Fill me in on attending a hunt as a guest

[Crown_Royal]

Hi everyone, I finally have a horse I can feel safe hunting on and would love to attend a local hunt soon. I would be attending with my aunt and her horse, but neither of us are members or have been with this group before. We would be attending with the Carrollton Hounds of central MD. Any details on them would be great, or if any of you currently hunt with them, please let me know!

My horse is just coming four, so we would just be wanting to hilltop (I’m guessing a canter or hand gallop is the fastest we will go). Does some staff member lead the hilltop group?

So I have a lot of questions and I would greatly appreciate if you guys could answer them with as much detail as you have in the numbering format so its easier to read through and check off lol.

1. I have tan/white breeches and greenish/beige breeches- which would be preferred?

2. I ordered a long sleeve white shirt that has a pretied stock tie- do I need to wear a stock pin with it?

3. Is a black RJ Classics show jacket, Charles Owen GR8 (black with gray stripe) and black nice field boots okay?

4. For my horse, is a normal hunter show bridle with a loose ring snaffle, breastplate w/ running martingale attachment, normal close contact saddle, and sheepskin/white halfpad okay? Do I need a fitted white pad instead?

5. Who exactly do I call to ask to be a guest for a hunt, and how would I ask that both my aunt and I go hilltopping? I don’t want to be rude by accident to anyone.

6. What time should I arrive to have time to do everything I need to do afterwards? Who do I introduce myself to, and how do I find them? How do I find who I’m hilltopping with, and how does everything start?

7. Generally, what things should of have prepared to give to the huntclub? Coggins, fees? What season is this considered right now?

8. Are people generally accepting/friendly of polite guests? Anything else I need to know?

I really want to make a good impression and do things right from the start. Thanks!

[altjaeger]

Welcome to hunting! It is addictive.

Let me be the first to say it, ask the contact person for the hunt these questions as the answers are hunt dependent. From their web site:

Joint Masters, Mrs. Dulany Noble, DulanyN@aol.com, and phone 410-429-4965 or 410-428-3043 or Jason Dudderar, jason.dudderarmssb.com and phone 443-794-4315.

The answer to number 8, however, is yes, they are generally friendly (often very friendly). Just be sure not to break the basic etiquette rules (which are listed on their web site).

[Jaegermonster]

as altjaeger said, when in doubt check with the secretary when you call, but:

usually yes there is either a fieldmaster appointed to lead the hilltoppers or there will be a treasured member appointed as such for the day. Sometimes that can be the best field to be in because it is slower and you get to see more depending on how things go

1. stick with the tan or beige and you should be fine. I dont know of any hunts that allow field members to wear white but several do require it of staff

2. yes. otherwise it will flap around and look like crap. if you plan to continue hunting please get a real stock tie and learn to tie it, they look so much better than the pretied ones.

3. check on the field boots. I know of at least one hunt that does not allow them. Period. Ask the hunt secretary when you call.

4. I would suggest bitting up a notch. Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it, especially on a young horse who has never hunted. And also recommend a shaped pad. Some hunts dont care, but some hunts do not allow square pads. Again, check with the secretary but you will never go wrong with a shaped pad

5. altjaeger covered that

6. depends on if you tack up at home first or tack up at the hunt and how long it takes you to accomplish getting yourself and your mount together and if you think you need to ride him down a bit first. Obviously you dont want to be getting on your horse at the last minute. Usually the time given is when the hounds move off not when everyone gets there.
   Someone should be at the entrance area checking paperwork or wearing something to indicate they have some official capacity, otherwise just walk up to someone who looks like they know whats going on and ask, that’s what I did.

7. you need your coggins, your capping fee and your waiver to hand to the hunt secretary before you get on your horse.,

8. most hunts and hunt members are very welcoming towards and happy to have guests we like to educate people about our sport

7

[smilesthepony]

I don’t have a ton to add- but thought I would throw in that we used to have joint meets with CH. They were a fun bunch of people, and I always looked forward to our joint meets!
Few tips before you head out.
Make sure to test all of your tack to make sure nothing will slide/break. Those fluffy white saddle pads can sure move if you are not used to them.
About the helmet, if you are just hilltopping you should be fine, but I always bought a cheap velvet helmet cover so I could fit in better. Covered up my stripe, kept me a bit warmer, and kept my helmet clean.
Make sure your mount is ready for whatever weather conditions you could run into, snow, mud, rain, ect.
I would call the secretary and tell her you are new, and very interested in hunting but need some guidance. They should be a ton of help, from talking with you before hand and answering these questions, introducing you to your field master, and helping you prepare for their terrain.
I hope you have a ton of fun. Try not to get to nervous, it’s really a joy, and the hilltopper field when we had joint hunts was generally at a slower pace, and made sure the riders felt comfortable at the speed they held. Everyone makes small mistakes at first, but you will learn fast.
Good luck!

[Hinderella]

Your questions have been ably answered by those with more experience hunting than I, but I’ll chip in with my 2 cent’s worth, as all of my experience is as a guest

Absolutely contact the hunt secretary with your questions about clothing and tack. As altjaeger says, hunts are different, you want to do what’s right for this hunt.

Double and triple check your gear, tack, etc. The night before and the morning of the hunt. You don’t want to miss out because you forgot your girth!

