do you hunt?

Miss Tequila

if so, what hunt are you in? i'm thinkin to join.

I used to hunt, not riding at the minute so I don't, but plan to again.

Where are you based?

convert

Yes, I hunt.

As regards joining a hunt, it would be best to join a hunt which is close to you. The Irish Field Directory has a list of all the hunts (fox hounds, blood hounds, harriers, stag hounds and beagles) in the country, so you should take a look at that before you decide which one to join. You can also find it on their website.

Every hunt has its own membership fees and requirements, so I would advise you to contact the relevant person in the hunts around you (again, you can find this in the Irish Field Directory) to discuss membership possibilities.

What part of the country are you in? If you mentioned a few hunts in your area that you are considering joining then people may be in a better position to help you. With the lack of info you've provided we're not really able to help you as we may just give you info which is of no use to you.

togster

Yes i hunt too. Although i can't at the moment where i am. Planning a weekend home and some hunting. Can't wait

jackell

I did hunt with the Bray harriers(drag hunting) for many years and also the Galway blazers(fox hunting) for season and half.I miss the hunting must get out this year for a day,best value for money.for the round the same price of round of showjumping you get good day hunting!!

Miss Tequila

i'm from Dublin west.

i never been hunt before i might go for one day and see if my horse enjoy it...

might go to Bray harrier with my friend.

convert

Pretty much all hunts accept visitors for a day's hunting, but before you go you'll need to contact the hunt to arrange your day's hunting with them as most hunts have a policy of 'visitors by arrangement'. The person will also be able to tell you how much the cap is (how much you pay for your day's hunting) and where the meets are, so you can choose a location that's best for you.

fits

I've just started working my mare this week to get her ready for the season too. I really want to get a full season in this year, but that would be an achievement.

whitser

h.a.i web site has a directory of all its mounted packs and contact numbers and days each hunts etc.....

wittsend90

I hunt with the Fermanagh Harriers.:D

kick-on

i cant wait for the hunting season again, havent jumped a good hedge in at least 2 months!!!!!

finbarrk

Yeah bring on the 1st of Nov.

MDFM

Yea and lets hope our winter will be better than our summer/autumn or else we won't be hunting at all!

K-Bowie

Yup I do and before here i did it in England, I remember when I first moved over here we where at a hunt in the Kildare and had Animal Rights Activists following us everywhere funny thing was we wern't even chasing a fox.

ecaf

I used to with the Tara Harriers (Drag), it was great fun. Haven't done in about 10 years or maybe more :eek:
I didn't think it was so long ago, myself and my friend were laughing at a man one time who said he hadn't hunted since 1979! We thought it was hilarious, probably because he looked like he was dressed from then too. (Sad thing is we could end up like him if we don't get back to it soon! ... never!)

I never knew you had to join, we used to just turn up at various meets and paid the cap. I'd love to go again, but sadly lacking experience now, plus a lot of our practice ditches have been torn up to make a big flat field. Pity really, but that's the way it goes.
Have a new horse now, but she's in foal, so no hunting this year, not sure about next year, will have to see how the nerves are by then.

markkeane

How good a rider do you have to be to hunt?
I live in north county Dublin and would like to give it a go, but I am not sure if I have the experience.

kick-on

ah you dont need to that great of a rider, ive often seen people who have never ridden a horse on hunts, just be prepared to fall off!!
if you can control a horse youll be grand.

no hunting for me this year broke a vertebrae!!

fits

kick-on wrote: »

ah you dont need to that great of a rider, ive often seen people who have never ridden a horse on hunts, just be prepared to fall off!!
if you can control a horse youll be grand.

no hunting for me this year broke a vertebrae!!

I'm sorry but I have to disagree. That is a recipe for a bad accident.

OP you need to be confident in forward seat at a fast canter/gallop and over jumps. Its not necessarily skilful but a sticky seat is essential. And its advisable to have a reasonable level of riding fitness too. I wouldnt be fit enough for it at the moment.

convert

Opening meet this monday

Only drawback is that coz it's a bank holiday there'll be too many people out to have a decent hunt (bit like Stephen's Day)

Hopefully there won't be hundreds out and that at least this year EVERYBODY will be able to trot, canter and jump!!! (lead reins aside, obviously!!!)

Shinyfluff

If you are not sure if you can hunt you can be in the hilltopping group, which is a mounted group that does not jump and usually goes at a slower pace. It is a great way to introduce yourself and your horse to the fun.

byhookorbycrook

see thread below re Kilkenny people, poll re hunting..vote early vote often:D

convert

Shinyfluff wrote: »

If you are not sure if you can hunt you can be in the hilltopping group, which is a mounted group that does not jump and usually goes at a slower pace. It is a great way to introduce yourself and your horse to the fun.

