Hunt Caps and Memberships

[SLW]

[QUOTE=Alterhunter;6440183]
Well, maybe I won’t be hunting this year after all…

I did ask around and wasn’t happy with what I learned. There are two potential hunts not too far away. One has a reputation as a snob hunt. The other one had a rep for being friendly and welcoming. That’s the one I was interested in.

The “friendly” hunt limits # of caps for non members and the money does not go to membership dues. I also found out that they charge $20 for non-members to go on mounted hound walks. WTH? I thought hound walking was supposed to let new people or new horses see if they liked hunting. Why would they charge $20 per ride if they wanted to see if their green horse would hunt? That sounds like this hunt does not want to encourage new members. They ought to just not invite non members if they don’t want them. And I talked to a friend who has hunted with this hunt and he said that hound walks are usually about one hour walk-trot twice a week in July. That’s a bunch of money for an hour trail walk.

Somebody else said that the “friendly” hunt recently had complete change over of the masters. And it was not handled well and a lot of people were upset about it. Looks like some new members and the new group of masters have turned this once friendly hunt into another snob hunt.

Oh well. Too bad cuz foxhunting doesn’t need another snob hunt. Maybe I will try to cap once or twice to see if it’s really as bad as they say.[/QUOTE]

Your best advice is your last sentence. You really won’t know until you get out and ride with the group. Fees associated with hunt events are generally fund raisers, not unlike an entry fee at a show, so the $20 fee to walk hounds isn’t bad at all.

And if your horse hasn’t ever hunted before you’ll want as many of those long slow rides with hounds as you can possibly get under your belt. The worst way, IMO, to introduce a horse to fox hunting is during a regular hunt when speed is a factor.

Good luck. Leave perceptions at home and give the hunt club a try.

[Ponyclubrocks]

About the snob thing…I have hunted across the country over the last 45 years and I would say that EVERY hunt has some pretentious folks who mask a fragile ego with a snobby demeanor… but those same hunts have great down to earth members who love the sport, love the outdoors and love riding cross country. All you have to do is pick and choose who you associate with. My rule is that I am universally polite and cheerful to every member ( even the ones who are god-awful curmudgeons) and then I spend all my time with the people I like. In my experience the snotty grouches are a distinct minority, and some of them soften up considerably over time as they get to know you. Don’t ever let a few of them scare you off from something you love doing!

[eventamy]

I also used to hunt quite a bit… before babies. Since having my 2 babies I have hunted two times (over 9 years). My whole goal in life for this year is to get back into the hunt field. Back in the day I could not afford the membership fee as I was a lowly graduate student who was struggling to maintain ownership of my one horse at the team and eating ramen to do it. I capped as much as I could. Now, as a mom with two daughters that ride, one in Pony Club and another about to be in Pony Club, I still can’t afford a membership fee because I’m paying for the kids’ stuff! LOL!
BUT, we got out and walked the hounds as much as we could this spring (getting hounds used to kids is great!), handled at the Hound Show (my eldest daughter won the Jr. Handler class at New England), we are volunteering at a fund raising event this Saturday spending 4 hours selling beefalo burgers at a local street fair to raise money for the hounds… we may not be able to afford a membership but we are trying to be as INVOLVED as possible and help out as much as we can. We will also be doing the club hunter pace in August. Going REALLY slow as my daughter’s pony that she will be taking (not her P.C. pony, he’d wig out) only has one speed and it’s SLOW, but she’s SAFE SAFE.

My point is, if you want to hunt, then get involved with the club as much as you can, as much as you are allowed, cap a few times and see if you’re into it, smile, be friendly and give it a chance.

[Badger]

Just an educated guess, but I suspect the $20 fee for non-members participating in a mounted hunt activity is an insurance requirement. The hunt’s landowners require the hunt to have insurance for in and all hunt activities on their land, and insurance charges a fee to cover anyone not covered by membership. The hunt fairly passes that cost along.

[Groro]

Hunts are expensive to run

I am a Master at a small TN hunt that has a small membership and employs a professional huntsman. We calculated that it costs us approximately $2500 per hunting day (expenses divided by # of days we hunt). What doesn’t come in through dues and fund raisers is paid out of pocket by the Masters. We are constantly figuring out new and ingenious ways to raise money without raising the dues. Charging $20 to ride out with hounds during exercising seems like a good price as we (MFHA hunts) must pay for every person who rides with us towards our very expensive liability insurance.

Here is some advice: It’s not appreciated by the Masters when a prospective member complains about the cost and leadership of the hunt that person wants to join. It is a no brainer to me that this person is going to be a problem from the outset.

Masters DO appreciate worker bees. Volunteer, donate energy/muscle and ask if there is a way to make payments to stretch out the sticker shock of dues. Stop going to Starbucks.

[Corky]

[QUOTE=Heliodoro;6442523]
I’ve wondered why there was a limit to caps and this makes a lot of sense (to me anyways). For instance, this year I just can’t swing a Full Membership now that I’ve reached the “magical” non-Jr age of 27 and will have to stick to my 3 caps for the season. I do try to volunteer to help out at Hunt functions and events as my schedule permits, maybe I’ll help out at the breakfasts on the weekends since I can’t ride.[/QUOTE]

Well nice that your club lets you get to 27 before upping your membership, my club its 25. Another club nearby is 26.

What are the average ages for the hunt membership catagories, if you don’t mind me asking? I’m familiar with Junior, Intermediate and Senior, but does your hunt have a different membership class?

