Umm, not all of them, thank you very much! 
My only gripe with the Devon classes that are being referred to is limiting some of them to such a close distance of the show grounds⊠I think they should allow people to show in them that are not âlocalâ if they ARE a regular member of a MFHA hunt.
I guess it is implied that the class is for honest to goodness fox hunters. Even the gal who was on the winning team offered she wasnât a member of a hunt, had never followed the hounds and riding the fields scares her. I tip my hat to her, riding with John Madden isnât small change and showing hunters in the ring is hard work. I sense she felt a little awkward about the win.
[QUOTE=SLW;5672956]
I guess it is implied that the class is for honest to goodness fox hunters. Even the gal who was on the winning team offered she wasnât a member of a hunt, had never followed the hounds and riding the fields scares her. I tip my hat to her, riding with John Madden isnât small change and showing hunters in the ring is hard work. I sense she felt a little awkward about the win.[/QUOTE]
She rides with John Madden? Last I checked she rode with John Muldoon? The three of them put in a stellar trip and deserved to win!
If you guys are upset about the name of the class(es) you should write DHS and let them know. Because I donât think the actual competitors are that concerned, and nothing is going to change without letting someone know.
[QUOTE=SidesaddleRider;5672834]
Umm, not all of them, thank you very much!
My only gripe with the Devon classes that are being referred to is limiting some of them to such a close distance of the show grounds⊠I think they should allow people to show in them that are not âlocalâ if they ARE a regular member of a MFHA hunt.[/QUOTE]
Thereâs no local requirement for hunt teams. Anyone can show. There is for local hunters (and then, by extension, the foxhunting class).
Ooops, I read the article too fast and I appreciate the correction about the trainer. :sadsmile:
I was slightly confused, because I donât think John Madden has a facility anywhere near our area!
Once upon a time, the âHunt Teamâ members had to have a signature from the Master of the Hunt verifying they and their horse at least made a Meet.
I didnât even see any mention of them needing to be from a Validated hunt eitherâŠso sadâŠ
Twins, separated at birth
Madden and Muldoon. Snort. Now that made my lunch time reading today.
Back in the day horse âHunt Teamsâ used to be won by Jack Trainorâs clients, or by Juniors that stayed over for Saturday. Those days are long gone.
The average local foxhunting (or eventing) horse being ridden in that class canât see a distance and canât cope with being ridden under the lights. 70% of the audience on hunt team night at Devon is there for the âgaspâ factor of watching these people chip and dive. Really sad for the poor horses.
The âpony hunt teamsâ is now a costume class with music. Last time I checked, there was no piped in music in the hunt field, nor were the junior members of the hunt field bedecked in bee costumes, so let us all agree that the names of the classes are not Websterâs Dictionary references, but just something to call a bunch of people riding together, having fun, or relieved when it is over and happy to have a competitorâs pass to get in for free for the rest of the week.
Thatâs quite rude. Both of my TB foxhunters go very nicely under lights and have done so multiple times. Miracles of miracles they both find very nice smooth distances.
I would dare say that my foxhunters would make better show hunters than most peopleâs show hunters would make fox hunters.
Nah
Not rude. Just the facts. Been in a hunting barn, been in a show barn. Been in the saddle. Been in the stands. Know from whence I speak.
Am glad your horses go well, that is the objective. Not saying it canât be done, it just isnât done much at Devon Hunt Teams.
Have you been out hunting first flight on a show hunter regularly? Iâve been in the hunt field when people bring their âAâ show hunters out. Most havenât made it through a hunt.
repeat msgâŠ
Huntinâ horses are gems, I will agree. Every horse that tries hard should get a prize in Life.
[QUOTE=vxf111;5673139]
Thereâs no local requirement for hunt teams. Anyone can show. There is for local hunters (and then, by extension, the foxhunting class).[/QUOTE]
V, Those were the 2 classes to which I was referring. They should have the local hunters be by the mileage OR for those riders from a recognized hunt, so ACTUAL hunt members can ride in the foxhunters class! Hauling up there for one class (hunt teams) is silly, but hauling up for three classes is worthwhile. There are certainly quite a few foxhunters hunting rated show hunters in VA, and we would be glad to show off some real hunt horses who have no problem putting in nice rounds under the lights.
[QUOTE=SidesaddleRider;5673840]
V, Those were the 2 classes to which I was referring. They should have the local hunters be for the mileage OR for those riders from a recognized hunt, so ACTUAL hunt members can ride in the foxhunters class! Hauling up there for one class (hunt teams) is silly, but hauling up for three classes is worthwhileâŠ[/QUOTE]
They have sooooooo many entires in the locals. Just sooo many, I canât see them opening that up. But what they could do is have the foxhunting class open to actual members of hunts? They need to do something with it. They need to do soemthing with everyone on that last Sunday because itâs dead!
[QUOTE=Calling Duck;5673659]
The average local foxhunting (or eventing) horse being ridden in that class canât see a distance and canât cope with being ridden under the lights. 70% of the audience on hunt team night at Devon is there for the âgaspâ factor of watching these people chip and dive. Really sad for the poor horses. [/QUOTE]
Not digging on ANYONEâS discipline, but the atompshere at Devon that night is pretty darn intense. Huge crowds, very loud (some people are VERY drunk), under the lights, very very limited warmup area, the ferris wheel and fair-- itâs a recipie for any horse coming unglued.
I wouldnât put my A show hunter in the field unless I thought his showing days were over. Crazy!!
[QUOTE=FreshAir;5673975]
I wouldnât put my A show hunter in the field unless I thought his showing days were over. Crazy!![/QUOTE]
Not at all!! For the vast majority, I have found that they go so much BETTER in the show ring after they have spent time hunting. Hunting makes them braver, handier, more sure footed, calmer about new places, and they just plain have FUN. I typically tell people who think I am crazy to hunt my show hunters that , âI donât have show hunters that hunt, I have field hunters that show.â And that includes my former A/O horse (who I sold to a jr who did him in the Childrenâs, Lg Jrs, and Big Eq), who was the Res CH Virginia Field Hunter, as well as Sidesaddle CH at Harrisburg.
I find the Field Hunters that can show, FASCINITING! Would love pics of your successful Field/Show hunters!
[QUOTE=SidesaddleRider;5674148]
Not at all!! For the vast majority, I have found that they go so much BETTER in the show ring after they have spent time hunting. Hunting makes them braver, handier, more sure footed, calmer about new places, and they just plain have FUN. I typically tell people who think I am crazy to hunt my show hunters that , âI donât have show hunters that hunt, I have field hunters that show.â And that includes my former A/O horse (who I sold to a jr who did him in the Childrenâs, Lg Jrs, and Big Eq), who was the Res CH Virginia Field Hunter, as well as Sidesaddle CH at Harrisburg.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=FreshAir;5673975]
I wouldnât put my A show hunter in the field unless I thought his showing days were over. Crazy!![/QUOTE]
Why do so many folks think that a horse that is no longer fit to show is ok to hunt? Um, no.
And ditto the folks who said they have seen many a show horse lose itâs mind on itâs first hunt, while the foxhunters take showing in stride.
And wholeheartedly agree with sidesaddleriders post about the field hunters taking it all in stride at the shows. I know my mare does, she is very nice and very fancy, and a hack winner in the best company. Iâve been whipping in off of her for the last few years and we primarily hunt these days only because itâs more fun for both of us than riding around in a circle.
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