I was poking around this afternoon and realized there's no thread for fox hunters to hang out and brag about how many big coops they jumped at the last meet.


NOTE: This is not a fox hunting debate topic. If you want to voice your opinions on whether or not you consider hunting humane, the place for that is here. This topic is solely for supporters/participants who enjoy this sport and would like to discuss it.



So here we go! Our official topic for fox hunting. Who do you hunt with? Any good anecdotes/mishaps you'd like to share? Did you actually count the coops last time and now want to tell us all about it? Fox hunting chit-chat goes here!


I admit, I'm relatively new to the chasing scene, but I love it. I've been first field with Piedmont, and just went second field this morning with a greenie (who was EXCELLENT). Great country today, some great runs, beautiful weather, well behaved ponies...just a picture perfect day out.

Here's a question to get some discussion going: do you "hunt to ride," or "ride to hunt?" Meaning, do you enjoy hunting primarily for the rush you get on horseback, or are you more interested in how the hounds work, etc?

I think I'm both. Again, I haven't done this for very long, but I love the chase and am very interested in learning the more intricate aspects of the hounds. I used to help exercise hounds up north, and found it so intriguing.

I think it's a great sport, but I usually admire hunts from a distance, because I'm way too wussy to ever go galloping through woods and across the country side. On top of that, I'd also worry too much about the possibility of my horse stepping in a hole and break a leg (I didn't get the Footing-Nazi nickname for nothing ;) )

That said, I've attened a number of Hunt Balls and luncheons...... the hunting folks know how to party! ;)

I really wish my horse wasn't psycho b/c I would LOVE to go hunting again. I used to go on my old pony quite a bit - actually my very first time hunting was on him, about a year before I bought him (this was in 1997! with the Long Run hunt in KY). After I moved to the midwest (and bought the pony) we hunted w/ the Byron hunt club and Fox River Valley. I was a pony clubber at the time and we got to hunt for free which was pretty sweet. Anyway I really miss it, my barn owner goes all the time (I think w/ Live Oak?) but I have a feeling that trying to take my mare would be a bad idea lol.

I went hunting for the first time. A group of us went to Kansas to the Misson Valley Hunt in October and hunted. It was soooo mcuh fun!!! We all really want to go again!

This is going to sound pretty stupid and I'm not sure if this is an appropriate place but..
What exactly is fox hunting? I've ridden a pony before who did it with her owner all the time, but all I know about it is that you chase a fox. Haha. Can someone explain it to me?

Well it's exactly what it sounds like. Though there are different versions of it. Classical Fox Hunting is as simple as it gets. You hunt a red fox on foot or mounted on horseback with a pack of hounds and some friends. Fox Chasing is more or less the same thing only you don't really care enough to actually catch the animal because you're having too much fun chasing it down with your friends. Then there is "Drag Fox Chasing" where a scented (covered in fox urine) bag or object is dragged along a pre-determined or random course to give a good length chase. Often though, someone actually just runs around (or drives around) being chased with the "Drag" but keeping ahead of the pack enough to give the feel of a real chase. Here in America it isn't illegal to use real foxes or coyotes as some places use though harming the animals intentionally is considered illegal though many of the fox casualities are old and weakened foxes who die as a result of exertion or just bad luck in one way or another. It's generally considered to be more of a social event than a sport by many people where I live though there is great debate in my area as to the amount of support fox hunting deserves in my region since developers want the land and communities need the revenue from construction and growth. I've seen both good and bad come of it so it really depends on whom you are dealing with when it comes to fox hunting. Anyway, ask Dragoon. She lives in the heart of fox hunting country so she can explain it much better than I can.

Oh! Thank you !
That sounds fun. I love high speed, so I think I'd enjoy it. Hehe.

The MFHA has a good introduction page if you're interested in learning more about it. There's some incredible tradition and protocol involved in hunting, but that only adds to it.

The hounds are lead by the Master, who generally has a couple of staff members with him (whippers-in). When the hounds find a scent and take off, the staff follows as closely as possible. Following generally occurs with at least two groups, also known as "fields" or "flights." First flight is for more advanced horses/riders, and follow the staff fairly closely over jumps and other obstacles. Second flight is generally non-jumping and tries to cover easier ground. Sometimes you see a third flight, which might be more of a walk-trot group. Some refer to second/third flights as "hilltoppers." The trick is keeping an eye on the staff and first flight, and trying to get to where they're going without the crazy cross country adventures. Some hunts in these flights are more challenging than others - I took a green mare out last weekend second flight, and we had some pretty good, hard runs.

