I’ll cut you slack too. I think you’ve realized you are being a bit green-eyed. I’m 50 years old and I still have a flare up now and again when I see someone with "stuff’ that I’d love to have!
Chin up, maybe someday soon you can get back to the hunt field. The pics of you and your are wonderful, beautiful horse, good rider!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Good Old Sledge
weebs - good point about intentions and thoughtful answer throughout. My problem is with your first sentiment - that the horse doesn’t know that you’re dressed up.
Why then, does he never slime me except when I’m in a white shirt? Never trods on my boots unless they are freshly polished and never drops me in mud unless I’m in white britches?
quote by weebs07:
I think its all coincidence. I have been thrown in the mud in jeans and I have been thrown in the mud in dress outfits. I am going to get a lot of people really angry at me when I say this, but, I honestly feel much of what people perceive as horses’ “intentions” are merely people projecting their feelings onto the horse.
I’ll take it a step further and prepare for even harsher criticism, horses are fight or flight animals, they simply react, which is why to be a good rider, you have be proactive and not reactive. Horse intelligence is quiet comparable to that of a bovine. They don’t have a large frontal cortext. It is outside their brain capacity to think “I am pissed and I notice this person is dressed up so I’m going to throw them in the mud.”
I think a more likely explanation as to why a horse would only throw you in the mud when you are dressed up, is perhaps the horse senses a mood of anticipation or anxiety as the situations in which you are dressed up are those revolving around horse shows and fox hunts.
Sometimes when I’m having an off day and I think am 100% positive that my muscles are relaxed, my horse is able to react to very minuscule tension in my body. This might seem like a contradiction from my earlier statement that horses are merely reactive and don’t have cause-effect reasoning capacity. However, it is still a matter of action and reaction. I seem tense and the horse is reacting.
OK - I am mentally preparing myself for verbal lashings. Again, sorry if I am offending anyone. I am not saying this is 100% fact, this is merely my opinion after years of trying to understand these amazing animals. This is the way horses make sense to me.
I could very well be wrong and would enjoy hearing your thoughts to this.
unquote
um, geez. It was a joke. Funny ha ha. Irony. Look it up.
Crikeys.
well why couldn’t a horse recognize outfits? my dogs certainly seem to pay a lot of attention to how I’m dressed and if it’s “going to work” clothes they do seem to understand something different is going to happen vs. “going to walk dogs” clothes.
I want to go tooo!
I miss hunting so much!! sniff, sniff, sob:cry:
I live in warrenton hunt next to old dominion hunt and can hear the hounds at the kennels. My trusty hunters have died of old age. The new green horses haven’t a clue, because they came after the old ones. My old hunters knew every horn call and on their own would chase the foxes in their pastures.
I got hit by a deer 4 years ago while galloping my big dwb.:eek: Broke my back among other things. I have worked hard to build endurance for riding about 2 hours or so on the hunt trails. I don’t think that is enough to be able to hilltop. I am doing the conditioning work anyway in hopes that I might be able to at some point.
The stem cell work on my back has helped a lot, and I can jump small logs. I don’t have anyone to ride with to get the greenies use to hunt group riding. They have manners from lots of dressage work and riding with 2-3 horses.
I do have colors with 2 hunts, so I do have a feel for riding this territory. I do
know the foxes, neighborhood bear families, occasional mountain lion and the multitudinous deer.
Have fun, you all! There is nothing like it!
is it not the “dress” that is part of the tradition??? …
[quote=everyequine;4339491]I think you should make friends with her. Especially if she is your size. When she needs “new” stuff she can give you the old stuff she never used.
That’s what I would do. 
:lol:
[/quote]
:lol::lol::lol:
Vitriolic - I’m with you. The longer I’m at this, the less I sweat the small stuff and the less I judge. I’m a lot happier. There will always be someone with less and someone with more. I’m just happy to be there. Sure I covet new things or things I don’t have but I appreciate the things I do, Like the Stubben hunt bridle, the hunt whip dated 1932 and the lovely herringbone tweed that I ride in when visiting other hunts (also loves fantastic w/ jeans and a turtleneck) All given to me by friend who were getting out, moving onto a different chapter in their life. My advice to anyone out there is to get a good horsey friend 10-15 years older that you and one 10-15 years younger than you. Adds perspective to everyday. One gets to share with you what is to come and you get to pass that back down.
Enjoy your horse and your stuff. Keep it clean and in good repair for your safety. On the days when your life gets in the way of your fun, ride anyway. I make an effort to be clean and tidy at all times, but I’m not going to miss a hunt because I was at a chemo treatment w/ my Dad and didn’t bathe my horse. Find fun and the beauty in the day - because tomorrow will be different.
