Fort Leavenworth Hunt |
FORT LEAVENWORTH HUNT TRADITIONS HUNTING INFORMATION: Tradition Dress and Appointments Huntsman - Hunt cap, scarlet frock coat, white breeches, top boots, whip, horn, wire cutters. Field Members: Gentlemen - Top hat/hunt cap, scarlet coat (morning/swallowtail/shadbelly), white breeches, top boots, whip, sandwich case or flask as desired. -or- Gentlemen - Hunt cap/bowler, black coat, white/tan/canary breeches, black hunting boots, whip, sandwich case or flask as desired. Ladies - Hunt cap/bowler, black coat, white/tan/canary breeches, black hunting boots (patent leather tops optional), whip, sandwich case or flask as desired. Juniors (under 18) - Hunt cap/bowler, black coat, white/tan/canary breeches, black hunting boots, whip, sandwich case as desired. NOTES: a. Serving officers may wear uniform. b. Ratcatcher, tweed coats in muted colors with stock or neck tie (including turtle neck shirts), is to be worn by all members when cub hunting and at midweek hunts. c. Green hunt collar and hunt buttons are worn by members only at the invitation of the Masters. The green collar is worn by gentlemen on the scarlet coat only and by ladies and juniors on the black coat. ADVICE FOR RIDERS: **A Hard Hat/Hunt Cap must be worn at all times when mounted and riding at a Hunt sponsored event! **New riders without the green collar (colors) must ride at the rear of the Field always giving way to a rider with colors. All riders give way to staff when they (staff) need to pass through the Field. **If your horse refuses a fence, go to the end of the line at the fence to try again. **Think safety for you and your horse! Check your tack and horse for soundness and make sure your horse is properly bitted for group riding. **Make your presence known to the field secretary at the meet. Should you wish to leave the field, please request permission of the field master or field secretary, as they may wish to direct you home. **Remember to show courtesy and consideration at all times to the landowners, without whose continuing support we would not be able to hunt. **Do not smoke while hunting or at the trailer meeting area. Fires are a concern. **Close all fences and gates to prevent stock escaping. **Do not ride over crops, even if the Huntsman does. **If your horse kicks, tie a red ribbon on it's tail- keep clear of other riders- stay to the rear. **If your horse is unmanageable, please take it home. **Do not allow large gaps to develop in the Field. Keep closed up. If you wear colors and wish to ride in the back, invite others to go ahead. **Do not circle in front of other horses. **Do not pass other horses too closely at a high rate of speed. **Do not ride over hounds at any time. Always give way to a hound. Never let your horse kick a hound. **Make way for the Huntsman, staff and hounds. Always turn your horse's head towards huntsman, staff or the pack as they pass. **Do not rate a hound unless requested to do so by one of the hunt staff. (They are trained to listen to certain commands, you may confuse them.) **Keep a horse's length between your horse and the next horse and when following at a fence, do not jump until the horse in front of you has cleared the fence. **Do not talk to each other when the hounds are working. (It distracts hounds, huntsman, whippers-in and may tip off a coyote or fox.) **Warning! No one is allowed to ride over the hunt country other than on a scheduled hunt (and only with the Field or Hilltoppers). FOXHUNTING TERMS - some of the often used terms you will likely hear Master of Foxhounds - Elected officials (FLH currently has 3 Masters called Joint Masters). They oversee the Hunt activities, manage assets and funds, and interact with landowners on behalf of the Hunt. Hound - Foxhound, recognized breed of dog used in foxhunting. Staff - Persons who are trained/elected to positions of service in our Hunt. Huntsman - Hunts hounds. Whipper-in - Assists huntsman in the control of hounds. Fieldmaster - Person responsible for leading the field. (Never pass the Field Master.) Honorary Secretary - Secretary of the Hunt business, collects capping fees, release of liabilities and is responsible for communication with other hunts. Field Secretary - Assists Honorary Secretary, collects capping fees, release of liabilities, assists Field Master in accountability of who is riding in the Field. Field - Persons riding to Hounds, following the Field Master who is following the Huntsman. Hilltoppers - Persons riding, following the action at a slower pace without jumping (great place for green horses to be tested/trained). Kennels - Where the kennelman cares for the hounds, where the hounds live. Hunt Breakfast - Subscribers sign up for a date to host a light meal for after a formal hunt. Opening Hunt - The traditional beginning of the hunt season. A gala weekend which is steeped in tradition. Horses are braided, tack sparkling clean, parties, a no host breakfast following the hunt. Joint Meet - Planned joint hunts with 2 or more Hunts participating. Hunt Ball - Annual formal dinner dance including a silent auction. Hunter Trials - Held early in the fall. An opportunity for friendly competition between hunts, showcasing your Hunt Horse and it's abilities. There are classes for all levels: Green to experienced. Formal attire required, your regular hunting mount to be shown, not your "only for Show Horse". Hunter Pace - Late in the spring, cross country event where optimum time is the key to winning. Cub Hunting - Starts usually in August prior to Opening Hunt. Opportunity to train hounds/mounts. Closing Hunt - A weekend of events culminating our Hunt season. Hound Show - A sanctioned hound show for rating of our hounds against other regional hunts. Colors - Green Hunt Collar worn by members only at the invitation of the masters. Subscribers are awarded colors by the masters and must be riding with the Fort Leavenworth Hunt on a regular basis, support the hunt and all it's various activities, be knowledgeable in foxhunting etiquette and be a proficient rider who when hunting with any Hunt would not be an embarrassment to the Fort Leavenworth Hunt. Work Day - Days set aside to clear trails, repair jumps, work on projects for maintenance of property. Fund Raisers - Annual NKHA Horse Show, Heritage Trail Ride, Silent Auction. Service opportunities - Highway Clean-up Project, Landowners Dinner, hunt breakfasts and work days. Leavenworth Foxhunters' Association - A separate "not for profit organization" which you are encouraged to join (dues paid annually) to help in the costs of operating the Hunt. Capping Fee - A Fee paid by non-subscribers for each time hunting to help in the cost of insurance and regular costs of the hunt such as maintaining the hounds, grounds or equipment. Should be paid prior to hunting to the Honorary Secretary or Field Secretary. Hilltoppers pay the first time to "cap" and then again each time they ride after the fourth time hill topping. Release of Liability - A document acknowledging release of liability which must be signed and witnessed prior to leaving the trailer area for the Hunt. Children must be signed for by legal parent or guardian. 8 Easy Lessons - 8 Lessons for new hunters, green horses or a tune up for the hunt season held in the summer (Aug-Sept) before the start of the season. These lessons are to bring a rider to a point where he or she is able to hunt safely. Hound Exercise - Held in the summer to train new puppies for work in the pack. Opportunity to leg up your mount. Ratcatcher - Informal attire for cubbing and hunting. Tweed coat, stock or neck tie, field boots, hunt cap. Fixtures - The printed schedule of the Hunt with names and addresses of subscribers. Cropper - When someone has an unscheduled dismount (fall off), they become a member of the Cropper's Club. You are then afforded the opportunity to purchase a T-shirt to commemorate the event. The old rule applies to all who ride "if you ride, you fall." And there are lots more terms. For more information, call 684-1703.
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