Women as hunt servants

[greymare2]

I would be interested to hear your views on women in hunt service. Are there woman out there who hunt hounds / look after hounds. You only seem to see men doing the job......

 

[severnmiles]

There is one lady hunting hounds and there are numerous lady whipper-ins. Is it something you're interested in?

 

[Rachael_jack]

One of our huntmasters is a woman, she gives a really good day out, really goes for it. And we have a laddy whipper in.

 

[greymare2]

Not interested in actually hunting hounds, although I do like to follow on foot. The day to day care of them I would be interested in...

 

[severnmiles]

So a kennelman or rather kennel lady job. That would include skinning and shooting animals, does that appeal to you?

 

[jayvee]

I was 1st lady whip/kennel hand for 3 seasons with a pack of bloodhounds. The kennel work was hard but fun. Would do hound exersise on foot alone or with huntsman. Would sort out the feeders, who needs more like the nervous timid thin, and who stays back like the fat, bolshy sort. Over seeing the trough feeding, they were on soaked bisciut feed. Careful management of the bitches against the dogs regards in season. Cleaning out the lodges and runs twice daily. Bedding down the benches. Knowing them all by name and their individual personalities. Giving them love and leadership and yet repremanding the persisant trouble maker! Stitching up wounds after hunting. Calling out whos hunting on the morning. So much is involved you live for the hounds 24/7. I loved it, was hard consuming yet rewarding work. Attending county shows, giving off displays in the summer. All good fun but forever shovelling sh!t.

 

[Jerome]

It's EXTREMELY unlady-like.

 

[RunToEarth]

"It's EXTREMELY unlady-like. "
Bullshit. what are you on?
We used to have a fantastic lady whip, she really knew her way. Huntress is one to ask about it

 

[madgirl]

We have a lady whip and she is fab

 

[severnmiles]

It's EXTREMELY unlady-like.

Did anyone ask you? Its extremely un-manly not to like hunting...grow a back bone!

 

[k9h]

"It's EXTREMELY unlady-like. "
Bullshit. what are you on?
We used to have a fantastic lady whip, she really knew her way. Huntress is one to ask about it

(thats me!)

Cheers Hun!!
What would you like to know??
Get up early 6am clean yards, then walk hound out then feed. Unless hunting & then they get fed when they get back.
Valetting kit. We dont have a stock collection anymore so no more knackering but use to do it. Skinning calves & but the waste bits in the bin & getting the rest ready to feed.
After lunch do hounds again (clean yards & walk out) Then that is hounds done for the day. (we like to leave them to settle down) but keep an ear out for fighting.
Then carry on with other jobs around the yard & in tack room.
Knowing the hounds is wonderful & the respect we have for them & them for us. They know what mood you are in just by looking at you & know how far they can puch you or not!!
Knowing each ones personality their brothers & sisters, parents, grand parents, Their offspring.
Taking them to shows & winning supreme champion with them. Nursing the sick or injured ones (theres a great feeling when they are back to full health. Hearing them sing in kennels because they are happy & then in full cry on the laid scent.
It gives me more satisfaction watching them hunting as I know exactly which hound is which.
One particular day sticks in mind. We were on Pendle Hill (were the witches live!) Hounds were following the trial & we had a new entered pup out she carried on the trial when the main of the pack over ran it. We sat watching as she stuck to it & the older dog tried to pull the rest of the pack away. In the end they all came back to her & followed her on the correct line!! Was amazing to watch especially as she wasn't a seasoned hound! :grin:
Then after hunting they get fed warm meal. Then wash down feed room, Check hounds are OK & then will go & do my kit. Hounds get checked late at night on hunting nights just to make sure they are ok. Then there are the odd days when we dont finish "all on" (means finishing with all the hounds we have started with). So hounds that are loaded go home to be fed & get warm, whilst Huntsman stays behind blowinghis horn looking. Once I have finished feeding hounds I will go back to help look. Sometimes gone 10pm before we find it but we stay till we have or a farmer rings & says it is in his barn so we go & collect it. Then after that hound his settled back in lodges then I shall do my kit.
Very tiring but a lovely way of life. Am not a deep sleeper as you are always listening for hounds during the night. As if they start fighting you have to get down straight away or you could loose a hound.
I work 13 days out of 14 have every other Sunday off. People think in summer it is easy but you have all the summer jobs of fence building going & seeing farmers opening up new land & having pups come back from walkers or sitting up all night with a bitch that is whelping.
All this for around £150 a week. But to be working outside with the animals you couldn't get me in a office for twice that amount!
If you want to know anything else just ask!

