Come on…have a go!

Is my horse suitable?

In short, yes. There is always a way round, so don’t worry about your horses (or your!) ability to jump. Hound Ambles at the start of the season are always gentler and an excellent way of introducing your horse to the pack without requiring the same fitness levels as a full day out later in the year. Of course by then if you both come out regularly you’ll have worked up the necessary fitness.

Be aware that horses are naturally pack animals and a horse new to hunting can get excited belonging to a pack and you may require a stronger bit than normal.

How do I come hunting?

If you have a membership then the only thing you should do is phone the hunt Hotline on 07736 625128 to check that the day is still on and the location is unchanged from the card. Please don’t send us an email to check that the day is going ahead as we may not read it until after the event.

Please familiarise yourself with the the etiquette of hunting and read The Rules and Ettiquette of Hunting with the VLH.

If you are visiting then please call the Secretary (see Contacting the VLH for telephone numbers) to ask permission to visit. This will normally be fine, so long as there is no restriction on numbers – sometimes field size could be limited to minimise damage to the land.

What will I have to pay?

You will be required to pay a charge called a ‘cap’ which will depend on which membership you are hunting under. Current charges are also available from the Secretary. You will also need to pay a ‘wire fund’ under certain memberships to cover any repairs to land and fencing. These will be payable to the Secretary at the meet.

Ambles are charged on a per person basis. For 2007 this is £10.

What About The Day Itself?

Our page on the etiquette of hunting may answer some of the questions that you have, such as how you should be turned out and how early to arrive.

The hound ambles are listed here, and the Meet details are visible to Hunt Members and Subscribers.

Please direct any other questions to us by email to vlh@vlhunt.com.

Disclaimer

Draghunting and trail hunting are high risk sports. From time to time it is inevitable that accidents will happen, whether or not it is the fault of the rider or any of those otherwise concerned.

For this reason we make it a condition that anyone coming out with us must have read carefully, and observe, the safety requirements in the disclaimer.