Put all of your paperwork into an envelope, so it’s easy to hand over to the secretary: coggins, liabilty release form, check for capping fee. Ask if you need a hunting license.

Make sure that your horse, your attire and your tack are SPOTLESS and shiny. In my very limited experience, that’s as important as having the just right color breech/glove etc. Turning out with your best effort shows respect for the hunt and the landowners.

SMILE! Introduce yourself, tell people that you’re out for the first time. But on e the huntsman comes up the driveway with the hounds, use your eyes and ears, not your mouth…be a quiet observer.

Finally, and more experienced hunt people can help you out here…if your horse is young and green, you MAY want to ask the master to introduce you to someone who might be willing to escort you back in, should you find that you need to excuse yourself.

[FitToBeTied]

I would call the hunt secretary and get a lot of your questions answered.

I would plan on hunting on a nice weather day. There is no sense in having your first hunting experience in bad weather and sketchy footing. I wouldn’t go out in Jan/Feb for a first hunt. Look at hunting during March. Its a good time for an introduction.

Ask the secretary to identify fixtures that are more newbie friendly.

Despite what others have said, and I’ve never hunted with carrolton, I’d be sure that my horse was good at W/T/C/G in company before taking him out hunting. Its nice to say that a hunt will only go W/T with some canter but when you have to run, you have to run. Our second flight is often in the mid 20’s when on a run.

Hunting is great and the people are friendly. No one wants to see you have a great time more than the members of a hunt.

[Jaegermonster]

I will second that. If you are going to hunt, even if you are planning to hilltop, you should be able to canter and gallop confidently in company in open country. You never know what may happen and if you are not confident at those things and suddenly have to that is not usually a fun experience.
The only folks who might get a pass on that are the little ones that come out on their leadlines.

[Beverley]

I haven’t hunted with them, but you’ll not find a friendlier, more welcoming group on the planet than Carrollton.

Don’t sweat the small stuff. Make sure your tack and attire are clean, safe, etc, and just go have fun.

You should certainly call to introduce yourself before hand…oh heck I am repeating myself, let me go find that thing I wrote that is posted on the web, be right back…

Here you go…just avoiding repetition…

http://www.beechgrovehunt.com/Getting_invited_back.html

[otterhound]

Excuse me for butting in, but what’s the “Coggins” that’s been referred to earlier in this thread?

[jawa]

Coggins is a blood test that checks for equine infectious anemia.

It is required that you have a negative test result in order to trailer your horse or to have horses meet in groups other than you home herd.

Generally the test results are “accepted” for 1 year.

[WildBlue]

[QUOTE=Hinderella;6087244]
Make sure that your horse, your attire and your tack are SPOTLESS and shiny. In my very limited experience, that’s as important as having the just right color breech/glove etc. Turning out with your best effort shows respect for the hunt and the landowners.[/QUOTE]

Definitely. But, for heaven’s sake, DON’T take your tack apart to clean and condition the night before or add any new tack or clothing you haven’t used before!

Or else you might, um, possibly, discover you got distracted and put the bridle together wrong (hmmm, how odd…the curb chain is on the wrong side…OH SH*T!) or really don’t know how tight that new girth needs to be with that new fluffy white saddle pad.

Just sayin’. Have fun!

[otterhound]

[QUOTE=jawa;6087686]
Coggins is a blood test that checks for equine infectious anemia.

It is required that you have a negative test result in order to trailer your horse or to have horses meet in groups other than you home herd.

Generally the test results are “accepted” for 1 year.[/QUOTE] Wow - had never heard about that! You learn something new every day

[jawa]

Information on Equine Infectious Anemia

So otterhound, I’m guessing you don’t have EIA in New Zealand.

[otterhound]

You’d be right jawa - I’ve never heard of it before! The only things sport horses are vaccinated for here are tetanus and strangles - and many aren’t even done for those. Our own hunters are only done for tetanus.

[2ndyrgal]

All good answers.

I’d add that while many don’t care, I don’t think that a running martigale is safe in the hunt field. If your horse goes quietly in a snaffle, he likely doesn’t need it. I’d use a standing, or none at all.

And go up a notch bit-wise the first time, but please ride at home in it first, and in the hunt field, remember when you take a tug that you’ve changed bits.

[FitToBeTied]

I’ve ridden in both a standing martingale and a running in the hunt field and was very happy to get rid of the standing. I know the standing is traditional but I am uncomfortable with its limitations and safety issues.

[Willesdon]

Fashion in the field

In the UK, standing or running martingale is up to the rider and how the horse goes: it isn’t a fashion statement. Most people probably use a running as it is considered to interfere less with the horses head. But then, reading this forum, tradition and ‘correct’ dress does seem to be more of an issue in the USA and in the past the standing martingale was used more widely.

Certainly, do what the hunt requires because it indicates respect for the hunt, the land owners, fellow members of the field and the fox.

[CC1]

Crown Royal,
Did you get out yet? Unfortunately,the hunt on the 22nd was cancelled due to poor ground conditions. I usually don’t get the chance to hunt during the week; stupid work! Yes, I’m a member of CH and it just warms my heart to hear so many say how friendly we are! I pretty much stick to second flight. We have a terrific field master but she is usually on a TB and will pick up the pace a bit!

Field boots are fine as is a running martingale. I use a running myself.

Pm me if you have any other questions!