Have You Ever Been Questioned About Why You Want to Cap?

[Beam_Me_Up]

OK, I don’t hunt, but I don’t think anyone is saying that the hunt (via the master or the secretary) doesn’t have the final word on who may or may not join them, for any reason. To maintain their club and their land access they are free to turn down anyone who sounds fishy or who they cannot accommodate for any reason.

That said, any time you open your mouth you are at a minimum representing yourself, and often more than that. I don’t get to be rude to my clients at work, even if I consider it deserved, because in doing so I would be poorly representing my company, in addition to myself.

Wanabe represented himself as kind of clueless.
The master represented himself as rude, and as a representative of hunt, represented his hunt as unwelcoming too.

Since he doesn’t want Wanabe hunting with their hunt, perhaps he doesn’t care about Wanabe’s perceptions of that hunt. However, in the long run, he would probably serve his hunt better by being more diplomatic. The horse world is small and incredibly talkative.

[JSwan]

No - that word was used by another poster - who disparaged landowners (this one) as well as hunters.

In my area - landowner don’t need to be shielded by snobby hunt members - but from clueless people or bad sports.

And yes - there are a lot of both. Because as you pointed out - riding skills aren’t what they used to be. Neither is sportsmanship for that matter. That is true of all horse sports.

I keep repeating that I don’t excuse intentional rudeness. But I also keep repeating that most of you seem determined to infer only the worst of what is at best snippets of one side of a conversation. That there could be no other possible explanation or intent.

That’s simply ridiculous. It’s so ridiculous that it’s obvious some of you are just poking to keep the trainwreck going. You think I don’t notice?

It’s possible, that not only is there another side to the story - that this side has been presented in such a way as to elicit a strong response - even to result in confrontation. Another possible explanation is that the Master simply tried to decline and this is a case of a disgruntled person trying to get back at the hunt. Not saying that’s the case, but it IS another possible explanation.

And if “newbies” are reading this thread and wondering about foxhunting - I’d say look to the dozens of other threads that show what a newbie can REALLY expect, and how much welcome they can expect from foxhunters.

@HeyYouNags;4509783

Landowners form cliques? When I was a hunt member, most of the land we hunted was not owned by hunt club members. Landowners were the ones who needed to be shielded from the snobby elitism of hunt club members. Hunt club attitudes and perceptions about foxhunters were why landowners would refuse to allow access.

You continue to justify the master’s rude response as somehow appropriate to the situation or justified. The master’s response sounds snooty and entitled to me, and that attitude is more likely to cost riders open space.

You also seem to equate being a member of a hunt with superior riding skills and horsemanship. Umm, not so much. Certainly there were superb horsepeople in my old hunt, but holy moley, there was ignorance and poor riding the likes of which I’ve never seen in any other discipline, outside of beginner lesson programs. And that was most certainly not the guests, it was the members! There seemed to be a different standard in particular for men.

You know who I’d worry most about suing me if he/she had an accident happened on my property? A lawyer! You know what a fair number of hunt members do for a living?

:lol:

[danceronice]

Honestly, JSwan, I usually agree with you, but if you know for a FACT that what was posted was not written by the huntmaster, please post what really was. Because if what was posted was in fact written, as it was posted, by the huntmaster, then it’s not an appropriate way of wording a response. Period. It is rude, and more to the point it’s bad business practice. Someone who found that an appropriate way to respond to a request is not someone to whom I’d be inclined to grant right of access to my property.

Not renting horses is fine. Not wanting people unknown to a hunt to just show up to ride is fine. Putting one set of contact instructions on your web site and upbraiding someone for following those directions instead of some other procedure NOT detailed on the website? Not fine. Accusing someone of not being serious because they don’t own a horse, truck, and trailer? Definitely not fine.

If the master didn’t actually write those last two parts, then not knowing “the whole story” is relevant. If they did in fact write what was posted, that’s not acceptable. All they had to do was politely say no without the snide remarks. That’s all. How on EARTH is it disrespecting landowners by saying that hunts should be polite and professional in dealing with inquiries? I would not want to allow people onto my land who can’t be civil when they’re dealing with inquiries. How are they going to deal with me?

[mbarrett]

OK, after reading everthing written, I think the Master of the Hunt responding to the OP missed a perfect opportunity to gently educate the inquiring person about the hunt, customs and hunt manners.

If I were a Master or Secretary of a Hunt and someone wanted to cap, and they were obviously a novice, I’d politely ask more questions.

Why not invite the OP to be a “hilltopper” who rides in a vehicle for their first time out? That way the Master or Secretary can actually talk to the individual and find out more about them and their riding ability. Then they can extend an invitation to them to ride to hounds.