Hounds (always referred to as "hounds," never "dogs") always have the right-of-way, as do the staff. You had best yield if you see a staff member or hound coming in your direction, and GOD FORBID if your horse ever kicked/stepped on a hound. Cardinal sin right there.

I could go into all the etiquette/protocol/attire rules, but I have to get up early to get horses ready to hunt tomorrow morning (nope, I'm not in on this one) and I don't want to bore you. It should be on the MFHA site anyway.

Basically it's just a lot of fun if you're slightly mentally unhinged. When cubbing (the informal part of the hunt season, late summer/early fall) first started, I went once. The field gathered around the first covert while we waited for the young hounds to catch a scent - we weren't out there two minutes before they went RUNNING. Off we went, galloping through the woods, jumping coops, galloping (seriously) down people's dirt driveways...it was a crazy and non-characteristic first run I was told, but even so I went away thinking: "These CRAZY hunt people! CRAZY! CRAZY HUNT PEOPLE!" So I was left not quite knowing what to think. But once you're comfortable galloping across uneven terrain, then you're much better off. Just stay in the middle of the horse and enjoy the ride, that's all there is to it. Now it's something I look forward to, and there's no other feeling like it.

ETA: This post on the COTH Hunting forum has some good links and a great video clip of the Bull Run opening meet.

So, your a member of Piedmont?

Excellent.
Ware Fox!

I've been out as a groom; I'm not sure if my boss has done my membership yet or not.

And yourself?

I Whip in on bye days for the hunt here..

Ware Fox!

You can hunt all season as a groom if your Boss is a member.

haha, yes they do.

The farm I'm at is a territory, one of the nicest in our club. Doesn't compare at all to what MA has, and the Myopia club[Hamilton, Ledyard, beach, Groton house, GP jumpers as hunt masters...yeah, nice]. The otehr two boarders hunt as well, and one is looking for a new hunt horse for the fancier ones.

Stew is an OK hunt horse-he's better when we do more thana couple a a season. He tends to get a little revved, but does awesome near the front of the first field. The onyl thing is that his blowing makes the otehr horses bonkers, thinking they have a freight train behind them-i often geta lot of worried looks from otehr riders. Once we look towards selling him, I'm going to hunt him more and offer him as part foxhunter because he's a rocket, but very steady.

Also, he'll be hunting down in Aiken this winter, and my BO will be there with her horses as well. I would die to do a hunt down there- I just hear stories, though :(



Hunt balls/auctions are a blast-except I'm the only one under 30 usually. Still a blast.
I'm not goign to lie-as much as I adore the chase and the jumping, watching the hounds work, and being a group...my favorite part of the hunt is the food afterwards <333

Oh boy! lol!



I haven't heard stories out of Aiken, but I've heard LOTS from those who hunted in Ireland.

My friend was a hunt groom down in Aiken and some part of Georgia a few winters ago, it sounded absolutely insane.

The only time you could ever get me to foxhunt would be if I got some big ol' ISH that would pack me around. I took my old QH a couple of times but the hunts in Maine suck ass and we spent 99% of our time waiting for everyone to get their shit together. I think it would be pretty fun on a reliable horse in some good country.

Whats even scarier...my friend is working at a steeplechase yard in Ireland for a month this winter...eek.


But Aiken and VA hunts tend to seem like a hack compared to the Georgia hunts I've heard....one of the hunts features a verticle four foot bank into a running river...

Rumble..once you guys have the farm up and running, a cheap little foxhunter is a dime a dozen. Almost literally. At my trainer's barn, there are about 5 who just sit there, their owners rarely ride them at all. When i head down, we all

Foxhunting sounds really fun! I used to lease this 2'6" hunter horse, ISH, that used to be a huntmaster's horse. I never knew what it meant really until reading this thread (although, I mean...it wasn't that hard to figure out the jist). That horse was a total blast out on the trails though!

Took the greenie back out again today. Even though this was the dreaded "second hunt" out this year and thus much misbehaving was expected, she didn't pull anything. Pulled a bit more than the first time out, but still entirely within bounds. They had a hell of a time catching any scent - the ground was hard and dry, and while the hounds were working their tails off, nothing really stuck. Run, stop, run, stop...I was really spoiled last week with some fantastic runs. We had one or two today, but for the most part we were mucking around in the woods.

The girls even went first field today - we stuck around in second for most of the morning, and the last half-hour or so we bumped them up with the "big horses." We took a couple of big coops - big enough for us to wonder whether they were perhaps too much. Then we figured...shit, if the 7 year old riding the 12 hand pony can jump it (NOTE: I want a cute little kid on a cute little pony to take hunting), the girls can jump it. They hopped right on over like pros. We were probably out for two and a half hours, but there wasn't a whole lot of "go" today. I did get a proper hunt coat, by the way. I have to get it taken in, though, because I'm a crazy person about how my coats fit.

