Hunting in MA... first timer!!!

[BluChip]

Hi Hunters!

I search threw COTH all the time (boring job), and i figured this is the best place to come! I have wanted to try out fox hunting for a long time, and I finally have a friend who is willing to attempt with me! I live in MA right near the Norfolk Hunt Club and want to bring out my pony. He is pretty much a saint, sort of, but really out of shape, so me and friend decide we want to make our grand entrance in the fall (we are planners, read: our horses are fat and out of shape, we needs months and months to get working). Any way, I read the hunt clubs website about attire, etiquette, ect… I am now paranoid I will at some point offend someone and get kicked off the hunt. We are planning to only be in the back, brining up the rear, no jumping, no mad gallops (fingers crossed), just taking it slow. Both horses have never been hunting before. Pony and I attempt “dressage”, though we disgrace the sport, so I have a navy dressage coat, is this ok to wear? Also is there really drinking involved! I think pony and I will need a shot before the outing.

We are sivck of a stuffy ring and want to go out and have fun! Any tips would be great!

p.s. we have lots of trails behind barn, so we will be conditioning on trails

[jawa]

If your local hunt is welcoming, maybe go out some during the summer to the trail rides and hound walking. It’ll give you a chance to meet people in the hunt and give you a feel for what its about.

[strawberry_roan]

Great advice, jawa. Strongly advise finding out about summer trail rides. They are great for greenies–both riders and horses and you get introduced to members. They can give you all the etiquette pointers you need so when the new season starts, you will be good to go! Enjoy!

[Bogie]

Good for you for planning ahead. Some of the hunts at Norfolk are quite long so you are wise to make sure your horse is fit. I haven’t hunted with them yet but have heard they visit some beautiful territories.

I’d suggest contacting the secretary and asking what is the best way to get to know the hunt. Perhaps you could visit some of the territories and follow on foot or watch from a vantage point.

[BluChip]

Bogie, which hunts do participate in? I only know of Norfolk, but are there others in our area? I have heard Norfolk is great, and long!

[MapleMeadows]

Myopia
Norfolk
& Old North Bridge are all in Mass!
You may want to check mfha.com for other New England hunts and their websites.

[SharonA]

Old North Bridge

Old North Bridge Hunt Club did a clinic at my barn a year or two ago; it was a blast. I got the impression that there were very welcoming of newbies, given that you take an introductory clinic or speak with them first. I wouldn’t feel at all embarrassed about your chubby ponies, etc. I got the impression that at least for the first time or two, they’re not overly fussed about what you wear or whether your horse is perfect. I do think that they would want you to be “proper” once you’d tried hunting with them once or twice, though, because the fact is that landowners want to see “the Hunt” going through their property; they don’t want to see a bunch of frumpy trail riders out slobbing around (I fondly refer to myself, here. ). And, I do think that some of the fun of hunting is the tradition of the proper attire, plus you and your horse do need to be in good enough condition to be safe. I hear. -) (My horse and I damn sure are not).

But, check the New England Horse and Trail website in another few weeks… they post tons and tons of organized trail rides that would be good experience and conditioning. The rides aren’t posted yet, but hopefully soon…

[Bogie]

Glad you enjoyed it! We are in the planning stages to do more “Learn to Hunt” clinics.

@SharonA;4757216

Old North Bridge Hunt Club did a clinic at my barn a year or two ago; it was a blast. I got the impression that there were very welcoming of newbies, given that you take an introductory clinic or speak with them first. I wouldn’t feel at all embarrassed about your chubby ponies, etc. I got the impression that at least for the first time or two, they’re not overly fussed about what you wear or whether your horse is perfect. I do think that they would want you to be “proper” once you’d tried hunting with them once or twice, though, because the fact is that landowners want to see “the Hunt” going through their property; they don’t want to see a bunch of frumpy trail riders out slobbing around (I fondly refer to myself, here. ). And, I do think that some of the fun of hunting is the tradition of the proper attire, plus you and your horse do need to be in good enough condition to be safe. I hear. -) (My horse and I damn sure are not).

But, check the New England Horse and Trail website in another few weeks… they post tons and tons of organized trail rides that would be good experience and conditioning. The rides aren’t posted yet, but hopefully soon…

[Bogie]

I am a member of Old North Bridge Hounds which rides out of Concord. Our territory goes as far West as Westminster and North up to Hollis, New Hampshire.

www.oldnorthbridgehounds.org

@BluChip;4757117

Bogie, which hunts do participate in? I only know of Norfolk, but are there others in our area? I have heard Norfolk is great, and long!

[HappyHoppingHaffy]

I’ve hunted with most of the hunt clubs in Mass and I’m a member of Norfolk.
Our spring season is about to start up again. Please check out our website…www.norfolkhunt.com. Everyone is very welcoming! I ride the haffie if you look at any of our pictures. He’s coming back from a glute injury right now, but I’m hopeful for hunting this spring. Anyway, if you do come out be sure to say hello!
Tori and Dukie
Edited to add: everyone I’ve met from Myopia, ONBH, Norfolk and Tanheath (CT) has been really nice and welcoming. You’ll be in good company no matter which hunt you go out with.

[BluChip]

“they don’t want to see a bunch of frumpy trail riders out slobbing around”… haha this is us on a good day in our natural habitat! And if we enjoy hunting I can only hope onbe day I can afford those real classy looking boots with the brown on the top… .do they still wear those? Dressing up is a big draw towards the hunt

I’ll check out some of those websites and I think some long distance trail rides would be a good idea for conditioning and getting out there with lots of other horses. I heard most hunt clubs exercise the dogs and sometimes allow newbies to come out in the summer? I tried to check out Norfolk Hunts website but didn’t see any dates of hunts. Are hunts always Sundays? Every Sunday? Do people hunt year round, or have to take off the winter, especially in Mass?

