The Vale of Aylesbury with Garth & South Berks Hunt
Hunt Secretary
Mike Murray always
has help and
advice on offer
Before you come hunting
Newcomers are hugely welcome. Anyone can come hunting, and you do not need a "special"
horse although a well mannered mount will give you a better day and your horse does need to
be fit enough for the length of day that you want to come out for.
Before you come hunting for the first time, please telephone one of the joint secretaries - Mike
Murray on 01491 638268 for North of the M40, Amanda Stewart on 01491 684151 if you are
South of the M40 and check with them where and when the meets are, where you should park
and that there will be enough room for you to come out on that particular day.
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If you would like a "shepherd" to look after you on your first time out, if
you let the secretary know they will find someone friendly to look after
you. You should also let the secretary know whether you are a jumper or
a non-jumper.
Hunting conventions
The below is only for information and no one should be put off coming out
hunting - enjoying yourself is what matters. You really just need to be is
clean and tidy. For children, it is more important that they should be
warm and dry so that they can enjoy themselves than that they should
stick doggedly to the dress code, in particular in wet weather they should
wear a waterproof.
Horse turnout
Autumn hunting - your horse should be clean and tidy. There is no need
to plait
Full season - everybody is welcome regardless of whether their horse is
stabled or kept at grass. If your horse or pony is at grass you should
have brushed him off but if he is a bit biscuit coloured it is not important.
Full season:
Men - if horse is clipped out - Black coat, buff breeches or jodhpurs, white
stock, black boots, gloves. Red coats are worn by hunt officials and hunt
staff. The mustard coloured coat of the Vale of Aylesbury is worn by the
hunt staff only.
Men - if horse is not clipped out - Tweed jacket, white or coloured stock,
buff or brown breeches, brown or black long boots, gloves.
Women - if horse is clipped out - Black or navy blue coat, buff breeches
or jodhpurs, white stock, black boots, gloves.
Women - if horse is not clipped out - Tweed jacket, white or coloured
stock, buff or brown breeches, brown or black long boots, gloves.
Children - Tweed jacket - blue or black are also fine - white or coloured
stock or pony club tie, buff or brown breeches, jodhpur boots with or
without half chaps, or long boots if preferred, gloves.
What to bring with you
You should bring a drink, something that will fit in your pocket to eat (eg a
sandwich/cereal bar/chocolate), a handkerchief. If you have enough
room in your pockets, a hoof pick, bind-a-twine, a pocket knife, and a
mobile 'phone can also be useful but you should not use your mobile for
chatting during the day.
He will take them and start to draw for the line. The line will have been
pre-laid and will have been especially prepared to mimic proper hunting
as closely as possible. You should follow your shepherd's instructions
and should not go in front of the fieldmaster. It is recommended that until
you have seen how your horse behaves that you should stay towards the
back of the field.
If hounds come towards you at any point, you should turn your horse's
head towards hounds so that your horse does not kick them as they are
very vulnerable. You must always give way to the huntsman or the whip
and get out of his way if he needs to come through.
Once hounds find the line, you will have a run. This may be just a few
minutes or it may be longer, but you will find it an electrifying experience.
The cry of hounds is a glorious sound and the scramble to keep up is
hugely exciting - there is nothing quite like it.
Please make sure that you pass any messages back "Gate please"
means that the last person to go through the gate must shut it, "Hole on
the right" or "Wire on the left" warns others of a potential hazard.
If during the day you demolish a fence, you must make sure that you tell a
hunt official as soon as possible - one of the masters or the secretary.
Hunts are dependent on the goodwill of our farmers, so it is essential that
stock is not let out and that any breakages are mended swiftly.
If your horse is stabled and clipped then the
convention is that if he has a full or hunter
clip he should be plaited, if he has a chaser,
blanket or trace clip, there is no need to
plait.
If your horse is young, you should put a
green ribbon in his tail to warn other people
to give him some room. If he has ever
kicked, he must have a red ribbon in his tail
and you should stay to the back of the field
- please do not risk injuring another horse
or rider.
