Info & Etiquette

Advice for Your Day’s Hunting with the High Peak

This guide offers simple advice on what to wear and what to expect out hunting.
Please don’t hesitate to ask if there’s more you’d like to know — everyone was new once!

There is a certain amount of “hunting etiquette” which can be confusing at first. Some is based on tradition, but much of it is simply common sense, safety, and good manners.

🧍‍♀️ What to Wear – Rider

The aim is to look neat, practical, and safe:

General

  • Light-coloured breeches or jodhpurs
  • Riding or jodhpur boots
  • Riding hat – if you wear a skull cap, the cover should be navy blue or black
    • If your hat has ribbons at the back, they should be sewn up or cut off – only Masters and Hunt Staff wear them down
  • Long hair should be secured in a hairnet
  • Body protectors are perfectly acceptable if you wish to wear one

Autumn Hunting (“Ratcatcher”)

  • Tweed or hacking jacket
  • Shirt and tie, or a coloured stock (secured with a horizontal stock pin for safety)

Opening Meet and Onwards

  • Black or navy blue jacket / Hunt coat (subscribers wear three buttons)
  • Shirt with white or cream stock, secured as above

Children (16 years and under)

  • Tweed jacket and tie are recommended, though black or navy is acceptable
  • Remember: show jackets are often not very warm or waterproof!
  • Pony Club members should wear their badge and tie

In Your Pocket
Bring:

  • A piece of bale twine (for tying up gates or fences)
  • Chocolate (for energy!)
  • Mobile phone and emergency contact details (as per medical armbands at competitions)
  • Your cap money for the Field Secretary (if visiting, please place it in an envelope with your name)

🐎 What to Wear – Horse

Your horse should be clean and tidy.

  • Numnahs should be dark-coloured or sheepskin
  • Use the same tack you would for cross-country – your horse may be keener in company, so a stronger bit may help
  • Knee boots are strongly recommended; a cut from a limestone wall can be dangerous

Plaiting:

  • From the Opening Meet onwards, horses should be plaited
  • Do not plait for Autumn Hunting

Tail Ribbons:

  • Green ribbon – for young or inexperienced horses (others should give space)
  • Red ribbon – for horses known to kick; you must stay at the back and away from hounds and other horses

💂‍♂️Hunt Officers – Who’s Who

Master – In charge of the Hunt.
There may be more than one, but on the day, you must follow the Field Master, who leads the mounted field.
Traditionally, Masters are addressed as “Master” – especially when greeting them for the first time.

Huntsman – In charge of the hounds and carries the hunting horn.

Whipper-In – Assists the Huntsman and may ride separately to gather hounds.

Field Secretary – Collects the cap (money) from mounted followers.

📜 What to Do

Before the Meet

  • Non-subscribers or new followers should contact the Field Secretary, Brenda Green
    📧 hphmembership@gmail.com
    She will confirm the cap amount, the Meet location, and parking details.
  • Park considerately – don’t block gateways, roads, or park on mown verges
  • If parking in a yard, thank the owner and tidy up any mess

At the Meet

  • Find the Field Secretary and pay your cap
  • Say “Good morning” to the Masters
  • Always face your horse’s head towards the hounds

During the Day

  • Stay with and behind the Field Master and follow their directions
  • If left behind, catch up carefully and quickly
  • If unable to jump, go through a gate and close it behind you
  • If you dislodge stones from a wall, stop and replace them – someone will wait with you
    • If the damage is too great, inform the Field Master or Field Secretary immediately

Gates

  • Always leave gates as you find them – but if in doubt, shut it
  • When someone calls “Gate please!”, ensure the message is passed down clearly until the last rider
  • Don’t leave one person alone to shut a gate
  • Always thank anyone (mounted or on foot) holding a gate open for you

Passing Hunt Officials

  • Always turn your horse’s head towards the Huntsman, Whipper-in, or Field Master when they pass
  • Give them space and priority at all times

⚠️ A Few Important Things to Remember

  • Don’t ride too close to the horse in front
  • Avoid riding on planted crops, new grass, mown verges, or gardens
  • When standing or watching hounds, keep quiet to avoid distraction
  • Be polite and courteous to everyone you meet – you are a guest on the land
  • Without the goodwill of farmers and landowners, hunting would not be possible

🌇 At the End of the Day

You can leave whenever you wish, but it’s polite to say:
“Goodnight and thank you” to the Field Master (tradition says it’s always Goodnight, no matter the time of day!).

Let someone know you’re heading home so we don’t worry, and ask for directions back to the boxes if needed.