 

[endymion]

I hope you're kidding!

Exactly what part of dressing up in what are essentially white leggings and using 30 odd hounds to chase a small defenceless animal around the countryside from the comfort of a horse is masculine?

I could understand if they were wrestling bears or something.

Fox hunting? Manly? Do me a favour.... :grin:

 

[severnmiles]

Hunting is what man has done for thousands of years...how many cavemen went to trendy bars in suits?

 

[endymion]

How many cavemen hunted from horseback with dogs??

If I ever see a red coat chasing a fox on foot across country with a spear I will salute him! :grin: :grin:

Have a good xmas,

E x

 

[Jerome]

"If you want to know anything else just ask!"

OK. How many of its hounds, on average, does your hunt shoot every year?

 

[severnmiles]

How many cavemen hunted from horseback with dogs??

If I ever see a red coat chasing a fox on foot across country with a spear I will salute him! :grin: :grin:

Have a good xmas,

E x

Hehe...thats a thought....if we spear the fox does it make it legal???

Have a good Christmas too.....don't drink too much!

 

[k9h]

average would be 2.
Can I ask why this particular question intrest's you??

 

[severnmiles]

average would be 2.
Can I ask why this particular question intrest's you??

Probably because he think 'they should be rehomed'....what a joke presuming you're with a fox hound pack!

 

[k9h]

We're Harriers which is even worse (their not as laid back as Foxhounds! :grin. Huntsman tried to do it years ago. Rehomed one himself which he had bred the parents of & them befoer that as he couldn't face PTS.
It loved it for 2 weeks sleeping in front of fire, then it just wouldn't eat & went mental jumping through everything TV & even window. Just pined to get pack to the pack were it belonged. So he had to shoot it.
If the chap that has bred & raised them can't do it then I very much doubt a stranger will have success

 

[greymare2]

Thanks for all the info Scrouge.. Are you a whipper-in / kennelmaid it must be nice to be with the hounds all the time...

 

[chrissteers]

if your interesed in getting in to it there's a job going with the croome and west warickshire...i think. is a part time kennelmans job basically, terms are negotiable though if your looking for something slightly different...shame its so far from here really, would just have to work on them giving me some work experience first then may be a job

 

[Jerome]

Good heavens! A straight answer to a straight question. I'm very surprised and rather impressed. Thank you!

 

[Ereiam_jh]

Yes, and you've failed to answer hers. I'm very unsurprised.

 

[k9h]

Have nothing to hide, it is the best for the hounds rather than being passed around from place to place & getting ill treated. If you leave them in the pack then the younger hounds turn on them & would kill them. So quick death or be torn apart fighting with others??

 

[Ereiam_jh]

I completely agree. They have a great life anyway.

 

[k9h]

Plus I know a Huntsman who wants to fed to his hounds when he dies & has had it put into his will. Hounds will fly the following day!!!!

 

[Eagle_day]

Quite some time ago, a lady who was a founder member of a beagle pack (down South, I think) stipulated in her will that she wanted to be fed to her hounds on her death. Not surprisingly this didn't happen directly but after her cremation, her ashes were mixed with the hounds' feed. So she did get one last run after all.

 

[k9h]

Thats is what Huntsman is having done. He has looked into it & knows he has to be cremated first, plus hounds wouldnt touch is body!

 

[Jerome]

Plus, of course, the hounds are sometimes fed to the pack too.

 

[k9h]

Ours NEVER are.