pm :frown3:

I have been out with the OSBWK on my old horse but a Friesian isn't the best hunter! I'm sure my ISH will have hunted in Ireland as most do but only a season as he was just short of his 5th birthday when I got him.

I think I'm going to go to the Mock Hunts at with Warlingham as the £90 per day with OSBWK is a lot when I won't stay out for more than a couple of hours to start. May see you there!

 

[arizonahoney]

So are you guys going to the mock hunt on Sunday? If so, I may see you there x