You should give yourself a pat on the back, greenies don't just have good days..
Or go so well their second time out. Speaks well of your skills.
How are your arm's feeling?

Did you get to the Tack Exchange? sounds like it.
The way your going, your collar won't be plain for long.

W W!

Thank you very much, Ware Fox! Well, the left arm/shoulder was a bit sore yesterday since that was the rein she was locking on. No surprise, because that's the arm I tend to lock on anyway, so I was asking for it. Other than that, not too bad! Back could be worse too.

One of my goals in life has always been to earn my colors with a hunt. Now that I'm hooked, this is a definate aim. And no, I actually didn't pick up the coat at the Exchange (though believe me, I wanted to stop in, since I seem to wander in there every two weeks anyway for no reason). We were actually in Middleburg having lunch with some friends of my boss, and one of the ladies actually brought her coat along. I ended up buying it off her as we left the restaurant (rather, my boss bought it and I paid her back? I had no idea about it until it was all over), but a part of me wishes I had stopped in the day before to see what the Exchange had. By the time I get this coat taken in through the back, I think I'd be the same if not worse off as I would have been buying a better fitted coat from the shop. Oh well. It's still a nice coat, so I will try not to complain.

Your welcome

If your a tailored fitfreak, even a well fitting coat would need a tweak or two!
I like my sleeves a bit longer than I would in a "show jacket".
You have great shopping in your area, lucky girl.

Good on ya for wanting to earn your Colours. Get to know some staff,
Foster a hound, and parade the hounds, blaze trails, anything to help.
Is equally, or even more important that what or where you are in the field.
Service to the Hunt shows sincerity, that pays off in spades.
Not only as far as gratitude, but you will learn so much as well.
Knowing the "lay of the land" is never a bad thing.
If your in a group that gets separated, it is invaluable!

Hunting is a great sport,if you love it , it is a life long passion.

Ware Fox!

Wait Stew, What? We have hunting in GA? Where? I'd like to try it for sure... Definately not on the easily overexcitable wully mammoth who's also scared of bunny rabbits, but I would try it on a more seasoned horse.

Well...I went to the tailors today with two coats to get done, and I was advised against having the hunt coat modified. So I'm off in the next couple of days to the Exchange to see what I can muster up over there instead.

Not that I have a great deal of experience with any hunt, but I completely agree with you. I now know most of the staff, am meeting a good number of members, and since my boss is quite dedicated (has her colours, of course), I'm getting a lot of chances to help out. Getting to know the lay of the land, though, is going to take some time. Hacking back at the end of Saturday was one big field after another big field.

I can't wait to be an old crazy awesome person running around on my pyscho foxhunter. Seriously, It's my life goal to be the crazy old nut who scares everyone else.

Oh, and Pinchy- I'm guessing in the north, because the people I heard it from were in Aiken..

Well how far north? like Appilacian north?

I went hunting for the first time this past fall. I had a blast.

Hmm..I wonder if my pony is being used for Aiken hunts...hmm.

Oh, and are you anywheer near Thompson GA? Stew might jump the state border to do some events soon, and if you're in the area, he'd love a fan club

Hello fellow foxhunting enthusiasts.

Dragoon, How do you like hunting with Piedmont, and what do you think of your new Huntsman from Ireland?

Hi Thrill Seeker,

I love hunting with Piedmont. I probably won't be back out with them until next Thursday thanks to a kick to my right arm, but they are a fantastic group. I look forward to each time out, and try to learn something new everyday. And Richard is doing a fantastic job, from what this newbie can tell. Long time subscribers are very happy with him, and he seems to be trying very hard to give them a good day out everyday.

i've always wanted to go on a hunt, but i've never had the chance. im thinking i might be taking Jack to a couple this year with the same barn that im riding with in Mexico. maybe some horse trails/ cross country as well. Jack did a few as a baby, but i have NO experience with it.

any tips or things i may need to know??

That is good to hear Dragoon. I used to hunt with Piedmont a few years ago and you are hunting, in my opinion, with the best hunt in Virginia -- actually, in the whole U.S. I have hunted with several hunts in the U.S., and Piedmont has the best territory and a keen pack of hounds.

Just gotta throw in- the trainer where I'll be this spring/summer hunts too! Yay! Mostly with Myopia, has hunted in VA/MD, but she was happy to hear that my boy can hunt She might actually hop on him for one or two in Feb when she is in SC.