And I’ve heard tell of professional class memberships, does anyone’s hunt offer these? A non-voting membership that permits pros to bring clients (more potential members and capping fees) and hunt young horses (safer hunt horses for sale for senior members) at a reduced rate? This sounds pure genius to me.

[SLW]

[QUOTE=Corky;6491508]
And I’ve heard tell of professional class memberships, does anyone’s hunt offer these? A non-voting membership that permits pros to bring clients (more potential members and capping fees) and hunt young horses (safer hunt horses for sale for senior members) at a reduced rate? This sounds pure genius to me.[/QUOTE]

My hunt has a professional membership class and you are correct, new hunt members and safe new hunting horses come from these folks.

[Corky]

[QUOTE=SLW;6491515]
My hunt has a professional membership class and you are correct, new hunt members and safe new hunting horses come from these folks.[/QUOTE]

Do you know how much it is? If not, could you guess how much cheaper it is than a senior membership? 50% cheaper? more/less?

[SLW]

[QUOTE=Corky;6491519]
Do you know how much it is? If not, could you guess how much cheaper it is than a senior membership? 50% cheaper? more/less?[/QUOTE]

The professional membership is 1/3 the cost of a full riding senior member.

Our hunt offers full riding memberships for adults, young adults up to about age 25 or so, juniors and professionals.

[wateryglen]

Whaaaa?!!!

What worries me most is that the OP has pre-judged a hunt she’s NOT a member of or has even ever hunted with!!! How can that be?!! :eek: You are responding to hunt gossip and you should not. Unless you’ve been part of the conversation and the issues directly or at LEAST been a member and talked to all sides/issues concerned?!! I just dont’ think you have a right to judge them!! Lets face it! ALL hunts have politics. Duh!! It’s part of more than 3 humans in a room! To those who disagree with those in power; they leave or complain or gossip. The organization lives on. The people move around. Trust me; those of us in hunts here in northern Virginia know all about hunt politics and moving around! Don’t assume that what you’ve heard is at all accurate.
I suggest you guest with both hunts. With an open mind and a smile on your face determined to have fun. Let your feelings guide you.
Some people join hunts JUST for the hunting, some for the territory, some for the location, some for the price, some for the hunts personality & people.
Complaining about the costs before you’ve EVER joined or know WHY they are that way is not fair. If money is that big an issue then you can’t afford foxhunting anymore. There’s more expenses too you’ll incur. Dues/caps is just the beginning. Don’t get sour or nitpick; just accept it. We ain’t all rich. Sometimes we can afford it; sometimes we can’t.

[Painted_Wings]

Interesting

I was also very surprised at the pre-judgement of the original poster about the various hunts without even going out with them. It is funny how reputations can happen.

For example I think our hunt has a somewhat reputation as a “snob” hunt but from what I’ve seen we go out of our way to be nice to new members. However, we do like to see people turned out well. I think it is a matter of pride among the regular hunting members to turn out nice and keep our horses trimmed.

For those asking about professional membership our hunt allows professionals to hunt for free, but they have to be legitimate professionals.

Hound walks are invitation only but we do not charge. We have two hunter paces a year which we charge for. Dues are about $1700 per year but then there’s hunt balls, the box at the show, Landowner and Huntsman Christmas gifts etc.

However, I don’t see how fees connect to politics. The original poster has confused fees and politics throughout this thread. One has nothing to do with the other.

As far as politics, I think our club has less now than a few years ago. We moved our kennels and there was quite a bit of tension between the pros and cons for moving. That was a few years ago and things have settled down now. But then I’m not on the board so lord knows what I don’t see. I’m happy to come out with my horse and hunt and stay away from the politics.

Looking forward to taking my horse out roading tomorrow and bringing my visiting friend from Germany along.

[tangledweb]

@Alterhunter;6429798

I am curious about some of the fees I have heard about. Is it normal to invite new people and charge a fee to walk hounds? What about hunt trail rides in the summer? And I was very surprised to find that some hunts do NOT apply capping fees toward a subsequent membership?

Mounted roading? I’m not sure my hunt allows guests then.

Exercising leashed puppies on foot in the summer. No charge and guests very welcome.

Summer trail rides. $20 for the summer. That’s not a fund raiser, that’s the cost of adding one more person to the insurance.

I don’t think capping fees are applied to membership, or at least mine were not.

Around here capping fees are pretty consistent from hunt to hunt, but membership fees vary all over the place. If you have a choice of local hunts and it’s something you care a lot about you should ask before you get too attached to one hunt.

[SLW]

At my hunt we do allow guest for mounted hound exercises. They will ride with the member who brought them. The new riders/horses are at a safe distance from the hounds so that no harm or disruption comes to them.

We have a lifetime 3 capping limit and those fees are applied to a new membership.

[xeroxchick]

You know, I never thout about lifetime capping fees. I think ours is a yearly limit of three times but I must ask. I can see why the lifetime limit, except if you have visitors who come from far away every few years. Especially visitors from overseas.

When I first joined Midland, dues were $50.00 a year. Mr. Hardaway said that it was because that was how much say you had about what the hunt did. Taught me the value of a benevolent dictatorship. That was some time ago.

God I have no idea what our reputation is and probably don’t want to know.

New foxhunters who come from the hunting world usually have a better time than horse show people. It is all about the hounds, not the horses as much.

Maybe go out with some foot packs and hunt rabbits to get the hang of it and the transition to a mounted pack would be easier?