This season our first field has been really small and I’ve been riding behind the field leader. I ask when we go out if anyone else wants that position and the answer is always “no”. I like to leave 2 or 3 horse lengths between me and the leader and yet I find some of the riders behind coming up along side me or even getting in front of me and kind of beginning to squeeze into my “pad”. They can’t then go any faster because I always keep up with the field leader, so it seems pointless to me. Am I a grumpy old man for being annoyed by this?
I tend to pick who I follow and also take into account who will be following me. Sometimes, in your situation, who is following me becomes more important than who I follow.
The worst part of riding in the field is the other people in the field…
Can you have a casual ‘gut check’ chat with the field leader? He or she probably has a plan for how the field should safely arrange themselves. What you described can easily be a safety issue, particularly when jumping.
Well, in the context of the other thread, are you causing the accordion effect by slowing down and getting collected and overthinking about whether your horse is too much on the forehand? The time to ensure you have the gap you need between yourself and the horse in front of you should be established a decent ways out- so that you are jumping at the same speed as the horse in front of you (but prepared to hold hard if that rider falls, or if, say, a hound comes along and needs to clear the fence- hounds always have right of way).
Now, mind you, ‘everyone’ should be working at this, in a perfect world there is no accordion effect but it always happens, especially with larger fields, so it is pretty much a standard feature. However, it shouldn’t generally be the first rider behind the field master starting the traffic buildup. But as you indicate, the problem isn’t a large field- so if at least part of it is that the folks behind you can’t hold their horses, or aren’t getting prepared for the upcoming fence and getting their spacing, then yes, it would be the field master’s duty to gently but firmly advise the field that safety and courtesy dictate that they not crowd each other.
I don’t think you are a grumpy old man - but there are always a few competitive ones! Just as long as you don’t hog the front spot all the time
because horses usually go better up front instead of pulling your arms out at the back.
We had a so called higher level three day rider out sometimes and she always felt she had to be in the front…and It did bug some of us regulars.
Ha Beverly, excellent question on your part, bringing up the other thread, but no, this is happening on the flat, well away from the jumps, plus, as I said I am keeping up with the field leader, just not slotting my horse into her horse’s ass. I think it is due to competiveness, inability to control the horse, and thoughtlessness, depending on who is doing it. I am not really asking for advice on this one; I could “handle” it if I wanted to.
Oh, did I ever tell you about the time we had a guest hunter about 14 join us? He was a really good rider, but he kept positioning his horse just along side mine and slightly rearward. After a LONG time of putting up with this, thru multiple checks, my horse kicked out with one leg and caught the boy on his shin. Haven’t seen that kid since… 
I hope you at least warned the kid, first. I’m all for stupidity being painful, but he’s not going to learn if he doesn’t understand both cause and effect.
[QUOTE=WildBlue;7197672]
The worst part of riding in the field is the other people in the field…
.[/QUOTE]
Yes. This. enough said.
[QUOTE=WildBlue;7198221]
I hope you at least warned the kid, first. I’m all for stupidity being painful, but he’s not going to learn if he doesn’t understand both cause and effect.[/QUOTE]
You are quite right. Basic etiquette and courtesy dictates that if someone else is behind or near you and your horse is threatening to kick, you advise that person immediately. And knock your horse into next week if it does kick, whether called for or not- you have to nip such a problem in the bud. When single file and your horse is acting grumpy, your hand palm outward in the small of your back gives the silent warning. And ‘any’ horse that has kicked in the field, whether provoked into it or not, ought to be wearing a red ribbon in its tail.
Any newcomer would, I think, welcome early warning/notice about proper spacing. It’s easy enough to say in a friendly manner, the first time someone puts their horse in a position that’s uncomfortable for your horse, that they should get more space between themselves and your horse for everyone’s benefit.
I’ve occasionally been asked at the meet by newcomers, or by veterans on new or green horses, whether they may follow me in the field ‘in case’ they discover that they lose brakes and might make contact with the horse in front. I always accommodate when they are polite enough to request- but if in the course of the day I can see my own horse becoming bothered by it, I’ll cheerfully help them find some other willing bumper car (or work with them to solve the problem). I did have one case on a trail ride here in Utah, where having said ‘sure you can follow me,’ that what the woman had in mind was parking her horse’s nose ON my horse’s butt- so with every stride the shanks of her bit were banging on my horse! I pretty quickly, say half a mile into it, said to her ‘you know, this isn’t going to work, my horse is not liking being hit with your bit.’ And so she went and found someone else, no hard feelings.
Our Masters have always given a welcome talk at the gather round and at that time they bring up the matter of common courtesy, etiquette and potential problems and how to avoid them.
