This year my kids seem to be on a hunting kick so we are planning to participate in this. We haven’t done it before, so I’d love to hear any experiences or advice. It sounds like it should be a fun experience!
We hosted a qualifier two weeks ago. It was our 3rd opportunity to host a qualifier and it’s great fun. The kids are wonderful and we really enjoy having them out. It’s such a great experience for them and we strongly believe in promoting our sport for juniors.
I will be attending two qualifiers in our area in the next few weeks and am looking forward to the finals.
No advice (other than the usual things for any hunting day) except that the kids should have fun. It’s easy to say relax, and much harder to do! I really hope they enjoy participating!
Thanks KateDB. It’s the first year that we have had qualifiers in KY so it is a new experience for most of the kids. My kids are on the youngish side and usually they ride right next to me so it will be a bit of an exercise in independence as much as anything. I don’t think they are nervous, I’m not even sure they exactly know it is a competition. Anyway, it’s been incredibly nice how supportive everyone has been towards the kids. My boys have really benefitted from the helpfulness and generosity of knowledge and spirit we’ve encountered in our club.
Thanks KateDB. This is the first time there have been qualifiers in KY so I think most of the kids are pretty new to this. Mine are on the younger side and used to riding with me when we hunt so this will be an exercise in independence as much as anything else. It has been really nice how supportive all of the adults are. The kids have benefitted a lot from the generosity of knowledge and spirit we have experienced in our club.
Just to update we did our first qualifier yesterday. Unfortunately two of my kids developed a stomach bug the night before (obviously AFTER we had cleaned all of the ponies and tack and clothing), so only the one remaining son was able to ride. The hosting hunt was extremely welcoming and hospitable, not just to the kids but to parents/family members that brought the juniors out. The juniors were impressive–a cheerful bunch of beautifully turned out riders, mounted on an array of suitable ponies and horses. I have no idea how the judges were able to decide among them! The kids seemed to enjoy riding up at the front and in a group without parents looking over their shoulders and there were smiles all around when we came in.
I"m so sorry about your sick kids, but delighted your son got to ride!
Isn’t it a fun time? And I think you captured the spirit of the JNAFHC, some independence, appreciation of hunting somewhere new, the comraderie established with meeting new fellow foxhunters and an awareness to the gift we’ve been given! I love seeing these enthusiastic kids and I can’t wait 'til they are the leaders of our sport in the future!
My daughter did this for several years and loved every minute and is more than bummed she has now aged out. She met some great kids, loved hunting over different territory and watching how different hounds hunted. The finals weekend was a blast as well. It’s great to see it extending into Kentucky! Good Luck!!
I was a judge at our hunt’s qualifier this past weekend. What a fantastic group of juniors we hosted! It was an honor to witness great horsemanship, suitability, and riding amongst all the juniors. Very difficult to judge indeed!
I thought I would give another update–we did another qualifier this weekend, and this time no stomach bugs. I just have to say, what a great day! The country was spectacular, the kids were all smiles and we had a fantastic view of a coyote. Our wonderful hosts served a delicious breakfast afterwards.
As much as I enjoyed watching the kids ride, this whole JNAFHC experience has also been a chance to admire the generosity of spirit so many (adult) hunt members both in our home hunt and the hunts we have visited have shown towards all the kids–taking every opportunity to explain, teach and share their love of the sport, plus of course gracefully having patience with minor kid/pony snafus.
We (Old Dominion Hounds) are hosting the championship finals November 8 at our old – but renewed! – hunter trial field adjacent to our kennels.
The course is absolutely lovely, and the event will be gorgeous (full fall colors expected, sumptuous Blue Ridge mountain backdrop.)
We’re having a big party at the course pretty much all day - hopeful that anyone wanting to get involved in either the junior program or foxhunting in general will feel free to attend (the event is free.)
Hunters Rest, this sounds like so much fun! We are planning to make the trip and are really looking forward to it.