I feel like I'm whoring my horse out to everyone down there :P

Since the Ban, more people than ever seem to have started to hunt.

We have to call Cubbing "hound excersise" and follow a trail. Birds of prey are also used by some hunts now.

This is our weekly hunting mag which I'm sure you have all heard of

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/

I used to hunt with a Shires pack but now recovering from a badly broken leg I'm doing bugger all.

We had a huge mounted and foot following at our NYD meet in the village where I live.

Paddy

I am glad to hear the ban had that effect ! With all the Anti hoop la, and all the press they were getting.
I feared the worst. I always wondered , we would not hear it here in the States, if the Queen spoke out in favor of the Sport? She seem to love hunting, and I hoped she would champion it and its rich tradition.

Ware Fox!

HRH kept mouth firmly shut as did Charles etc.

Unfortunately the continued growth has given the antis a chance to bleat on in respect of the "pro hunting propagander" regarding the loss to the rural economy and loss of hunt jobs and homes.

As this was the mainstay of the pro hunting argument, the fact that no jobs have been lost, no hunts disbanded has, in some quarters been seen as a bit of a shot in the foot.

Hopefully, hunting albeit in it's new format will continue to flurish in the UK.

Paddy

I would find that dissapointing, did you? or do you think it would have made much of a difference?
She is such a figurehead for Country Life , and all that goes with it. Sheesh not even Princess Anne?
Sort of disheartning. But, I am glad it did not do detriment to the sport, seems to have helped it.

We have our own issues with Hunting here in the States , Urban sprawl = loss of open hunt land.
Misunderstanding of just what Hunting is, yet there are two Hunt's around here that are re grouping.
One had been out a few times this year, and the other is getting a pack together.
It is nice to see two coming back to life.

Thank you for your answer,
Ware Fox!

That is something that I have never tried! Always wanted to though!
I have friends who hunt & just love it!

The Royal family tend not to engage in anything, unless it is Charles and his strange (and unqualified) views on Architecture - thats from someone who studied and practised Architecture!!

We have similar problems with urban sprawl. I hunted with the Meynall and South Staffs and our country was cut in half by a new 4 lane dual carrigeway. I think thats what you call an Interstate.

New hunts are few and far between and tend to be foot packs such as beagles or mink.

Many packs have had to amalgumate due to growing towns and more roads.

I am lucky, I live in a rural area and the hunt forms a big part of the social life around the village.

I read articles on hunting in the USA in the Horse and Hound and it sounds fab.

So much open space compared to us, but on the other hand we have lots of old grass and hedges to fly.

It is quite expensive to hunt here at least £60 for a day.

How does that compare with you?

Keep hunting!

Paddy

Yes when Charles was here, he spoke at Carnegie Mellon about architecture, and all over Pittsburgh about city planning, and renaissance cities..


It is, but I think dual carrigeway, has a lot more charm.

Foot hunting is getting bigger here, beagle packs are springing up down South.
I would like to try that someday.


That has happened here as well, and a few Hunt's have just expired.
I would rather see them merge and remain, but when politics is involved, need I say more?.


We have quite a few very good Hunt's, my only experince Hunting outside of the coutry was Ireland.
It was fantastic, but I do not care if I ever see another bit of black thorn again in my entire life.
Your heart is in your teeth, while your rent a hunter banks over stone walls, and the child next to you who's fat pony could fit under your rent a hunter says, Oh that was craic.


I only know what our Hunt charges for Capping and it is seventy five for Juniors and one hundred for over.
One can only Cap three times a Season. Grooms get a rate, and there is a social membership that gives you a few Hunt's as well. Some Hunt's are trying hard to get more members who Hunt actively or just want to be involved. We do a lot with Pony Club, they have a Hunt once a year, just for them, and can come out several times a year with us, and are always invited for the Formals.There is so much involved that go into the cost of running a Hunt.

Ware Fox!

Did anyone hear about that man with Belle Mead?!

Well, between the weather and the EHV-1 scare, we didn't go out for the end of the hunt season. It's too bad, because I didn't hunt any after the first of the year, and my boss only got out twice. That's ok, it gives me something to look forward to for the start of formal season. Cubbing's great, but I'm less enthusiastic at 6 am.

The boss and I are doing Piedmont's pair races this Saturday before the Point-to-Point. The course is 17 fences, a little over three miles, and looks like a LOT of fun. We walked it today, and there are a few hairy spots, but hopefully we'll all survive. Apparently the advice for optimum time was "Ride it like you and your horses aren't very fit!"....Yeah, THAT won't be too hard!