Even the “Good Morning, Master” has fallen by the wayside and that is the time the Master can talk to newcomers - or Field Master, if he knows the situation.
Have you not perfected your “bitchy resting face?” When I started hunting a few of those disapproving looks from the older madams was all it took for me to learn my lesson!
[QUOTE=Jaegermonster;7198277]
Yes. This. enough said.[/QUOTE]
Here. here. I am doing my first hunt of the season this Sunday and as I said to a friend earlier this week, the worst part about hunting isn’t controlling my own horse but rather worrying about other riders & horses being stupid and unsafe!
This is a problem that your fieldmaster should be addressing, that’s his/her job. However he/she can’t do that unless he/she’s aware of it. He/she should have the authority to fix it with a glare at the offending party. Failing that a talking to should do the trick.
I’ve ridden with someone who had “the look” or rather “GLARE” if someone was just a smidge too close.
Until recently I didn’t feel like I could preform “the look”, even though I truly wanted folks to back the %*@& off my rear. I have since found it in myself to give “the look” or to politely say, “Please go ahead.” And say it in such a way that I am pleasant, but firm.
I enjoy riding anywhere in the field, front, back and middle. I really enjoy it when I feel safe.
On a slightly different note. I’ve been out before when we had a small field at a fixture that didn’t have any jumps. One of the folks riding that day was an 80 something year old gentleman. We were rocking and rolling on a coyote that day. And he was game to gallop along (also a day when a second flight wasn’t offered). He was in front of me at first, but even though I was keeping my distance I was worried about him getting pitched (due to his horse’s tendency to buck when we got going). So I moved to be in front of him, but I wasn’t overly thrilled with that either. His brakes weren’t the greatest and if I was in front, that left him at the rear. Who would know when he got dumped. Not a fun day due to all the worry. But the hounds DID AWESOME!
jawa, it finally came full circle with me this year when we were out roading with with a large group from a neighboring boarding barn.
One rider kept bumping my horse repeatedly. I knew inviting these guests was in an attempt to increase our membership, and I too am still a relatively new member, so do not feel comfortable putting anyone in their place. I tried “the look” over my shoulder twice after each solid bump. It didn’t work. I felt absolutely trapped, no place to let rider pass (not that this would have helped the rider in front of me!) or communicate with field master. It wasn’t until the horse started CHEWING on my mare’s tail that I finally found my inner “hunt madam”, but by this time I had already let it fester too long and ended up barking at the rider. To make it even more dramatic, the rider had in her futile attempt to control her horse with a snaffle had cut her horse’s mouth, and he bled all over my horse’s white tail! The rider never returned, and I still feel a slight twinge about having lost my lid, but in my defense, it was at least 6 hard bumps, and I had some serious work with Orvis paste to get the dried blood off her tail!
Now I like to think carefully before we even move off about where to place my horse!
For those of you experienced in etiquette, please help us newbys. Sometimes a glare isn’t enough. We may know we did something wrong but are not sure what it is. Last weekend was my very first hunt. I occupied the very back slot. It gave me a chance to watch what to do but not impede anyone behind me. It was a great experience but reading this made me wonder if I committed any offenses. I ride with a very nice, relaxed group but still want to follow protocol. Please take the time to help the new ones learn early. We will less of a PIA that way! 
There is no rule that forbids newbies from asking questions or, heaven forbid, doing some research BEFORE they arrive.
If someone is really causing a problem, I say something to them rather than giving evil looks. I do it at a check or break, if possible, but I do tell them. Softly, but clearly. Most are grateful for the guidance. The others are no great loss. 
I figure I’d rather be reprimanded for talking than have a horse wreck. And, if I do get noticed, at least the field master knows to keep an eye on the situation.
[QUOTE=CindyCRNA;7222748]
I occupied the very back slot. [/QUOTE]
That’s where you should have been so I doubt you did anything wrong. Staying in the rear when first starting out will help prevent problems for you and your horse until he settles.
The Wadsworth booklet is an excellent resource for the new foxhunter; I think you can buy it on the MFHA website; and the website contains information on protocol and etiquette as well. http://www.mfha.org/ If you can’t find the Wadsworth booklet on the MFHA site try abebooks, alibris, or amazon.
You can join the MFHA as a subscribing member, which I highly recommend you do if you haven’t already. The magazine is excellent and you also get the hunt roster.
I don’t see how a child deserved to be kicked in the shin because he was standing at your horse’s flank. 
We’ve all had other riders bounce off our horse’s hindquarters. It shouldn’t be a huge incident. Certainly everyone should strive to maintain following distance… if it’s out of ignorance, a kind word can go a long way. If it’s through inability, perhaps direction to move towards the rear or warning that your horse is not fond of being crowded.
