Why do you hunt? (and more ridiculous questions)

[AbFab]

I'm new to this part of the forum so, to start, hello!

I'm interested to hear why people take their horses hunting. Is it for training? Purely for fun? Any other reason? Sell it to me!

Secondly, I'd really like to start hunting this coming season but I'm a bit of a wuss at the best of times. I'm hoping that a winter out hunting will increase my mare's confidence over fences and in new situations, but I take quite a 'sensible' (read: chicken) approach to my riding and tend to take things slowly. I'm hoping that riding in a group will also work to increase my confidence. Basically what I'd like to know is - would I be completely out of place on a hunt field? I'm all for working at speed, I'm not bothered about that, but I wouldn't like to be caught up in the middle of a charge Would I just get on peoples' nerves or are there other people like me that hunt?

Finally, I have a 14.2hh few spot appaloosa mare. Will she be laughed out of the car park?? Am I right in thinking she'd be plaited? Are there any no-nos as far as tack is concerned?


Apologies for all the newbie questions! Hunting seems like a great sport to be involved in but I just want to make sure I wouldn't be out of place. Any help would be much appreciated!


(P.S. I'd be hoping to hunt with the Holcombe if anyone knows of it)

 

[RunToEarth]

Hello
The best way to start is to find out your sec's number, give them a call and tell them you are new to it and want to come out.
This is a good time to start as you will be able to go cubbing. Early mornings which some people don't enjoy, but everyone is just getting their hunters fit and ready and therefore it will start off slowly and the days will be short. As the cubbing season progresses you and your mare will be more confident and hopefully getting excited about the opening meet!
For cubbing season you go unplaited, with a hacking (tweed) jacket and a shirt and tie will do.
For opening meet onwards you should wear black or blue jacket (unless you're under 18) a stock shirt and stock and have your mare plaited. Things will be faster from opening meet, with more jumping and longer days, however if you have done some cubbing your mare should be fitter and ready for this.
Some hunts have alternative field masters or long time subscribers happy to go steady away with you at the back of the field, there will always be someone going the same speed as you
If you bring a hip flask out you are sure to make friends quickly And I am sure no one would laugh at you for having an Appy, everything is welcome on the hunting field.
R

 

[AbFab]

Thanks for taking the time to reply, it's very much appreciated!! I'd forgotten about the hip flask side of things. That might ease my nerves a bit! Although I'm sure I'd be looked down on for being sozzled by the 9am

Cubbing sounds like a good way of getting us into it. Although my mare is young she's very sensible and is unlikely to be too perturbed by the hounds etc. Ooh I'm excited now! I'll do as you suggest and get in touch with the hunt secretary. Thanks again!

 

[Darkly_Dreaming_Dex]

Cubbing or Autumn Hunting as its now known is an excellent place to start- its quieter so you can see hounds work and have a chance to meet members of the field
Appy's are very trendy out hunting we have 2 and JumpinBeckeyJane on here has a gorgeous leopard spot that comes out too

OH uses both ours (they are brothers)as secretaries horse, this one is the younger Harry- *attention button pushers*pic posted with permission of evespics plus we purchased a print too*

and here is Harry with JBJ on board and OH on io

 

[JenHunt]

there's a good lot of advice above on getting started... and there's plenty of folk who hunt on spotties or coloureds or... well, pretty much anything!

as for why... just because I love it - the riding across country, the people, the hounds and everything about it all.... But it is very good for getting horses to be more confidant, more forwards and to freshen them up when they've got a bit bored or stale with their other work.

 

[Addicted to Hunting]

http://www.evespics.co.uk/2010 events/VAGSB Henley showground, Henley 13.3.10/HTML/img_1390.htm

http://www.evespics.co.uk/2009 Events/VAGSB Standalls Farm, Bishopstone/HTML/img_9557.htm

 

[Addicted to Hunting]

Just put up the link for two photos off my spotty pony, she is also only 14.2, definately not been laughed at, espicially as I'll jump most things on her and the master has had to ride her before (he may off got laughed at tho!)

And I hunt beacuse I love it, love seeing the hounds and also most of the people involved are brilliant fun as is the social scene . I'm sure your confidence will come up untill cubbing '09 I only hunted v occansionally as not that confident, but then my spotty was stopping a fair bit showjumping I took her out, and really really liked it, (my bro always hunted alot tho). I've gone from barely jumping above 3" solid fences (and only on spotty) to hunting lots of different horses that sometimes I've never sat on and will try and jump most fences on them, (luckily not all our jumps are massive), and will hunt as often as I can, and now couldn't imangine not hunting. There is normally ways around most fences tho, I'm sure you will love it.

Most people have answered about the tack, but basically at first start off as clean and workmanlike as possible, hunt coats and whips etc can always be bought later if you really like it, and horses only need to be plaited from opening meet onwards, when wearing tweed out cubbing, it's not required. The hunt secretary is your best person to talk to.

 

[AbFab]

Thank you very much everyone, some very useful advice there! Brilliant to see the spotties out hunting too DDD- your horse in the first pic has the most fantastic ears!!

I'm really hoping it will increase her jumping confidence. She has a great jump in her and has done well in workers classes but she still will stop at some new fences and have a good look. Not too bad at home, but not great at competitions! I'm going to be so nervous my first time out. What kind of reactions have your horses had to their first hunt? She's a sensible horse and is quiet so I'm hoping it won't blow her mind

 

[Addicted to Hunting]

Well different horses do react differently, should improve her confidence tho. My spotty pony was always fairly forward and does get rather buzzy, it doesn't concern me but don't think many pep would like it. The coloured one that is in the photo with her, was also one that I rode she was fairly forward as well bit very well behaved on her first time out with me and the couple off other times she went out, unfornately just didn't have good enough legs. And then the grey that I hunted the season just gone was v v laid back and hunting really made him, he never really got buzzy apart from at times standing and did have a bit off a buck in him it just made him more forward and attentive yet he was always in a snaffle. Would say it just depends and you'll never really know untill you try, the more laid back you are though, it will help them stay more laid back!! It always amazes me how quickly some of them switch on to listening to the hounds and know when they are running, you can tell how much the horses love it when they do my new one understood this the first time out

 

[TheDiamondoStandard]

Sounds like what I'm thinking about doing too! It is good to know I'm not the only one My horse is a good little jumper too, only he can be slightly spooky at new jumps! Enjoy!