FAQ’s

Riders new to hunting will have many questions. Here are some of the most frequently asked, along with some other useful hints.

Do I need to be an expert rider?

Many abilities of rider enjoy hunting. Horses do tend to enjoy the experience and are a little more enthusiastic than normal — so be prepared for a more forward going horse than usual. If you are unsure, ask the Secretary to suggest a quieter day for your first time, or better still come Autumn Hunting during September as these days are quieter and a good introduction.

Will I need to be able to jump fences?

In the AWH Country, there is usually a way round all the jumps so jumping is not required, though the route may not be as direct. We very often have a non-jumping fieldmaster on a Saturday and we will always direct non-jumpers where to go.

What do I wear?

Correct Hunting Dress: Autumn Hunting: Tweed Jacket, Beige Jods, Shirt & Tie or coloured stock, Black or Brown Boots (or boots and gaiters), horse does not need to be plaited, please avoid brightly coloured tack and boots, gloves recommended. Hunting: Black or Blue jacket, Beige jods, Shirt and Stock, Black Boots (or boots and gaiters), horse plaited, please avoid brightly coloured tack and boots, gloves recommended (Children and gateshutters as Autumn Hunting above, horse need not be plaited if wearing tweed jacket). Please try and wear correct dress, show jackets and tweed jackets are OK — but you may find it cold! Horse and rider should be clean and tidy. Correct safety equipment should always be worn when mounted, it is recommended that all riders wear correctly fitting safety riding hats, children are advised to wear body protectors and riding hats with a harness.

How much will it cost?

Autumn Hunting: £10-20, children £5-10 Hunting: Adults Sat £50 max (Only 3 visitor days allowed) See subscription rates for further info.

When can I come?

Ring the Secretary to ask permission and to find out when we are hunting in an area close to you.
If you are unsure, ask the Secretary to suggest a quieter day for your first time, or better still come Autumn Hunting during September as these days are quieter and a good introduction.

What is a gateshutter?

A gateshutter is someone who comes out and who takes responsibility for the day to ensure all gates are shut after the field has passed through them. Subscribers take turns to gateshut, but non subscribers are also welcome to gateshut. Gateshutting days are free of charge and do not count towards visiting days. Gateshutters are required to stay out until 3pm. Visitors must have completed a days visiting to ensure their horse or pony is suitable before volunteering to gateshut. A gateshutting rota is organised in advance so please get in touch if you would like to volunteer.

It is the responsibility of every member of the field to ensure gates are shut. Always shout gate please, even if you think the person behind you heard the last person to shout. Even if gateshutters are out, the last person through a gate is responsible for ensuring it is shut. Never leave one person on their own to shut a gate.

Tips for your first days hunting:

Practice plaiting before the day — it takes longer than you think!

Get all your kit ready the night before. Make sure all tack is clean and safe.

Be prepared to wash your horse to make sure he is clean and tidy either the day before or early in the morning.

If your horse is a good traveler — saddle up before you go, it can be difficult to tack up an excited horse, when you arrive — put the bridle on before you unload.

Allow plenty of time. You must have found and paid the Secretary and be mounted on your horse ready to go 10 mins before the meet time.

If you are not sure about anything — please ask — we were all new to it once!

Please always keep well away from the hounds — the only unforgivable sin is for your horse to stand on or kick a hound! Be aware, even if your horse is used to dogs, 50 hounds approaching from behind can be a shock always turn your horse to face them.

If instructions are given in front of you — always repeat it so that everyone behind can hear. (ie Keep in, please walk, gate please.)

If in doubt always shut the gate, always walk around the field instead of straight across, never ride through a herd of animals — go round, always thank the car drivers for slowing down, be nice to everyone you meet — you may have just galloped across their field!

But most of all ENJOY YOUR DAY!

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What to Wear

YOURSELF
Autumn Hunting (attire referred to as Rat Catcher)
Tweed coat
Shirt and tie or stock shirt and coloured stock
Brown, beige or cream breeches
Brown or black boots or short boots with chaps
Spurs with brown or black straps (optional)
Velvet covered riding hat/hunt cap or dark hat cover with hairnet (for ladies)
Gloves

From the Opening Meet (attire referred to as Full Fig)
Black or Navy Blue (ladies only)coat
Stock shirt and cream or white stock
Pale breeches
Black boots
Spurs with black straps
Velvet covered riding hat/hunt cap or hat cover to match colour of coat
Gloves - preferably pale

YOUR HORSE
If you are unsure play safe, use the strongest bit that your horse is used too.
Dark or sheepskin numnahs, following saddle shape
Boots if required
Plait from the Opening Meet
Ribbons(on your horses tail)
Red – if it kicks
Green – young and/or inexperience to hunting.
Clean Horse!
Clean Tack!

