I was invited to hunt with Bull Run as a guest this past Monday. I borrowed a friend’s horse since mine is fat and out of shape (kind of like me!) and had so much fun! 
I’m extremely sore today (see previous out of shape comment) but it was so worth it!! We were in second flight, thank heavens, would not have been able to keep up with first, apparently the hounds/fox took them on quite the chase!
What a great group of people and a wonderful sport. I think I’m hooked!! :yes:
So glad you had a fun time!! Isn’t it a blast??
And yes, you are probably hooked but I swear it’s the least expensive organized activity to participate in within the horse world.
So glad you had a great day!!
Hope you are able to get out and enjoy it again.
It is an extremely addicting activity. Welcome to the club.
Heh, heh, heh, another one hooked…
Glad you enjoyed. I hunted with Bull Run back in the 70s-80s.
So glad you had a great first hunt.
It’s totally addictive - I can testify that you go through withdrawals when you can’t do it 
[QUOTE=SLW;6047833]
And yes, you are probably hooked but I swear it’s the least expensive organized activity to participate in within the horse world.[/QUOTE]
Just curious-- and not meaning to take this thread on a detour-- but could you elaborate on the cost comparison? I’m starting out on horses (just 2 years in) and want to event. I can’t even afford my own horse at the moment-- maybe there’s still time to redirect my interests and ambitions to something more in line with my resources. (Actually, I really think I want to event AND hunt!).
B Street, congratulations of getting out to hunt, and I agree that it’s truly addictive. I’ve only been out four times, but I focus all of my riding efforts on becoming a good enough rider to get my pony out hunting!
Chaydgc, check out the hunt nearest to you (go to mfha.org) . Visit the hunt, and talk with them to get a feel for the expenses. Each hunt is different, some more expensive than others, some more formal than others, so I don’t think anyone could give you a cost comparison. You can also read some of the earlier threads about beginners at the hunt ( I had one, so did lesson13 and pleasantmeadowfarm) and you can get good ideas about starting.
Chaydgc,
I’d say do both, they do complement each other nicely. But if you can only pick one…
If I still lived in Virginia, a day of hunting would be way cheaper than a day of eventing by the time I prorated the ‘per day’ I’m paying for hunting in comparison to entry fees and etc for eventing. And the entry fee for eventing (let’s see, when you put the three phases together, what, 15 to 20 minutes of total ‘competing in the saddle’ time?)- would cover 1.5 to two days’ worth of cap fees for hunting.
As it is, I live in Utah- minimum 6 hours one way for the nearest hunting, and other than one event in state, more like 8 hour minimum for an event. I won’t haul that far each way for just one day of hunting, but when I hauled to Reno last year for a week of hunting (with beagles from VA in tow, and going beagling on horseback after hunting the foxhounds), I went out w/hounds, I forget, 10 or 11 times over the week. Factoring in gas, cap fees, lodging for self and horse, and etc…it was, I think still significantly cheaper than, say, a week at an A show. Maybe even cheaper than a weekEND at an A show.
And way more fun!
It vary’s from hunt to hunt…
At one hunt I know of its 300 for a years single membership. The other hunt is 350 a quarter plus initiation fees and assessments. and if you are married you have to join as a family even if SO doesn’t ride.
I’m sure others can give you An idea of ranges as well.
Here ae a few links of published membership rates. Most sites have capping (guest) fees listed on their web site. Ranging from 35$-150$.
yep, you’re in!
Congratulations! I agree:yes:;), you are :lol: HOOKED1
Subscriptions for full riding membership will vary from $800 to $2500 (and more) a year. From my chatter with hunt friends I kinda think the average is under $2000 for full riding membership. However, the black wool hunt coat you buy today will be correct for the rest of your life or as long as you can fit into it. Ditto hunt tack and the rest of your hunt attire. For fox hunting you only need one saddle, one bridle (and a spare) and whatever bit works for your horse.
My eventing friends drop $400 for local event entry fees. If they have to travel a few hours to get there add gasoline and hotel expense and now you have a $700+ weekend. At higher level events the cost of hotel/fuel is the same but the event entry fee gets more expensive.
We have a few folks that event and hunt and they are wonderful. Both sports compliment each other. I admire the eventers and the depth of their riding and their smarts!
Yesterday we hunted a beautiful fixture that we use only 4 or 5 times a year. The day was custom made for fox hunting- sunny, light wind and decent footing. The hounds rewarded us within 10 minutes of being cast when they ran a coyote. A highlight was when we came across an old, rural church sitting atop a hill with a view you can’t imagine. I WISH I had tucked my camera in my pocket. You just don’t find places like this hauling in to a horse show.
