Newbe with questions.

[Eleanor]

I have been thinking about joining our local hunt which is on the main land. I know next to nothing other then what I have seen on TV or in movies. It has been a bucket list item to ride out with the hounds. So I am hoping that this year might be the year.

What my first questions are about costs/fees.

1. The membership cost is very high (almost $1,000.00) for a membership. I have never paid more then $150. for a club membership, so to me it is very high. I am thinking that it is to help cover the up keep of the hounds. Could someone with more knowledge tell me what is covers/helps with?

2. Could someone explain what field money is? There is two memberships one is more with no field money and one that is less and has a set amount for field money.

3. Capping fee, is it the same as field money?

I think I have an idea but not 100% sure and want to make sure before I talk to anyone from the Hunt. Thanks

[jawa]

For my hunt my money covers the following:

1. Feed and care for hounds
2. Purchase, feed, care for Professional staff horses
3. Pay professional staff (Huntsman, 1st Whipper-in, Kennelman)
4. Pays for land and buildings the hunt owns (Stables, Kennel, Pastures, Club House, Show grounds)
5. Club Manager and Social director
6. Insurance
7. Pays to buy the materials to panel the country side

We hunt 3 days a week for six months of the year and then have lots of other activities during the off season to keep the membership active.

I am guessing at the difference in cost of membership based on field money. My guess is that it is similar to a social membership. Most people on a social membership don’t hunt that often, but still want to be included in the non hunting opportunities. You pay a cap on the few days that you might make it out to hunt. Some hunts have a limited number of times that you may hunt as a social member (like 6).

Riding as a guest/ Capping: If you are not a member at all and you are able to ride with the hunt, you pay a cap. Most hunts limit the number of times you may cap with them without joining (some 3 a season, some 3 a lifetime).

I’m a member of a farmer’s pack as well. That membership is $350 for a season. No professional staff. The money goes directly to support the hounds, to panel the country, and to pay insurance.

Once you get a few more answers about different hunts, I would create a set of questions to ask the hunt secretary so that you can decide if it’s worth it to spend $$$$.

[WildBlue]

Our hunt’s expenses are paid by direct fees (like you mentioned), fund raising events, and donations. Expenses include, but are not limited to, daily care, feeding, and veterinary care of the hounds; hound truck; paid staff; upkeep, improvements, and utilities for the kennel, kennel house, and parking areas; social events; insurance; land owner gifts; and building and repairing jumps and other hardscapes in the fixtures. Remember, most of these expenses are incurred whether or not a single person actually rides in the hunt field, so the treasurer has to figure out how to make that happen every year.

Our club has a basic membership that includes everything except riding, which–if you include the teas–averages out to an event every week or so year 'round. Then there is an additional riding fee, either subscription (unlimited) or on a per-hunt basis (our is maximum of 3 per season). We have 2 hunts per week for 7 months included in the subscription, plus off-season/off-day members-only trail rides available to all members, plus hound exercise 2-3 times a week is free to everyone.

So, yes, it is a lot of money to pay all at once. But, if you can attend even a few events every month, the cost per event is pretty reasonable compared to even a schooling show.

[Eleanor]

Thanks for the answers

@jawa;7220185

Pays to buy the materials to panel the country side

jawa, What is “Panel the country”? is that build/fix jumps?

[jawa]

Yes, build jumps. Coops, Post and rail or some such.

[ISR]

If you are interested in joining, I would highly recommend speaking to your hunt secretary and treasurer. More often than not, hunts will allow a payment plan to ease the burden of paying all at once. Also, some hunts (including mine) will apply any capping fees paid in a season toward your membership should you decide to join.

I’m not familiar with Canadian terminology, but I would venture to say that field money and capping fee may one and the same.

[CindyCRNA]

This is my very first season. Our fee is $2000 so you have a good deal. We hunt twice a week from Mid-Oct to March with hound walking 6 weeks prior to official hunt (I think). I am not sure what all the fees are but plan on hunting once a week thru the season to get fit for eventing season next year. I agree that if you take full advantage, the per-hunt fee is reasonable.