First time hunting was a humiliating experience.

[system]

I have been riding horses for about 10 years now. Started in college, found it to be enjoyable, and have stuck with it.

Recently I became interested in fox hunting and to my delight found this was the time of year for it. I contacted a “local” hunt, spoke with them at length and decided to give it a try.

Firstly I ordered/bought locally all the required apparel and gear for a hunt. As you can well imagine this is a substantial amount of money. On the morning of the hunt I got up very early, drove to the storage unit to pick up my trailer, drove to the farm where I board my horse and picked him up, then we traveled 357 miles to the hunt.

When I arrived there I was initially greeted warmly and found the comradeship good. I was asked to fill out some paperwork and a waiver and I paid the $150 fee. Then I went back to my trailer and was unloading my horse and getting him ready for the ride. The secretary then came over and asked about my address. I explained that I live in an apartment and board my horse at a farm in the country since I cant afford a farm on a paralegals salary. He asked me to wait there while he conferred with the huntmaster. They both came back and told me I had to leave. They explained that foxhunting was for gentleman and a gentleman must own his own land. A minimum of 100 acres. Then they proceeded to tell the other members of the hunt about this and much fun was had at my expense. They wouldn’t refund my money either. They said I had wasted their time, my appearance cheapened their hunt, and they were going to keep my money for their trouble.

Well what about my wasted time and trouble? The requirements for participation in the hunt as they were laid out to me never included anything about land ownership. Some of us have to live in the city for our career.

All in all it was a very humiliating experience. I had never been called so many names and been taunted so severely in all my life. They even teased me about my horse. Granted he’s not a half million dollar wonder, but I work hard to be able to afford him, keep him in good health, and all the rest.

I just wanted to share this experience so I can spare someone else the pain of learning this the hard way. Hunting is apparently a sport for the elite. The working class need not apply.

[TrakJumper]

I’m sorry, but I’ve never heard anything so ridiculous in my life. I live in an apartment and have been welcomed with open arms into what many would consider an exclusive hunt. I got my melton on sale and wore field boots my first time out. They are hands down the friendliest people I have ever met, in the horse world or otherwise. Could you please explain to me how you “woke up on the morning of the hunt” and not only found the time to get your horse trailer from a storage unit, but also amazingly hauled your horse approx 5 hours to the “local” meet? Please. Go post your MUD somewhere else. And make it more believable next time.

[ThatScaryChick]

Yeah, I don’t buy this story. I haven’t been on a hunt myself, but I am hoping to go on one, one of these days and I have never heard people being turned away because they don’t own their own land or live in an apartment. If that were true, a lot of people wouldn’t get to participate.

[system]

The hunt started at 11am. I left the apartment at 2:45am.

[linquest]

Should I be insulted that after riding with four hunts in two states, I’ve never been asked for my address (apartment in the city), income (<$20K/yr), property ownership (none, unless you count $160K in student loan debt), or occupation (paralegal too) as a prerequisite? And I’ve never even had fully proper attire cuz I couldn’t afford it either, and had to “rent” a horse each time. Have I just been lucky enough to hit “Slumming Day” every hunt?

[takethestage]

I’ve never heard of anything so absurd.
If you spent tons of money buying proper equipment for a sport you’d never tried before, that is your irresponsibility. And why you would choose to become involved with a sport that you claim is no closer than 5 hours away from you? Sounds very far-fetched.

[CarrieK]

I tell ya what, tallboots: I’m so white-trash that I’ll show up at your local hunt and you’ll be accepted by default! I make everyone look good!!

[LookinSouth]

@tallboots;3784371

All in all it was a very humiliating experience. I had never been called so many names and been taunted so severely in all my life. They even teased me about my horse. Granted he’s not a half million dollar wonder, but I work hard to be able to afford him, keep him in good health, and all the rest.

I just wanted to share this experience so I can spare someone else the pain of learning this the hard way. Hunting is apparently a sport for the elite. The working class need not apply.

Well if by chance this actually did happen to you…

I strongly encourage you to seek out another hunt in your area to try hunting with (there are many on this board that could help with that or recommend a nice, friendly hunt). I know there are some that are less friendly and more elitist than others but what you experienced is just uncalled for!

I think most on this board could assure you that the treatment you experienced is NOT the norm.