I'm probably going to be in a minority here when I say that this type of group riding can actually do more harm for hunting than good.

Don't get me wrong, I think these type of rides can be great, especially for beginners, nervous riders and pleasure riders, or young horses, etc. and they can be a nice social occasion, but sometimes I feel that people who get on well at these types of activities mistakenly believe that they are capable of hunting and then find themselves in trouble out hunting and can actually put other people in danger.

I know I'm in danger of coming across as being quite arrogant here, and I really don't want that to be the case, but in recent years with more people having access to riding and horses (which is great) hunts have seen more and more people turning up at meets. While it is fantastic to have this type of support for hunting, from experience I have found that a minority of riders (and yes, I am stressing minority - most people who turn up to a hunt are capable riders) who have taken part in 'hilltop' or pleasure rides can cause problems out hunting. I have had 4 horses injured (one of which was severely injured and couldn't be ridden again) by riders who were out of control and decided to use me and my horse as a stopping mechanism. I have also had to help inexperienced riders who've taken bad falls out hunting, in addition to, when on gate shutting duty, having to wait for up to 30 minutes for other people to dismatle a small fence (approx 1'-1'6") because they hadn't learned how to jump yet, and I had to put up the fence after them in order to close a gap between farms.

Ok, these are extreme examples, but what I'm trying to say here is that sometimes riders feel that because they can sufficiently manage a hilltop, pleasure or endurance ride, which, as you say shinyfluff, is frequently at a slower pace without any jumping, some people think that they are competent to ride at a faster pace when in actual fact they are not and as a result, in extreme cases, they may cause accidents and put both themselves and their horses, as well as other horses and riders, in danger.

I['ve heard it has been suggested that on more popular days hunting, such as St Stephen's Day and New Year's Day, that there be a few unavoidable ditches, poles, fences, etc within the first field or two, and that if a rider is unable to negotiate it then they shouldn't hunt that day.

Has anybody else got views on this, or have you had experience of this out hunting? It maybe just that "my" hunt is more prone to this due to the fact that it's located within "the Pale" and easily accessible from Dublin and other major towns.

byhookorbycrook

Any hunt I've ever been on is not for the novice! The biggest thrill to me is not knowing what's around the corner, what jumps, bank, drains etc, without being harsh, if you can't jump well, wait until you can.

byhookorbycrook

PS keep voting!!!

doctor evil

convert wrote: »

I'm probably going to be in a minority here when I say that this type of group riding can actually do more harm for hunting than good.



I['ve heard it has been suggested that on more popular days hunting, such as St Stephen's Day and New Year's Day, that there be a few unavoidable ditches, poles, fences, etc within the first field or two, and that if a rider is unable to negotiate it then they shouldn't hunt that day.

Has anybody else got views on this, or have you had experience of this out hunting? It maybe just that "my" hunt is more prone to this due to the fact that it's located within "the Pale" and easily accessible from Dublin and other major towns.

I fail to see how having a non jumping route can harm hunting? After all those that begin today will be the ones that continue you it tomorrow. Its not just novice riders/horses that do not jump but also older ones that creak or may have lost their bottle.

With insurance and litigation not to mention PR it is stupid to be reckless in any way.

There are different days of varying difficult, to get to the meet the secretary must be contacted.

It is up to the field to welcome and instruct newcomers to the specifics of hunting if this has not already been done. If there is a problem with a member of the field it should be reported to the field master.

Sorry to hear that you were used as a bumper. I don't believe that popular days like St Stephens day should be too hard due to large numbers and state of the ground.

convert

doctor evil wrote: »

I fail to see how having a non jumping route can harm hunting? After all those that begin today will be the ones that continue you it tomorrow. Its not just novice riders/horses that do not jump but also older ones that creak or may have lost their bottle.

That's fine if you're on a drag hunt, but it's a completely different story when you're really hunting. As byhookorbycrook mentioned, you don't know where you're going or what you're going to meet. It's not like you can tell the fox/hare/stag where to run. I don't think it's fair to the sporting and generous landowners who open up the land to hunts to say 'most of us can jump, or negotiate whatever obstacles come up, but there are a few who can't, so is it ok that they take other routes across your land so they can follow us'.

doctor evil wrote: »

With insurance and litigation not to mention PR it is stupid to be reckless in any way..

