[QUOTE=CarrieK;7450888]
Alas, I simply cannot be a Mimosa Nazi.
Hunt Princesses and Princes, please, imbibe
edited to add: I mean, after I fill 'er up.[/QUOTE]
Just looked at the photo. Beautiful tablescaping, put looking at the card on the table, it says its Non-alcoholic…are we supposed to bring our own…have flask will carry.
La, dahlink! In my haste I placed the children’s card on the adult table.
:: ponders :: I hope I didn’t fill the children’s punchbowl with the adult punch.
Looks like a great deal for the Gold Cup https://www.livingsocial.com/events/1045375-virginia-gold-cup-races-ticket-package
This thread has gone quite awry.
I can say that I have had the great fortune to be invited to the races quite a few times as a guest, and the prices quoted seem quite reasonable for what I was able to enjoy. I do wish that we had some closer to me, as I’m in the hunt scene desert, as it were. I consider part of it to be there to support the race, but also I am happy to pay to support racing, hunt clubs, or indeed any equine sport.
I do know both of the ladies in question and I’m hoping that all has been smoothed out. But for any who wonder, I know that JSwan would never post under an alter.
I’m hoping to be able to go back to the races soon, at any price!
Oh the irony
[QUOTE=Bigblackdraft;7446503]
4. Know and understand the rules and etiquette of attending a meet, whether a Point to Point or a Hunt. For example, bringing your cur dog to a meet with hounds that are still loose is very bad judgement and invites the possibility of horrible injuries to your cur dog or those trying to get hounds away.[/QUOTE]
While at the Foxhound show at Morven Park yesterday, this first-time volunteer had the “pleasure” of being ripped a new one on this very point. Well, it was a pathetic attempted ripping anyway. For you see, there was a cur dog on the grounds and the owner lied that he’d asked about its presence and received an “okey dokey” at the registration tent.
The person who talked to the cur dog owner came to the tent and proceeded to tell this volunteer and another COTHer volunteer just how This Is Not Done. Which this volunteer and another COTHer volunteer, not being Morons Of The Highest Order, already knew. Only a fool takes a cur dog near working hounds.
Further, this person looked the Show Secretary IN THE EYE and deliberately ignored the Show Secretary’s repeated statements that (a) Staff knows their jobs and (b) Staff was not responsible for the cur dog’s owner’s lies, and continued the attempt to “educate” this volunteer and another COTHer volunteer, who politely smiled and tuned her rantings out.
At which point, the Show Secretary very loudly told the person “ENOUGH. WE KNOW WHAT WE ARE DOING KNOCK IT OFF.” Said person stood there, mouth agape, for several long seconds before she shut her trap and wisely walked away.
Too bad She Who Shall Remain Nameless didn’t realize who else was witness to the scene she caused.
There were quite a few cur dogs at the show, some were obviously pets of hunt members, on leashes at there hunts tailgate tent.
I did see a lady walking around with a Rhodesian Ridgeback (walking all along the different rings).
I did see some other folks walking dogs, but they seemed as if this was there normal Sunday morning walk, they didn’t seem to come within the show area.
As everyone already knows, cur dogs are not permitted on the show grounds. When show staff saw a cur dog, we did ask those people to remove their dogs from the show grounds. The danger is such people will put their dogs in their hot cars - which we all know will kill a dog.
All show staff know the rules. The exhibitors and spectators know the rules. This sport is governed by rules - and one of those rules is that cur dogs are kept away from working hounds. Some people think they are special and the rules don’t apply to them. The irony is that such a person would then take it upon themselves to lecture those in charge of the show.
This particular rule was expressed orally and in writing for months. Other than calling Animal Control to have the cur dogs seized, I’m not sure what people expect us to do. We’re not police officers and we don’t want to ruin anyone’s day - this is supposed to be a fun show. And it is.
The risk to hounds and cur dogs is not just that a hound will be distracted. Cur dogs can cause kennel fights - and huntsmen do not want their hounds injured due to the presence of a cur dog. Hound packs have herd immunity - they are a closed herd. The presence of a cur dog can (and has) introduced diseases like kennel cough into hound packs - in one case resulting in the death of two hounds. In a hunt kennel a new hound is quarantined for that reason. Introducing a bunch of strange cur dogs onto the show grounds is just putting every single hounds health at risk. Though they are all vaccinated - that does not mean they cannot get sick. And that is the reason we do not want cur dogs on the show grounds. That’s all.
If you do not think show staff are competent, by all means volunteer to replace them. There is no need to cause a scene and embarrass volunteers, especially after repeated requests to stop. That’s just unnecessary and unacceptable.
Is a cur anything that is not a hound from a foxhunting kennel? Or anything that is not a purebred canine? I can certainly see banning all animals who are not show hounds from the venue for health reasons; but if that isn’t done, what are the rules on allowed dogs and what’s the reasoning?
Just wondering what was meant by “cur” and why they, of all other dogs, are banned.
JSwan or another hunter can confirm, but I believe a “cur dog” is any dog not part of a pack. It has nothing to do with breed or pedigree. I am but a n00b (and cat person at that) but I don’t consider hunt-owned pets as true “curs,” as they are owned by the same people and both well-trained and familiar with the hunt hounds.
