08/15/2023
It takes time and hunt field mileage to learn all of the ins and outs of foxhunting, but many rules are kept in place to not only help us enjoy a sporting day, but also to keep ourselves, our horses, and hounds safe! Here are 12 easy rules to follow to help you become a “Proper” hunter that don’t include having “perfect” turnout🦊
1. Arrive to the meet EARLY. Not on time, not late, EARLY. Tacking up at home will ensure that you have not forgotten your tack and you will have plenty of time to warm up and get your horse mentally prepared for the day ahead. When you’re late, there is a chance you can ruin the day of hunting when trying to play catch up with the field.
2. Say good morning to staff, masters, field masters, and especially landowners that may be at the meet to see the hunt off.
3. Make way for staff and hounds quickly. Make sure the riders ahead of you are aware that they need through. The hounds and staff need to be able to quickly and safely make their way through the field of riders if need be. Turn your horse’s hind end away from passing hounds and staff. I guarantee you, there is no worse hunting sin than to kick a hound.
4. Allow the horse in front of you enough space to safely do their job and not have to reprimand your horse for getting too close. Horses have legs, they can kick. Do not expect someone to tolerate you running into their mount. If you cannot hold your horse, work on that at home with your trainer and evaluate your bit choice. Don’t be afraid to speak up if the rider behind you is not respecting your horse’s space!
5. Call out potential dangers to riders in front and behind you loudly enough to be heard, but not so loudly you interfere with the hounds. Holes, low branches, loose horses, bees, etc should be made known to fellow riders.
6. Keep the conversations to a minimum. Wait until you are back at the hunt tea to discuss vacation plans, your awful coworker, etc. Unnecessary talking is distracting to the hounds and staff and is just plain irritating to field members that want to hear the hounds work.
7. Stop to fix any rails or jumps you may have broken. Close any gates you go through. Alert someone immediately if something needs fixed that cannot be done by hand so that it can be fixed after the hunting day has concluded. This is incredibly important when riding through/around fields that hold livestock.
8. Make sure you say thank you, smile, and wave to any car followers who stop to help the hounds and field cross roads safely. When you are crossing said road, do so quickly and wave, smile, and say thank you to cars that are being held up on the road as you cross. Wave, smile, and say thank you/good morning to landowners who are outside while you cross their property.
9. DO NOT ride on crops. Stay to the headlands.
10. If you notice your horse is tired, take them in before they are exhausted or drop back to a non-jumping/slower field. Use your best horsemanship and save your horse for the rest of the season. Always ask your field master before hacking in or dropping back a field. Someone else may be ready to hack in with you if you’re vocal about needing to head back to the meet.
11. If you arrive back at the meet before the rest of the hunt, make sure that you leave enough coffee and snacks for those who have stayed out the entire day. Do not take things you did not bring to the tea back home with you if nobody else has returned!
12. TAKE YOUR MANURE HOME WITH YOU! Do not clean out your trailer at the meet. Bring a muck tub or wait until you are home to clean out your trailer. If you do not want your manure and shavings, the landowner certainly does not!