I completely agree with you on this point, but I still say that if a rider isn't competent to negotiate obstacles out hunting, then maybe hunting isn't for them at that time. Maybe they should wait for another season and gain more experience.

doctor evil wrote: »

It is up to the field to welcome and instruct newcomers to the specifics of hunting if this has not already been done. If there is a problem with a member of the field it should be reported to the field master.

I always welcome newcomers out to the hunting field, and it's always great to see new people joining, but you can't expect members to babysit them all day, or teach them how to jump. That should be done at home before they go hunting. It's not like a young horse would be taken anywhere before it had been schoold to a reasonable standard at home in whatever discipline it was competing.

In my mind, hunting is not a good place for someone who isn't a competent rider.

I think that there are two issues here; competence and etiquette.

You should have a certain minimum standard of competence before you head, otherwise you are a danger to yourself (and more importantly) other people. Many people hunt for the craic, and this is perfectly fine, so long as they are able to hunt. I have heard of people asking that there be some trial fences put up at the start of the hunt and if people can't make it over those fences, be they ditches or poles, then they head home.
I would agree with this.

Secondly, etiquette. From my time hunting, I am sorry to see that this appears to be dying. Hunts exists soley by the grace and goodwill of those who let us ride through their land and when you get complete ****s who refuse to ride the headlands (or who are unable to control their horse so that he stays in by the headlands) then these people are endangering the whole hunt.
Also, when it comes to jumping, I don't like to see people schooling horses and jumping the ditch back and forward, back and forward as if everyone did this then there would little left of the ditch and the hunt won't be asked back into the land.

Basically, if you are willing to listen to the master and the whips, and are capable of jumping ditches or banks, then you are all set for an amazing day out no matter if the hounds give chase or not.
However, if you are unable or unwilling to do the above, then please **** off and leave the rest of us alone.

fits

One thing that really bugs me out hunting is when people dont leave sufficient time for the horse and rider in front to get over an obstacle safely before riding to it themselves. And then when a well-mannered person does wait, someone will inevitable go in front of them. argh. Its really dangerous.

I'm all for non-jumping fields though, as long as it is managed well. I reckon its a good way to school a young horse, and not everyone who would like to go hunting likes jumping, even if they may be on a perfectly well-behaved and experienced horse. I can see the appeal in going out for the day for the company and atmosphere and not taking part in the jumping element. But as someone else mentioned, probably easier to do with a drag hunt.

Just to point out: there is nothing (in my opinion) wrong with 'jumpless' hunts. I've done a couple to school young horses and they are good fun. However, I think convert mentioned it, they are not representative of a 'proper' hunt and as such, having done a few of them will not make you suitable for hunting if you are unable (or have no experience) of jumping banks etc.

They are good for teaching etiquette and for seeing what a hunt is like though.

byhookorbycrook

Still can't see how a jumpless hunt works,how do you get from field to field?Wire cutting is not always an option and a wobbly rider and strands of wire to jump are not a good combo.

fits

The only way I can think it would work is if the hunt has already planned what coverts they'll draw that the jumpless group would go on a completely different route between coverts.

I think pretty much every hunt in the UK has this option but obviously they're all drag/trail hunts now so easier. But I think it was around even before the ban.

Drag hunt.

Route is planned so that there are no ditches. Each field will have a gate or path or something.

byhookorbycrook

re different coverts, what happens if hounds find? You can't predict which way fox will run. Also who takes the non-jumpers from covert to covert?

Why would you want to hunt and not jump?There are plenty non-jumping ride-outs.

doctor evil

convert wrote: »

That's fine if you're on a drag hunt, but it's a completely different story when you're really hunting. As byhookorbycrook mentioned, you don't know where you're going or what you're going to meet. It's not like you can tell the fox/hare/stag where to run. I don't think it's fair to the sporting and generous landowners who open up the land to hunts to say 'most of us can jump, or negotiate whatever obstacles come up, but there are a few who can't, so is it ok that they take other routes across your land so they can follow us'.


I always welcome newcomers out to the hunting field, and it's always great to see new people joining, but you can't expect members to babysit them all day, or teach them how to jump. That should be done at home before they go hunting. It's not like a young horse would be taken anywhere before it had been schoold to a reasonable standard at home in whatever discipline it was competing.

With foxhunting you may not know the exact route but you do know what land you are allowed on. Obviously this can be worked with (knowledge of routes, change/fix gates with owners permission).

