so is a person without colors ever right?

[wateryglen]

How’s this?!!

I agree with all the learned opinions previously stated!! In her defense tho’…is it possible that she’s REALLY in a snit because her horse is outa her control or that she’s scared to move on or that she’s embarassed/frustrated with not being able to keep up or that she’s just plain ignorant of the situation. That she knows she should move back etc. Sometimes these types of folks are really weak at heart and just HATE to give way to better riders/horses. It’s an ego preservation experience for them.

PITA?!! Absolutely! Common?! Yep!
Your concerns & thoughts? VALID!
Go yee and speak to thy FM and MFH in a nice way about how you should handle it. Passing is always appropriate here if done correctly and I don’t think you need to ask her permission; just tell her. “Passing on your right!” or “When we get into the open I’m going to pass on your left!” And keep going to the FM. I’m betting you aren’t the only one and that the FM and MFH’S already know & agree w/you. Sometimes they have to stay “neutral” because of hunt politics and might not choose to confront her.

Go forth and have fun!

[Ponyclubrocks]

In my experience every hunt has it’s share of C.O.B.s (crusty old bastards/bitches).

Sometimes they have a very long history with a particular hunt and better be sure to know your politics before causing offense. Most masters already know who the cranky pants are and will give you permission to pass them etc if they deem it appropriate. Always communicate quietly and privately with the master and that should solve 99% of all serious issues.

Lastly, I always treat the C.O.B.s with unwavering warmth and kindness, even when they are snarly…and amazingly, over time most do soften up.

As for passing, like others have said, once you clear it with the master, just announce your intention and do it without doing anything to unduly disturb her horse (Don’t pass in a rush and gallop off, that’s just rude in anyones book. Trot past and allow some distance before blasting off.). If you have a fast horse you will catch up to the front soon enough.

JMO and happy hunting! At least your hunt is getting out…we have been shut out practically all winter (whine whine).

[Groro]

I have been hunting for over 25 years, whipped in for six of those years, have my colors four different hunts and am currently a new Master whose job it is to lead the field (among other things). I HATE whiners!! Your Masters know what is happening in the field and are going to deal with the problem or have chosen to not to!

My advice is to bite your tongue on this matter and just buck up. The Masters have more important things to worry about. Leave it to other older (and “colored” members of the field) to deal with. Even if and when you get your colors
this member will always have higher ranking than you in your hunt and will always be a pain in your butt.

Try to be a polite, helpful member of the field. Offer to open and close gates. Bring goodies and drinks to the tailgate. Always be turned out well and have your horse behaving. Wear a hair net. Kill your nemisis with kindness. She will eventually be her own worst enemy.

[jawa]

I second the kill 'em with kindness way of going.

[eyetallion_stallion]

[QUOTE=Groro;4708330]
I have been hunting for over 25 years, whipped in for six of those years, have my colors four different hunts and am currently a new Master whose job it is to lead the field (among other things). I HATE whiners!! Your Masters know what is happening in the field and are going to deal with the problem or have chosen to not to!

My advice is to bite your tongue on this matter and just buck up. The Masters have more important things to worry about. Leave it to other older (and “colored” members of the field) to deal with. Even if and when you get your colors
this member will always have higher ranking than you in your hunt and will always be a pain in your butt.

Try to be a polite, helpful member of the field. Offer to open and close gates. Bring goodies and drinks to the tailgate. Always be turned out well and have your horse behaving. Wear a hair net. Kill your nemisis with kindness. She will eventually be her own worst enemy.[/QUOTE]

I thought one of the responsibilities of the Field Master is to keep the riders close to the action and to enjoy the hounds working without interfering with the Huntsman. If this harridan is preventing other members, with or without colors, from being close to the hounds by riding like she owns the damn hunt and spreading out the field, how is the OP being a whiner?

Doesn’t sound like other members with colors are doing anything either, but is it really their place to confront the woman about her behavior? What if they are all “lower ranking” than her? Does she just automatically get to ride roughshod all over anyone she wants because she ranks 'em?

The Masters may have more important things to worry about if they choose to ignore this type of behavior, ohhhh, like, subscribers and members choosing to pay their dues to another hunt.

