General Do's & Don'ts
General Do’s and Don’ts
Always follow the Field Master.
Don’t ride on a public footpath and avoid riding on mown grass.
Don’t ride across growing crops - they are the farmer’s factory floor and your hoof prints can cost him money! Pay particular attention in the autumn when what looks to you like a stubble field may in fact have been sown with oilseed rape.
It is polite to walk through gateways and also through farm yards, especially when you don’t know what hazards may be just around the corner. It is also polite not to gallop past people and upset their horses!
If you spot a hole (or similar hazard such as wire) it is polite to alert others to the problem. The traditional shout was ‘ware hole’ (from beware but pronounced war) but “hole on the right/left” is now more usual. However, it only works if you shout as you are passing the hole - and pointing to it - and not if you just repeat the refrain down the line with no idea of where the hole actually is!
It is surprising how many people leave their manners on the ground when they get on a horse. Please thank cars for slowing down, wave cars on when you see the Masters wave them on, and keep to the nearside if you hear the shout "car please".
A smile and "good morning" to people on foot will help to dispel the myth that everyone on horseback is a snob and too good to talk to people on foot.
When gates are held open please say thank you. We must remember we are guests on a farmers land and should treat them with respect as without them we have no sport. We should also avoid any confrontation with anti-hunt protestors should they be present. Good manners cost nothing!
Have fun, that's what you are there for, and we want you to enjoy yourself and come back again. Remember, though, “if in doubt, ask!”
Always follow the Field Master.
Don’t ride on a public footpath and avoid riding on mown grass.
Don’t ride across growing crops - they are the farmer’s factory floor and your hoof prints can cost him money! Pay particular attention in the autumn when what looks to you like a stubble field may in fact have been sown with oilseed rape.
It is polite to walk through gateways and also through farm yards, especially when you don’t know what hazards may be just around the corner. It is also polite not to gallop past people and upset their horses!
If you spot a hole (or similar hazard such as wire) it is polite to alert others to the problem. The traditional shout was ‘ware hole’ (from beware but pronounced war) but “hole on the right/left” is now more usual. However, it only works if you shout as you are passing the hole - and pointing to it - and not if you just repeat the refrain down the line with no idea of where the hole actually is!
It is surprising how many people leave their manners on the ground when they get on a horse. Please thank cars for slowing down, wave cars on when you see the Masters wave them on, and keep to the nearside if you hear the shout "car please".
A smile and "good morning" to people on foot will help to dispel the myth that everyone on horseback is a snob and too good to talk to people on foot.
When gates are held open please say thank you. We must remember we are guests on a farmers land and should treat them with respect as without them we have no sport. We should also avoid any confrontation with anti-hunt protestors should they be present. Good manners cost nothing!
Have fun, that's what you are there for, and we want you to enjoy yourself and come back again. Remember, though, “if in doubt, ask!”