[QUOTE=LexInVA;4339408]
At least she’s not doing it for the booze (yet). :lol:[/QUOTE]
Who says? 
Be clean, be tidy, be safe, and be generous with your flask. The End!
[QUOTE=carolinagirl191;4341193]
My advice to anyone out there is to get a good horsey friend 10-15 years older that you and one 10-15 years younger than you. Adds perspective to everyday. One gets to share with you what is to come and you get to pass that back down.[/QUOTE]
Good advice for any discipline.
are there actually fox hunts that a) don’t require you to pay large sums of money to join and b) don’t force you to wear ridiculous outfits (ok maybe they made sense in cold rainy UK a hundred years ago but have you SEEN the nice, functional clothing they make for endurance riders these days?) I like the idea of hunting but seriously? I’m not being caught dead in those clothes after wearing modern riding clothing, and really the clothes are a deal-breaker for me when it comes to considering hunting. And let’s not even talk about the idiocy of wearing white anything within a mile of a horse.
The primary purpose of the subscription is to pay for the care of the hounds, and to maintain things like coops and gates that might be placed (with landowner permission) on private land to facilitate access. The kennel needs to be kept spotless, needs to be repaired, usually has a septic system, electricity bills, etc. Just image putting Frontline on a kennel full of hunting dogs each month. Paying the huntsman’s salary, including health benefits.
So - you really need to learn about hunting before making a bunch of snap judgments. The subscription is used to pay for things so you can hunt.
Do the clothes make sense? Of course they do. And you wouldn’t wear white breeches, and the clothes are just the attire for that sport. The attire means something, and it is truly functional.
Exceptions are made for certain climates and local custom - but foxhunting isn’t trail riding. You’re hunting. There is an established order to it and a hierarchy - mostly for safety reasons. What you dismiss as old fashioned - you know - some of that stuff is superior than most anything on the market today.
It’s not a glorified trail ride. Foxhunting is dangerous and people get killed or severely injured. Horses can be injured or killed, too.
It’s a great sport. But it’s not for the faint of heart. Hunts have slower groups and some hunts allow western riders or have more relaxed rules for various reasons. If you’d like to try it, I suggest you not come out with that attitude. You won’t be welcome if the first thing out of your mouth is how idiotic everyone looks.
And truly - a hunt club is expensive to run. The huntsman is a professional, and he’s paid. The hounds have to eat, they need shots, they need good care. They need decent housing. It’s non negotiable - the welfare of the hounds comes first. That costs money.
That’s not snobbery - it’s just a fact.
ETA - for the record - I ride to hunt. Not to show off my fancy clothes. I’m correctly turned out for very little money and that silly old fashioned idiotic 4 fold stock tie has been used several times to bind up injured people. My silly old fashioned wire cutters in their silly case have been used to free a horse hung up in old barbed wire, and to free a hound whose head was stuck in a hog panel. Both hidden dangers in my territory - as it’s very overgrown and trappy.
I am sure the hunts will be relieved to hear this.
[QUOTE=LexInVA;4339408]
At least she’s not doing it for the booze (yet). :lol:[/QUOTE]
Personally, I would SO do it for the booze and the clothes… I like to play dress up, and no matter what I’m doing, I’m really big on proper turnout. I think a lot about what I’m wearing when I ride. You’ll never catch me in a saggy tee shirt and worn out breeches. I’ve decided I would just look dorky though, hacking through my own hayfields in a proper hunt jacket, so I wear a quilted vest instead. I think I may start packing a flask… even though I generally hack less than an hour… sometimes I get into situations where I wouldn’t mind a drink Such as, the herd of cows incident.
I read all this with interest. I see both sides of the issue but really I admire the lady for having the respect of the sport to get the proper attire for her first run at the Hunt.
I wish I could afford to buy a real tweed jacket from the UK. I’d love it.
I make my own habits. But please repect the lady for her trying to be properly dressed for the occasion.
She could be from the opposite ned of the perspective. She could have come in jeans and a Tee shirt. ( wearing cowboy boots at that.) Be thankful she didn’t.
Just be glad she is trying to participate.
I would probably do the same if I were invited to a Hunt. I’d probaly be Hill Topper but I would enjoy it to the Max.
I would not be sticky about the dress.
Regards, sadlmakr
Yup, we’ve got some different notions out here in AZ.
When hunting with the beagles, in the Phoenix area, you are definitely good to use a square pad with pockets on both sides. Staff, & anyone else who can, will carry bottles of water for hounds. We can’t always get to a trick tank & natural water is RARE unless it has just, and I do mean just, rained.
Many people use boots because we go through a lot of catcus. Until you’ve pulled spines out of hounds and/or horses, you wouldn’t appreciate this. R-AR can tell the story of someone’s horse who got a spine in the tendon.
