Correct Turnout (Mane) for Hunting

[Rarah]

Arranged to go on my first hunt at the beginning of January.

I think I'm sorted out with my outfit - brown tweed hacking jacket, fawn jods, white shirt, black boots.

Logic has a nice brown saddle and bridle and will bring the old martingale back out of storage.

I was reading an article that said you must plait for hunting. Well - I've got a native type - she had no mane 6 months ago - it's just growing back and is very thick and parts in the middle - no matter what I do!! I've tried plaiting and it's just not going to happen unless I pull her mane and I don't want to do that. Does it really matter?

[Holly B]

I've never hunted though I'd like to one day. I always thought that you don't have to plait, you simply must be well turned out. For a native pony I think you'd be OK as long as your mare is bathed and gleaming with hooves polished and mane and tail neat and tidy. :) If in doubt, why not ring some one from the hunt you're hoping to go with?

[Daffy Dilly]

Could you get it all over onto one side?

I'd put a single long plait in just in front of the saddle - will stop it catching and make her more comfortable, and leave the rest loose, making it as tidy as you can. :)

[Herbie's mummy]

it should really be platted or some kind of platt any way :)
x x x x x x

[dixieniki]

Hey
Worked for a hunt for a few yrs and there is a hunting Etiquette and they do like you to plaite, even if they are dud! most peoples come out after 10 mins but it doesnt matter! as long as you look smart and go out with the right intentions!
If you want some useful pointers my old hunt has a whole page on it. visit www.cfdh.org and go on rules and regulations.have a wkd time..and take a FULL hip flask, it always helps!!
lol.xxxxxxx;)

[Herbie's mummy]

i have been on a hunt with the CFDH :D

[dixieniki]

ha! lol small world hey!:D
where bouts you from?xxxxxxx

[Herbie's mummy]

i am 5 mins from cheshire LOL:D you? i am near westkirby,meols,hoylake,parkgate etc!!!

[dixieniki]

horses are based in alderley edge cheshire, round the corner from the hunt so to speak! wanted t hunt over crimbo and boxing day but not sure yet.have to let me know if your ever venturing out this way! lolxx;)

[Herbie's mummy]

yea will do :D
I'm on a hunt with the PC on the 30th but i will sure come out again with the CFDH as they are really nice :D

[Herbie's mummy]

infact here are some piccies:*excuse some of the piccies both our first time out LOL*
http://www.pedderz.com/CFDH_9th_Sept_06_4.htm

page 4, 4th row down and and 2nd on your tight.


5th page, 5th row down, right on the end to your right.

page 6, 9th row down, 2nd from the right.



sorry lol totally OT!!!!!

[dixieniki]

Liking the one on the fifth page!

dont look to hard at this!its a 4yo on his first hunt!interesting day!lol:eek:

http://www.pedderz.com/CFDH_23rd_Sept_06_1.htm
first page

7th row down, furthest right
lolxx

[Herbie's mummy]

LOL!!! bless, he/she is VERY shiny LOL!

[Glider]

Do you know if it's a lawn meet or not? Often for lawn meets (outside country houses, rather than in a field) you are expected to plait, but it depends on the hunt. The best thing you can do is phone the hunt secretary and ask - it's the only way you will get a definitive answer.

[Herbie's mummy]

To be honest i think it looks nice and looks like you have made the effort if you can paltt.
Unless your pony is a really native type with a long mane then no don't paltt it LOL they would look like golf balls haha! but other wise i would-yes:)

[Trewsers]

Wow, it all sounds very thrillling, I would love to go hunting one day (when I've transformed Storm into a well mannered perfect hunting pone and I've bought me a truck load of confidence!!!). Some people on our yard go - I always envy them, they look so nicely turned out. Ah well........

[Herbie's mummy]

You should go :D yoiu could stay at the back with the non jumpers :) if you are not too confident, they always help and are very welcoming.:D

[Wally]

So long as you are clean, and as neat as you can get I don;t suppose anyone will say anything about your plaits or not.

I used to do a running stallion plait on my Haflinger stallion, only because it kept him cool and stopped me grabbing mane instead of rein in moments of stress!

Not everyone plaits to go hunting. Lots of the folk qualifying Point to Pointers never plaited, just clean and smart.

[Nik-n-Kia]

I didn't plait kia or megan when I went drag hunting.:o

I still don't plait kia for when I do hunter classes at shows as he has a long full mane and it looked ridiculous.

i have tried the running stalion plait but I could never get it to stay in although it looked fab when done!!!:rolleyes:

I would have your pony looking shiny clean etc and put baby oil in the mane then shockwaves gell to keep it over as it adds shine and control and no-one should mind really.

I definately agree with the ribbon in the tail as I suffered a fracture shin due to someone not wearing a red ribbon in her horses tail at a ride out and it dounle barrelled me in the leg and got kia on the shoulder!!!

Hope if you decide to go then get piccies to show us how much fun you had!!!!

Nikki xxxx

[Rarah]

Herbies Mummy - thanks for the link to all the pics. That's given me a good idea of what to expect. The jumps don't all look massive - I was expecting 6 foot hedges.

There weren't any pics of horses like mine. I guess she's look more at home pulling a cart but hunting looks like more fun! Hope no one laughs at my beautiful girl.

I think I might have a practice at tameing her mane with hairgel to at least make it lie to one side.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d151/gokartbandit/26-11-06_0939.jpg

[CurlyWurlyRach]

Hope no one laughs at my beautiful girl.
[/IMG]

dont worry!! nobody will laugh at your georgeous poppet :)
My YO used to hunt his 18.1 shire - AMAZING to watch, the huge fences just seemed like twigs to him! He had a thick wiry mane, like Logic by the looks of it and he didnt even try to plait it. Just went au naturel. then again hes one of those 'i dont care what nobody thinks of me' types (we had to forcibly remove his bright blue girth and put a natural brown one on...)

[chickflick1066]

Just a quick question...how fit does a horse have to be for a one of day's hunting? With and without jumping?

[Herbie's mummy]

There were quite a few hedges which we did, but they did not get them on cam. due to having to chase us in a quad bike LOL!!!
Most of the time ''hunt jumps'' are in place, like 2ft to 3ft jumps they have made which are fun, unless they get trashed by other horses before you get to them, thats why i like to make sure i'm up front!!
There was this littlw 13.2 cob and was popping the 5ft hedges LOL ANY ONE can go hunting no matter what you look like, every one is welcoming and really helpful.

OK well a full day with out turning back, and staying the whole day you have to be pretty fit.
With and with out the jumps.
I mean you do rest a bit but you make up for it by the cantering etc you do alot of.
Sometimes you will be trotting down the country lane for about 40 mins, and some are puffing by then!

[DITZ]

chickflick you dont have to do a full day. I left on Monday at about 2.30 because Fly was getting tired. Lots of people had already left by then too. (We started at 11). Just play it by ear and see how you go.