Oh help... im going hunting!

[bumblebug]

And I'm now going to sound like a complete fool!

Do you have to pay to hunt? I've just managed to completely forget the name of the hunt, it's possibly the vale of aylesbury, but that doesn't sound right. Wait, it's the Enfield Chase.

Also.... what do I wear? More importantly, do I have to plait? Fergi's mane is horrible, its ridiculously thick but his last owners cut it so its only about 3in long. The other horse that I could possibly take has a beautifully pulled mane, (thankyou colouredcrazy!) but I still hate plaiting!

Other than that... what do I do? I'm going with a friend who regularly goes hunting, but I have no idea. I've never had a horse to take hunting - always been show cobs or showjumpers!

ANY info greatly apreciated!

Kate

[jovi_y2k2]

i've never been hunting before but i do know you do have to be smart and well turned out which does i think include plaiting up and i think you do have to pay aswell, i know my yard manager was moaning about having to plait up now the hunting season is starting! :rolleyes:

[Horsesaddle]

http://www.sidesaddletackshop.com/hunt2.JPG

or a blue show jacket but guys in front uselly red

you prob will see some young kids to

[lynz+ollie]

yes you usually do have to pay to go hunting, its usually about £10 for the day but is £5 for pc members (of that brach or for cubbing)
dont no anything about Enfield Chase but it probably the same

You dont have to plait but most people like to. you should wear and shirt and tie or stockshirt, with a tweed jacketyou can wear a blue or black jacket if you really have to but the tradtion is the followers were tweed and the hunt vips (e.g. our secretary) wears a black jacket. Wear cream coloured jods and black of brown leather boots. And wear gloves for your own sake rather than anything else. you can wear a hair net to look smart but i never do.

I would ring up you local hunt and find out where what time and how much. they will tell you anything you need to no. You usually park up long the contry road so its usually best to travel them takced up as they can get quite excited and not the easyist to handle. then just follow everyone and you will get to the meet. just stand around there for the bit, maybe take ** horse up to the hounds if they aren't used to them. this is usually just time to say hi to every1. thwen you will leave the huntsman and hounds will go ahead and you have to stay behind the fileds master. dont worry basicly just stay in the group and follow everyone else. make sure you listen to the fields master if the hunt splits up cos some will be jumping and others going throught gates make sure you go with the right ones.
dont worry just go and have fun! its great!

[bumblebug]

I'm quite looking forwards to it really :) I've got the hacking jacket etc, can't stand black jackets, you can only use them for show jumping and dressage!

Where do you find out the secretary's telephone number etc? I've arranged this through a friend who goes hunting!

Kate

[crazystevie]

Don't worry! You'll have tons of fun. And the horses will just go with it. My horse who refused every single jump at his first cross country, flew over 4 foot hedges out hunting, and didn;t refuse once. My advice would be to stay near the front, because at the back, you can get6 held up with refusals and stuff. Try not to overtake the hunts master though - i lost control on my first hunt, and it happened, but luckily they weer very understanding.

As far plaiting, it depends on who your hunting with. I hunt with readyfields, and they don't plait. I'd make a phonecall, and check about plaiting - orr get your friend too, as she'll know the number.

[Daffy Dilly]

I thought that, for cubbing you wear a tweed jacket, with a coloured stock, and that for hunting hunting you wear a navy/black jacket with a white or cream stock?

From what I know you ought to plait as good turnout shows respect for the hunt staff etc. I'd have thought plaiting was better anyway as it'd save getting reins, hands and mane tangled! Saying that I suppose it doesn't happen with a horse with a pulled mane, but you should turnout to the standard you would if showing. :)

Never had the guts to go hunting myself, maybe one year :rolleyes:

[Wally]

To be "correct" you wear black if you are an adult and tweed if you are a kiddie, If you are a farmer on whose land the hunt is riding you can wear tweed, you wear collar and buttons of the hunt if youa re awarded them for long service or similar, then the men can wear a topper with them, then you get awarded a pink coat which you wear a topper with! it's all over the top really.

Nowadays I think that most hunts won't really care whether you have the full kit, so long as you make the effort to loook smart, if it rains most sensible folk will wear mac anyway!

Cubbing you wear tweed

AS for putting the effor of a show day into a hunting day?? Nah, you'll be klerted in 5 minutes, clean and tidy, but not over done! maybe I'm getting cynical in my old age. ;) ;)

I Used to have to turn out 6 horses twice a week for the MFH and staff, (this is why I can plait a horse in 10 minutes) 3 of which were white greys, we hunted over thick red clay which dyed everything red that it touched, at the end of the season I turned out 3 white greys with pink legs! I also learned a lot of tricks and shortcuts!