FWIW, I rent a very small house on a private horse farm where I also keep my horse. The farm is lovely but WE don’t own it. We also are the barn managers of said farm which my husband and myself do in addition to working full time AND working on our grad degrees. So needless to say I work fairly hard just to be able to have my horse.

We don’t own any land, we drive older/cheap cars. I am a teacher so I can assure you I’m not raking in the dough and my horse, although he is very nice, cost me less than my saddle. The vast majority of members in my hunt are middle class working adults, many of them live in the suburbs and board their horses.

[ceffyl]

If this actually happend the correct route to follow on with is to complain to the MFHA http://www.mfha.com/ (providing the hunt is recognised).

Seems an awful long way to drive for a first hunt? I would personally not expect a horse to follow hounds the same day after a journey of that length of time standing in a trailer.

[Lilykoi]

I don’t know, I’ve done a lot of shipping and I just can’t see how you had enough time to get there. Pulling a trailer, it always takes me over seven hours to make it to Lexington, on a good day. And isn’t that a bit high for a capping fee? Its been a while, but it was much less when I did it.

[War_Admiral]

I’m with everyone else. I haven’t hunted in decades, but the few times I was brave enough to take the psychotic freebie OTTB with visible leg jewelry out with one of the supposedly “snottiest” hunts in America, I was treated with every courtesy, despite being so poor I only owned two pair of jeans, and pulling up in a home-made trailer.

Besides, I know lots of very moneyed people who likewise have to live in the city for their jobs and simply board their horses at their respective hunt clubs.

I’m really having a hard time believing ANY hunt would treat a newcomer this way, unless something else was not right.

This WAS a recognized hunt?? In the USA??

[LookinSouth]

@Lilykoi;3784506

. And isn’t that a bit high for a capping fee? Its been a while, but it was much less when I did it.

there are hunts in my area that charge 150.00 for a capping on Holidays (thankfully not mine:))

[Trakehner]

I call TROLL on this one…sounds like something out of England spouted by the hunt sabs.

I’ve known a hunt where full membership required the person to bring some sort of land or skills to the hunt…but never have I been treated poorly, even as a weenie kid when my pony passed the master and kicked a hound.

[Lilykoi]

Forgot about holidays

[QUOTE=LookinSouth;3784513]
there are hunts in my area that charge 150.00 for a capping on Holidays (thankfully not mine:))[/QUOTE]

Now that I think about it we did always hunt during the week.

[LisaB]

I agree with Trak.
First, having a trailer at a storage facility.
Then traveling 357 miles when the person supposedly lives in the midwest. There are hunts all over the country.
Then only allowing men who have over 100 acres to join.
And cap fee of 150 unless it was a very special day.
TROLL!

[Woodford_Country]

Well, I travel over 200 mi to go hunt… 1 way… because sadly there aren’t hunts all over this country.

I do know that most hunts welcome ANYONE with wide open arms as most hunts are experiencing declining memberships. Most hunts don’t care what you do for a living, what kind of truck trailer combo you show up with or what brand of tack you use as long as you, your horse and tack are clean and presentable.

Some hunts have hunt fields so large that they restrict memberships to people with land, not to cap in. I think there is one like that in the DC/VA area??? But I think they would have informed you about that when you contacted the hunt secretary.

I think most people will take issue with your last sentence. At least I do. Most of us hardly belong to the elite and work hard every day in order to go hunt.

I’d like to know which hunt did you have this awfull experience with?

[JSwan]

That is the MOST absurd and ridiculous thing I have ever read in this forum. There are so many holes in this story I don’t even know where to begin.

Except to say that not only is this person a troll, I’ll even go so far to say that this post is calculated and timed.

TROLL

[ceffyl]

[QUOTE=Trakehner;3784530]
I call TROLL on this one…sounds like something out of England spouted by the hunt sabs. QUOTE]

I doubt if the UK hunt sabs could even find the COTH forum to post on, they can barely write, let alone speak legibly. :lol:

[wateryglen]

definitely a troll!

Nobody requires land ownership to CAP! Nobody.

This is someone with a beef with that hunt or hunting or is an “anti”. Way too obvious. Story quite unbelievable. New poster I see.
Better luck next time! Ain’t workin"!!! :yes:

Trying to stir things up…altho’ many of us do have humiliating stories to tell about our first times but they are usually FUNNY!!! :winkgrin:

[EventFan]

cough* Troll…*cough:eek: