Read the Rules

Here at The Wheatland we recognise that novices can find their first hunting venture a bit daunting. To help you we have produced the information below as a guide.

There is no need to regard hunting as old fashioned as in fact most of the traditions, etiquette and behaviour associated with hunting are practical and realistic

Remember: we all had a "First Time" !

Check the meet list for where and when the hunt is meeting.
It is courtesy to ring the secretary and ask if you may join the hunt for the day and check the cap required.

Arrival at the meet

Ensure your horse and it's tack are clean and well turned out

You should wear the correct clothing which comprises of :

Autumn Trail Hunting
Autumn hunting is an ideal way to introduce you and your horse to riding to hounds, especially if you or your horse are inexperienced.  Most days are fairly steady so it's a good way of getting your horse and you fit.

Autumn hunting usually begins at the beginning of Septembeer or whenever the crops are off the fields and continues to the last week of October, when the Hunt's Opening Meet takes place.  If you would like to join us Autumn hunting there will be plenty of people to look after you and give a little guidance, so there's no need to worry.  Do please come and say hello to one of the Master's and ask any questions!!

The correct Autumn Trail Hunting dress for all ages is a tweed jacket, shirt and tie/coloured stock, beige/cream breeches/jodphurs, black/brown boots/jodphur boots and a black/navy hunting cap/jockey skull cap with black/navy velvet cover.
Children under 17 - whole season
Tweed jackets/tidy oilskin coats, with coloured stock/pony club tie with jodphur boots/chaps.
Opening Meet onwards
Adults and over 16 year olds should wear black/navy jackets with white stocks, beige/cream jodphurs/breeches and black/navy hats and black boots/chaps.  Spurs/garter strps/hunting whip correct if suitable for the partnership.  All ribbons on hats MUST be sown up (only Masters are allowed ribbons down).Gloves are optional but should be dark coloured leather/cream wool or string.
Horses
Numnahs and girths should be black, brown/cream.  All other colours should be avoided if possible.  Horses and ponies clean and tidy and whenever possible, manes should be plaited or hogged.

Arrive at the meet by the time stated on the meet list (preferably a little before it).

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. Also un-box well away from the meet if possible.

On arrival at the meet introduce yourself to the Master(s), Huntsman and Whippers-in. Seek out the person responsible for collecting cap. 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. In particular, remember to greet people on foot and make those out for the first time feel welcome.

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.

During the Hunt

If you or your horse are a novice a Green ribbon should be worn at the top of the horses tail.

If you know your horse is liable to kick it should wear a red ribbon at the top of it's tail.

Ensure you stay behind the Field Master, Huntsmen and Whippers-in.

When jumping, wait your turn. If your horse refuses then then let the others go first before trying again.

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.

Terminology

Autumn Hunting
The early part of hunting from August until the Opening Meet on the last Saturday in October

Cap
A daily charge for non-subscribers

"Car Please"
Is shouted to tell the Field to keep to the left to let cars through on the road.

Cast
When the hounds are looking for the line. The huntsman may cast the hounds towards where he thinks the hounds will pick it up.

Check
When the hounds lose the line.

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

Feather Hounds
are said to feather or be feathering when they have the line but are unable to speak to it.

Field
The mounted followers.

Field Master
The person in charge of leading and controlling the Field.

"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.

Heel Hounds
are said to be hunting heel when they hunt the reverse

"Hold Hard"
Shouted by the Field Master to stop the field overtaking him/her.

Hound
All scent hunting dogs are referred to as hounds

Huntsman
The man who hunts the hounds. There is only one huntsman on the hunting field per day, he may also be a Master, and he has right of way at all times.

Hunt Staff
The people responsible for working the hounds. i.e. Huntsman and Whippers-in. They may be Masters, amateurs or professionals

"Kick on"
You may get this response when you make way for a Master or Huntsman at a gate or jump. It means you don't have to wait for him/her and should carry on.

Line
The scent left by the trail.

"Loose Horse"
Shouted when someone has fallen off and the horse is running away.

Master or Joint Master
These are the people responsible for the running of the hunt. They should have right of way at all times second only to the hunt staff.