I didn’t get out much, so the majority of the cur dogs I saw were owned by spectating public who just wandered over to see what was going on with the pretty doggies. I suspect none of them knew of the “no outside dog” rule and the thought never occurred that their precious Fluffy might be a problem. After all, a dog is a dog, right? Perhaps we could put up bright signs saying, “Show Hounds Only Beyond This Point” or something. Not that they’d see signs, either 
I guess that I just don’t understand the mentality of thinking it’s OK to take one’s cur dog anywhere near a bunch of working hounds. I wouldn’t think it would be OK to bring one’s non-show quality pet dog to the Westminster Kennel Club dog show, either. It isn’t a doggie play date! But then again, I don’t understand the mentality of dragging dogs to horse shows, either.
The only situation I’ve ever seen where a cur dog was near a bunch of hounds on purpose was when the huntsman was out of town and left his dog at the kennel in a private run. I don’t imagine that he did it cavalierly and that his dog is probably around the hounds regularly.
It would be great if each hunt took it upon themselves to remind members and their guests to please leave their pets at home. There may not be much that can be done regarding random people visiting Morven Park who come to walk their dog and who happen upon the hound show. The only thing I can think of is having a few volunteers strategically placed near the main entrance or gaps in the tree line or to put up signs of some sort.
Overall, it was a wonderful show and exceptionally well run. It was obvious that a great deal of work went into the show beforehand in order to help make things run more smoothly. As for the hounds themselves, well, they were all simply fabulous and so well behaved. I personally fell in love with one of the Old Dominion hounds and hope I get the opportunity to see him out in the field someday. And as you can see here, this hound from Saxonburg Hunt was clearly very stressed out about the whole event.
[QUOTE=see u at x;7595400]
I guess that I just don’t understand the mentality of thinking it’s OK to take one’s cur dog anywhere near a bunch of working hounds. I wouldn’t think it would be OK to bring one’s non-show quality pet dog to the Westminster Kennel Club dog show, either. It isn’t a doggie play date! But then again, I don’t understand the mentality of dragging dogs to horse shows, either. [/QUOTE]
Amen. To all your points.
[QUOTE=vineyridge;7595300]
Is a cur anything that is not a hound from a foxhunting kennel? [/QUOTE]
The term “cur dog” is not meant as a pejorative. This is a the hunting forum I assumed everyone knew what I was talking about. I’m sorry I wasn’t clear.
In this world, a “cur dog” is simply any canine that doesn’t hunt/isn’t part of the pack. It’s also a command the huntsman will use with his hounds - it is a command to leave any strange dog alone. Rather than use a long drawn out sentence (no no bad dog leave the yorkshire terrier alone and come back here) a huntsman will simply say “CURDOG”. Which tells the hound to stay away from that dog. Hound commands are short.
It has nothing to do with the strange dogs pedigree, breed, or conformation or is intended in any way to be negative. It’s simply a common term and a hound command. It’s also used by foxhunters do describe any strange dog that is not a hunting hound.
This comment addresses the “cur dog” train this thread has taken.
Perhaps the logical thing to do at the Morven show is that signs should have been posted that outside dogs were not permitted on the grounds. We have a horse show where dogs on site are impounded and the owners have to pay a “redemption fee” to retrieve Poopsie.
You guys (those of hunting subculture) should NOT assume that “civilians” know all your arcane hunting rules…as most of them are NOT written.
Not taking your personal dog to a ‘canine’ show, whether hounds or other types of dogs, is a standard rule, not created by or limited to foxhunting. The very practical reasoning is, don’t spread disease or start dog fights or distract the dogs there to show. If you have the basic competence to own a dog, this is pretty basic knowledge.
Good manners were not invented for or limited to foxhunting, either.
[QUOTE=Beverley;7623524]
Not taking your personal dog to a ‘canine’ show, whether hounds or other types of dogs, is a standard rule, not created by or limited to foxhunting. The very practical reasoning is, don’t spread disease or start dog fights or distract the dogs there to show. If you have the basic competence to own a dog, this is pretty basic knowledge.
Good manners were not invented for or limited to foxhunting, either.[/QUOTE]
Well…I guess I got the Gibbs (NCIS) smack on the head for simply stating a suggestion…This just reinforces the fact that you guys don’t know what “civilians” don’t know and should not get on your high horses about it.
Good manners would dictate that one politely listen to suggestions…learned or not.
Being a fan of the mutt-breeds, and not being a dog show aficionado, I did NOT know that you were not supposed to not take your dog to a dog show, and where I live, people take their dogs to dog agility trials.
As far as fox hunting rules…they are unwritten, traditional rules. If you want people to follow them, you have to educate people. Simple signs stating that dogs were not allowed on the show grounds would have pre-empted all this angst.
I don’t think the problem was necessarily people intended on coming to the Hound show and bringing along their dogs, but people coming to enjoy Morven Park with their dogs, not unusual at all, and there being a Hound show going on…and not being particularly savvy enough not to bring their dogs over to visit.
[QUOTE=ladyj79;7623577]
I don’t think the problem was necessarily people intended on coming to the Hound show and bringing along their dogs, but people coming to enjoy Morven Park with their dogs, not unusual at all, and there being a Hound show going on…and not being particularly savvy enough not to bring their dogs over to visit.[/QUOTE]
Thank you!!!..eggsactly…
All I know is what was explained here by posters. The folks with the dog falsely claimed that they had received permission to bring the dog. Do you consider that good manners?
I have been a dog owner for far longer than I have been a fox hunter, and I have always checked before taking a dog anywhere, to me that is just common sense and common courtesy.
No one here is on a high horse, but I believe I’ll go saddle up a short horse now.
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