Opening meets- anyone go?

[Eve]

I didn't as can't be bothered to plait hairy native for it.

Don't need toplait any other time thankfully.

[Mirage]

We went and had a friend pull dpony's mane and plait her up.It went surprisingly well considering that her previous owners needed a pony club instructor with a lip twitch to pull her mane.I did see one or two horses that were au naturel,out of a field of 130.There were 27 side saddle riders too,including a little girl who jumped amazingly.

Did you ever find another loan pony for your ds? I seem to remember that you had one who had to go back?

[Eve]

Good nemory!!

Loan pony went back and in June I bought 13,2 new forest bay roan 8yr old, and she is almost perfect and lovely.

My kids love her, she really looks after them, she's done camp, rallies, hunter trials, show jumping ... Tomorrow we are doing a treasure/activity ride. Pony we all dream of finding.

Only downside is she takes her time to load , but learnt that now & know not to stress.

[Butkin]

Sadly not because I'm in America at the moment for Breeders' Cup but think DD will be going next Saturday.

[TenderlyLovinglyByAGoat]

yes

excited!

[TenderlyLovinglyByAGoat]

how big a leap, in terms of horse (and rider!) fitness is a full day's hunting from morning hunts?

[frostyfingers]

It really varies I think, depending on where your meet is. Some places are made for the long galloping and jumping days which can be exhausting, and others are less energetic. I'm going to be picking a fairly low key one for my first proper outing, preferably a weekday rather than a busy Saturday too.

You don't have to stay out all day if you think your horse is knackered - there's no shame in sneaking off early! Our last morning hunt was a fairly vigorous 3.5 hours and I was whacked out, but I'm sure that was something to do with having to get up at 5am, not just being unfit.

[TenderlyLovinglyByAGoat]

I don't think I'll know if he's knackered, it will be the following day or so when he is lame that his lack of fitness will be apparent!

[TenderlyLovinglyByAGoat]

(in everyday riding it is obvious, but in exciting situations he will just keep going like the clappers and suffer for it later - does that make sense?)

[frostyfingers]

Yes, perfect sense - but if he starts really leaning on you, or is clumsy when you jump (assuming of course that you will be leaping enormous hedges!) then you get an idea. However - it's easy to know when you're knackered, so perhaps you could take a unilateral decision!

[Butkin]

I only ever went out from 11 until 2pm. Once they changed to 2nd horses I headed home. Important to remember that it may take 30mins plus to hack back to your box.

Always best to finish on a good note.

[TenderlyLovinglyByAGoat]

Dunno, am a bit like my horse in that I also want to go on and on and don't realise am actually hurting myself until much later - we are a pair of children who don't want to go to bed early and miss out on any fun!

No jumping so far, there isn't much anyway (occasional 'yikes' ditch) and hope to keep it that way as he has terrible habit of galloping in then stopping which is not just horrible for me but a bit risky for entire group I think .

[TenderlyLovinglyByAGoat]

hi butkin, didn't see you there!

our opening meet is on Saturday too (I think, not sure as so many overlap prob because we are right in the middle of the county?)

[Mirage]

Dpony was hacked to the meet,so her jockey decided to head for home after 2 hours [3 including the hack],dpony had other ideas and just kept on going though.Luckily she is super fit due to both dds riding her,and jockey carried on til 2nd horses which luckily was a mile from our yard.She was fine the next day thankfully.

Have fun!

[Butkin]

DD going to Suffolk on Saturday but I'm not back from America until Monday.
She isn't taking pony though without me.

[Earthdog]

Won't be going this Season. With our pack, the Opening Meet is always a totally psycho free for all with a huge field of thrusters colliding with each other over lines of 5 foot hedges. Maybe I am just getting old!

[TenderlyLovinglyByAGoat]

I feel a bit wibbly in the tummy after reading that description earthdog

[Earthdog]

Haha yes we have a number of heavily-hedged meets that you just know will be utter carnage. At the latest one I went to the gateshutters had collected more than 6 loose horses in a short space of time (excluding mine..) Boxing Day is one to avoid for different reasons, namely confused, strangely dressed, hopeless newbies on wild eyed, out of control, kicking horses!