I think most foxhunters are painfully aware of field etiquette, and for those that choose, like this particular woman, to be a total beyotch in the field, then they should be most firmly dealt with by the Master for disrupting the enjoyment of the rest of the field’s hunting.

[Beverley]

@Groro;4708330

My advice is to bite your tongue on this matter and just buck up. The Masters have more important things to worry about.

I’m going to politely disagree. Nothing is more important when you are out there than showing good sport. As you well know, keeping the field together is essential not just for those who have paid for the privilege of watching the hounds, but also for landowner courtesy.

On the merits- anyone who can’t, or won’t, keep up in whichever field they are in, needs a friendly talking to by the Master, that’s why MFH’s get the big bucks.

I have, when whipping in, come across a wayward hilltopper who couldn’t keep up with the slow group! And was a quarter mile behind them, going slowly, in serious danger of totally messing up sport when that fox made the next loop. No Master would want that, surely.

[bigbaytb]

[QUOTE=Groro;4708330]
I have been hunting for over 25 years, whipped in for six of those years, have my colors four different hunts and am currently a new Master whose job it is to lead the field (among other things). I HATE whiners!! Your Masters know what is happening in the field and are going to deal with the problem or have chosen to not to!

My advice is to bite your tongue on this matter and just buck up. The Masters have more important things to worry about. Leave it to other older (and “colored” members of the field) to deal with. Even if and when you get your colors
this member will always have higher ranking than you in your hunt and will always be a pain in your butt.

QUOTE]

HMMM See, that is what makes me hesitant to speak to the MFH because I would be considered whining. I am not a person who likes to gossip. that is why I don’t want ask the other members and posted here to find out if her attitude was acceptable…and I don’t want to be a bother because I do have alot of respect for our MFH for having “more important” duties.

I do know the rules and wonder if the rules are bent for those with colors… ( FYI, I have only been reamed out once by the MFH for breakig a rule during my first year…and then one of the old timers tried to take the blame for egging me on…but that’s another story :lol:)

I understand that there is a heirarchy but does colors = snood rights? I thought it just meant that you’d proven yourself to the hunt in various capacities and one was to be looked up upon as a good member and rider. I didn’t realize that it meant colors meant you looked down from your high horse and lorded over those without colors.

I am fortunate that I had met many wonderful members and staff prior to joining three years back. I think if this had happened earlier, I would have questioned membership.

As Miss Snit has no Idea how I feel and we get along fine. I will not say anything until next season and see what happens. However, I have asked the MFH about the other times I have passed riders and she was pleased to note that I did it correctly with good cause.

[armandh]

order in the hunt field

Colors have been awarded to those who have been of great service to our hunt, but I cannot think of any who haven’t ridden first flight.

However ,colors would not solve your problem (in our hunt) as, among those with colors, seniority prevails. that said…

You have my sympathy. I too have been stuck behind a senior snail.

Almost 17 years with colors, now quite a bit slower my self, with a horse that can put in an excited buck or two…despite being mostly a follower…
I remember how vexing it can be, and pulled up to let everyone pass.

Before I started collecting social security I had been occasionally pressed in to duty leading the first or second field. Now I would decline. My hearing and my horses [and my] conditioning would slow things down too much.

The master(s) likely know of the problem and are unlikely to take you to task for passing the snail on a run. Just remember, time catches up to us all.

PS. colors or no you will always be wrong in any pissing match with a land owner. the masters may be forced to side against a land owner for the future good of the hunt [rare] but land owner relations usually prevail.
it never ends well.
lost one senior member with colors that way.

[wateryglen]

Ruh-roh…now you’ve done it!

I also respectfully disagree w/Groro…I likely have more years leading fields perhaps than you and I think it IS the fieldmasters responsibility to deal with this issue. And not all FM’s are MFH’s also so they may not have the political clout to do the disciplining. There is always a nice way to handle this. It does take some effort. Saying masters are too busy with more important things to deal with this?!! :eek: Nope, don’t buy it…yeah some like to put their heads in the sand rather than deal…ESPECIALLY with senior members.
Whining? Nope she wasn’t. It was an excellent question! Buck UP!!??!!! Well excuuuuuse me!! :p:p