The H/J board pointed me here! So, What are they? I believe they are done in pairs, but thats about it- thanks!
There is quite a wide variation under the category of Hunter Pace. We have a couple of versions in this area of Virginia.
One is the spring pairs races. These are pairs that run a course that is usually 2.5 to 4 miles over hunt territory either for fast time or optimum time. There are also divisions for over fences or on the flat. These are run by the hunts under the auspices of the VPPA.
Then there are the fun hunter paces that a lot of hunts do. They are similar to the pair races but a lot more relaxed. Typically there are teams of two or more. They are on courses from three to nine miles. Most jumps are optional.
[QUOTE=heartinrye;4608209]
The H/J board pointed me here! So, What are they? I believe they are done in pairs, but thats about it- thanks![/QUOTE]
Our local hunt club holds a hunter pace on a cross country course. They offer 3 levels of competition as well as a team category. The easiest division is the hilltopper in which the pairs navigate their way around the course without jumping and the team closest to the set time wins. (approx 5 mins in this case) The second division is over the lower fences and at least one of the riders in the pair must jump every fence. In the highest division, both riders must jump all the jumps and they are usually the Novice jumps. The team division seems like fun because it involves more obstacles such as having one team member ride ahead and open and close a gate for the rest of the team.
Ours are ridden over hunt country and the optimum time is not known by the riders. It is to be ridden as if you were truly hunting…walk, trot,canter, some galloping, and checks. It is usually between 5-10 miles. There are categories for hilltopping (slower, no jumping) and first flight or full cry ( faster, jumping). Generally you ride out in pairs (as the prize is for 2 people). You can go out anytime between 10am and 2pm. When you are ready to head out you go to the start and groups are allowed out in 3 minute intervals. If you are faster than the group in front of you, slow down, ask if you may pass, pass politely, then move on at your desired pace. There are no jump judges, so if you choose to go around, or school over a jump (as long as you are not holding anyone up) you may. It is used as a fund raiser for the hunt. English and western tack are allowed, the only requirement is that you must wear a helmet.
We usually hold one in the spring and one in the fall. They are alot of fun.
Hunter paces seem to vary in format across the country but in New England they are almost always a marked, timed 5-10 mile ride through woods and fields usually with XC jumping options. There are very few hunter paces these days that require jumping so you always have the option of going around. Usually there are at least 2 divisions; Hilltopper and Jumper, sometimes there is a trailblazer or pleasure division too (for those who mainly want to walk). The goal is usually to ride for optimum time which is unknown. The faster division “optimum time” requires a variety of w,t,c depending on the terrain.
If you have the opportunity to go they are great fun! Some are better than others of course…
I’d love to try a HP (no jumping, though) but don’t have anyone to team with. How does one go about putting together a team from scratch? The people I know who do them, go fast and do all the jumps.
If you contact the person listed on the flyer or web site they will be able to help you. Sometimes they keep a list of folks who are coming and need a partner, or the staff or members of the hunt will ride out with those who don’t have a partner. As this is a fund raiser, they would like for as many to ride as possible. Also some hunts put on organized trail rides over hunt country. This could be an opportunity to ride those areas and meet new people. Some of the folks that hilltop in the hunt field also like to trail ride at a more sedate pace.
Do you trail ride with other people? Perhaps peak the interest of your trail riding buddies and make a team that way. As long as your horse is comfortable in groups and you don’t mind taking your time at a hunter pace you should be fine.
Usually I attend hunter paces with my friends that I trail ride, foxhunt and school XC with. I look into the dates that paces are scheduled and contact friends I enjoy riding with to see if their interested in going. 
My friends and I did a HP with Rose Tree Hunt in Carlisle, PA last fall; it was the first one I’d ever done… we had a BLAST-- I seriously can’t think of a more fun time I’ve had on horseback. There were multiple divisions-- youth and adult, fast and optimum, flat and O/F-- truly something for everyone. The course was about 3 1/2 miles IIRC; we trotted most of the way and came in 2nd in an optimum time class.