There are hunts that have more than one master often one for a non-jumping route or have a trusted follower or whipper in just starting out.
Hunts/hunters can't keep making excuses they must find solutions in all aspects if hunting is to continue. I'm not saying that people should learn to jump while on a hunt, that should be done in lessons.

Some hunts as well will have a nanny to look after a new person and to keep an eye on them. An attitude of 'I'm alright Pat' is nothing but damaging to the future of hunting.

doctor evil

Deleted User wrote: »

Secondly, etiquette. From my time hunting, I am sorry to see that this appears to be dying. Hunts exists soley by the grace and goodwill of those who let us ride through their land and when you get complete ****s who refuse to ride the headlands (or who are unable to control their horse so that he stays in by the headlands) then these people are endangering the whole hunt.
Also, when it comes to jumping, I don't like to see people schooling horses and jumping the ditch back and forward, back and forward as if everyone did this then there would little left of the ditch and the hunt won't be asked back into the land.

Responsibility of every participant to report to the Master. Also a good idea to check if anyone knew understands the etiquette.

doctor evil

byhookorbycrook wrote: »

Still can't see how a jumpless hunt works,how do you get from field to field?Wire cutting is not always an option and a wobbly rider and strands of wire to jump are not a good combo.

Fences can be amended before/after. Any kind of a 'feckless' attitude will kill hunting.
I agree with the last part.

doctor evil

byhookorbycrook wrote: »

Also who takes the non-jumpers from covert to covert?

Why would you want to hunt and not jump?There are plenty non-jumping ride-outs.

A person (master/whipper in/follower) delegated to be in charge of the non-jumping group. Or jumps on easier days will have a way around them with the main body of the hunt.

No offence but the last sentence raises my heckles.

It is an elitist attitude. Heaven forbid if one day you should lose your bottle and still want to take part in a hunt for the craic and a good day of riding on land you would not normally have permission to be on.

byhookorbycrook

Dr Evil, I can no longer hunt as my legs won't allow me to jump. My attidude is not meant to be elitist, but the Stephen's day field of 150, where about 50 know what they are at does not endear us to landowners . As a horse mad child I hunted when I was good enough to be able to stay on and cross country unaided(mostly) with the Duhallows, where you jumped or got left behind.
30 + fences on an average day, because dairy fields tend to be smaller.

Here in Leinster it seems to be more galloping than jumping,due to large cornfields,but I still feel if you are not secure in the saddle enough to jump, then you need to wait and aim towards the day that you will be.

You wouldn't go to a hunter trials to hack round the course,so I can't see why you'd want a day out hunting if you plan to do the same.


Hunt canters, over a pre-set course with non-jumping options are now common, surely it makes more sense, in the same way as we aim not to over-horse ourselves,we should aim not to over-face ourselves .

convert

doctor evil wrote: »

With foxhunting you may not know the exact route but you do know what land you are allowed on. Obviously this can be worked with (knowledge of routes, change/fix gates with owners permission).

I actually think it's completely unacceptable to ask a generous and sporting landowner to give permission for the hunt to take more than one route through their land. I certainly wouldn't give that permission. As well as having young stock on the farm, it's also a beef/dairy farm and some cattle are kept out quite late in the winter, depending on the weather, and if the hunt approached me to ask if they could take a second or subsequent route through my farm I'd tell them where to go... Harsh, perhaps, but a view that many landowners would take.

doctor evil wrote: »

Hunts/hunters can't keep making excuses they must find solutions in all aspects if hunting is to continue. I'm not saying that people should learn to jump while on a hunt, that should be done in lessons.

I personally feel that having riders who need 'non-jumping' routes out hunting will actually do more harm to hunting. As area manager for our hunt, there has been an increasing number of complaints from landowners asking 'why did some of the horses not go through the route that everybody else took'? Or 'Why did horses go through the recently sown field/field with cattle in it instead of following the normal route?' What are we going to tell them? Some of the people aren't capable of jumping and need to take alternative routes? I doubt such an answer would be too well-received, especially if a landowner is worried about insurance and liability.

While it's always fantastic to have people who support hunting, I just don't think non-jumping routes are feasible for any form of hunting except drag hunting. There's no way you can which direction the quarry is going to run, so it is impossible to have a pre-assigned 'non-jumping' route. As by hookandbycrook said, there are plenty of 'rideouts' with no jumping.

convert

Anybody manage to get much hunting done over the Christmas?

