Getting outfitted for hunting.

[xeroxchick]

Just to be clear, if your hunt wants you to whip in they will most likely make sure you have a radio to use. If you are not whipping in or a field master, please (and this is just a PSA for those who might misunderstand) do not go get a radio and carry it hunting! Radios blaring are quite an annoyance and it is a bit of hubris to up and decide to carry one.

[QUOTE=SouthernYankee;8858412]

My next big purchase will be a radio. I used to whip-in on my mare and will eventually do it again once my new horse gets some miles on him (never hunted very green 4yo). I’ve been borrowing one for the past few seasons and I’ll tell you it made all the difference in keeping up with the hounds or getting thrown out and loosing the pack.[/QUOTE]

[SouthernYankee]

[QUOTE=xeroxchick;8865299]
Just to be clear, if your hunt wants you to whip in they will most likely make sure you have a radio to use. If you are not whipping in or a field master, please (and this is just a PSA for those who might misunderstand) do not go get a radio and carry it hunting! Radios blaring are quite an annoyance and it is a bit of hubris to up and decide to carry one.[/QUOTE]

Thank you for the clarification. The hunt I hunt with does not provide radios for it’s staff. They do encourage them to be purchased by members. Especially since our hunt doesn’t have real flights or a field and any member may be expected to stop hounds at any moment. In my case a radio, with the volume turned down, is crucial for hunting.

[ecileh]

[QUOTE=SouthernYankee;8867992]
In my case a radio, with the volume turned down, is crucial for hunting.[/QUOTE]

As an aside, I use an earpiece in my radio to a)hear better and b)cut down on the ambient radio noise in the field.

Our territory has some radio challenges (ridges and the like that block/weaken signal) and I find that having it in my ear often means I can hear things that others with radio cannot–especially when moving at speed.

I got mine on Amazon for about $12. It has a mic that I clip to my lapel or stock tie. Worth every penny.

[KDD]

This is my first season hunting. I have found everything I need via ebay and tack trading websites for very reasonable cost. I love my vintage tall dress boots, too…they were 30$, already broken in but well-cared-for. Old world quality can’t be beat…a good riding friend busted through the zipper in her brand new boots the first day out. Don’t be afraid to go second-hand!

[LesleyW]

If it wasn’t for second-hand, I never would have been able to afford eight years of hunting. $1200 for a sandwich case… are you kidding me? I remember one of my fellow hunters on a trip to Middlleburg helpfully pointing out a second-hand one … for $600. That’s what I paid for my slightly-used Tony Slatter saddle. Kijiji.com, auctions, fellow riders are all great sources for tack as well. You don’t have to go broke to be well turned out!

[linquest]

I’ve got a pretty strict budget and managed to get myself outfitted for under $100/piece by trolling consignment stores and online sales. I’ve hunted in my black field boots for years but just picked up a pair of zippered dress boots (Mountain Horse, not sure what model) that looked brand new at a consignment store for $75!

Just bought a light/medium weight hunt coat (Devon Aire Nouvelle) on Horseloverz.com for $78. If cold and precipitation are likely, you’ll want a melton hunt coat. A couple years ago, I got a Shires Melton on sale online (think it was also at Horseloverz.com), for under $100. Have also picked up canary and tattersall vests (though vests are usually optional), both used and new (Shires also makes inexpensive vests), in both consignment stores and online for $40-60 each.

[talkofthetown]

What about those lovely classic bays? Where does one acquire those on a budget? Surely they are a requirement!

[Rt66Kix]

When I started hunting I was fortunate enough to be gifted many items from a member who was retiring. She gave me a few pairs of boots, a beautiful older heavy Melton and a vest. We were the same size, and she wanted the items to “live on” in the hunt field!

Regarding proper tack, well, I never did have it. With the approval of my MFH, I hunted in a black treeless Ansur dressage saddle. We didn’t have fixtures with tons of jumps, and anything up to about 2.5 feet I could handle. Buddy went best in a Dr. Cook’s Bitless Bridle, and he was barefoot. So I guess we were somewhat “unique” fox hunters!