Pace's ease the end of the Season, I love them, but our Hunt stopped them when the new Master came on board. Time for a bit of traveling, tailgating and fun! Great race's this time of year too.

Ware Fox!

Prince Charles and Camila Parker hunted regularly with the Quorn Hunt. He was very supportive of foxhunting in the U.K.

No pace's ?

Ware Fox!

The context of the statement was in response to Ware Fox in terms of did any of the Royals speak out in favour of hunting at the time the ban argument was raging.

They did not as I am sure you will recall.

Charles also hunts with my local pack, he almost galloped over me and my boy when we on gate opening duty one day!

Camilla PB hunted and was I think a member of the Beaufort as I recall as is Princess Micheal of Kent.

Whislt they participate I have yet to hear them actually get on the pro hunting bandwagon verbally.

Paddy

Well this thread might as well be my inaugural post. So I'll just kick on.

Stewie- What man with the Bellemeade? There are many men that hunt with them. you need to be more specific

It's interesting the number of people I've met that say they are too scared to try hunting. I always remind them that they only hear about the wild things. They never hear about the blank days when we're lucky to get out of a walk. There are thrills for sure but there doesn't have to be. Everyone should try it at least once whether you're scared of the stories or not. You would be surprised to find that most well organised hunts have a place for every type of rider even though all you seem to hear about are the thrusters.

haha well i know this fourm is really old
but of course im all pschyced (sp? im a dumbass) cause i finally found a foxhunting thread
i show some and its fun
but hunting is damn incredible

any fellow piedmonters out there?

Fellow Piedmonter here, jumperhopeful 123.

So...Anybody been out lately?

I was out with Piedmont for four hours yesterday. Good God, it seems like we ran all over creation, but it made for a nice enough day. I love Mellon country, even when it gets tough. And to top it all off I was mounted on the world's best horse. He was just so keen and perfect, perfect, perfect. We had to take a greenie out hilltopping with Snickersville this afternoon. I'm used to Piedmont, so hunting with this group was very different. I didn't like the country at all, but the track we took on the one good hard run we had went right through the damn woods, so that wasn't really helping. Just not a lot of open ground today except at checks. Oh well. The greenie was good enough for the short time we were out, so we called it a day (good thing, too, because after the full four hours yesterday I was well and truly crippled. I was in so much pain today from my back that I was nearly in tears).

Wow, I enjoyed reading this thread! I live in NY and the family that owned the farm where I kept my horse years ago were very into the local hunt. I had the opportunity to ride as a guest with the Smithtown Hunt and because the husband was one of the masters, I got to ride first flight. It was the Thanksgiving hunt, too. What a rush!
I would love to work with my gray and condition him for field hunting but I don't have the time right now. However, there are several great hunter paces in my area and we have a great time riding those. The Meadowbrook Hounds Pony Club hosts a lovely pace every fall at Caumsett state park. The park is beautiful to ride through and the pace is legendary for it's lunch buffet!

SolitaireMare - glad you've enjoyed the thread thus far. Definitely get out there if you ever have the chance to go hunting again! That Thanksgiving Day meet must have been pretty crazy. They usually have huge turnouts around here and always make for some interesting spectating, if nothing else.

So for anyone who cares, today was Piedmont's Closing Meet. Our barn had six horses and riders go, including me (mounted on God's gift to foxhunting ). We hacked over to the meet and enjoyed an immediate first run through the woods. We had a few good runs after that as well - the ground was damp from the morning rain (making the footing a little tricky), so I'm guessing the scent was sticking reasonably well. To top it all off, we had quite the memorable Tally Ho as we saw a gorgeous fox run the other way along the top of the ridge above us while the whole field was parked on a wooded trail. The hounds were in full cry as the staff doubled back and we all followed out over a coop and a fast run through some open territory. It was a relatively short one, but probably the best of the day.

Shortly after my boss realized that the hunt was headed toward our farm, so she and I galloped hard home to throw all the race horses inside before they lost their minds. Crazy! We caught up with the hunt on the other side of our property, but there wasn't much activity after that for us. After circling the property in a giant group trail ride through the woods, we got separated from first flight and eventually called it quits when the second flight went in behind us. Apparently we were a little premature, because I heard that the field ran hard down the road and around one of the neighboring farms a few times. Oh well. I had a lovely day on an amazing horse, so it was well worth it.

Anyone care to contribute, or am I the only one?

Soooo, I have this job interview this weekend and I'm going out for a "ride" which is going to be on a foxhunter, with a fox hunting lady... Can someone please tell me how high I'm going to jump and how terrified I should actually be?