Foxhunting is all about education today. Why pass up an opportunity to educate a person who may someday become a member?

[wateryglen]

Dang!!

Dang…where IS that tally ho wagon when we need one??? :p:p:p

Calling all Snobbington Hunt members to come save this thang!! !! :winkgrin:

Actually, what I really hate is when the guest doesn’t bring their sense of humor or the master just loses his…
humor is the key! Gotta have it!!!

[SLW]

Amen Wateryflen. <I’m leaving that typo in because it looks like I just left the Tally Ho Ho Ho wagon >

Our two Masters who hunt the most (the third just can’t hunt as much) are wonderful gals who poke fun at themselves and their own errors. They keep it safe, enjoy the sport and have fun.

[Foxtrot_s]

Our Master does not “do” e-mail, but if she had received the one from the OP she would have suggested a phone conversation and tried to help her out. We have a very friendly, welcoming hunt and all the relevant landowner issues are the same everywhere and everyone is extremely protective of the land we use.
However, we do what we can to provide a suitbale horse and are happy to help out a visitor. It is sometimes the young, hot-shot locals who could do with some improvement in the manners department but overall our hunt is not bound by etiquet. We have a beginner/hilltop group and nobody would be left behind on their own - ever. The Master’s reply was definitely a snub.

[wateryglen]

SLW rocks!

Wateryflen beckens all to join her and SLW (my new BFF for sure!! :D) at the Tally Ho wagon for a snack & sip…to get “perspective”!!! :winkgrin::winkgrin:

Dang SLW, I laughed & laughed at that. Thanks for the humor! I’ll talk by email to someone important in the Snobbington about a reduction in your dues…
:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p

[Ajierene]

[QUOTE=wateryglen;4512154]
Wateryflen beckens all to join her and SLW (my new BFF for sure!! :D) at the Tally Ho wagon for a snack & sip…to get “perspective”!!! :winkgrin::winkgrin:

Dang SLW, I laughed & laughed at that. Thanks for the humor! I’ll talk by email to someone important in the Snobbington about a reduction in your dues…
:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p[/QUOTE]

Would it be possible to cap with Snobbington Hunt? I feel I may need to get ‘perspective’ as well… I have no hunt experience, but I have the clothes, a horse, truck and trailer so I am definitely committed to the sport!

[jeano]

Can I wear my torn Kerrit’s bootcuts, blundstone babysh#t yellar jodhpur boots, and ride my plastic Western saddle on the barefoot racking horse to the next Snobbington hunt? I am a landowner (85 whole acres) so Y’all can bring the hunt to me, since I have a truck but no trailer. I have a bottle of 12 year old Dickel to contribute to the hally tow wagon. We have prime armadillo coverts here.

Otherwise, sign me up for a rentable draft cross hilltop horse, please, and give me directions to the Thanksgiving hunt.

[JSwan]

Landowners can do whatever we want - some of my “attire” comes from Wal-Mart.

Unfortunately, this does not give credibility to the stereotype of the snobby foxhunter. So what I do is stick my pinky finger out when I drink cheap likker from my flask.

And I don’t ride a tubby hairy draft cross - he’s an Amish Warmblood, doncha know.

[jeano]

How ever can you hold that pinky out while grasping a mason jar? You ARE a snob. Wally world provides my gun-season helmet covers (99 cent blaze orange watch caps.)

[Zugabe]

Wow…the OP asked a simple question and got a really rude answer…then everyone decides to debate the validity of the question…and someone actually says they’d ban her from their land…really??? All that from a simple question…

I thought the same. Why not teach and not belittle those who want to learn.

I do feel quite blessed now that the Texas hunt I’m affiliated with is super welcoming. When I first started out, I was encouraged by the MFH to come and hunt whether I have my horse or not…the MFH hired me out a horse, and has ever since. I built a trust with her, have helped her hunt grow by introducing others to the exciting sport. What wonderful people they are, and I only hope that every hunt would be like them.

[SLW]

Jeano- you will in charge of the 1st Annual Snobbington Hunt Stirrup Cup & breakfast!! Hiccup. Bring all the mason jars you can find and lets have them overflowing with a beer you find on sale or some old Thunderbird wine. Maybe some 7-Up in case someone wants to be fancy and make a mixed drink. Mummm, mummm! Hiccup.