Sunglasses aren’t frowned upon here or up in Flagstaff. Between the wind and the glare of the desert, they can help a lot. As staff, I wear a lighter lens color so hounds can still see my eyes.
We DEFINITELY allow western riders! Shoot, we’re just happy someone’s coming out & ask only that they be clean & nicely attired. Nice is sometimes open for interpretation & has been known to cause a giggle.
And stallions are ok by us, too.
But that’s us & you can always ask me what’s correct or useful if you want to hunt here.
Wendy, Don’t worry white is for staff and with that attitude, you won’t ever have to go there. Rivenoak has some wonderful points that speak to the differences in territory, expectation and “stuffiness”. A lot of what is done is done for a purpose and alot has to do w/ tradition and I think carrying on traditions is a good thing. It gives us some connection to the past. You are allowed to feel differently. I have come to love playing dress up and I enjoy the finds and bargains at consignment shops and the hand-me-downs. In this disposable society, I love riding in a jacket that is 50 years old and looks great (appropriate - you my say dorky) but it’s tangible. Our hunt is quite informal until Opening Day. You can wear most anything that is safe and comfortable. I feel the “High Holy Days” - Opening, Christmas hunt those should be honored - why be the person who ruined the photo - and let’s face it, those days are MOSTLY about the photos. When you look at B&W photos of formal attire, other than the cut of the lapel or the lack of flare in the britches, it’s hard to tell when the photo was taken. I like that - you don’t have to. As for the rest of the formal season, most of that kit keeps you warm and dry. Sure there are new, technical fabrics that work wonders, but give me wool.
It’s a shame you feel the way you do as there is so much to experience when hunting. I would agree w JSwan, the money/fees/subscription has to cover a lot of expenses. I look at the whole season and divide the subscription by the number of hunts - it’s the cheapest thing I do w/ my horse. Only the $5 schooling class at the CT or jumper show is less expensive.
If you were to call around to different hunts, ask the relevant questions about first year capping and appropriate attire, you might just find a place where you could fit in and enjoy the experience.
I just got a really neat genuine Irish tailored hounds tooth tweed on Ebay for less than $70. It is really beautiful and will look great with rust or beige breeches.
At this point I’m worried that some day they’ll make me staff and I won’t be able to wear all my lovely tweeds of various colors and weights. I made my own color coordinating stock ties from material I bought at Walmart for $3 a yard. That’s all part of the fun.
Happened to me right away out basseting. They made me staff so I was out there in my green coat, then they gave me colors so my beagling coat won’t do, have to have a basseting coat. Managed to convert my deceased Father in-law’s Basseting coat which already had the colors. Took it to the Russian tailor and for $50 had a custom coat.
So really having the proper clothes doesn’t need to be expensive. I have some very expensive coats and then I have some that were very reasonable or hand me downs. My most expensive coat is a lovely tattersall lined custom made by Alexander James in England. But it fits great and is always warm. Works in a great range of temperatures. But I used my dressage coat for a season or more before I sprung for a hunting specific coat.
When we had that discussion a while back, I appreciated being knocked upside the head to be reminded that what makes sense where I live doesn’t always make sense everywhere else.
But I think a bad attitude is unwelcome at any hunt club.
My club spends a tremendous amount of money on the hounds and kennels, as it should be. People may not understand where their subscription money goes - but I actually spend less on foxhunting than I did showing (I’m including lessons, clinics and other fees in that figure). And still, many hunts must do fundraisers throughout the year to supplement. Other hunts charge a higher subscription and don’t do fundraisers.
If I came out to hunt with you no doubt I’d look splendid - and just not turned out appropriately for your terrain. But I also have no doubt that folks would rummage in their trailers and get me squared away because that’s just what foxhunters do. I keep extra stuff for the same reason - just in case someone needs something.
But truly… it’s not “snobby” to be turned out correctly, and it’s not “rough and ready” to be a slob. Correct turnout is what is correct for that club and its terrain and demographics. Certain things excepted (scarlet, colors, boots, etc)
I don’t even think of it as dressing up. I just think of it as a uniform. It’s the “uniform” I wear to hunt. The bowhunter has his “stuff”, the waterfowler has his “stuff”, and the foxhunter has his “stuff”. None of us leave the price tags dangling. :winkgrin:
No you would not, especialy during cubbing season.
[QUOTE=wendy;4343077]
are there actually fox hunts that a) don’t require you to pay large sums of money to join and b) don’t force you to wear ridiculous outfits [/QUOTE]
My sincerest condolences to you.
You haven’t a clue what an incredible sport you are missing out on.
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
