Hilltopping is when you follow the hunt but don’t jump, right?
Or does it differ with each hunt?
I tried to find an answer online, but no joy!
Thanx
LBR
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Hilltopping is when you follow the hunt but don’t jump, right?
Right.
Or does it differ with each hunt?
Not really. Hilltopping = no jumping.
Some hunts have a 2nd Field that is WTC, doesn’t jump the regular hunt fences, but may go over small ones.
Hilltopping is non-jumping. Beyond that it varies by hunt. Some hunts have moved to using the terminology of firdt, second and third flights where the first flight jumps, second flight is w/t/c and third flight is lowest common denominator.
In my - limited - experience, first flight jumps, second flight doesn’t jump but speeds along and third flight - hilltoppers - goes at a slower pace than second. With an experienced field master, third often gets some great views as they shortcut a bit and anticipate the run.
Hilltoppers…
Aren’t part of the hunting field. They follow behind the hunt at a slower pace. (Our club’s hilltoppers w/t/c, but do not generally do a 4 beat gallop) I’ve never heard of hilltoppers jumping and the few clubs I’ve hunted with, one of which I’m a member, do not allow hilltoppers to jump any of the jumps.
Correct me if I’m wrong more experienced hunting peeps, but I was taught “hill toppers” names the group of people riding “a top the hills” watching the huntsman work and the field(s) follow from a far. Hilltoppers are part of the hunt, but they’re not part of the field(s).
That probably sounds really exclusive and snobby, but I have had great joy in our hilltopping group while bringing back my injured pony this fall. I am very grateful for the hilltoppers! 
Thanx, that’s what I thought, but I wasn’t sure.
The hunt near me does “flights”, the second w/t/c no jumping, so I guess that would be the same.
Thanx again!
Years ago when I was a groom at a small farm. The older gentleman I helped out getting his horses ready used to call the hill toppers “gappers” becouse they were always looking for the gap in the stone wall.
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Thanx, that’s what I thought, but I wasn’t sure.
The hunt near me does “flights”, the second w/t/c no jumping, so I guess that would be the same.
Thanx again![/QUOTE]
That’s the terminoloy used by one of my local(ish) hunts as well.
I figured it’s because we don’t have any hills.:lol:
“… and third flight is lowest common denominator.”
I can’t help but take that statement to be as insulting as it sounds!!!
It might occur to you that there may be physical limitations of the rider. Not everyone can jump coops at speed or canter down hills, we are just is not physically able. In fact some of us are lucky to be able to be still riding. So your distainful attitude is offensive. We pay the same dues, have the same desire to be a part of a hunt and contribute our time and energy to be just as valuable a member as you think you are.
It wasn’t meant to be insulting but how would you say it? The third flight should go at the pace of the slowest rider. I’ve been a big supporter of the third flight. My wife’s first hunt was in the third flight with me riding next to her.
Lowest common denominator should not be offensive at all. You’re simply working downward in skills and abilities until you reach a level that everyone in the group shares. To me, that simply means that the third flight master is ensuring that the skill level shared by all of the third flight riders, no matter how elementary that may be, is the level at which they will ride, and no faster.
When I recently had the chance to ride out at my first hunt, I was very definitely third flight, and our master asked before any change of pace, even trotting, to make sure we were all ready. Our group consisted of beginners like me, children, people coming back from injury and advanced riders who simply enjoyed our company
“The third flight should go at the pace of the slowest rider.”
Actually that is a good way to explain it. Lowest and common just struck a nerve as I do think there are some folks that rather look down their noses at 3rd as if they are not worthy to be participating. Not every one for sure, but they do exist. There is one hunt I have ridden with that third is at fairly brisk pace, usually close on the heels of 2nd, then there are those that do set the pace to the slowest rider, so the speed of 3rd does seem vary with the hunts that have it.
Hunter’s Rest of ODH
Hunter’s Rest does a superb job of 3rd field master, if you want to try ODH. She carefully crafts our ride to be within the comfort zone of all of us. Then at the end, those who want to stretch the zone get a carefully designed chance to do it without compromising the rest. I LOVE following her!
For cripes sakes.
I rode 100s of steeplechases. Have hunted for 40+ years. I’ve RUN AND JUMPED enough to strangle a goat.
What I want out of hunting is to watch the hounds work.
The best way to do this? Ride with the third field. : o )
Sincerely.
No offense taken by any ‘poking’ at ‘lesser’ riders with any slower group. We know what we see, and, trust me, what we watch is far more intellectually stimulating than watching the bobbing butts of the horse and rider galloping ahead of me.
By the by, ‘hilltopping’ in my parlance has meant anything from what I’m leading now (gentle-paced paralleling of hounds and field and, hopefully, quarry, no running no jumping), to running faster than any first flight to ‘get around’ the jumps we can’t/won’t/don’t take, to moving at whatever pace from hilltop to hilltop and jumping select fences in an orderly fashion.
It means different things - wildly different - in different dialect.
To the OP, if you are asking because you are thinking of hunting I suggest you check with your specific hunt because “Hilltopping” is vastly different from hunt to hunt. My current hunt alternately refers to the hilltopping group as third field. The Third field master is an excellent rider and knows the terrain like nobody else. Third field often arrives at the hounds and huntsman before 1st and 2nd field because the 3rd field master knows all the shortcuts. In our hunt all three fields do jump the difference being that 2nd and 3rd only jump fences that have easy go arounds. If the field master jumps, everyone is welcome to jump or go around and if the field master doesn’t jump, no one is supposed to jump. Also all three of our fields are WTC the only difference being the second flight will ease up for trappy terrain and third field sometimes takes alternate routes. We have discussed adding a “4th” field because our hilltopping group is a little too aggressive for real beginners, but I would vote for having our 3rd field slow down to accommodate those who wish or need to go slower and if that’s too slow for some they can move up to 2nd. (But as I am merely a field member and not a master, I get no vote and generally keep my thoughts to myself!) Also a footnote to the comments about skill levels in the third field; its a complete mixed bag, we often have 1st or 2nd field regulars who opt for third field for a variety of reasons, maybe they are giving a horse that has already hunted twice that week a break, sometimes horses (or riders) are coming back from an injury, and sometimes they just like the company!
MY idears!!
As a Hilltopper Queen; I’ve always been a propenent of hilltopper esprit de corps. Hilltoppers Rule! WE"RE the real hunters! WE"RE the true “ride to hunt” folks! :winkgrin: WE see the fox and houndwork. Whatever our reasons for being there; hilltoppers have more fun!
Back in the day, WG was a hilltopper fieldmaster…and I used to endure the first flighters “dropping back” to join us when they or their horses got tired or whatever. I used to tease them; then I decided to profit from it! :eek: I’d told them I’d started charging a $15 Drop Back Fee if someone changed to my field during the hunt. That I was going to collect back at the meet and start a Hilltopper Party Fund for the hunt. That these fees would finance a big Hilltopper blowout party at the end of the season for the regular Hilltopper field members only! 
OK…well…the masters & staff were invited too! :winkgrin: They loved the idea and I had a LOT of fun razzing first flighters!! The firsties would be buying the keg or whatever. I’ll never know how much that threat kept them away from us! We don’t need no stinkin’ first flighters back with us mucking up our hunting!! We looked down on THEM!!! 
:D:lol: :p:p:p:p:p
HILLTOPPERS RULE!!!
