Tuesday March 19, 2024
For National Pony Club updates and information please go to pcuk.org
Hunting

Hunting

Trail Hunting is a good way for you and your pony to go cross country, forming a partnership, improving your riding and meeting like-minded people of all ages.

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Dates and locations 

Details of where the hunt will meet each week are published a few days in advance so please contact Jessica Simpson for details on monksfarmhendred@googlemail.com  or call 07827 975018 and she will be able to give you details and introduce you by email to the hunt secretary for future dates. The OBH usually meet on a Wednesday and Saturday from 1st November until March, depending on weather conditions.

Supervision

The following recommendations are from The Masters of the OBH.

  • Children 5 and under should be on a lead rein.
  • Children 6-12 should be accompanied, unless they hold PC C Test or have the requisite experience to hunt unaccompanied.
  • Children 13-17 can hunt unaccompanied if they hold the PC Hunting Badge, or the PC C Test, or have the requisite experience to hunt unaccompanied.

Cost

The Old Berks Hunt welcomes all members of the Pony Club and offers a discounted rate for current members displaying their Pony Club badge.

Wednesday meets 
Under 18 – £20 (Non members £30)
18-30 – £40 (Non members £60)
 
Saturday meets
PC members 
Under 18 £20  (Non members £30)
18-30 – £50  (Non members £70)

Insurance

All children are covered by Pony Club Insurance whilst participating in any legal form of hunting. The Old Berks Hunt requests that all followers are members of the Countryside Alliance. Membership is £24 for under 25s.

Practicalities

If you are sending your child out unaccompanied please ensure that there is a responsible adult able to keep an eye on them (this should be arranged in advance, not at the meet!), and please follow on foot so that you are on hand in case of problems. Neither the Hunt nor its individual member can accept any liability or responsibility for any accident or incident to any supporter or follower of the Hunt. Children must be competent in all paces, and if they are not able to jump hunt fences it is important that they are accompanied by someone able to look after them so that they aren’t separated from the rest of the field.

We have several mentors who will accompany children to teach them about hunting; they should be fully competent and in control in all paces and able to jump a minimum of 80cm XC to keep up with the mentors. Please speak to Jessica Simpson for details monksfarmhendred@googlemail.com

All children must have a piece of paper (ideally laminated) in their pocket with at least one emergency contact number on. It is not sufficient for them to just be carrying a phone, in case the battery is flat or the phone is locked, lost or waterlogged when the contact number is needed.

They should also have a piece of baler twine (to use as an emergency lead rope / rein / stirrup leather). A sugary snack or chocolate bar is strongly recommended.

Correct dress

Tweed jacket (hunting coat for older members), shirt and pony club tie (stock for older members), long boots or boots and half chaps, plain dark hat silk, warm gloves.  If you don’t have a tweed jacket or if the weather is very wet, a Barbour or other plain dark riding jacket is totally acceptable.

Body protectors are recommended and are a great way to keep warm.

Ponies should be clean and tidy, and plaited from 1st November. If your pony might kick please ensure it wears a red ribbon and stay towards the back of the field.

If you are thinking of hunting for the first time, or would like to find out where a particular Meet is, contact the OBHPC Hunting Representative, Jessica Simpson for detailmonksfarmhendred@googlemail.com

The cap can be paid by cash or cheque (payable to Old Berks Hunt), and should be paid as soon as you arrive at the meet. Please find the secretary as soon as you arrive – they will usually have an armband on – please don’t leave it for them to come and find you!

OBHPC members are always welcome to hunt with the OBH. Most neighbouring hunts are happy to have visitors, but it is important that you contact their hunt secretary to ask permission and to check the correct cap before the day, even if you have been invited by a member of that hunt or their pony club.

Rallies and Children’ Meets

We hold at least one Childrens’ Meet per year. This is usually at the end of December and/or mid February and is exclusively for children or those accompanying children and is suitable for all abilities including lead rein.

We hold a Mock Hunt in the autumn to introduce ponies to hounds and to learn the rules and etiquette of hunting while riding cross country. There are also various opportunities to go on hound exercise and kennel visits during the summer.

For further information please look on the Hunt website.

Hunting Badge

The OBHPC Hunting Badge
The hunting badge is intended for members who intend to hunt regularly, in order to foster a greater understanding and knowledge of hunting.  It demonstrates a certain level of knowledge and riding ability and may offer reassurance to the Hunt of a member’s capability on the hunting field.

The following measures should be used by the OBH Hunting Representative to assess members. Those marked * are required:
C Test level riding.
   *Aged 12 or over.
   *Attended an OBHPC kennel visit or similar in order to learn about how the hunt operates.
   Attended a mock hunt to learn the basics of riding etiquette.
   Demonstrated commitment to the hunt, eg. By attending hunt events, selling racecards or litter picking at the point-to-point.
   *Spent a day as a mounted follower with an independent mentor to get a fuller understanding of hunt etiquette.

We encourage all members who enjoy hunting to work towards their Hunting Badge. Please email the OBHPC Hunting Representative, Jess Simpson (monksfarmhendred@googlemail.com) for details. Those that have been awarded their hunting badge will be eligible to be awarded the Sheila Nash Hunting Stock.

The Sheila Nash Stock
In her many years’ association with the Old Berks Hunt, Sheila Nash introduced numerous children, including her own, to hunting, teaching
them manners, etiquette and a love for hunting. In her memory, ahunting stock in Sheila Nash’s pale blue and white diamond pattern will be awarded to OBHPC members aged over 12, who have previously been awarded the Hunting Badge and who consistently demonstrate exceptional manners while hunting.

 

Team Chasing

Team Chasing is a fun and sociable activity that takes place in the Spring and Autumn. Teams of 3-4 horses or ponies compete against a bogey time at novice level or against the clock at higher levels. All our members who have tried it have loved it, and it is a great way to get a “sticky” pony jumping more forward to keep up with friends!

If you fancy having a go please contact Lucy Winfield who has details of upcoming events and will be co-ordinating teams. Novice classes vary from around 7ocm – 100cm and some have a minimum age of 12, but Lucy will be advise on which event will suit your child.

Contact detail:-  Lucy Winfield: lucy@lucywinfield.co.uk

Team chasing requires a higher level of insurance than is offered by Pony Club so membership of the Countryside Alliance is strongly recommended (and is required for anyone hunting with the OBH). It is £24 / year for under 25s and gives you £10million liability and £30k personal accident insurance.

Drag Hunting with the Berks and Bucks Draghounds

We are delighted that the Berks and Bucks have introduced some fantastic chaperone caps for our members this season as follows:

Adult + 1 child under 14 – £55

Adult + 1 child aged 14 – 17 – £65

Riding with Draghounds is a thrilling sport where a pack of Hounds follow a scent laid by a human, over a pre-determined route that takes advantage of the best opportunities for seeing the hounds work as well as jumping all obstacles offered by the country crossed.

Further details please get in touch with Holly Dunham-Shortt by email here.

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