How to be the perfect hunting visitor

Rory Knight Bruce has some sage advice on how to behave when visiting other packs that should ensure your name doesn’t become a byword for bad manners

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THERE are few more thrilling or challenging aspects of hunting than being

invited to take your horse to another pack, to hunt, stay and enjoy the company, on and off the hunting field, of high and kindred spirits.

Not only is it a chance to savour the skills of different huntsmen and hounds, but also to test your courage and companionship - and that of your horse - in unfamiliar and memorable countryside.

As in all things where hunting is involved, preparation is the key and the invitation from your hosts is just the start.

You must acquaint yourself with the names of the masters and secretary (and make sure they know you are coming).

Be armed with cap money and a little extra for a gratuity to the professional huntsman, or the kennel-huntsman if the

pack is hunted by an amateur.

If you are staying somewhere where your host has a groom, you should also tip them. Unless you are staying in the very grandest of hunting establishments, however, it is probably best to assume these days that you will be looking after your horse yourself; unless you are very sure of their "staff" situation,

rolling out of bed at 9am and expecting your horse to have been fed, mucked out and plaited is unwise...

As Mark Twain so wisely observed: "Always do right.

This will astonish some people and gratify the rest." Martin Letts, the legendary master and huntsman of the College Valley, once commented with his usual directness: "Your conduct on a hunt visit will often be exaggerated afterwards by the host pack, and not always to the good."

FIRST IMPRESSION

A GIVEN watchword is punctuality. Legendary huntsman and master Captain Ronnie Wallace always cautioned: "Leave an extra 20 minutes in your preparations for a broken boot strap." Some hunts meet at different times and not always at 11am.

Several times in Ireland, I have appeared at 10.30am with no.