[frostyfingers]

Opening meet and Boxing Day are to be avoided at all costs by anyone wanting a sensible day's hunting - I used to love them when I was younger, but now can't bear all the freshly clipped loony horses and their equally loony jockeys. For my first day I shall pick a mid week, non jumping day and pootle about hopefully at my own speed....(wishful thinking).

The thing to do is loiter around near a younger, non jumping looking sort and attach yourself to them - then the thrusters will think you're nannying and not a wimp and you can have an enjoyable and safe day - well, that's my plan!

[TenderlyLovinglyByAGoat]

:( we are not exactly warmly welcome at opening meet

but invited to try quieter, slightly more 'open' (in terms of field I suppose they mean) mid week meet

I don't know if he will settle to it or not, obviously is fine on the move, jumping etc but he cannot will not stand. Went bit wild as soon he heard the hounds and couldn't get his front end down again will give it two, maybe three more goes but not sure how far we can stretch everyone's patience? Masters were nice and said was definitely nothing I did/didn't do, but obviously now he knows what it all means he loses his head. I love it though, and really want it to be something I do with him specifically. If he could just relax!

[TenderlyLovinglyByAGoat]

I really hope nobody from our lot is on here!

[annieapple7]

Can you go hunting and not jump? I am too scared to jump. Does anyone go on their own, or do you all go in groups? I don't have anyone to go with. Is it expensive? Do you have to join or can you just turn up on the day? If you decide you have had enough and are in the middle of the countryside, how do you find your way back to the horsebox?
Incredibly, despite these questions, I have hunted before but it was so long ago that I can't remember!

[TenderlyLovinglyByAGoat]

it must depend who you are with - and where, can you imagine hunting in Ireland and not jumping? There might be vids on YouTube. Our area was 99% ditches, some look terrifying but I shut my eyes!

Think my (not exactly mine but the ones I am thinking of subscribing to) are like most in that usually you take turns to jump, and if your horse stops then wait until last (or is that if it stops twice?) and there should theoretically be a way round - however have not found this theoretical non jumping route. Even if there was one, in real life, can your horse resist jumping stuff? Mine can't, not in that situation.

You can leave when you like, there were loads of people around (some in cars, on foot etc) to direct you - have only been in own area so horse at least knew quickest route home! Good plan if you can get someone to go with and look after you and come away with you if you absolutely have to leave - you could pay half their subs maybe? Talk to the masters about it.

It is so addictive though. Can't believe am typing that when entire body is erupting in PAIN.

[TenderlyLovinglyByAGoat]

Expensive - ummm, think cap is £50 for day, or subscription £650. Autumn/morning hunts finishing now but they were cheaper.

I went with a friend at first but lost her immediately, but obviously you are already in a big group even if you have never met anyone else before. I love that, the social part of it. You will know some people, unless you have only just moved to area?

[frostyfingers]

Annie, the best thing is to find out who the secretary is and just contact them. I did, and they have been very helpful, and they are happy to give as much info as you want - directions, places to park, name of who to contact on the day etc. You may be able to do a couple of taster days - I know some hunts do special intro days for new people - if you look on the MFHA website there is a directory which should point you in the right direction. mfha.org.uk/pack_directory/

I go on my own, people are generally pretty pleased to see a new face and are welcoming (or at least they have been here), and have been made very welcome. They were thrilled that I've taken out a part sub (6 days) and said that if it goes well enough for me to want to do more then they can come to an arrangement for extra days. It isn't cheap, which ever way you look at it I'm afraid. But, as Tenderly says it is most definitely worth it. For more hunting info you could look at the Horse and Hound forum, they have a section on hunting there which gives lots of tips about what to do, wear etc.
www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=61

[TenderlyLovinglyByAGoat]

oh that h&h hunt forum link is great (and a bit depressing)

I never think to go there, but :( at 'wild eyed out of control horses exploding when asked to stand still', have got one of those, maybe have ruined him for hunting for life :(