Alone!

[BEARCAT]

Disclaimer: this is meant as a reminder to seasonned hunt member, not as a rant or finger pointing.

Went to a “new Members day” yesterday. Listened attentively to the talk about history, hounds, customs, dress code, etc,…

Start of the Hunt was a bit of mayhem as everybody took off super fast (I was not even sure who the Field Master was at this point!) Ended up towards the front of the field and had to keep going as my horse was feeling good and wanted to go, go, go! (not dangerous to myself or others, just very forward.)
The slower field was waaay back there, not even in sight of the hounds for most of the time (so what is the point really?)

Fastforward 1h + half the riders towards the back had turned around to go back to the kennels (nobody checking with me to see if I needed to go back, and again, I was in a different forefront group at that point.)

Kept going for another 1/2 hour or so. I was falling back as my horse was getting very tired, but had a couple more people behind me, so felt okay that I was not “alone” - a big no-no as discussed at the meeting.
And then I looked back and they had made a sharp turn and left!! One in a RED coat and one in a black coat.
I was just a bit flabbergarsted to see those 2 riders leave without even checking if I wanted to join them. I was obviously a newbie (per my attire and mount), and it would have been the decent thing to do to ask if I was okay. They were my “security blanket” at that point, as we were about 1/4 mile away - but still in sight from the hunt.

Not seing a way to catch up with the main hunt, and for my horse’s sake, I decided to follow them and go back to the kennels. This is rather hilly country and it is easy to lose sight of others. Off and on, I would either see them or some other riders way out in the distance. Besides the hills, I had to deal with fence lines and finding gates, and a very tired pony, so they kept getting farther and farther away.

So I spent the next 2 hours walking or hand walking my horse, trying to find landmarks, hoof prints, etc. Finally made it back to the kennels. Of course, NOBODY had noticed I was “missing.” They were very taken aback when I told thenm I had just come in.

Again, this is not a “poor little me” thread, or a “my what a horrible hunt.” I can take care of myself and had a good time and all’s well that ends well. However, things could have gone downhill fast as darkness and dipping temperatures came, or if my horse or myself had gotten hurt… Somebody would have eventually noticed my trailer was the only one left in the parking lot and maybe send a search party?

And I don’t need a lecture on a suitable mount - my guy was safe and my first priority was to do right by him. And he was rock solid (albeit tired) through all this, even ground tying like a pro while I climbed to the top of a silo to get my bearings.

Now, another Hunt I have ridden with a few times is very caring about newbies, usually has a chaperon of sorts checking up on you, how things are going, if you need to go back, if your horse is getting too tired, if you are getting too tired, etc.

Again, I hope this serves as a reminder that things can get overwhelming for newbies and for their horses, and that we don’t know the terrain or all the rules, or may not know anybody at the hunt.

So if you see someone riding alone, ask them how they are doing. If you are heading back and happen to glance behind you to see a lone figure, maybe stop and wait for them to catch up - they may not know the way back.

And perhaps it would not be a bad idea to have members volunteer to take newbies under their wing during the hunt. Or have some sort of check out at the return of the hunt to make sure everyone is accounted for.

Anyways, if you’ve made it through all this, thank you for reading and hope this can help someone else down the road.

ps: As I was walking in front of my horse, just plowing along on a dirt road with my head down, I happen to look up and stare straight at a coyote about 20 feet in front of me

[xeroxchick]

Sorry, It’s Not a Trail Ride

That sounds like it was quite unorganized. Sorry that you felt abandoned. In the future, make sure that you have buddied-up to an experienced person and asked them to stay with you. There are lots of reasons that one can’t just pull out.

At our opening hunt a couple of months ago I went near the back of the hill toppers to be with my husband and ended up having to walk people back to the meet. They were “experienced” visitors from another hunt and were completely unprepared for the kind of running we do even in the hill toppers and had unfit horses. I didn’t mind taking them back because the alternative would have been them wandering around 20,000 acres and the staff having to look for them, but it really was a dull, long walk back to the meet and not at all the day it could have been.

