Hunting for the first time, I'm terrified

[FirstHunt]

Am hunting on Monday it.l be the 4th time I've ridden the horse though he has hunted, I've popped over some small jumps in the school but I've never ever jumped a hedge, will I have to jump? if I don't jump am I likely to be left behind massively that's something he really doesn't like. I don't mind popping over small stuff but not huge hedges etc.

Or tweed?

Yeah, I had to count for mine too, bugger, hey?

But, maybe, just maybe, if you start talking about other cruelties to animals, people will stop making such a fuss about fox hunting? And then you just enjoy your sport in peace. It must be a pain having these Monitors spoiling your fun by mentioning these pesky Laws and things.
Maybe if people stopped making a fuss about fox hunting, they might actually turn their attention to the much larger issues out there. I never said that I was for or against hunting. Frankly I don't like cruelty to animals, i make sure that any animal that i am involved with leads as good a life as possiblee. But focussing on something because it's a rich mans sport is hypocritical. As are plenty of hunt protesters, who will happily endanger the lives of the hounds horses and riders in order to help the fox.
Our local hunt has a regular police presence. I'd imagine that this has an impact on its ability to break the law.

Jade, when you're in the back end of a sub-Saharan malarial cave all week trying to get data to write a research paper on the shitting patterns of early human infants, then Any Other Subject seems just grand.

Saggy, if you're against cruelty to animals, genuinely, you will be against fox hunting.

How can I put it? Fox hunting involves cruelty (ripping apart of a live animal by hounds) to foxes (said animal).

It really is that simple.

I'd imagine the police have better things to do.

We're all paying for them to make sure some twat on a horse doesn't a) accidentally allow the pack of hounds he's been yahooing over the countryside after to actually kill a fox, not that that's the point of the exercise oh deary me no or b) get into a ruck with a fox-protecting lady in a Puffa jacket & her mates.

Frankly, I don't think that's the best use of taxpayers' money, & it'd be unnecessary if you all just went for a nice unambiguously legal hack instead, no?

Saggy, I think fox hunting is awful. Yes there are other things that are arguably more awful and to be honest I do devote more time to those, such as fighting for the rights of victims and political prisoners around the world. But fox hunting in my eyes is still awful.

And indeed illegal.

Well, and as for the OP, I hope she keeps her horse safe.

You missed one:
3: or get into a ruck with a sab who has just stabbed his horse trying to cut the girth, or let off an air horn in its ear...

Why would you take a horse into harm's way?

Why would you go out of your way to deliberately hurt or scare a horse if you are against animal cruelty?

Oh I am quite prepared to accept that there have been, historically, a small number of appalling nutters linked with protesting about hunting, Saggy, & I condemn their behaviour just as much as yours.

Although there never seems to be much evidence, as opposed to anecdote, about their activities.

The argument that it's all a monumental waste of police time & budget stands.

No-one would.

I've just watched a number of hunt videos that were filmed since hunting became illegal. I don't anyone touching the horses except the riders or the hunt, and some of those riders look lost.

Saggy - it's a little condescending to suggest that if anti-fox hunting types stopped fussing about fox hunting and turned attention to the bigger issues, the world would be a better place. We can actually concentrate on more than one thing at a time, you know. Personally I think that there is way enough cruelty in this world without deliberately adding to it so that some folks can have a jolly day out.

Actually, that sounds way too restrained. What I actually think is that people who deliberately indulge in any form of cruelty against defenceless beings, whether that be animals, children or other people, are utter fuckwits.

There's little evidence that hunts break the law. Apparently it happens though. Sabs are well know for bully boy tactics, just as much as huntsmen.
line would most of those videos be filmed by monitors?

Saggy - you can't put the onus on the Hunt monitors here.

The Hunters are in the wrong. They can't engage in a cruel sport that has a very real chance of the death of a defenseless animal, due to a loophole in the law, and then claim that those standing against it are in the wrong.

It's filmed evidence, Saggy.

I don't think it's CGI.

What is the need to hunt with hounds at all? It's just a barbaric throwback sport.

Evidence, Saggy?

I did a fair bit of sabbing in my younger days. We weren't terribly effectual, in fact we've all sworn never to mention the time some numpty reversed our van into a pond & the hunt followers kindly went off, found a local guy with a tractor, & pulled us out , but I never saw evidence of any of the Antis behaving in a manner that might harm horses, hounds, or members of the hunt.

I'm not saying it's never ever happened, & I've also heard rumours of the occasional headcase joining the sabs just in the hopes of a punch-up & being disinvited next time - I'm saying 'well known for' does not = evidence.

Whereas it's a tad difficult to argue that the Hunt aren't going out en masse for a day of premeditated 'being unpleasant to animals', isn't it? No argument that mostly you wouldn't hurt a fly but regrettably you have to boot out the odd weirdo who likes ripping foxes to bits for fun?

No, not cgi, but would you post a video showing yourself doing something wrong?
I'm not putting the onus on anybody. As I said, I never said I was pro hunting, I do however find sabs hypocritical. They have no regard for horse, rider or hound in their quest to protect the fox. I've seen their behaviour and have had plenty of anecdotes from others over the years. They have absolutely no room to shout.

Saggy - I think your use of the word sabs is another diversionary tactic. Yes, there are nutters in the anti-hunt movement, just as in all walks of life. Doesn't detract from the fact that the vast majority of people in this country are against a practice which often involves the lingering and unecessary death of a defenceless, terrified creature for the enjoyment of a few people devoid of compassion or (I would argue) real intelligence.

Sabs, hypocrites, rent a crowds, animal rights activists...

Still waiting on evidence, as opposed to anecdotes, of animal cruelty inflicted by the 'sabs'.

Remind me again - what's the life expectancy of a foxhound?

12-15 years naturally, or somewhere below 9 years if put down when they start to slow down a bit, which is what routinely happens with no attempt at re-homing.

I find it hard to take seriously the apparent fretting of the hunt lobby over 'sabs' showing a lack of concern for the hounds.

God, those awful animal rights activists - stopping FoxHunters from killing wild animals in the name of sport. What are they thinking??