Youngsters views on hunting

[spotty_pony]

I had an idea for post on this board the other day and have been meaning to post it. The question is, what do the young people of soiety today think about hunting as they are the ones which will be carrying the tradition on as they are the next generation. What are other peoples views on this - should we encourage/discourage youngsters or let them decide themselves?

 

[wench]

Depends on what you class as a "youngster".... I'm 22 and all for hunting, but then I'm a proper country lass with farmer bf to go with it... I would hazard a guess if i was from a town my views might not quite be the same

 

[severnmiles]

Well when I eventually have a baby(if its born during the season) it will be out hunting as soon as I'm out of hospital! It will be in a basket saddle as soon as its old enough and will be hunting on a pony when he/she can ride properly (presuming he/she likes horses, if its a he it will probably be playing with terriers and a spade!) BUT if he/she gets to 14 and says mum I don't want to hunt anymore, I'm anti, then thats his/her opinion and I won't force hunting upon him/her-unlike the previous 14 years he or she just won't be my 'favourite' child!!

Mum says god help my kids... I was only joking about the last bit!

 

[spotty_pony]

I am for hunting. I love the country and am a country lass too and I'm 15. By youngsters I really mean aged 18 and under x

 

[wench]

Under 18.... that makes me feel like an old biddy now!

 

[Onyxia]

Well when I eventually have a baby(if its born during the season) it will be out hunting as soon as I'm out of hospital!

Then you are a much braver woman then me!
The pain from, er, down below was awfull for a good week or so after birth and was sore for a good month!
Admire the spirit though :grin:

PS, prob an old biddie now but am 24 and for hunting- always have been.And Im from the city,diddnt leave London untill I was 17.

 

[Rachael_jack]

Im a "youngster" and i think hunting is the best thing since sliced bread.
I will continue to hunt for the rest of my years..

 

[severnmiles]

You have children already? I always wanted to be a young mum but the years are passing me by!!

As for the pain, I'm far too posh to push! Only joking! Well as soon as I can sit in a car and watch the hunt..the little one will be joining me!

 

[Forget_Me_Not]

Im def for hunting and i think i count.. not that i've ever had a sane enough horse to hunt on thought.. we'll get there!

 

[connemaras]

Im a "youngster" and i think hunting is the best thing since sliced bread.
I will continue to hunt for the rest of my years..

agree im 17 and love evrything about hunting,

 

[joe_carby]

i am 17 and am all for hunting the countryside is my life and always has been i have some "townie" mates who didnt no a thing and since they have come following with me they thing its th best thing since sliced bread. we will never stop i have an ambition to onday hunt a pack of fox hounds so i wont let it stop or else i cannot fullfill my ambition

 

[Onyxia]

LOL! Yes, little monster/angel( delete as apropriate!) is nearly 2 now, cant belive the times gone so fast!

Will have him out to watch hunt as soon as he works out animals are not toys and yes they will bite if you try to pull bits off,hehe.

 

[severnmiles]

Haha lol! Bless! My brothers eldest is about 3 and he won't go near animals (brother is a real townie!! Wears white trainers to the yard lol) so atleast yours is confident enough to try to pull ears/tails e.t.c off!

 

[combat_claire]

As for the pain, I'm far too posh to push! Only joking! Well as soon as I can sit in a car and watch the hunt..the little one will be joining me!

I heard the trick was to send the tiddly peep in a sling with Daddy, whilst Mummy is back riding to hounds...then everyone gets to see everything!

 

[severnmiles]

From what Anima says I'm not sure I'll be on a horse within the first month :crazy: but thats the plan :smirk:

 

[Clodagh]

No way will you girl...lol!!
A friend of mine had a baby last October, she was dead set on riding at the Opening Meet, but it was Boxing Day before she managed it!
Back to the point...my SBs (Small Boys) have both ridden to hounds (started at 2 with bassets and 4 with foxhounds) and been to digs with their Dad. They love it, but prefer digging really. They are gun mad, far more than ponies.
I always hunted, and I do think that when it is a family hobby you have a job seeing the cruelty view, its just a way of life.

 

[severnmiles]

Mum said it only hurt for about 2 days :shocked: and she was back on a horse after about a week and half! She's obviously made of steel down below...lets hope she passed it on!

