I'm going on my first hunt on the 20th up at hatchet mill, beaulieu and i am wondering who else is going? Would love to meet someone as I don't know anyone who's going!

Ooooh I'd love to go but I fear for my life

haha, i know i am too! but you only have to walk, trot and canter plus a few optional jumps! should be a good day out - in between me having crazy moments of screaming hysteria wondering what on earth posessed me to do it!

Unkless things have changed drasticly in the last 2 years, there is very little walkinf trotting and cantering - all I remember was galloping flat out up and down hill, and jumping all the gorse bushes in the way. there are no jumps as such up our end of the forest (north)

My son and I used to follow on foot while it was still proper hunting. Following trail hunting on foot is impossible as they go haring off at a flat out gallop and even though we are told the routes, it never happens that you meet up with them again! And there's no jumping unless you hop over the odd log.

I went last week and only stayed out for a couple of hours.  It was quite slow, we just had a few short gallopy bits (which made it difficult to stop again; Murf wanted a good long gallop I think ! ) with lots of standing around in the very cold weather and to top it all we had freezing rain as well.  

I may give it another go in February when there is a really local one.

.

eastercandy: im only going on what the new forest hunt website says, they mention that you have to be able to walk trot canter and you can do logs/ditches optionally - this might be different to up in the north of the forest as im going in the south and the meet im planning on going to shouldn't involve me crossing any gorse bushes. - hopefully as i think i might die if i do Also how did you get your line of pictures because i've tried creating a signiture and tried just pasting the photo's in but it doesn't seem to work

Gill: Where did you go last week? Was it your first hunt? i hope that it doesn't rain or become icy cold when im out! - my pony will miss his exercise sheet! Im just giving hunting a go to gain a bit more experience and have some fun

I'll answer for Gill as she's off to the pub (where I'd also be if I didn't have earache ) - Gill hunts regularly with the NFH

I'm afraid you'll have gorse bushes to contend with wherever you hunt on the forest, although unless you are wildly out of control you can mostly dodge round them. There are few serious 'jumping efforts' as you might find on other traditional 'Shires Hunts' but there will be ditches/gullies and even logs/branches. The biggest 'hazard' hunting in the forest, especially if travelling at 'a good hunting pace' are bogs and clay holes - depends a) on where the trailer layer takes the scent and b) how closely hounds follow that scent! . As long as you have good brakes and steering you'll have fun - if not, wear good gloves, use grippy reins and keep a deep seat!

I must make a note not to hack out on Beaulieu Heath on the 20th...

The Peasants Are Revolting...

www.forestuprising.org.uk

forestuprising@live.co.uk

AHHHHHHH
help, im going to be so scared. i can't really jump any higher than 2'0 so gorse bushes arn't an option! he's a proper mud woppit and so is used to bogs etc so i hope he can cope! thankgod he has ace steering, i think i will just close my eyes and trust him to take me on a days hunt! will be deffo hnging on at te back screaming for my life!

I am an elderly wimp and it scared the living daylights out of me but my girls love it (both riding their old ponies though)

Glad to hear that your girls enjoy it, i'll be riding my old pony aswell. He has been hunting before but not with me. I've been doing a bit more research on this hunt and speaking to the secretary - been provided with information which has calmed me down a bit more. Will your girls be riding at the hunt im going on, or do they ride elsewhere?

I'll possibly be on foot at the meet but def wont be taking my lad as he is not fit at the moment and he is horrible to hunt on home turf Most of the days hunting I have done in the past has involved LOADS of galloping down hill with little chance of pulling up and hurdling drainage channels along the way followed by rounding up loose ponies that people have come off!! Havent done it at all this season or last and daughter works on Sat now so hasnt done it this season either

Coming to a National Park near you!

www.forestuprising.org.uk

e-mail forestuprising@live.co.uk

No senior pony is lame at the moment