I'm Going Fox Hunting!

[wanabe]

Well, "fox" hunting. (It's a drag hunt.) At my lesson this morning my RI had me do my highest jumps ever -- perhaps as a test -- and after, asked me if I wanted to go on a fox hunt next Sunday. Since this is one of my goals I jumped at the chance.

Here's the place: longacrehunt (http://longacrehunt.com/)

[Joyscarer]

Drag hunting? Is that where you chase a drag queen about the countryside :D

Just joking! Have a great time and be sure to report back to NR about your experiences. When are you going?

[wanabe]

It's September 2nd.

[Shadow69]

JoysCarer

I just had a vision of Lilly Savage, climbing a style and running through a ploughed field closley followed by Julian Clarey & a pack of hounds!

I never saw it that way before Ha Ha

[holiday]

Have a brill time!!!!!!!!!

[wanabe]

Any veterans, can you give me an idea of what to expect?

[fitz]

A big adrenaline rush... :)

No idea what one would expect in Texas... You must let us know what its like (and take pics)

[Cochise]

A great day out enjoying beautiful countryside, observing old traditions and a huge adrenalin rush. (Did I really just jump that? Eeep! Better keep my horse back!) I went out twice last year, sadly missed this year, being in Korea, but have been invited next season, as I'll be at home for the hunting season.

Have a great time! :)

[laura jeanne]

Have you got your red jacket??

[titch_]

Fox hunting is banned in england!
x

[IrisSilverMoon]

Fox hunting is banned in england!
x

I don't think drag hunting is though.

I want to try really bad! i'm definately jealous of anyone that's gotten the chance to go out.


Have you got your red jacket??

pinque's (the red jacket) can only be worn by people who have hunted in the field for four seasons i believe it is? Or of course if you are on one of the country's show jumping/eventing teams that uses red jackets.

:)

[titch_]

What is drag hunting?
x

[i love dressage]

drag hunting is when they take a scented material around the countryside and the dogs follow it (i think).

[JustJas]

Have fun- it's fab!

[Kaboo]

Have fun!!:D

So what if it's banned, people still do it.

[laura jeanne]

Oops, I didn't know that. I just noticed all the red jackets in the website Wanabe posted so I was teasing him.

[wanabe]

Oh, I thought those red jackets were only for the officials. I think the hunt master gets to wear special boots with a red top. You can see some on the Der Dau Boots website.

As for the drag hunt, I don't know what they drag. They probably started out dragging a dead fox, and then went to a bag of sawdust with fox urine poured on it. But it seems to me you could get the hounds used to following any scent and something that didn't occur naturally in the field would keep the dogs from crossing over and following a real fox.

[Joyscarer]

Is it aniseed?

[wanabe]

I found this on the Horse and Hounds site:

a runner is used to lay a scent about 20 minutes in advance of the hunt. The days when the scent was laid with aniseed are long gone. Nowadays a chemical crystal, mixed with water and oil, is used. The runner simply dips a cloth in the scent mixture and trails it along the ground behind him. The scent, repulsive to humans, is irresistible to hounds – though bloodhounds follow the human scent of the runner.


I assumed they used a 4-wheeler to make the drag. The fella that lays that scent must be in good shape!

[DizzyBlonde2007]

Hiya Dizzy ere

I have been fox hunting before and it is brilliant have a great time.
Just make sure when your getting on a hound doesn't pee on your leg lol

dizzy x

[Shootingstar]

Meh, must say, I'm against fox hunting, but drag hunting(no foxes involved) sounds like a great experience.

Hope you have fun :)

[joshes mum]

Your braver than me!

[Afellpony]

I went on a drag hunt once (and only once...). It was like a cavalry charge!

[wanabe]

Isn't there some sort of ceremony before and after? (And I don't mean funeral ceremonies. LOL)

[carrimclaren]

Good luck and have a great day. We go bloodhounding and it's a grand day out. Not sure on the how it's done over in the states but over here you all meet, the masters give you a quick introduction talk and you set off for around 2.5-3 hours of trot/canter and then depending on the day you jump too. Some days are bigger than others, some have optional jumping days and some are kids meets which mean the jumps are a lot smaller but a lot of them. (<-- crazy but such good fun).

Whatever you do just have a great time :)

[Shannon_Clover]

Here a website for hunting videos.

www.bigdogfox.com

I got two of these at the RDS dublin horse show.

Some of the stuff stuff I see makes my heart jump and you can feel a mini ardeline rush just watching these.
My brother found of the falls funny (i dont know if meant to be funny cos they were alright, cos You think to yourself it could have been worse)

Some of the clips I seen - I wanna do this and other bits (of course when they fall off) ooh I dont think so. :D

[evilgiraffe]

The main thing is to remember to hold on, stay on the horse, and keep up with everyone else. If you fall off, shout "loose horse" as loud as you can and people will help you to catch your horse. If you are the last person through a gate it is your responsibility to shut it (unless the master or field master have told you otherwise). If the huntsman or whips need to come past you in a narrow space, get out of the way. Keep away from hounds wherever possible, they have a job to do - you are just along for the ride. At the meet make sure you are nowhere near hounds if your horse is likely to kick them.

I've not been hunting in the states, but over here days can be massively varied from hurtling about the countryside leaping giant obstacles for about four hours, to spending half the time standing still chatting. It's all dependent on weather conditions - how easily the hounds can follow the scent.