This isn’t for you, OP, per se, but I want to make a point:
When people complain about hunts vetting potential guests and members, it’s because so many people don’t have horses that are fit enough or who won’t kick, or because they over state their abilities and get scared when we gallop, who let their horse thrust to the front because “he wants to,” who expect the entire hunt to screech to a halt because their bell boot is falling off, etc.

Because it is not a big trail ride folks.

It is a hunt

and we are keeping up with the hounds.
Period.
When I first started to hunt there was no hill topping group - and no one was allowed to go back. If someone fell, we were instructed to keep going and let one person stay with them. The staff did not want to be looking for us after a long day, and they certainly did not want us fouling scent or turning game by hacking around the hunt country trying to get home. Believe me, you did not want the wrath of Hardaway - an honestly terrifying prospect from the man we adore.

If this was a newbie hunt I think they should have paired newbies with experienced hunters. Just keep your expectations in check because there is more going on that you might notice that has to do with scent, land owners, and hound work. And next time make sure that your horse is fitter so the both of you can keep up.
You do sound like a trouper and I am impressed that you found your way back by yourself! Don’t give up!

[danceronice]

It may not be a trail ride, but if you know you’ve got newbies along, leaving them to fend for themselves or get lost isn’t just doing them a disservice, it’s not doing the landowners any favors, either. If you allow someone along who’s a new hunter and who doesn’t know the terrain, it’s not just to help them that you really ought to have a ‘babysitter’. Someone unfamiliar with the land could cause all sorts of problems wandering around by themselves.

[Beverley]

In my experience- on a ‘regular’ day- a guest is typically escorted by whoever invited them along, or if no one did, the field master might ask a member to ‘keep an eye on them’ in case they need assistance.

For a ‘new members’ or ‘open invitation to anyone to hunt’ day- way back, I was once put in charge of the ‘never ever hunted’ group, and on the whole we had a lovely day and saw lots of hound work- but priority was given to making sure those new to hunting were safe and sound and happy. There might have been guests that went with first flight- but if so, they had a good understanding that ‘that’ group was staying with hounds, at top speed if necessary- so they had fair warning.

Now- as for other members of the field going in early and not inviting you along- well, the typical seasoned foxhunter can be a bit abashed over going in early- so other than reporting to field master that they are retiring, they don’t typically announce ‘we are going in, anyone want to join us?’ Rather, it’s the other way around. If you think you ought to retire from the field- horse is tired, you are tired, whatever the reason might be- if you observe a group leaving, then you cheerfully and politely inquire whether you could join them? And you do this at your own risk- they might have no idea where they are, get you good and lost, and you might end up getting back a couple of hours after the pack! But- it’s up to you to be bold and ask, since the general assumption is ‘everyone’ wants to stay out ‘all day.’ As a caveat, though- if it was a new members day, I’d have wanted that scoped out in advance with key members standing ready to take folks in throughout the day if necessary.

Xeroxchick makes some good points. Newcomers generally need to be aware that it’s a balancing act- no one wants them to feel unsafe or unwelcome- but at the same time, an entire field should not be expected to grind to a halt to meet one person’s needs. There are well established safety protocols for retiring from the field early- first and foremost, letting the field Master know so he or she isn’t beating the bushes looking for a missing rider- and second, knowing a safe route back to the trailers that does not interfere with the still-in-progress hunt, or cross private land one shouldn’t cross unless specifically with the hunt. The smart newcomer might ask well before the hunt moves off, gee, I sure plan to be out all day, but if I lose a shoe or something, how do I appropriately ‘check out’ of the Hotel California?

[Equibrit]

This raises the question of, when one ceases to be responsible for oneself. Should you make sure that you stay safe or should somebody else ? I personally, would not put myself in that position.

[Bogie]

At our hunt newbies are always paired up with a member (usually the person who invited them). That person stays with the guest even if it means taking them back or bringing them to a slower field.