 

[RunToEarth]

Im a "youngster" and I have hunted from being a tiddler. If I wasnt on the back of angel pony I was passing out sausage rolls at the meets. I have spent many a day shoved in the naker van following mum and dad around the country side on a saturday, although my better younger days have always been on horseback, because I played games I was always opening and shutting gates. I wouldnt be without it, its my life

 

[kizzywinkles]

I'm 18 and hunt!

 

[BroadfordQueen]

I'm a youngster too and i wouldn't be without hunting. i have been on the field before i could ride- ok, not on horse back, but i was always at the meets with my mummy as a baby, untill i was about 6, which was when i could ride well enough to join in on horse back. it has been in my family for generations and im planning on keeping it going through my children, my childrens children, etc. i am truely at home on the hunting field and wouldnt have it any other way!

 

[peakpark]

I was keen to start hunting again as soon as possible after my daughter was born (her birthday is in January). However, I made a big mistake: I lent my horse to a friend while I was pregnant, and when I got him back he was fit as anything and jumping out of his skin, wheareas I was flabby, unfit and overweight! Also, some people have their nerve affected after having a baby which happened to me, so getting back on a super fit horse was the worse thing I could have done. Of course, everyone's different, but it might be a good idea for horse and rider to build up their fitness slowly together!

 

[Nic]

Oi I am 20 I want to be a youngster!!!

I'm all for hunting. Not that you want my opinion coz I'm old

 

[Chestnut_filly12]

Im 12 (almost 13) and have never been hunting! Im still Pro though! I dont have a horse (or access to one suitable) so can't hunt until I get my own horse (which wont be for a few years yet), but as soon as I do I will!

my mum and sister are pro, but at school everyone is anti - they are all chavs as well, so not many 'country folk' or people used to the pro sort of thinking.

Last year I actually got BULLIED because of my pro-hunting view. Silly people.

 

[Onyxia]

2 days??????? Your mum is one tough lady!!

 

[Snowberry]

Becci went on her 1st hunt when she was 6yrs old and loved it!!! Hattie hasnt had anything sane enough to hunt until this year - she's 11 and cannot wait to hunt the new boy!!!

 

[Fox_Hunter1]

I think younger people are very important to hunting, because like myself we are the future of hunting. I'm the next generation of hunt servants and i do as much as i can to get young ppl involved in hunting as i can, i went to school in a town and all of my mates, who i went to school and college (expect one) are not into hunting. Their not anti, they just really give a flying [****] because they have a complete different lifestyle to me. All they really care about is if they have enought wedge to go out on the piss on a sat nite.(the same as me really!)

 

[combat_claire]

That is so important. Unless people see what is involved backstage then they won't be inspired to follow that career path.

What made you decide to go into hunt service?

Our huntsman has always encouraged me to come down the flesh house and watch what he is up to, to get involved with hound exercise and skinning admin, to ask questions and learn about how he runs things. After hunting at 'home' he is happy for the youngsters to come back to kennels with him and watch him settling hounds for the night.

Even taking hounds to a 'not-so-country show' can make the difference and inspire one youngster to take a second look at hunting.

An oldie (23) xxxx

 

[Fox_Hunter1]

I have always ridden as my grandfather as always had ponies and horses, it's really down to him and 2 of his brothers(my great-uncles) who got me hooked on hunting. One of them was profession terrierman for 15 seasons along time ago to 2 hunts, so hunt service is in my blood. I wanted to be a farrier but that idea was put to one side when, my local huntsman asked me to help out in his kennels when his whipper-in had had a fall and broken a collarbone so he was on his own. So i went there for a few days and he asked me if i'd like to go in hunt service. So at the tender age of 17, i left home and moved to a pack of foxhounds in the south of england to be a kennelman. I was there for 2 seasons before losing my job to the ban. So i moved on and became whipper-in to another of pack foxhounds on the welsh boarders, im in my 2 season here now.

 

[combat_claire]

That is an interesting tale. Glad to hear it had a happy ending with a new job near Wales. Must be some fab country up that way.

The Hunt Bursary scheme seemed like a good plan, my OH went for it..but decided with his bills and commitments he couldn't take a pay cut and told them so at the interview. The youngsters who were going for it were a mixed bag and very very young so I wonder which one they chose.

 

[MagicMelon]

I believe youngsters will support whichever way of life they are brought up with. If they are from a pro-hunting family, they will probably remain so. However, when I eventually have a family I'll be proud to say my children shall NOT be brought up to support hunting.