No one expects you to buy full hunting attire to come along to your first meet to find out if you are going to enjoy hunting. Most importantly be comfortable & warm. If in doubt, please contact one of the Masters or the Secretary.

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On The Day

Before the Meet
Check the meet card for where and when the hunt is meeting.
If you are not a subscriber, please ring the secretary and ask if you may join the hunt for the day. Newcomers should check that the meet is suitable for them and she will advise you where to park.

Aim to arrive at least ten minutes before the time of the meet and be mounted at the meet by the time stated on the meet card.

Park sensibly in the designated area ensuring you aren't blocking a lane or driveway or anything that may cause congestion or inconvenience to other road users.

On arrival at the meet introduce yourself to the Master(s). ( The correct salutation is " Good morning Master".) Seek out the person responsible for collecting caps, usually the Secretary. Please do not leave it to them to seek you out.

Hunting is a sport to enjoy. The more people you talk to at the meet, the happier the atmosphere that is created and the quicker you will make friends.

Make sure to face your horse to the hounds should you be in close proximity of them. Do not allow your horse to tread upon or kick a hound. A horse will by instinct kick out at something that comes up unexpectedly from behind. This rule applies throughout the hunt.

Before moving off, the Master will address the field, thank the hosts and give out the arrangements for the day. At the meet it is announced who will be “Field Master” for the day, if it is not the speaker. Then the Huntsman blows his horn to gather hounds and they set off to begin the day. Do remember to keep your horse facing the hounds at the meet, as well as when moving off.

During the Hunt
No one should bring out hunting a horse which habitually kicks, but if a horse has been known to kick out if other horses come too close behind it, a red ribbon should be worn at the top of it's tail.

If hounds come towards you, face your horse to them.

Ensure you stay behind the Field Master, but please try to keep up with the field, should you get left behind you my not find the field again! Try not to get in the way of the huntsman or whippers in.

Pass on any messages when they come, loud and clear – such as “gate-please” or “keep in please” for example.

Shutting Gates - It is the duty of all hunt followers to ensure that all gates that have been opened are closed. Please thank any person who opens the gate and do not ride off and leave a mounted follower to try and shut a gate on their own.

Generally practice good manners – they go a long way and cost nothing. Make sure you thank everyone that does something to make your day more enjoyable such as opening a gate.

When jumping, wait your turn. If your horse refuses then let the others go first before trying again. If it stops three times, don’t carry on trying, you will just make a mess and risk injury. There will usually be some one on hand to assist or advise you.

If you should damage a fence, gate or any other of the landowners property, ensure you leave it stock proof and report it to the master or secretary as soon as practicable. If you forget or can’t find someone, it could result in livestock getting out on to the road, so a phone-call to one of the hunt officials to inform them will be gratefully received.

At the end of the day (or when you decide to finish), be sure to thank the Masters and say “Goodnight”. not only is it good manners, you wouldn't want to be responsible for someone searching for you after you have gone.

Things to AVOID
Upsetting farmers and landowners – be most courteous to them and remember that they enable our sport to take place and so treat them with utmost respect. You probably won’t know these people, so it is good policy to greet and thank everyone you meet as you cross land. They do in fact get very upset if they are ignored.

Do not take the direct route straight across a field unless following the Field Master. This may damage to the field or cause distress to livestock. Always ride around the perimeter.

Cutting though fields to get home or back to the lorry without prior permission. Even if you crossed the land when you were with ‘The Field’, the landowner gave permission for the hunt to cross, not individual followers on their way home. Also bear in mind that the land owner may have given time constraints to the hunt officials after which the hunt is not allowed. Once you have left ‘The Field’, stick to public rights of way.

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Who's Who

The Masters

Masters are in overall command of the hunting activities. They decide when and where hounds will meet, what coverts are to be drawn, and when hounds will go home. They are responsible for hounds showing the best possible sport under existing conditions; and are responsible for the hounds, the staff, and making sure the riders only go where they are permitted neither causing damage nor annoying the landowners who make the sport possible. In this hunt, there are currently three joint masters.

The Huntsman
Controls the hounds, indicating to them by his horn or voice what he wishes them to do. He attempts to be sure that hounds work together as a pack by encouraging the tail hounds and steadying the lead hounds. In the case of a check he must be prepared to assist hounds to recover the line by use of a cast if necessary. His technical decisions must be quickly made, staff and Field must abide by them.

