SPRING VALLEY HOUNDS

Hunting Etiquette

HUNT STAFF

Joint Masters
The Joint Masters are responsible for the administration of the Hunt in all its aspects: membership, fund raising, social events, landowner relationships, maintenance of country, kenneling and breeding of hounds, and, very importantly, the observance of hunt traditions. They are the decision-makers for the hunt, the ultimate authority on all hunt matters.

Huntsman
The Huntsman is appointed by the Masters and is responsible for hunting the hounds.

Honorary Whippers-In
The Whippers-In are appointed by the Masters and Huntsman to help with hound control in the field. Their primary job is to keep the hounds attentive to the Huntsman.

Field Master
The Field Master [appointed by the Masters) is responsible for the conduct of the field while hunting. Members of the field ride behind the Field Master in order that an appropriate distance be kept between the field and staff working with hounds. It is the Field Master's job to make sure that the established courtesies as to dress and order of riding are observed by field members, and that appropriate safety concerns and wishes of landowners are followed.

Honorary Secretary
The Secretary handles most of the hunt correspondence and paper work. Individuals who want to cap with Spring Valley Hounds should contact the Secretary the evening before the meet to obtain permission. The Secretary also collects the capping fee.

Honorary Treasurer
The Treasurer handles all the money matters of the hunt. Subscriptions are paid to the Treasurer.

HOUNDS

American. Referred to as hounds, never as "dogs" and counted by the couple (i.e. 17 hounds is spoken of as 8 and 1/2 couple).

TYPE OF HUNT

Drag-no live quarry is ever hunted, only contrived scent. The "drag" is laid by dripping scent; hounds follow the line of scent.

MEMBERSHIP

Membership is by invitation only. Guests are welcome but should receive permission prior to hunting from the Secretary. Their "capping" fee (guest fee) in the form of a check or correct cash amount should be presented in an envelope to the Hunt Secretary or substitute with name and address of guest before hounds move off. Hilltoppers are counted as regular guests. Members are expected to pay their subscription obligations as due. All members and guests must have signed a Release Form before hunting.

Parents of children who wish to hunt should contact the Secretary; children must be chaperoned by an adult.

COURTESY

One should behave in the hunt field as one would expect to behave at the hunt ball. Greet the Joint Masters and Staff before hounds move off and thank them at the end of the hunt. Members should introduce themselves and other members to cappers. Smoking while mounted is not considered good form.

Members with "colors" have earned the privilege of riding up front. Members accompanied by their specific guests should ride behind members with "colors". Cappers should ride behind members.

Members and guests should present a neat, clean appearance to uphold the tradition of the Hunt and in respect for the landowners: clean boots, clean tack, clean horses; saddle pads should be white and fitted - no rugs. No colored boots, decorated bridles or other accouterments on the horse. All riders should wear their hair under their hats or in a hair net.

Do not talk in loud tones. Your conversation in the field should not be easily overheard by other field members. Do not shout "ware hole" or "ware hound"; pass the message quietly to the rider behind you who in turn should do the same.

Never render assistance to the hounds unless specifically asked to by someone in authority.

Never pass your Field Master! Follow the line of your Field Master who may have specific instructions from the landowner.

SAFETY

When Masters and Staff reverse, field must back into brush and face staff.

A final approach to a jump should never be made until the rider in front is safely over the jump. Crowding and cutting off riders anywhere in the field causes accidents.

A rider having a refusal should immediately withdraw to the rear, leaving the jump clear for the next horse.

Riders who are not in control of their horses may be excused from the field.

Nervous horses should be kept to the rear. Horses likely to kick must have a red ribbon braided into a strand of tail hair.

COUNTRY

Respect the landowners' property at all times; consider yourself to be a guest. Never ride on lawns, driveway borders or planted fields. Beware of young trees.

At all times of the year when ground conditions are heavy or wet, keep to the edges of open fields.

DO NOT JUMP HUNT FENCES on the way to or from meets or when pleasure riding. NEVER LOWER OR IMPAIR PAIR jumps in any way throughout the year. Fences broken or lowered accidentally during the hunt should be repaired on the spot if possible. A make-shift is imperative if necessary to contain livestock. Ride up immediately thereafter to your Field Master or Secretary to report location and extent of damage and to make arrangements for a payment. Please also report damage incurred by someone else if necessary.

Do not leisure ride areas used by the hunt that you do not definitely know to be part of the trail system. Please also report throughout the year any repairs needed on the trails to the Masters. Ask your friends following in cars to be thoughtful of our landowners' privacy. Have them observe from main roads. Be sure that in their enthusiasm, they do not enter or turn around in private driveways.

ATTIRE

LADY MEMBER ASTRIDE

Black hunt cap with safety harness or black bowler hat with hat guard.

Formal with Colors
Regulation black hunting coat; collar maroon velvet; black bone buttons with initials SVH in white. Breeches - buff or canary yellow. Boots - black calf dress boots (not field boots); black patent tops optional but encouraged.
Neckwear - plain white hunting stock, simple gold safety pin. Vest - canary.

Formal without Colors
Same as for Formal with Colors with the following exceptions: collar of same material as coat; plain black buttons; plain black dress boots. Vest - canary.

GENTLEMAN MEMBER

Black hunt cap with safety harness or black silk hunting top hat with hat guard.

Formal with Colors
Scarlet hunting coat, maroon velvet collar, brass buttons engraved with SVH. Breeches - white. Boots - black dress hunting boots with brown tops and tabs. Vest - canary.

Formal without Colors
Regulation black hunting coat, hunt cap with safety harness or black bowler hat and hat guard; plain black dress boots, buff breeches. Vest - canary.

Ladies and Gentleman Informal Attire

Riding jacket. breeches or jodhpurs. Ladies - ratcatcher shirt and collar; gentlemen - shirt and tie preferred. turtleneck shirts acceptable; Boots or jodhpur boots; Black hunt cap with safety harness.

Informal attire is worn until Opening Day mid-October and thereafter on Wednesday hunts only. Formal attire - is worn weekends and holidays. The wearing of safety headgear is strongly encouraged. Removable black velvet covers are not permitted.