I was with second field and we covered 13 miles in two hours moving time. Knowing how far south and west first field went I suspect they covered up close to 20+ miles before they came back, which was well after us.
[QUOTE=chaydgc;6048296]
Just curious-- and not meaning to take this thread on a detour-- but could you elaborate on the cost comparison? I’m starting out on horses (just 2 years in) and want to event. I can’t even afford my own horse at the moment-- maybe there’s still time to redirect my interests and ambitions to something more in line with my resources. (Actually, I really think I want to event AND hunt!).[/QUOTE]
I found hunting cheaper than eventing. A lot cheaper. For the cost of a subscription you don’t just get to hunt three days a week, there are a myriad of social and hunt related activities almost year round. Walking hounds, point to points, hunt balls, hound shows, etc. for me, there is only a break of a few weeks between the end of the season, and starting to work with the puppies at the kennel.
Additionally, there is little equipment or tack to buy. Good strong plain tack. No fancy bling, no color coordinating, no watches, none of the stuff that is now so common even in the lowest levels of eventing. The attire is plain. Timeless.
Yes, you can get into collecting old whips and strirrup cups and get really fancy. But there is no need for that to participate.
The rules do not change from year to year. The rules are pretty timeless. So is the etiquette in the field.
Eventing is an absolutely fantastic sport and I’m not trying to disparage it at all. But as far as bang for your buck… You’ll probably find that foxhunting is less expensive for what a membership can offer an enthusiastic member. but it depends on what you want out of your hunt membership and why you hunt.
I guess it also depends on why you hunt. If it is to ride xc, and you don’t want to participate in the other activities or care at all for the hounds or hunting, then eventing might be less expensive or you might get more out of it. If you really like the social aspect of it, especially during the winter months, hunting might be a good fit.
Or if you have the money, time and horses, both sports have a great deal to offer.
Since you are getting back into things, try both and see which one you prefer. You can always event a little during the summer, and hunt your horse in the winter, if you are careful not to overdo it. That’s what lots of eventers used to do. Hunt and event.
OP, glad you had a blast and I hope you take up the sport.
Only 2 days to recover…my calves and thighs no longer feel like someone took a meat tenderizer to them. 
I was pleasantly surprised how affordable it is compared to other sports (I’m a low level eventer), I always assumed it was 1000’s of $$!! I look forward to finding out more about the opportunities and love that it’s not just a few winter months.
Thanks for the warm welcome!
…apparently the hounds/fox took them on quite the chase!
So you went hunting but did not watch the hounds ‘work’ nor followed them???
I event and hunt. Hunting is way cheaper. I did hour horse trials in the fall and that was as much as my hunt dues. If you compete for a full year you are way beyond the cost of most hunt dues. Considering I hunt 40-50 time a year, the cost per hunt is about 40 per hunt.
My hunt’s rates are quite reasonable, compared to what I have seen from other hunts farther east:
Senior Membership $500
Junior Membership (22-35 yrs.) $375
Youth Membership (to 21 yrs.) $250
Family Membership $1000
Patron (per person) $50
Second Hunt Membership (subscriber to another Hunt) $375
Initiation (waived for active duty) $100
Patron’s Capping Fee $30
Regular Capping Fee $40
[QUOTE=ideayoda;6048954]
So you went hunting but did not watch the hounds ‘work’ nor followed them???[/QUOTE]
We did but part of second flight got separated and there was about 20 minutes where they were completely out of sight and earshot. It was late in the hunt at that point so we headed back to the trailers and the rest of them came in shortly thereafter. There were plenty of times we got to see the hounds working. I don’t think it was a typical day out.
Getting thrown out is part of hunting- happens to huntsmen and staff now and then, too!
Yup.
I was leading the field on Sunday and we were almost immediately thrown out.
In the one area I don’t know at all, despite hunting that fixture for 10 years. :rolleyes:
All I could do was keep heading in the direction of the horn.
We eventually caught up to the huntsman. And I was like a burr on her heinie after that.
And, I now know, theoretically at least, where the gaps in the two wire fences of that fixture are.
It’s all part of hunting. And that’s part of what I like: you never know what’s going to happen!
Congratulations Tango! I used to event, but Hunting fits in with the farming season and is a lot more fun and in our situation, more economical. I remember my first few times out thinking “this is SO MUCH FUN!”. At first it was all about the riding and learning how to ride with the field. Then, once that was figured out, I started to become interested in the hounds. Admittedly, it was a full season before I felt comfortable enough in the field to begin to figure out what the hounds were all about. I had a rank horse who was into bucking and creating chaos. He didn’t last long in the barn…
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