I only got out 3 times, including Stephen's Day (gate shutting ) and New Year's Day (because it was only a mile down the road!). Had planned to go out a few other days, including Monday, but the meets were cancelled due to the severe frost we've had over the last while! Typical... Just as I get my horse fit enough for a full day's hunting and as I just have my young horse ready for a few more 'longer' days (ie - not just the hour or so I've been doing with her for the last while!)

andy2854

love hunting!!! ward union hunt:eek::eek::eek:

kick-on

any of ye go with the north kildare farmers????
its like a drag hunt for charity where we go over a set course in a different place every week, you can go round most jumps (but wheres d fun in that), nobody has to jump but we do go at a fair fast pace like!!!!!!!!!!!

convert

Is it a drag hunt? I was of the impression it was just a charity ride with no hounds?

kick-on

yea, i suppose it isnt really a hunt

Mad craic tho!!!!!!!!

Ticktactoe

Hunting is a great adrenaline rush, not just for the rider but for the horse also. Therefore with that in mind, its really not for the nervous rider. Confidence and experience play a big part with each participant. Any hunt that i have taken part in (which is quite a few years of it) I have never seen a 'calm' horse. Once the hunt takes off, its none stop. Jumping is a big part of it imo and as a previous poster mentioned holding back and been patient rarely works as people will jump on ahead of you especially when the horse is mad to go. Jumping through bushes, briars, drains, muck is hard on the rider but is all part of the fun too.
However if you have never hunted before, it can be a bit daunting and nervous but the best thing is to bite the bullet. If you have plenty of riding hours under your belt and have skooled over jumps in your spare time then you should be well able.
Responiblity on the riders part is a big thing as well. I think its important to throw your eye over any jump you going to put your horse over just to make sure there isn't a big lump of wire sticking up as the last thing you want to do is badly injure the horse, which i have seen also - not a pretty site. Also this craic of people schooling horses over ditches and other parts of the fields fences really isn't on. If the farmer gave permission for the hunt to go through the land then really there should be a bit of respect in play otherwise it might just be the last time the hunt will be allowed through the land.
I think horse hunting is savage and a great way to spend your saturday or sunday!

bogshepherd

do you need your own horse to join a hunt club or are they able to provide horses?

ive been taking riding/jumping lessons since september 08, i can jump at 1.10m pretty comfortably. im fairly confident with my riding and ive practiced on grade A showjumping horses but do you think this would be enough experience to go on a hunt. its something id love to try at some stage. any info u can give me wud be much appreciated...

thanks!

K-Bowie

Yes, have you never been to a hunt you have kids of like 7-8 on there ponys at a good few of them.

Hobbidance

I think K-Bowie means that yes you would be able. Even though it'll still be an experience and a horse (usually) acts totally different in a field of horses and hounds than in an enclosed sand arena.

Try a few cross country courses if you can over the summer. They're great practice and will teach you how to handle ditches and fences you might meet out hunting.

Hunt clubs dont provide horses, at least I've never known one to, but you can usually hire horses from riding schools to use in hunts.

monflat

Hi Bogsheppard
yes a good few of the hunts i know do hire horses usually about €150 for the day and then if you are not a member of the hunt which you probably wont be if you are only going to try it out first .
the visitor cap for a day ( a visitor is someone who is not a paid up member!!) can be anything up to €120 at the discretion of the club.

it is an expensive day but it is well worth it.
Hunting is now finished and will not resume until Nov so you will have plenty of time to practice - get out and do some cross country.
The height of the fences you are jumping is fine but you need to get out and jump outside the confines of an arena if you have not been already.

If you can get some experience riding different horses and ride somewhere where they offer hacking (where you can gallop and go at a fast pace)
This all will prepare you for hunting as sometimes i know of people who ride in arena all the time but cannot get used to the fast pace of hunting and even riding in a group of horses 50 or more!! being squashed in !! Or everyone riding at a afast pace towards a gap in a corner of a field and coming to a standstilll virtually from gallop


With regards to the XC if you can get your balance jumping up on a bank and jumping off this will help you no end.

Your riding maybe fine but as i said before it may be the fast pace that you need to get used to .
If you are brave you will enjoy it and seeing the countryside is great too

What part of the country are you in i could PM you details of the ones i know that do hirelings for visitors.

bogshepherd

thanks for all the help! i live in county monaghan, im hoping to buy a horse in the next few weeks and i have a bit of land here to practice on, the problem is that il be moving to limerick for university next year so il probably only be home once a month so i wont have much time for it...

kick-on

id say ull b grand if u have that much experience!!!
once you have mastered the basics of cantering, galloping etc you should be able to get by, best way to learn will be doing it, just be prepared for a fall or two