Heck even when I’ve had a horse throw a shoe I’ve had other members offer to hack back with me if I don’t know the territory.

[lesson_junkie]

Bearcat-when you ride with the first flight, you are with folks concentrating on the huntsman and the hounds-it’s kind of an understanding that if you are with them, you are there to do the same.

If you need help in the future, don’t hesitate to speak up-if you don’t say anything, how will anybody know that you need help? And besides, you viewed-so you will be hard pressed to get much sympathy from many of us!

[twofatponies]

The two times I hunted I checked in with the secretary and was assigned to a member who literally rode at my side or behind me at all times, and gave me loads of instruction, from “don’t get more than four lengths behind that horse” to “don’t talk now” to showing me a good technique for turning around in a tight spot while keeping my position in the group. It was way more organized than I expected!

When there were points where groups split, there was always a quick conference about who might want to split off with the slower group or continue with the faster group, etc.

I would have been quite overwhelmed if expected to figure it all out on my own!

[Chall]

I don’t hunt, but does technology assist in the field? GPS of the starting point, cellular phones or radios or Nextel? If so, I’d have a sign hung on my trailer with my cell phone (as well as home address) so if you don’t show up and your trailer is the last one out there they can try and call.
I can see the ads now.
Lo-jacks for the huntfield … gone in 60 seconds… :lol:

[Foxtrot_s]

I can’t tell you how many times I have ridden at the back to see that everyone is accounted for. I was not asked to but it seems the right thing to do. Often a new person out gets stuck on one side of the jump and another member will jump back and forth until the new horse decides to come along. Granted there are those who feel they have paid their fees and are going to have a good time without waiting for anybody, but I never saw it that way. I’ve hunted all my life and am happy to encourage new members. I’m sorry this happened to you, and there is no substitute for being there to learn all the ropes. It is not so hard to notice someone who you have never seen before and figure they are new.

[Ajierene]

While I have yet to hunt, I would think protocol would be different if someone was capping opposed to a hunt designed to invite new members.

With someone capping as a guest, I would expect the person who invited the guest or another experienced hunt member (if the person contacted the secretary directly) would be placed in charge of keeping the new person from getting lost or injured, etc.

With a hunt designed for new members, I would expect the hunt to assign the new members to a flight with one or two experienced people in charge of the flight. In respect, just as the lone guest should listen to their guide and do their best to stay with the guide, the flight of new members should stay together.

In that respect, if someone goes faster than the flight they are assigned, they are on their own. While it would have been polite for those two members to ask if you want to head back with them - they were not assigned to watch you and may not know that you are with the new members, but could be someone who capped with the group before and are more experienced or knowledgeable about the land.

So, yes, it would have been great if the entire hunt kept a sharp eye on the new people, but usually that is the ‘job’ of certain people. Depending on the size of the hunt and amount of new people at such an invitation hunt - there are likely members who do not know who is really new, who has capped before and who is a member in their first season or so.

[wateryglen]

I see your point!

MOST of the hunts in our area do do this! Buddy up newcomers. It’s called “having a sponsor” by some hunts. “Sponsoring a guest” means you stick with them no matter what OR get someone else to take over if you can’t. But there are always those that think of themselves first and aren’t good mentors/sponsors/ambassadors for the sport. Certainly your point is well taken but perhaps an exception to general practice. Also…we all know that “open” hunt days ARE often crazy and mayhem ensues. Heck, ANY large gathering of horsemen can be mayhem. Please bear with them and try again. First impressions may not always be accurate. And ASK for a sponsor or babysitter or guardian angel member to stay with you. No biggie. We agree, you should not be out there alone…ESPECIALLY IN COLORADO!!! :eek::winkgrin:

[Painted_Wings]

Yup, we don’t have a lot of visitors/guests and neither do we have large fields. But the sponsor is responsible for their guest. And if they don’t have a sponsor they are usually assigned to a member who is to keep an eye on them. The only problem with this is if they are on an unfit horse or something you are stuck going in early with them. I have been lucky with my charges and have not had one that needed to go in early assigned to me.