Take with you: a piece of baler twine in case something breaks, a mobile phone, a hip flask (I generally have Southern Comfort in mine), and something to eat - chocolate biscuits such as penguins or twixes are very good, or cold sausages! Also be sure to have a big bottle of water in your lorry for when you get back as you will be very thirsty. I also carry a card with my name, address, horse's address, any allergies (particularly to medicines), and my blood group in my pocket - always useful in case you end up in an ambulance although so far this has not happened to me!

Have a good time!

[wanabe]

Thankyou carrimclara and evilgiraffe. That's the kind of information I was looking for. I think I'll skip the hip flask, tho. I have enough trouble riding sober!

[carrimclaren]

To be fair i thought that too when i first started going but it def. hurt less when i managed to fall off infront of the whole hunt :D Although it's a very sensible option and good that you're thinking like that. I now find that i have the stirrup cup at the start and a little swig now and then of a very watered down hipflask. Sometimes it does help to have the odd sip as on a cold wet day it takes the chill off. Or when confronting a rather larger than normal jump;) I took ribena on one of the meets as was driving afterwards.

[wanabe]

Well, I survived my first hunt! It was a lot of fun and I'm going again on September 30th. The hunt moves around, so it will be at a different place. I rode my lesson horse (who I half-lease) and he had quite a different personality out there. Dr. Jekyll turned into Mr. Hyde -- he would have burst right thru the riders and shot right past the hounds, I think, if I hadn't restrained him -- and he's fast. :eek: I'll expect more speed out of him in the arena, now. :D

Next time, I wear gloves -- I have blisters. What's odd is that the insides of my thighs are so sore I almost feel like I pulled muscles.

[laura jeanne]

Nice going!! What kind of jumps were there and did you jump anything? Where will it be the next time? Was it fast the whole time? Very exciting!!

[wanabe]

The jumps here were all pretty artificial-looking as this is not the normal hunt location. This "horse lady" who owns 35 acres up there got permission for us to hunt on the 3000 acres behind her which are owned by some wealthy Houstonian who made his fortune in the insect extermination business. They weren't especially high -- probably no more than 2' 6", but I only jumped three of them. To tell you the truth, the hunt was over after what seemed to me about 20 minutes (but was 90 minutes) and I had planned on doing more and more of them but ran out of time.

We actually stood around at times while the hounds found the scent again. There was also slow and fast trotting and slow and fast cantering, although more fast than slow.

The next hunt we're doing is at the same place. Why don't you join us!?!

[fitz]

Next time, I wear gloves -- I have blisters. What's odd is that the insides of my thighs are so sore I almost feel like I pulled muscles.

Wait until you're out for four hours...:D I used to be so stiff on Mondays.. and Tuesdays... and Wednesdays.... My quads were so sore, I couldnt climb the stairs at school sometimes... Oh and gloves are definitely a good idea.

Sounds like it was a good introduction anyway.... you must get pics next time;)

[laura jeanne]

I wouldn't have a horse to ride, it's my lesson day, and I'd be too scared!!!
I'm glad you had fun though.

[wanabe]

Those are reasonable objections which I forsaw. Why not see if you can get a group from your stables to come? We had 5 from our stables go. I bet most people don't know about it and some would like to go who have trailers and would let you tag along with your lesson horse.

But don't think I'm pressuring you, if you don't want to do it, that's fine. :)

Oh, I just noticed the "I'd be too scared" part of your post. Yeah, that's a factor. I was a bit nervous before we started, myself. Having gotten thru one, tho, I am much more confident. The important thing is to have a horse who won't go crazy on you. (One lady on a horse she had never ridden had just that happen to her.) Also, to ride with a martingale. That thing proved worthwhile as I was able to give strong correctives to my horse without him being able to raise his head.

[laura jeanne]

Well, it's not really a lesson, it's our group quadrille practice so I know no one would want to miss it. I'm dead jealous of the experience tho!!

[rubysmum]

i would realy like to go hunting this season but am not sure of the level of riding needed to cope - i hack confidently on my hoss - jump badly around 2 feet and can cope with spooks and speed - any guidelines/feedback would be welcome - ta:)

[carrimclaren]

i would realy like to go hunting this season but am not sure of the level of riding needed to cope - i hack confidently on my hoss - jump badly around 2 feet and can cope with spooks and speed - any guidelines/feedback would be welcome - ta:)

Hey.
It's a toughie really as you can get different days out, some smaller less jumps, some tougher country. But usually even the easier days do sometimes throw something your way which you don't expect. To be honest you can find difficult or bigger fences with no option round them so the best thing to do it ring the quorn hunt themselves and see what they say. If you really want a day out with guaranteed smaller fences then check out http://www.readyfieldbloodhounds.co.uk/. They do brilliant Optional jump days or kids meets (smaller jumps but great days), are great fun and really helpful.

[cal11]

Drag hunting is quite fast, we did it last year so make sure your horse is fit

[Alfies-slave]

Fox hunting is banned in england!
x

Fox hunting is NOT banned in England. Hunting with more than one couple of Hounds is, so is allowing a fox to be killed by hounds. Persueing a fox with a couple of hounds is legal. It is then to be shot.

Fox hunting within the perameters of the act of parliament is a legal and alive and well in England.