Are we allowed to bring saddle bags along on a foxhunt? For water and/or phone for safety? Maybe a camera? Mostly just for water, though. I get terrible headaches if I do not drink lots of water. Also, what are the best types for english saddles? And lastly, I have a bony behind, LOL!, and was wondering if seat savers/cushions would help on the longer rides? thanks so much everyone 
I use a saddle bag like this for hunting, it will hold a camera and a few other essentials:
http://www.tackwholesale.com/leather-saddle-bags-english-p-247.html
If you can zoom in on this picture it shows the leather water bottle holder I had made- it holds a 1 liter water bottle:
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd89/BevHeff/Battle%20Mountain/31.jpg
I would add however that having ābothā a saddle bag āandā a water bottle as I have them requires dee rings on both sides (how clever I was to make sure of this feature when I ordered the saddle.
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Absent dee rings on both sides, there āareā some bottle holders that will attach to a front dee but you want to make sure you get one that can be secured at the bottom, to say, front billet, to avoid lots of flopping. I have one that I could do that with if I were to strategically use baling twine or a leather string.
As for seat saver, yes, I know plenty of folks who use sheepskin ones for hunting.
It is perfectly acceptable to carry a flask in your pocket while hunting, and no one needs to know itās just water inside. Most hunts would accept a woman carrying a manās flask attached to their saddle and again, filling it with water is acceptable.
Carrying a water bottle is perhaps not the best thing. Thereās a reason why flasks have attached tops. It makes one handed drinking much easier! I suppose you could use water bottles with the pull top though. But if you want to be as correct as possible, then get either a woman or manās flask.
Seatsavers are very popular accessories. Just make sure itās brown or natural. Avoid colored ones.
Wonderful! thanks for the info that you guys have been discussing. Awesome!!!
Just to clarify what others have said - most hunts have policies about what kind of tack and āaccessoriesā are acceptable. Some are stricter than others, but most do require flask holders or sandwich cases to be made of leather and not overly large - there are examples & photos available of proper ones and places do make similar products that arenāt as expensive. Yes, in hot weather water is often the drink of choice !
JMHO!
As a nurse, I can understand your desire to stay hydrated butā¦might I also suggest that you pre-load before hunting with lots of fluids then drink immediately after dismounting. Most healthy folks can go 3 hours without drinking imho. Hyper-hydrate that morning until your urine is fairly clear. Many of us pee right before mounting of courseā¦MANY of us!! :winkgrin: Even a diabetic should be able to go that long without food/fluids if properly timed food/fluids are done before & after riding. It takes some good planning but can prevent the need to even carry a water bottle/saddle bag. I also suggest generous use of chapstick to prevent dry lips/mouth from deep breathing. And some hard sugar candies will keep your mouth damper. I mean, most hunts have plenty of breaks. Maybe your headaches need treatment also besides drinking water which Iām sure youāre already pursuing.
Overall, I find hunts are verry tolerant of most types of smallish leather single saddle bags. The closer to traditional english sandwich bags the better Iād guess.
Iām a nurse too and healthy if a bit āagedā, but after a hard run on coyote in the Oklahoma/Kansas country Iām really thirsty!! I put a small water bottle in my pocket - (tried different carriers/holders, but the time allowed at checks made āthatā inconvenient!!). I put a āpop topā on any water bottle and can swig and go in a moment!!
Beverlyā¦what gorgeous country you have!!!
I use a suede seat cover if I want extra butt traction on a fresh horse. Once it gets cold I use my nice sheepskin seat cover and it does make the long hours a little nicer.
My sandwich case came from Bartville and it keeps a flask or small plastic 8oz bottle of water within reach. And yeah, Iām the dork who carries water in the flask until Opening Hunt or cooler temps, which ever comes first. Wateryglen makes a good point to hydrate up if itās going to be toasty. I good hit of Gatorade or similar product can make a big difference in the right way.
Let me also addā¦
Oh yeah I forgot to addā¦and you didnāt hear it from me exactlyā¦:winkgrin:ā¦butā¦alcohol is actually dehydrating so donāt think of it as ātaking fluidsā but more of a diuretic. If youāre the thirsty type; stay away from the flaskā¦but you didnāt hear this from me of courseā¦did you know the main treatment for a hangover is drinking lots & lots of water as the headache you get with a hangover is partly from the dehydration you experience post imbibing!!? Just sayinā!! but lets just keep this amongst ourselvesā¦cool.
Thanks but well, sigh, itās not āmineā as Iām a hunting orphan in Utah- itās Blu Pine hunt in Battle Mountain, NV. But yeah, some fun country generally out this way!