[Ponyclubrocks]

I would have assumed somebody riding in first flight would know what they were doing. I probably would not have thought to ask if they needed help. Most of our guests start out in second or third field. I have often escorted others back to the horse trailers and have never minded doing so. I get plenty of opportunity to hunt (twice a week) so it does not pain me to be helpful to someone who has had a fall, or lost a shoe or just plain got scared. I have had some lovely conversations on the quiet hacks back and hopefully have left the guests feeling cared for and with a positive impression of our club.

[WilfredLeblanc]

Disclaimer: I just went to my first hunt and don’t really know squat. That said, I think I can safely infer from that experience, from absorbing Wadsworth, and from extensive reading on this BB, that every hunt is its own culture (and that there’s always another side to the story). Maybe some want the newcomer to go through a bit of hazing; maybe some are extremely fastidious about who gets to audition to begin with. But let me contrast my experience with what the OP describes.

The fieldmaster had my back. When we were walking or at checks, she was very nice about explaining to me (in appropriately hushed tones) exactly what was going on. The first time we went to descend one of these cliffs the Nevada huntsmen describe as “hills” and I muttered an enthusiastic but trepidatious expletive, the FM was right there with the friendly “Just sit back on your pockets a little more, Fred.”

When one of the straps on my mount’s breastplate broke, very early on, another huntsman jumped off without delay and improvised a repair. No discussion. Presto. Off we went.

My overall sense was that the other members of the hunt were very responsive to any needs I might have as a newcomer. They seemed to have a sense of collective responsibility for each other’s wellbeing (exhibit A: flasks were sipped from in common). But, there was clearly an understanding that everyone was riding at his own risk, that we we were all grownups, that the intercession of a loving Creator might be required too, etc.

For my own part, I think I met these guys (mostly gals, actually) at least halfway. If a newcomer is doing that, I think it’s reasonable for him to expect at least a little mentoring–perhaps even babysitting. Ideally, he doesn’t need any. Ideally, he approaches the whole thing in an understated way and pleasantly surprises the hunt with what he can do. But “the best laid plans of mice and men,” right? Everyone has been new at some point, and decent human beings just look out for the new guy. Moreover, hunting is obviously as inherently dynamic a situation as combat–a bit of a crapshoot on the best of days, I’d think–so the most benign interpretation of whatever anyone does or doesn’t do would seem to be warranted.

[Corky]

See, I am one of those people who always keeps an eye about, and if anyone is falling behind, or a horse is tiring, threw a shoe, etc I with stay with them. Honestly, its not because I always want to, but its because I think its the right thing to do. And, its my job.

For most people, they pay their membership, pay for their horses, gear, trailers etc and I, on the other hand, get paid to hunt. I manage everything horse for one of our Masters, and as such, I hunt his horses even if he is not out for the day, and often I am on a seasoned, well mannered rock of a horse who can be counted on to turn for home, stay behind, jump back and give lead, stand quietly if I jump off for a gate or dropped item. Since I am in the field as part of my job, I always do what I think necessary for the greater good of the hunt. I have only been hunting a year, so I still ask other people about the correct procedure at times, but most of it is common sense and manners.

Now when I have the young, green horses out, thats a little bit of a different story. However I am always the first to offer help when on the seasoned horses, so I figure I have earned the right to allow someone else to get off and get the gate when I am mounted on a 17.1hh four year old who hasn’t learned to stand still…

The reason I say this is because I do appreciate that other people work hard all week so that they can enjoy the hunt in their spare time. Some people are more interested in the hound work, the ride, the views etc than the new member back there. Next time speak up, ask someone to ‘take you under their wing’, most members are happy for a chance to tell someone else what to do;) but often are afraid of giving directions for fear of offending you. Let them know that you are eager to learn and you will have lots of people impart wisdom on you, and some, a load of bull that you should promplty forget!