Tack should be clean and in good repair. It
is generally advisable to have a slightly
stronger bit in than normal in case your
horse gets excited or is strong.
Joint Secretary Amanda Stewart will make sure you get a warm
welcome
What to wear
Autumn hunting: Tweed jacket, tie or stock, buff or brown breeches, long boots for grown ups, jodhpur boots with or
without half chaps for children, or long boots if preferred.
At the meet and during the day
Arrive in good time and find somewhere safe to un-load. Hack quietly to the meet and remember to smile and say
good morning to people. If you have not been before and you do not know how your horse will behave, it is as well
to stay on the outside of the crowd in case he gets excited. The hunt secretary will come and introduce him or
herself and will take your cap. If it is your first time out, do say so to the secretary who will try to find someone to
look after you for the day.
If there is enough room, take you horse
to see hounds. At most meets you will
be offered a drink by the hosts and may
also be offered something to eat. There
are normally a lot of foot followers and a
great deal of excited chatter and gossip.
It is very atmospheric. One of the
Masters may make a short
announcement, thanking the hosts and
confirming who the fieldmaster is and
where we are allowed to go so listen
carefully.
After a short time, a cry will go up
"Hounds Please" this is the signal for the
crowd to part to allow hounds through.
The huntsman will gather together
hounds and will leave the meet.
At the end of the run, we will normally have a check while any
hounds that have got left behind catch up. The whip will count
hounds and may go and look for them if there are a few
missing and the huntsman will blow his horn for them as well. If
you have been left behind, this may also give you an idea of
where the hunt has got to.
At the end of the day, the huntsman will blow for home and
everyone will hack back to their boxes. If you decide to finish
before then, which is quite in order, please return by road or
bridleway as best as possible and not through fields or across
ground previously crossed. Remember at all times that our
hunting is a unique privilege that depends on the goodwill of
our farmers and landowners.
Social events, point to points and fund raising
functions
The hunt holds many social events during the year - hunt balls, dances, quiz nights, pub nights, carol services, the
hunt review etc. Please come and join us at these and at the point to points and other fund raising functions.
What does it cost?
We have a special offer for newcomers and you will only pay a small 'cap'. We also have a variety of charges to suit
those who just want to hunt a few days through to others who come out every day possible.
We also have special days to welcome newcomers and for a list of all our meets click
Need to hire a horse?
If you haven't your own horse then there is no better way of getting started than by hiring one for the day. Usually,
one can be found to suit all needs whether you are a novice or an experienced rider. If you would like to investigate
this possibility then why not:
Contact: Jane Dexter on 01235 851016 or mobile 07809040914.
E-MAIL FROM A NEWCOMER
Autumn Hunting, Wednesday the 25th of October 2006, Cold Piece Farm, Mattingley.
I write to thank you all for a super day’s Autumn Trailing. It was my 1st time out with the Vale of Aylesbury, Garth
and South Berks and my horse’s 1st meet (he’s only a 5yr old). We both had a lot of fun. His dam ‘Mary Mod’ was
a super hunter and he will be too. We had a couple of rears and leaps but the galloping soon wore him out!
It was my 23rd Birthday on Wednesday and I could not have asked for a better start to my day than a wet but
exhilarating morning in the countryside. We both returned to the yard very tired and happy although ‘Tex’ could
still hear the hounds and didn’t want to come home!
I recently moved down to Berkshire from Leicestershire/Warwickshire where I hunted with the Atherstone and was
delighted at the warm reception I received. Leicestershire country is very flat farmland (perhaps why we have such
huge hedges to slow you down), with a lot of plough, so I enjoyed the variety of grassland hills, valleys and woods
this Hunting country has to offer.
I have been saving my holidays at work so that I can get a couple of weekday’s Hunting in before Christmas, so
hope to be out with you all again very soon.
May I also make a special mention to Jack for his excellent directions which enabled me to hack to the meet
avoiding main roads.
Miss Jonquil Sargent, Riseley Gorse Farm.
