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.

yes, possibly

I'm not inexperienced, I'm just not into chucking myself over massive hedges! Call it a sense of self-preservation, or maybe I just don't drink enough at the meet! My horse is cheap, but he suits me and does everything I want. There are no gaps in my 'story' as you phrase it.

Yes line I have never jumped a hedge that doesn't mean I've not jumped at all. I have jumped over logs, streams, ditches and jumps in the school, I mentioned the hedges as I wouldn't feel confident going if I thought leaping over huge solid hedges were a must, I wanted to know if there was an option to dip out. Not quite sure what you think I'm lying about.

Thanks for your post but kin, we are going to hack there it's a short way and hoping it'll mean they are a bit calmer

Beertricks- yes I have been at the front, but only in the last few years (as a kid I hunted a few times, always at the back) and it has not been legal to kill foxes with hounds in the last few years, has it? Hence why I've never seen it, I imagine.

Firsthunt- hacking is a great idea, your horse will be much calmer. I'd also not arrive too early- he may get wound up if he has to stand for a while. Keep him facing hounds so there is no chance of him kicking one. Consider a green ribbonon his tail to warn people you're inexperienced, or a red ribbon if you think there is any chance he will kick.

If hunting was a working class persuit it would have been banned years ago along with badger baiting and cock-fighting. I absolutely believe this to be true.
I'm working class and I've done it!
If pursuits were banned for being working class, then surely fishing would have been banned years ago!
Working fox hounds is not illegal. If it was, presumably the regular police presence at our local hunt would be arresting huntsmen, rather than trying to get between the hunt and the rent a crowds?

OP - if you're legally drag hunting then why are you ashamed to tell you're family?

*your

Why do you think some of them wear coats a different colour to the rest?

It is not a working class pursuit just becuse they let a few plebs in saggy

Maybe fishing isn't banned because its managed generally and people fish for food (as well as fun, which again, im bemused about).

You are posting about hunting, OP.

'I've never ever jumped a hedge'

got responses, and then you say

'I can jump'

I think that's at best disingenuous.

Sabrina, you were right the first time

im going to have a chat with our wildlife officer. He just brought about a successful prosecution for badger baiting and sent an email to every officer on our patch to watch out for it.

im going to have a talk to him about fox hunting and see what his take on it is.

it is illegal to hunt a fox with hounds. i work a rural area so im going to ask him about it - i have talked to many gamekeepers etc over the time ive been in the job.

i know that foxes are self controlling. Its a total fallacy that they need to be culled or controlled.

its a sport. hunting is sport. people do it for fun. it pisses me off that those who hunt try to dress it as anything else.

Yes you've hit the nail on the head, the coat colour is related to the price you paid for your horse. An easy way for the hunting fraternity to identify who is worthy of being acknowledged!

BeerTricks I hate to even think about that statistic. 5000?

Poor hounds. Just shows that the whole Hunt is just a shameful sporting pursuit that has no regard for any animal welfare.

Vicarinatutu, you seem to be missing the point that foxhunts are no longer hunting as they used to pre-ban.

bollocks jade

OP, I would avoid horses until you know what you're doing.

They're still using hounds though? And 5000 hounds are put down every year?

That's worthy of note. How can that be justified?

I don't think she's missing the point jade, I think it's just really obvious that it's a lie.

The hounds are there to hunt down a fox. That is what is likely to happen.