As a Finnish horse rider, hunting has been an absolute black hole for me for 22 years. The first time, I had even heard of it, was in NZ, where every horse rider had been on a hunt field and knows exactly what it is all about.
For us, not so educated - Fox hunting is an activity involving the tracking, chase, and sometimes killing of a fox, traditionally a red fox (we were hunting rare), by trained foxhounds and a group of unarmed followers led by a master of foxhounds.
I do not even know where should I start. If only someone would have taken a picture of my face, I think it would have explained the whole situation better than thousand words. I was absolutely stunned.
Kids were falling off from their ponies, horses were slipping on the wet grass while galloping up steep hills, young Whippers-ins’ carrying huge whips to control the dog-pack, dozens of hounds running around and trying to find the scent, gallops, jumps, sweat, laughter, accidents and still everyone managed to have a good time.
At the end of the hunt, the master of the hunt even managed to lost his horse on a swamp ! In the end horse was fine, but seriously, does anything like that ever happen on dressage competition?
I remember sitting on Robbie, who was absolutely soaking wet, as well as his rider, from all that running around for the past hours, when someone offered me Whisky from her breast pocket. Hallelujah ! Guys were opening up beer bottles one after another and everyone seemed really relaxed. Not any of that competitive and tight atmosphere you will see in dressage or show-jumping competitions. Just a fun time with friends.
When I had a chance to change couple of words with the locals, they were quite convinced that hunting is the only real form of horse riding, and that no one is a good rider until they manage to survive on a hunt field.
And I can totally agree that it is a very unique experience. Something I definitely enjoy doing more than circles in the dressage arena. Although, there is a slight contradiction in it.
Could we just leave the killing part and have fun running around with out it? ;)
The only photo I managed to find from the event. Me and Robbie on the left.
Would I recommend it ? Yes. There is just a few things I would make sure I am aware of before I get myself involved.
Which level of hunt are you attending to?
It depends on the level how hard the field will be. For example, the hunts are often held on fields, used for cattle or other animals, and therefore its all rounded up with fences. On the easier hunts, you will have an opportunity to bypass the jumps, as there is always a gate open somewhere you can use. On the harder hunts, there might be places where only option is to jump to be able to follow the hunt. Also the terrain is made easier / harder depending on the level.
Is your horse first time on the hunt field?
Make sure your horse is capable of galloping and jumping with dozens of horses without getting too hot. I definitely made this mistake on my hunt, and as Robbie was so hot the whole time, I was not able to relax fully either.
Lots of experience with riding?
And I don’t mean only dressage or show-jumping. It is not a beginners sport.