Would someone mind explaining this to me...

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flutterby321

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I went cubbing for the first time a few days ago, and had such an amazing time. It was a small field, so I got a chance to ride nearer the front and watch the hounds working, which I didn't get a chance to do last time I went hunting. One thing I didn't understand though (please excuse lack of hunting terminology here!!) was when the hounds were "searching" in particularly thick woods, was why the hunt staff were beating/tapping their whips on their saddles just behind their legs? This obviously means something to the hounds but nothing to clueless old me! But I had such a lovely time I definately want to go again, but would like to know more about what's going on! :)
 
flutterby321 said:
I went cubbing for the first time a few days ago, and had such an amazing time. It was a small field, so I got a chance to ride nearer the front and watch the hounds working, which I didn't get a chance to do last time I went hunting. One thing I didn't understand though (please excuse lack of hunting terminology here!!) was when the hounds were "searching" in particularly thick woods, was why the hunt staff were beating/tapping their whips on their saddles just behind their legs? This obviously means something to the hounds but nothing to clueless old me! But I had such a lovely time I definately want to go again, but would like to know more about what's going on! :)
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Why did you not ask at the time?

I don't believe a word of what you said!

Because that simply does not happen since The Hunting Act 2004!:mad:
 
flutterby321 said:
I went cubbing for the first time a few days ago, and had such an amazing time. It was a small field, so I got a chance to ride nearer the front and watch the hounds working, which I didn't get a chance to do last time I went hunting. One thing I didn't understand though (please excuse lack of hunting terminology here!!) was when the hounds were "searching" in particularly thick woods, was why the hunt staff were beating/tapping their whips on their saddles just behind their legs? This obviously means something to the hounds but nothing to clueless old me! But I had such a lovely time I definately want to go again, but would like to know more about what's going on! :)
Click to expand...

Under certain exemptions of the Hunting Act 2004 it is necessary to hold up a covert by lining round it and then creating noise, normally when flushing to either guns or a bird of prey. This noise on the sides where the guns/bird are not stationed in theory prevents anything from leaving the covert on those sides. I would also assume that some packs who utilise the trail hunting exemption may also use this method, more as a way of replicating the olden methods than having an actual practical purpose.

Pre-ban autumn hunting would usually involve lining all sides of the covert while hounds were inside working and then the field banging their whips on boot or saddle to make the required noise.

Please ignore the rather paranoid members of the forum, they don't get out enough! If you think this might be something you want to get more involved with then I can recommend A Practical Guide to Hunting by Anne Holland and The Chase by Michael Clayton, a little dated now as they were both written pre-ban, but useful tomes none the less. If you read it in conjunction with one of the CA guides to the hunting act, then you will see what we are trying to achieve.
 
Okay, I'm not an anti or a sab, it was a genuine question. However, I just looked up the reason myself, and realise I must be mistaken, and the hunt staff were probably doing something completely different and I must have just gotten confused. So I apologise, it wasn't my intention to annoy or offend anyone; I just made a genuine mistake and I am sorry.
 
flutterby321 said:
Okay, I'm not an anti or a sab, it was a genuine question. However, I just looked up the reason myself, and realise I must be mistaken, and the hunt staff were probably doing something completely different and I must have just gotten confused. So I apologise, it wasn't my intention to annoy or offend anyone; I just made a genuine mistake and I am sorry.
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Don't dare apologise,you asked a genuine question and combat claire has given a brilliant explanation.

This is a very common act in the hunting field.
 
flutterby321 dont apologise for asking a question about hunting! this is a hunting forum exactly for that purpose! :)
And please excuse some other posters for their rude behaviour unfortunatly they wont apologise for them selves!:rolleyes:
 
When I cubbed - in the prehistoric times of the 50s, 60s and 70s (but my father was an MFH) you ringed the cover as much as possible and tapped the saddle behind your leg to make a noise to turn the cubs back into cover as, put bluntly, the point of the exercise early in the cubbing season was to kill them there. As the hunting season proper drew near (e.g. the cubs were nearly full grown) they were let run. Nothing to do with hunt sabs, just hunting tradition.
 
Rose Folly said:
When I cubbed - in the prehistoric times of the 50s, 60s and 70s (but my father was an MFH) you ringed the cover as much as possible and tapped the saddle behind your leg to make a noise to turn the cubs back into cover as, put bluntly, the point of the exercise early in the cubbing season was to kill them there. As the hunting season proper drew near (e.g. the cubs were nearly full grown) they were let run. Nothing to do with hunt sabs, just hunting tradition.
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I never did care for this aspect of hunting myself,still don`t,it seems rather unfair .
 
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