The Whippers-in
Whippers-In assist the Huntsman in controlling hounds by turning them back to the Huntsman or by encouraging them forward to him as necessary. Whippers-in are also used by the Huntsman to retrieve the hounds should they engage a hare or deer. No one except the Huntsman gives orders to Whippers-In. No one, except by request of the Huntsman or master, should accompany them or attempt to assist them.

The Secretary
Deals with the hunt’s administration, collects the cap (the payment for the day) at the meet and is happy to help you in any way.

The Terrier Men
Are normally seen out hunting on foot or in a 4x4.

The Field Consists of the mounted followers and is controlled by the Field Master who rides at the head of it. The Field Master is responsible for leading & controlling the Field across the country in pursuit of hounds. Whilst also seeing that the Field does not interfere with hounds in their work; and he is also responsible for seeing that the Field avoids damage to the landowners’ property. The Field should follow the Field Master and follow his instructions. Download a PDF version of this page.

Terminology

Autumn Hunting	The early part of hunting from August until the Opening Meet on or about the last Saturday in October.
Cap	A daily charge for hunting.
"Car Please"	Is shouted to tell the Field to keep to the left to let cars through on the road.
Couples	Hounds are counted in couples. i.e. one hound, a couple, a couple and a half, two couples, etc. Couples are also two collars linked on a chain and can be seen hanging on the hunt staffs' saddles
Field	The mounted followers.
"Gate Please"	Shouted backwards on going through a gate which should be closed.
"Good Morning"	The appropriate greeting at the meet.
"Good Night"	The appropriate salutation for the end of the day even if it was an Autumn Hunting morning which ended before midday.
"Hold Hard"	Shouted by the Field Master to stop the field.
Hound	All scent hunting dogs are referred to as hounds
Hunt Staff	The people responsible for working the hounds. i.e. Huntsman and Whippers-in. They may be Masters, amateurs or professionals
“Keep in Please”	A signal given to members of the field when riders must keep in to the verge or off the crop.
"Kick on"	You may get this response when you make way for someone at a gate or jump. It means you don't have to wait for him/her and should carry on. Or it may be just general encouragement
Line	The scent left by the trail.
"Loose Horse"	Shouted when someone has fallen off and the horse is running away.
"Master/Huntsman/ Whip/Hound please"	This means give way to these people as they have a job to do. If it is heard on a road or a track everyone should get to one side, not line both sides, to reduce the chances of them being kicked.
"Master/Huntsman/ Whip/Hound on the right/left"	This means the Master/Whip/Hound should be let through on the side shouted. The side corresponding to the direction of travel of the majority of the Field.
Opening Meet	The start of formal hunting.
Rat Catcher	Term used to describe the official dress for mounted followers during Autumn Hunting and consists of a Tweed jacket as opposed to a black jacket. Rat Catcher is also an acceptable form of dress after the Opening Meet, but it won’t keep out the cold and wet in the winter.
Scent	The smell, indiscernible to the human nose, left by the runners. The hounds also use the smell of the disturbed ground where the runners have been to stay on the line.
Speak or speaking	Hounds do not bark, they speak or are speaking when they are "on the line" (hunting a scent).
Stern	A hound's tail.
"Ware Hole/Wire/Glass"	Ware is often pronounced "War" and means beware. Therefore if you hear "War Hole", or "Ware Hole" it actually means mind out there is a hole in the ground coming up! Similarly any other hazard.

 

Signals
Green Ribbon	Worn on the tail of a young horse – give it some space.
Hand behind the back	Means this horse might kick if you crowd it.
Hand in the air by gateway	Signal to people coming towards a gate, but out of hearing, that the gate should be shut. The response to which should be to hold your hand in the air to show you have got the message and will shut the gate.
Red Ribbon	Worn on the tale of a known kicker. These horses should be kept at the back of the field until they become educated and no longer need to wear a ribbon.
Whip in the air	(usually by Field Master) - This means stand still where you are, not wait until you get level with the Field Master and then stop.
Hat Ribbons	Hunt Caps and most Riding hats have ribbons on the back, the ends of these ribbons hang down when they are bought. Only Masters, Hunt Officials and Hunt Staff should have their ribbon-ends hanging down, so members of the field should sow their ribbons up, or remove them. This is to help members of the field tell if they are following a Master, Hunt Official or Hunt Staff.

 

Download a PDF version of this page.

Download a PDF version of this page.