Happy, may I steal your Haffie… cutiest little man ever, me and Jojo (aka Pony) hope to look so put together at some point in our lives:)

[Anteup]

[QUOTE=HappyHoppingHaffy;4757299]
Please check out our website…www.norfolkhunt.com. [/QUOTE]

Some of these pictures are seriously beautiful, I would love to try the hunt but my mare is a nut.

[Happyhillfarm]

BluChip,
Norfolk hunts on Tues and Sat. Thur. is mounted Hound Schooling. Spring season will start on Tues April 20 and end Sat. May 22. Please check back on the website for the complete schedule which will be posted soon. The contact numbers will be there too. Norfolk is very welcoming.

[linquest]

I’ve hunted with both Norfolk and ONBH. You may want to try both though as they cover different territories and have different vibes. Both groups are very friendly, and I wouldn’t worry about not having all the right gear your first few times with either group. Nobody ever complained about the fact that I just wore my basic show clothes. The black boots with brown tops are not mandatory, by tradition, they are for members who have earned their colors.

When you start out, you will be in the “Hilltopping” group which is mostly trotting, with the occasional canter here and there (you’ll be cantering more often if you’re on a pony though!) Norfolk’s hunts are usually around 2 hours…not too long compared to “live hunts” (the MA-based hunts are all “drag” hunts) which can run 3.5 to 6 hours long!

[IFG]

There is also Tanheath, which while based in CT hunts often in the Wrentham area. Tanheath is live, and usually goes much slower.

I have found both Norfolk and Tanheath to be lovely and welcoming. Both have learn to hunt and trail ride activities in the Summer/Early Fall.

The Tanheath site is:

http://www.tanheathhunt.com/Home.html

I hope to see you out there!

[HappyHoppingHaffy]

[QUOTE=BluChip;4757338]
"
Happy, may I steal your Haffie… cutiest little man ever, me and Jojo (aka Pony) hope to look so put together at some point in our lives:)[/QUOTE]

Oh, thanks! He really is a blast to ride.

If you search the forums you’ll see a lot of posters who ask the same questions you’re asking. In fact if you go back about 2 years ago you’ll see my questions about getting into hunting!

One piece of advice that I did get is that you probably don’t want your horse to be in tip top condition the first time you hunt. And, somebody correct me if I’m wrong, but it’s been my experience that Norfolk’s hunts build in length and distance. I do believe it’s assumed you may not have had an indoor or been able to ride much during the winter, so the hunts are shorter/less intense in the spring. From my experience April hunting is very different than November hunting. But, I’m still a relative newbie, so anyone more in the know, please feel free to correct me!

It’s a blast and addictive! I really don’t think you can go wrong with any of the clubs mentioned.

Good luck and have fun!

edited to add: I just went to the ONBH website…that’s Dukie and me in the banner! Oh, the haffie bum.

[JellyBeanQueen]

I used to know a woman who participated in “Hill Topping”??? hunts. From the way she explains it it sounds like basicaly a trail ride with small jumps and no serious formalities included though she dressed in regular coat and breeches with feild boots. It sounds very low key and good for horses that arent seasoned hunters or conditioned hunters. as she puts it “a fun jaunt with the ponies”. She rode a TWH.

[wateryglen]

Try this!

Suggest checking the hunts websites for answers to a lot of your questions! Or do a search here on those names or on those subjects.
It’s all fun …with a lotta mystique! Don’t let the “mystique” distract you.!! :winkgrin:

[Bogie]

The Hilltopping field generally does not jump at all. In fact, you are not allowed to jump if you ride in this group. In some hunt clubs, this group rides more slowly, but not always!

At ONBH we introduced a third field last year that is specifically aimed at riders who want to go at a slower pace or riders who are introducing new horses to the hunt. It was popular among people trying out the hunt.

“Formalities” differ among hunts. Some are more strict than others. Don’t assume because you are hilltopping that you do not need to be very aware of the rules about riding around hounds, protocols on where to ride in the field, etc. Most hunts have some leeway regarding the attire of guests but you should always check first!

@JellyBeanQueen;4760313

I used to know a woman who participated in “Hill Topping”??? hunts. From the way she explains it it sounds like basicaly a trail ride with small jumps and no serious formalities included though she dressed in regular coat and breeches with feild boots. It sounds very low key and good for horses that arent seasoned hunters or conditioned hunters. as she puts it “a fun jaunt with the ponies”. She rode a TWH.

[JellyBeanQueen]

[QUOTE=Bogie;4762669]
The Hilltopping field generally does not jump at all. In fact, you are not allowed to jump if you ride in this group. In some hunt clubs, this group rides more slowly, but not always!

At ONBH we introduced a third field last year that is specifically aimed at riders who want to go at a slower pace or riders who are introducing new horses to the hunt. It was popular among people trying out the hunt.

“Formalities” differ among hunts. Some are more strict than others. Don’t assume because you are hilltopping that you do not need to be very aware of the rules about riding around hounds, protocols on where to ride in the field, etc. Most hunts have some leeway regarding the attire of guests but you should always check first![/QUOTE]

I didnt ask her for details. Perhaps she participated in somthing else along with Hilltopping…IDK. She was probably just telling about this particular group she goes out with. Its the same one she goes off with every time she goes. Thanks for hte further info though.