[crazystevie]

I would just stick to smart - they end up looking white, frothy mud mosters after about 2 minutes. The way the horses atand up really proud when there out hunting makes them look really stunning, so noone will realy notice if your horse has a teeny tiny bit of dust on his bum.

[sidesaddlelady1]

And I'm now going to sound like a complete fool!

Do you have to pay to hunt? I've just managed to completely forget the name of the hunt, it's possibly the vale of aylesbury, but that doesn't sound right. Wait, it's the Enfield Chase.

Also.... what do I wear? More importantly, do I have to plait? Fergi's mane is horrible, its ridiculously thick but his last owners cut it so its only about 3in long. The other horse that I could possibly take has a beautifully pulled mane, (thankyou colouredcrazy!) but I still hate plaiting!

Other than that... what do I do? I'm going with a friend who regularly goes hunting, but I have no idea. I've never had a horse to take hunting - always been show cobs or showjumpers!

ANY info greatly apreciated!

Kate

Plaiting for the horse is usual unless hogged of course.

For you, on your first outing it will probably be OK to wear "rat catcher" =tweed jacket, shirt with collar and tie or stock (stock traditionally felt to be best as it gives protection to the neck), beige or buff breeches and long boots or jodhs and jodhpur boots (long boots or gaiters protect the legs) and current standard hard hat. Boots and hat should be the same colour, tan or brown gloves (black gloves suggests bereavement and ladies should not hunt if in mourning - actually this is a side saddle convention but I throw it in anyway!). Boots polished, long hair plaited for children, in a bun and net for adults, shorter hair in a net. If only have a black/navy showing jacket that will do. Tack of course should be spotless and glowing (even though it'll be covered in mud at the end iof the day!) Leave your whip at home. You won't need it and it's just one extra piece of clutter.

Don't forget that you should give precedence to the Master and "hunt servants" (the chaps or possibly women in red coats) and greet the Master (the man in charge) With "Good Morning, Master", even if he's a woman, the first time you meet him/her or if introduced to him (more likely if it's a more formal set up and you are known to a hunt member). The men and women with coloured lapels on their coats (never "jackets" when hunting) are members of the hunt who have acquitted themselves well over several seasons and have been awarded their "colours" by the committee.

Good, even old-fashioned, manners are expected and it is good to keep a low profile for your first outing. Don't hold up others at a fence if your horse is struggling with it- stand back and let them go - and don't stand around "coffee-housing" (chatting) and getting in the way of other riders.

And most important - have a good breakfast. Hunting is hard work and you don't want to faint and fall off!

Oh and don't refer to "pink" coats - you'll show yourself up as a rank amateur :) !

Yes, there is a charge. As an example, The North East Cheshire Drag hounds charge around £45 for children and slightly more for adults, for one-offs. If you join the hunt then you pay an annual fee and then usually a cap for wire, etc when you turn out with them. It's possible that your hunt may have a special "have a go" day when the fees are lower.

[sidesaddlelady1]

To be "correct" you wear black if you are an adult and tweed if you are a kiddie, If you are a farmer on whose land the hunt is riding you can wear tweed, you wear collar and buttons of the hunt if youa re awarded them for long service or similar, then the men can wear a topper with them, then you get awarded a pink coat which you wear a topper with! it's all over the top really.

Nowadays I think that most hunts won't really care whether you have the full kit, so long as you make the effort to loook smart, if it rains most sensible folk will wear mac anyway!

Cubbing you wear tweed

AS for putting the effor of a show day into a hunting day?? Nah, you'll be klerted in 5 minutes, clean and tidy, but not over done! maybe I'm getting cynical in my old age. ;) ;)

I Used to have to turn out 6 horses twice a week for the MFH and staff, (this is why I can plait a horse in 10 minutes) 3 of which were white greys, we hunted over thick red clay which dyed everything red that it touched, at the end of the season I turned out 3 white greys with pink legs! I also learned a lot of tricks and shortcuts!

:eek: Ouch, Wally. Never a "pink" coat! Pink was a tailor who helped make the red coat fashionable for hunting but he's long dead and it is highly unlikely that anyone is still hunting in a Pink coat. "Hunting pink" is not an expression used by serious huntsmen and women. :)

[sidesaddlelady1]

Forgot to say - the following day you should trot up your horse to check for any residual lameness and check for swelling and heat. If he is sound turn him out in a quiet field where he can have a rest and mooch round, perhaps with other hunt horses. It isn't a good idea to keep him in unless there's a problem. Don't ride - he's worked hard and needs a rest. The day after that exercise him quietly to bring him back into work.

[sidesaddlelady1]

You may see people in coloured coats eg Green, or burgundy. This is not a fashion statement. They are guests who are members of hunts where this is the convention. (Green often denotes an Irish hunt but not always.)

And former Masters of Hounds and visiting MoHs wear red coats too.

This is the simple version - it can get very complicated.