Hinderella -did you pay for the clinic? Did you feel it was worthwhile? Anything that could have been added that would have made you enjoy your time there more? --Love the details!
Our hunt does a two-clinic series. The first one is completely in an indoor and includes the basics on attire and tack, usually a presentation by a vet or a farrier on how to keep a horse fit/shod for the hunt field, and then a series of exercises designed to teach the horse and rider to do things that might be necessary in the field (ex: four poles set as a box to turn on the haunches inside of to emulate what you might have to to in tight woods at a check). We practice safe distance between members of the field, etiquette at jumps, and standing quietly in a group while huntsman and/or staff go by at speed. This is all designed to give riders something to work on at home for the next clinic (which is several weeks later.) Depending on the venue, we have a group of the steadiest hounds come–both to demo how the hunstman and whips handle the pack and also to introduce riders and horses to hounds in a controlled and safe manner.
The second clinic starts with a refresher on the skills from the first and then often splits into two groups. Some riders will stay in the ring and jump with one of our masters instructing, while others will go out into the woods/trails/fields to practice things in a more realistic setting.
There is usually a lunch break with lectures/demos (tack, attire, etc) and then we mount up again for a mock hunt or something similar in nature–adjusted accordingly to the skills and sanity of the riders and horses present.
My first year hunting, I took the clinic series as a consecutive two day “camp” and both my horse and I bunked overnight in a primitive campsite. Some folks slept in trailers, others who were close enough went home for the evening. The idea behind the camp was to push both horse and rider a little bit and I am very glad I did it this way. I know that immersion is not for everyone, but it really gave me an accurate picture of what both my horse and I were going to feel like at the end of a hunt and it prepared me mentally and emotionally for the stress that can come with hunting. My sane, solid, mare had a complete mental breakdown on the mock hunt–something I had no idea she was capable of–and it was very lucky that we were in a situation where the “hunt” could stop while I got her under control again. It took me by complete surprise and if that had happened to me the first time I went out on a real hunt, it could have been very ugly. Knowing that was a possibility ahead of time was very helpful when I capped for real the first time.
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Foxglove, my recollection was that the cost for the clinic was $40, which I considered a bargain! Attendees were provided with a copy of “Hunting to Hounds in America” and details about etiquette and tradition in the early presentation. I particularly benefited from the mounted portion, which was a true clinic for hunting skills. Volunteers from the Hunt and the Masters do a great job of introducing potential new members to the sort of situations they will encounter in the field, including a “ware staff” and a “field reverse”. The venue did not allow for stabling or overnights, but New England is small, most attendees came from no more than an hour away.
If you visit the Tanheath Hunt club web site http://www.tanheathhunt.com/ there is contact information for the masters, I’m sure they would be happy to provide more details.
