At the end of last season I was invited out to hunt by a friend and had a wonderful time. I feel like joining after a single outing would be a bit of a leap, so what’s the best way to ease into it? I would be renting a horse from the huntsman, which he’s encouraged. Obviously I’m also going to talk to him but thought it might be good to have an outside perspective first. This is in SE PA if that matters. I’m thinking there’s probably a max number of times I could cap, would it be better to spread them out throughout the year, regular season, cubbing…? In general I can go weekends but would have to take a day off work for a weekday.
Most hunts do have a max number of times you can cap before they want you to join, so it’s worth knowing what that number is. The Hon. Secretary of the hunt in question should be able to tell you.
Personally, I would ask your friend (and the huntsman if you know him/her well enough) to suggest favorite fixtures so you can maximize your capping. If you know how you want to hunt (hard and fast? low and slow?) maybe try to leverage the fixtures toward that…eg: Old Doc Brown’s place is full of coyote and we always run hard or The Smith Farm has less game, so the fixture tends to be “slower” or June Bug Swamp is…swampy as heck.
In my experience, most hunt members have favorite fixtures for one reason or another–ask what they are and then see how those reasons match up with what you think you want to do. Maybe try one of the high holy days, too…to get that particular experience as well. (I personally don’t like them, but there is definitely something about seeing everyone all fancied up that is pretty special.)
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Oh, such good advice! Definitely spread out your capping —guests at our hunt can’t cub (too bad since the most sartorial habits abound), but you should do a “High Holy Day” --only time I wear my Shadbelly and leather boots --rest of the time it’s my frock coat and Mountain Horse Rimfrost boots --and do a small hunt --our Thursday hunt is truly for the avid sportsmen --very fast and exhausting for man and horse. You can try the guest hunt --ours is generally mobbed with members spread thin to lead different groups of guests --very little hunting goes on --and if you are up for it --see if you would be allowed to ride with a staff member --nothing like trying to keep up with a whipper-in!
Definitely two options: either try a little of everything the hunt offers, or try to cherry-pick what appeals to you most. You’ll find you face the same decisions as a member.
What did you LOVE about the hunt you attended? High Holy Days are an expensive photo op. Open hunts and pretty fall days are often a madhouse of a trail ride. Cool, damp, don’t-want-to-get-out-of-bed weather can offer some amazing sport and a much smaller group of riders, especially on weekdays. Good advice about asking for recommendations about the different fixtures–some definitely tend to be much faster or more field-friendly than others, and that can change by the season.
Before you plonk down your money as a hunting member, just make sure you know what a ‘normal’ day looks like and are happy with it. Or, if you love the pageantry and pretty trail ride hunts on dry ground (which some people do, and it takes all kinds to float a hunt), explore a limited membership that gives you a few outings a year. Either way, enjoy!
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Some brilliant advice here 
I personally dislike the high holy days (except for the photos). My favorite is weekday hunting, so definitely take a couple days off of work to hunt a few selected fixtures–obviously consult with hunt members for advice on specific days or fixtures.
I’m not so sure about spreading the days out. If I were you, talk to a hunt member about this. If the weather in your area is crummy in January and Feb, you might find that you pull the horse’s shoes and the horse is not really fit and ready to go out at the end of Feb or beginning of March, and before you know it, the season is over. I’d try to pick the best time of year for your area and spread the days out within that part of the season.
And do not forget that a gloomy day often provides excellent sport–as you get more experienced you will start to wake up antsy and ready to hunt on gloomy days.
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How funny that so many folks also don’t care for the High Holys. I thought I was the only one!
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There is nothing more soothing than hacking through the woods on an overcast November morning when the leaves are off the trees and a light rain has fallen the evening before. The earthen smells, the ability to see through the woods that only a month ago were concealed by leaves and the sound of the hounds on a line, there is nothing like it.
Our Opening Hunt is nothing like a regular hunt and that’s okay. As someone else offered, many times it’s a day to play host to many new faces and try to keep everyone safe.
Good luck making your choices!
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In addition to what everyone else says, go cap at another hunt as well. In SE PA you have options, try out a different hunt provided you can get a horse there as well. You might find that other territory and members actually suit you even better. Or you might feel extra assured that you are joining the right hunt!
Reported spam.
A great thing about hunting? It totally alters ones opinion of the winter!
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Heads up that this thread was bumped by spam.
Good work moderator! Now I’m curious how it all went. OP, did you join?
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I didn’t end up joining, but did get out to cap a couple more times and hope to in the future.
I half-lease an eventer, and Saturday is both my lease day and the weekend day they hunt. I don’t want to quit the lease for a bunch of reasons, so took a go at hunting in the morning and then riding the lease horse - hahahaha I do not have that kind of energy, ooh no. Office job is not preparation for that. Between that schedule conflict and the really wet year causing cancellations, it just wasn’t worth it to commit to joining. Now I’m signed up for a evening grad program, so it’s on hold for a bit more. I’ve promised myself a horse if I graduate so this will be revisited in the future. Meanwhile looking forward to going out at least a couple times this winter if the weather and timing cooperate.
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HELLO WHAT? YES!!! Are you going to keep it at my place???
Haha yeah that was just about the only way I was able to talk myself into actually applying for grad school!