"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.

Mixed Pack
A pack consisting of dogs and bitches

Opening Meet
The start of formal hunting.

Puppy
A hound which is new to hunting that season. It will appear fully grown.

Riot or rioting
When hounds hunt something other than that which they are supposed to be hunting, they are rioting.

Scent
The smell, indiscernible to the human nose, left by the trail

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.

Walk
Hounds at walk, often known as Puppy Walking, is where whelps are sent to private homes, in minimums of two's, from the age of eight weeks until they get too big and boisterous for the walkers, at which point they return to kennels to learn how to fit in to the pack.

"Ware Hole/Wire/Glass"
Ware is often pronounced "War" and means beware. Therefore if you hear "War Hole" it actually means mind out there is a hole in the ground coming up

Whelp
A new born hound is a whelp and remains so until it come back from walk.

Whipper-in
The person who helps the huntsman control the hounds. This person has right of way at all times and will only give way to the Huntsman.

Signals
Green Ribbon Worn on the tail of a young horse
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.
Whip held to side by huntsman If the whip is in the huntsman's right hand he will be keeping the hounds to his left. You should therefore let him pass so that his horse is between you and the hounds.

Dress Code

Gents should wear  fawn breeches, black boots, black coat, white hunting stock, silk hat, bowler or black velvet riding hat.

Ladies should wear light coloured breeches, black boots, black or navy coat, white hunting stock, black or blue velvet riding hat.

Children (under 17 years of age) may wear jodhpurs and jodhpur boots instead of breeches and top boots. They may also wear a hacking jacket instead of a black coat. Unless very young, they ought to wear a hunting stock, rather than a collar and tie, black or blue velvet riding hat.

Etiquette and Conduct

The Master provides our hunting and is entitled to respect, particularly on the field. It is customary to bid the Master "Good Morning" when first meeting him before moving off, but it is unnecessary to seek him out for this purpose because he may be busy with the hounds or with arrangements for the day. At the close of the meet, however, every member of the field ought to make a point of seeing the Master in order to say "Good Night" and to thank him for the day’s hunting. To neglect this would be ill-mannered.

Insurance

All members/non members should make sure they are adequately insured, as The Wheatland will not be held responsible for any damage done by horse or rider, it is your own responsibility to be properly insured.

Hunting Rules

It goes without saying that instructions given by the Master or the Field Master during the course of the hunt must be carried out without question. There will be others in the field who have specific responsibilities on that day and regard should be had to what they say. If, for example, you are asked to walk your horse over a particular section of the line, you may, rest assured that there is a valid reason for this request. It may be that the ground is very soft at that point and to canter over it would churn it up unnecessarily. Probably the person who asks you to walk your horse has been detailed to do so. The Field Master is responsible to the Master for the conduct of the field, this role could be undertaken by the Master himself. The Field Master is in command and followers should keep an eye on him, while hounds are running, so as to be able to give effect to (or even anticipate) his requirements. Keep behind the Field Master at all times, and only jump obstacles specifically prepared or jumped by the Field Master.

Never overrun the hounds and keep an eye open for any hounds that are coming up from behind. If the hounds are brought passed you at a check, always turn your horse to face them so as to minimise the risk of the horse kicking or backing into the pack. This could arise because the horse was startled, even if it is otherwise good with hounds. If your horse is unruly or ill-natured with other horses, keep it away from the rest of the field not only whilst hunting but also at checks and while hacking along the road. The use of a red ribbon to indicate a kicker should make the field give a wide berth but it does not absolve its rider from ensuring that it does not get into a position to kick out at other horses.

If someone is unseated, they should be helped. Ensure that they are uninjured before riding on and, if their horse has gone spare, try to recover it or check that someone else is in pursuit of it. It might be you who comes off next week!

It is helpful if a warning is called to those behind of a hazard such as wire, a pot hole or boggy ground.

Care of a Farmer's Stock and Crops ALWAYS takes priority over a rider’s enjoyment. No excuses for ignoring this imperative are acceptable. It must never be forgotten that without the goodwill of farmers the Hunt would not exist and no sport would be enjoyed by the members