The big hunt- foxing

Gonzor

Was over on the other side of this website having a look at the arguments about the lads going out on the horse after charlie.

Just wondering has anybody here ever given it a go?

Ive never tried it myself, but it would certainly be a change of scenery from going out with the shotty.

Birdnuts

Gonzor wrote: »

Was over on the other side of this website having a look at the arguments about the lads going out on the horse after charlie.

Just wondering has anybody here ever given it a go?

Ive never tried it myself, but it would certainly be a change of scenery from going out with the shotty.

The other half hangs out with the horsey crowd and her M8 is trying to get her involved in this scene. I think her main worry is the danger of the sport in terms of jumping blind ditches and encountering low hanging branches at speed. I'd be a bit nervous about her coming back in one piece to be honest. The sport itself looks like good craic and I've certainly enjoyed watching it in the past having grown up in the heart of Kildares bloodstock industry.

tomcat220t

Used to hunt 5 days a fortnight, years ago .
Great outdoor sport :cool:

steyrman2

Hi i followed a hunt for a few years hunted twice never seen a fox as we were to far back jumping ditchs and waiting for a turn to get tru also watched it from the road and did see a few foxes that way not a bad day out would be fine if you had a decent horse of your own or you can hire them on some hunts

tfox

Great craic, highly reccommend it !! Dont hunt as much as I used to as tbh honest hard get time wit work and shooting

But the comment bout not seeing much on horseback is true, I followed local pack for whole season on foot when I was younger and fitter, saw much more action, even hunted the hounds myself when the huntsman cudnt get through, killed 2 foxes, was gr8 day for me

Was out today following the local pack, they never stopped hunting all day, saw at least 5 foxes.

Totally different from shooting, but a very sociable day out with decent folk

daithi55

where i live a lot of people rent horses from stables in birr and use them in the ormonde hunt in ballingarry on new years day in north tipp
whether there living to far to bring a horse or there over on holidays or something i couldnt tell ya
does be a good crowd riding
often followed it when we were younger on bikes
not often they would catch a fox and if they did it was probably sick old or injured
not everyone on horses would see much either as they would be waiting to get through a gap or the horse there on wouldn go out through it so they would have to go the long way around and probably lose the hunt and end up in the village early lol

Grizzly 45

Tried it ...once!:D
Am like a sack of spuds on a horse,spent more time off ,under,or catching it and TBH I prefer my horse power under the bonnet with a tyre at its four corners.:eek: Smelly and dangerous critter at both ends and uncomfortable in the middle!:P
Very colourful and no doubt a challange to those who likeand were born into horse riding,but I am amazed that this lot ever catch a fox in the first place,what with all the racket they make!!Still each to their own.:)

Gonzor

Grizzly 45 wrote: »

Tried it ...once!:D
Am like a sack of spuds on a horse,spent more time off ,under,or catching it...

Thats exactly what Im worried will happen if and when I try it

Is there anywhere in Ireland that holds days out... like if you get a group of lads together they supply the horses and take ya out for a few hours. Id say it would be great craic.

All the other sections on boards.ie have "boards beers" were they all meet up.... I say we organise a 'boards foxing'.... so whos with me

yessam

Gonzor wrote: »

Thats exactly what Im worried will happen if and when I try it

Is there anywhere in Ireland that holds days out... like if you get a group of lads together they supply the horses and take ya out for a few hours. Id say it would be great craic.

All the other sections on boards.ie have "boards beers" were they all meet up.... I say we organise a 'boards foxing'.... so whos with me

Contact Oliver at

www.flowerhill.net

Very nice friendly crowd.

patdahat

well iv tried a few different sides of it, hunted on horse (novice), followed the horse hunt from the road. what i found was if you wanted to see the fox and the hounds hunting stay on the road and follow in the car, if you like horses and like junping ditches go on the horse but unless you a master or whipper in you wont see much of the action.

FISMA

Gonzor wrote: »

Just wondering has anybody here ever given it a go?

No, but the cousin around Newmarket is big into it. I can't ride well enough to go out across ditches and all.

One day we were shoeing the horses and the leader of the hunt stopped by. Very formal and proper lad.

He started talking about the hunt that was coming up and how he hoped they would get a fox.

Without missing a beat, I informed him that the place was crawling with them and that we had lamped six the night before.

I thought he was going die. After he picked his jaw up off of the ground, I informed him that I was only joking. He was relieved but not impressed!

Still makes me laugh...

declan1980

Gonzor wrote: »

...I say we organise a 'boards foxing'.... so whos with me

Are you talking about beating cover with dog to drive foxes to guns, because if you are im up for it as long as I don't get slagged for being a crap shot

byhookorbycrook

Used to hunt when I was younger,sadly health no longer allows me. A real test of courage,crossing a hedge, not knowing what was on the other side. Amazing to see the hounds working and follow as close as I could.

On my first day ever, the owner of the cob took my hands off the reins, tied them in a knot and told me to let the cob make the decisions!I held onto the martingale strap all day and the little cob carried me safely until the master blew for home.
If you can't follow on horse back,there are lots of footbeagles for the fitter people amongst us.

kemen

its a great day out! i follow the road.. theres just something about the noise of the hounds hunting down a valley,, love it!!

extremetaz

Was raised with Horses and used to hunt or course 8-10 events every season.

Even without any game it's a great day out - if you are following the dogs proper though it's not for the faint hearted. You'll either want a very steady nag (like byhookorbycrook's above) or enough confidence to handle yourself. I loved it - would go back to it tomorrow if I'd the time to keep a horse.