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Hunting

Local trail and drag hunts have played an important part in the history of the Pony Club. Many Pony Club branches were formed as a way of teaching children how to care for and ride their ponies out hunting, which is why many are named after their local hunt. Hunting is a great way for you and your pony to go cross country, forming a partnership, improving your riding and meeting like-minded people of all ages (and most importantly having great FUN)!

As the Autumn approaches, our Hunting team are up and running planning the season for you all.  For those just starting out here is a bit of information to start you off.

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Trail Hunting with the Old Berks Hunt

OBHPC Branch Hunting Rep: Jess Simpson

Trail Hunting normally happens on Saturdays and Wednesdays and hounds follow trails laid by the morning of the meet and throughout the day.  The routes are not known to the huntsman and great pleasure can be taken from watching and following hounds follow a trail through fields, woodlands over ditches and rails and though hedges. You may be given a job of helping to hold up hounds, assisting the huntsman or shutting gates.

They meet for Autumn Hunting every Saturday morning (normally 8am, or sometimes in the afternoon) from the beginning of September up until the end of October and from the beginning of November- 11am. Details of where the hunt meet each week are published a few days in advance so please contact Jessica Simpson for details and an introduction, if needed, 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)
Old Berks Hunt Website Email Jess Simpson

Here are some dates for the diary- all welcome and do let Jess know if you plan to attend, have any questions or would like a chaperone/friendly face on the day.

Saturday 14th September- 11am– National Trail Hunting Day- this is an open to all event and an “Open Day” for everyone to come and see what Trail Hunting is all about. We would love to see you at the meet, following on foot, or on your pony. You may be aware that the new government plans to ban Trail Hunting and we need to show support for this important meet.

Monday 28th October- 10.30am– Hunting Rally- at Glebe Farm, Hinton Waldrist, SN7 8RX. Rhian Jones and Sue Jannaway instructing. Tiny Trotters up to Seniors all welcome.  Learn about riding in a group, what happens out hunting, etiquette, how to stay safe and practice jumping rustic fences. Enter on Horse Events.

Wednesday 30th October 8am- Children’s Meet near Faringdon – two fields- jumping and non-jumping- everybody welcome!

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Drag Hunting with Berks & Bucks Draghounds

OBHPC Branch Drag hunting liaison: Sue Jannaway

Drag Hunting is a a thrilling sport where a pack of draghounds follow an artificial scent (perfume, aniseed, oil and water) laid by a human (on foot, from horseback or on a quad bike) over a pre-determined route agreed with the landowner and shared with the Huntsman in advance. Jumping all obstacles offered from the country crossed – even adding in some to keep the day exciting! When laying a line we take advantage of the best opporutnities for seeing the draghounds at work. Meets are on Sundays. Contact Hunt Liaison, Sue Jannaway honsecretaries@berksandbucksdraghunt.org for more information.

Celebrating their 50th Anniversary season, prices have changed for 2024.

Hound Exercises

  • Adults (18 and over) – £25
  • Children (under 18 years) – £15

Main Season

  • Adult (18 and over) – £50
  • 12-18 years – £30
  • 1 adult with 1 child under 12 years – £60
  • 1 adult with 2 children under 12 years – £70

Newcomer Meets

  • Adult (18+) – £40
  • Junior (under 18) – £20

Subscriptions

  • Adult (18+) – £500 (if purchased before 1st January 2025)
  • Junior (12-17) – £350
  • Family (2 adults and juniors under 12) – starting from £995
Berks & Bucks Draghounds Website Email Berks & Bucks Draghunt

Come and join the Berks and Bucks Draghounds as they celebrate 50 seasons!

These meets are perfect pre-season training sessions for all – from experienced drag hunters keen to get horses fit to children just starting, young horses on their first day out or happy hackers wanting to give drag hunting a go.

All fences are optional and range from a tiny log on the floor to 100cm so if you fancy a trot and a pop you can.

You’ll still need to be able to canter in a group but the pace will be slower than meets after our Opening Meet at Rockley on the 13th: https://www.horse-events.co.uk/horse-events/berks-and-bucks-draghounds-opening-meet-at-rockley-manor-marlborough-13th-october-2024-20241013/

We love to see everyone enjoying our sport from our regulars to new faces. We are a very friendly hunt and you won’t want for help and support on the day.

We also have some fantastic offers on caps and subscriptions this year to celebrate our 50th as an example £50 standard adult caps and £500 for an annual subscription. Others caps and combinations here: https://berksandbucksdraghunt.org/subscriptions-caps/

We will then be shaking things up a little this season and running two pre-season newcomers meets (£40 adults / £20 under 18) on the following dates:

If you have any queries please talk to pony club instructor/hunt liaison Sue Jannaway – who moonlights as Master for the drag hunt or the secretary on: honsecretaries@berksandbucksdraghunt.org

Rallies and Children’s Meets

Childrens’ Meet are organised throughout the season. These meets are exclusively for children or those accompanying children and is suitable for all abilities.

We also hold hunting clinics throughout the season to introduce children to the etiquette of hunting while riding cross country. There are also various opportunities to go on hound exercises and kennel visits during the summer/autumn. Keep any eye on the calendar and social media for details.

Correct Dress

Tweed jacket (hunting coat for older members)
Shirt and pony club tie (stock for older members)
Beige Jodhpurs
Long boots or short boots and half chaps
Plain dark hat silk
Warm gloves
Body protectors are recommended and are a great way to keep warm!
Ponies should be clean and tidy, and plaited. If your pony might kick, please ensure it wears a red ribbon and stay towards the back of the field.

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.

Carrying a sugary snack or chocolate bar is strongly recommended!

Each hunt has their own code of conduct so please check with our hunt representative when booking in. 

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. Please speak to our hunt representatives for more information.