Etiquette

There are proper conventions and etiquette that participants are expected to follow. Any unsafe, rude or unsportsmanlike conduct will be addressed by the Master up to and including removal of a rider from the field. The Master is the final authority in the field; any requests by the Master must be followed immediately and without discussion.

Before the Hunt

• Be prompt.
• When arriving at the meet, introduce your friends to the Honorary Secretary, pay the capping fee (if applicable), and then go to the Master(s) for an introduction.
• Greet the Huntsman while he or she is gathering hounds and greet the Field Master before he or she gathers the field. Thank them both before the end of the day.
• Your horse and tack must be clean and neat and in good repair.
• You should be clean and neat as well. Do not wear anything that could get caught on trees or other obstacles and cause injury to you or your horse. Wear a hair net (man or woman) if your hair will hang out of your helmet. Ask about proper attire if you do not know the rules.
• Before you mount for the day, be sure to close your truck and trailer. This includes lifting and latching all trailer doors and ramps.

During the Hunt

• If you choose to ride in the First Flight Field, please maintain the pace of the Field Master.
• When jumping, don't approach the take-off area until the preceding horse and rider have taken the jump safely and advanced three or four strides.
• If your horse refuses to jump, go to the back of the field. Never go around a fence as it is being jumped.
• Any non-riding members are always welcome and encouraged to follow the hunt by car or on foot, with supervision or after discussing proper protocol.

Conduct in the Field

• The Master, hunt staff and hounds should be given the right of way at all times. Always turn your horse so that its head is facing the hounds, Master or staff as they pass.
• Stay behind your Field Master at all times and follow his or her line. Never pass the Master or ride an alternative route without permission. If the Field Master crosses a field by hugging the edge, do likewise; this is usually at the request of the landowner. Keep up with the Field Master, since leaving large gaps can interfere with the day's sport. You are too close if you cannot see the hind hooves of the horse in front of you.
• Please be quiet while hounds are being cast. Speak in a low tone of voice, so as not to raise hounds from hunting. Hollering, calling out to and attempts to give direction to a hound by members of the Field are not only bad manners, but apt to spoil sport for everyone.
• If a hound comes between horses or will be coming close to other horses, call “hound(s) please” so others give the hound right of way. If the hound does not appear likely to encounter the horses, no call is necessary.
• Call “ware hole” or “ware branch” if you see a danger to another rider.
• If a Whipper-in or the Huntsman needs to pass through the field, call “Whip please” or “Huntsman please.” Always turn your horse's head towards the rider to prevent your horse from kicking out as the rider passes.
• If you view a fox and the hounds are on the line, do nothing to interfere with the hounds or the fox. If you view a fox as it breaks covert and the hounds are not on the line, make no sound and wait for it to be well away. Then signal to the Field Master by raising your cap so the Field Master may choose whether to “Tally-ho” or send a rider to the Huntsman. Do not lose sight of where the fox broke covert; you may be asked to show the Huntsman exactly where you viewed.
• If your horse has a tendency to kick, put a red ribbon on its tail. This warning does not relieve you of the responsibility to keep the horse at a safe distance from others. Horses that kick should be ridden at the back of the field, even with a red ribbon.
• If you get lost or separated from the hunt, go directly to the nearest public road. Stay on public roadways until you are able to rejoin the field.

Care for the Country

• Do not ride over crops and keep off all seeded fields.
• Close any gates you open. Do not close any gate you find open.
• If you take a rail down, put it back.
• Leave everything as you found it.

Members of the field waive all claims against landowners for injuries to themselves or their mounts. If there is an injury, a few members of the field may volunteer, or be designated by the Field Master, to stay with the injured party and coordinate any needed help. The rest of the field should follow the Field Master and continue hunting.