After the HP, they held a “mock hunt,” which was a chance for us to ride our horses with the hounds and get a brief lesson in Foxhunting 101. Also much fun-- and I got to be pleasantly surprised that my OTTB didn’t pay the hounds a second glance.
[QUOTE=jawa;4608830]
If you contact the person listed on the flyer or web site they will be able to help you. Sometimes they keep a list of folks who are coming and need a partner, or the staff or members of the hunt will ride out with those who don’t have a partner. As this is a fund raiser, they would like for as many to ride as possible. Also some hunts put on organized trail rides over hunt country. This could be an opportunity to ride those areas and meet new people. Some of the folks that hilltop in the hunt field also like to trail ride at a more sedate pace.[/QUOTE]
Great, thanks. My horse has no foxhunting experience; she’s done a little bit of low-level eventing (with others) and can get pretty wound up when there are jumps involved. She’s great in a group trail ride, leading, following, or somewhere in the middle, walking, trotting, cantering. Gets a little silly about puddles, but will cope if she’s with her buddies, and not silly at all about moving water.
Would also love a “mock hunt” situation. She’s fine with dogs as long as they don’t get right under her nose when she’s moving forward. But “hounds” seem to be another matter entirely – they are so very LOUD and I am not sure how she’d take to that.
Quietann you have to try it! Hunter Paces are pretty much the only “event” I go to now that I’ve decided not to event or show anymore. On a good year we go to at least 10 of them, all within a 2 hour trailer drive. New England is great for that! They are so much FUN. I still like jumping, so for me it’s such a treat to have between 20-30 very nice xc jumps at my disposal, and be out there for a good 2 hours!
I’ve also been to HPs without a partner, and found one on site, no problem.
My Ottb is finally mature / quiet enough that I could probably take her hunting and not get killed (by her or by other riders, lol). She’s fine during Hunter Paces. The only unknown is the hounds. She’s not too happy about dogs running and barking (bad experience at the beach with a loose, aggressive dog).
Once when we were schooling on Myopia Hunt grounds during cubbing we watched as the hounds went by in the distance …my mare changed into a statue, all hard and coiled. She didn’t actually DO anything but she sure felt like she was going to explode any second.
If you are interested in hunting, I would trail ride with a friend who has a dog/hound that they go out with frequently. The dog going in front, behind, darting into and out of woods, etc. is a great beginning. Telling horse “ware hound” in a happy soothing tone helps to take away some of the unknown, and will let her know you’re looking out for her/him. If you have a friend who is a member of a hunt, and you can trailer your horse to the kennels and just be around the noise of the kennels is great, as the hounds are confined. Your mount can get used to the sound without being overly threatened. Roading hounds during the summer is a great way as she is behind hounds, none coming darting up from behind, are great ways to build her confidence. If she gets to experience these things with the same steady eddy partner she will do well when you actually get to the hunt field. If you get a chance to go to a hunt on a steady eddy, you will be calmer once you take your mount out to hunt. You will know what to expect and give your mount a calmer first time out.
Thanks Jawa.
I didn’t know the hounds stayed in front while roading, I might try that! My mare is fine with my dog, and won’t spook at her at all when we go on the trails with her. My dog doesn’t bark tho.
I used to hunt, years ago, with my little Morgan mare, who was really hot in the beginning (well, “Morgan hot”, not “Ottb hot”, lol) but eventually got used to the whole thing. I think that’s all it would take with my current horse as long as I go without her barn mate. Weird as it seems, when we ride in a group and her barn mate is there, she is SO concerned about losing sight of her that she gets totally unfocused and silly. But with strange horses, she’s just fine. I just need to find another partner who can trailer me to hunts!
So funny you so that she did better without her barn mate. When my horse trailered in with his barn mate he’d be a nut if he lost sight of him. If I trailered in alone, he was a cool cucumber. Many times while walking in to the trailer together, if my horse lost sight of his buddy when we walked to opposite sides of the trailer, he would nicker until they saw each other again. “Are you still there???” TOO FUNNY!! As soon as they saw each other, a whooping 1/2 second later, he would let down and relax.
