Fences in Hunt Country

[Anonymoose]

What sort of fences and other obstacles do you jump out hunting these days?

My reason for asking:

When I was a child the fences in hunter classes were supposed to simulate “obstacles met out in the hunt field.” Coops, gates, post and rail fences, Aiken fences, brush jumps, oxers, Liverpools, Bulfinches, stone walls.

The fences in hunter classes these days look more like show jumping fences to me, and in the “Field Hunter Championships” photos (see right-hand side of this page) the fences look like cross-country eventing fences.

So I just thought I’d ask people who hunt.

[crosscreeksh]

Our here in the southern, mid-west we have coops, logs, barways, gates. Back in the Carolinas, post & rail, coops, logs, gates, Aikens (“telie” poles/pine brush). No flower boxes!!!

[Xctrygirl]

I think it bears mentioning that when you hold the field Hunting champs in Middleburg in a wide open area so spectators can see, you’re giving up some of the most natural hunt settings. Glenwood Park hosts eventing competitions but I would say those jumps shown in the pics aren’t “typical” event fences either, bar a log and a water jump. We tend not to jump hunter show gates on standards in the field.

It’s what it is.

~Emily

[yellowbritches]

Yes. Do keep in mind that the venue for the champs is an eventing venue, and, to a degree, it looks like they took advantage of the more natural fences from the course. The champs isn’t out in the country, but in one place. I’d say the course designer did a pretty great job making a lovely course to look at without losing the natural feel (event CDs could take notes…).

Around here, most of the hunt fences are coops, post and rails, stonewalls, and some logs. Pretty standard stuff.