Ajierene- you don’t need hunt experience to have fun with Snobbington hunt. Hiccup. When you arrive, sign the waiver then seek out Jeano, she is in charge of the stirrup cup, okay? Hiccup. If you can’t find Jeano look for Wateryflen, she’ll be passed out on the ground beside the stirrup cup table. JSwan will be the cool looking gal holding her pinky out to the side. Me, I’m a two fisted drinker when using Mason jars- sorry, I moved away from Virginia in 1989 and all my class has gone to the wayside. :sadsmile:

It is deer hunting season in many places right now so we probably need to have a few folks wearing bling on their jackets for safety reasons only. (SLW is not secreting trying to slip bling into the fox hunting world, nope, not at all!) See if there are some used rodeo queen clothes on ebay, those outta do the trick. Blaze orange is soooo 90’s so lets try bling…I’m just sayin’. Hiccup.

And once and for all to hell with those dainty sandwich cases. I mean really, we are not a bunch of Scarlet O’Hara’s out fox hunting with size 18" waist. :eek: Strap on a backpack filled with some good eats to share. With all the booze Jeano is sending us out with we are going to have to stop for potty breaks and then we might as well go ahead and eat before we start hefting each other back up on the horses. :lol: Hiccup.

Oops, gotta go, I’m out of booze!! :winkgrin:

[jeano]

If the Snobbington comes down here I can show you some upscale redneck deer camps complete with porta-potties! Western show shirts would provide all the bling needed. Crystal studded saddle pads highly recommended! There’s still plenty of mint out by the well, gals, so we’ll have juleps and the classic KY hunt breakfast

A bottle of bourbon

A T-bone steak

A hound dog.

The steak is for the dog…

[see_u_at_x]

Wait, if I join the Snobbington Hunt, does this mean that I can finally purchase that fancy schmancy saddle I want that has the rhinestone keepers?!? :winkgrin:

[Ajierene]

oh oh, I have saddlebags that can fit quite a meal and a western show shirt I should still be able to fit into. I have chaps with fringe - if I put bling on them, can I wear them? They are light grey!

[wateryglen]

The Snobbington responds…

Ajirene - Why of course dahlin’ ya’ll can come hunt with us.!! Just bring your cap fee of $200 (check made out to Waterflem - thats W-a-t-e-r-y…) and a reference letter from Wannabe and you’re in! But hun…telling us that you have saddlebags is…well…just too much. Ah think am goin’ ta faint!!! :sigh:(Waterglen swoons & fans herself) And we’ll approve chaps just this one time providin’ you wear pants under them! Now your probably asking yourself; just what does this have to do with manners when asking about capping? Well, we just think you should always ride WITH pants…commando is so…snobby!:eek: Ya’ll have fun ya heah!!

Jeano - We at the Snobbington have ALWAYS liked to recruit new members from the upscale redneck deer camps. We get more men members that way. We don’t care if they can ride either…:uhoh:

I move that we nominate SLW and Jeano as masters. JSwan could just be our humble field secretary and handle all the email inquiries. Beverley will be parliamentarian and fieldmaster. Ya’ll BETTER behave back there!

Go Wannabe! The Snobbington awaits you! Ya’ll come!!!
wwweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee:p:p

[Hunter_s_Rest]

Respectfully, may I apply to be your huntsman? I have a dirty jack russell and a crazed Border Collie. They track good. Sometimes the neighbor’s beagle mix and carolina dump dogs join us for a proper hunt.

[SLW]

If I am allowed to become a Joint Master of Snobbington Hunt I would be honored to have HR’s be our huntsman. Hiccup. :winkgrin: I can add to the pack if you need it- I have two older Jack Russels- the 13 year old is deaf and has cataracts but other than being deaf and 50% visual he is a pretty decent hunter. His 11 year old half brother (same stud dog, kinda like 1/3 of Virginia had the same Pappa in the 1750’s :eek: ) has never found a pig pen which he didn’t love to roll in.

I’m afraid the saddle bags aren’t a good idear. Hiccup. Gotta figure about 20% of our field will become separated from their horse during the hunt. That means a bunch of folks are going to be riding back to the kennels doubled up on horses. I would recommend sticking to backpacks so there is room behind ya fer a hunting buddy. Hiccup. Plus, if ya came hunting dressed in the formal attire like the gals in the “Bondies” Ad in COTH last week (I mean really, when was the last time you had teenagers running around the stable in their skibbies??? One word to you neeked teenieboppers- CHIGGARS) you would want everyone to see your butt. Actually, for this very reason I am requiring that all weeman (female) Snobbington Hunt members MUST wear Grannie Panties. Hiccup. Nothing worse than being at the hunt breakfast and quietly debating with a friend “Is she wearing a thong or french cut briefs, at her age no less?” Nope, none of that concern with our hunt, we will be covered from stem to stern.

The way I figure it is like this, if I can fit a months worth of your UNDERWEAR into a Mason jar, your not wearing big enough underwear. :eek: Hiccup.

I am getting a visual of a Snobbington Hunt logo here…A Mason Jar in the middle of a pair of Grannie Panties…