Highmoor Bloodhounds Children's Meet at Melbourne

Please join us for this special children’s meet at Melbourne Airfield, YO42 4SS by kind permission of the Rowbottom family.

This has become a popular annual event and is suitable for all abilities

Gates will be open from 11.30 am and there will be a chance to meet the hounds before setting off at 12.30pm. We will follow a number of short lines getting the hounds to track down their runner in a game of hide and seek!

There will be 3 groups to cater for all abilities – a canter group, a walk & trot group and a lead rein group.

This will be a fun & relaxed introduction to the bloodhounds!

Dress code is tweed for U18s, and black/blue coats for any mounted adults.

Cap is £20 per person, adults may ride if accompanying a child – adult cap is also £20. Children do not need to be accompanied by an adult for this meet, although you should be confident in their riding ability and ability to control their pony if they are riding unaccompanied and of the lead rein.

Parking is provided but please clear up after your horses so we can leave the meet as we found it.

DISCLAIMER AND CONDITIONS APPLYING TO ALL THOSE WHO HUNT WITH THE HIGHMOOR BLOODHOUNDS.

This is current for the 2024/ 25 season.

GENERAL

Riding to Bloodhounds is a high-risk sport. From time to time it is inevitable that accidents will happen, whether or not it is the fault of the rider or of any of those otherwise concerned, including ourselves. For this reason we make it a condition that anyone coming out with us must have read carefully and must observe the safety requirements outlined below.

Insurance Recommendations

We strongly recommend that:

1. You insure yourself whilst out with the Bloodhounds against all risks including any claims which may be made against you arising out of your participation in the day’s hunting, from injury, loss or damage caused to any rider or third party sustained in the course of or as a result of hunting however or by whomsoever.

2. You insure yourself and your horse against all risk including injury, loss or damage sustained in the course of or as a result of hunting however or by whomsoever caused, including ourselves and whether or not anyone is to blame.

Safety Requirements

The requirements that follow are intended to minimise the risk of those involved and are given in the best interest of the rider. If you have doubt about any aspect relating to safety, please ensure you clarify this with the hunt secretary: Ingrid Den Hoed, email: highmoorbloodhounds@hotmail.com

1. HEADGEAR FOR BOTH THOSE HUNTING WITH THE HIGHMOOR BLOODHOUNDS AND ANY MOUNTED ASSISTANTS WHENEVER RIDING IN THE COURSE OF THEIR DUTIES WITH HOUNDS. The headgear, which should be worn, is a properly fitted riding hat/helmet, or hunting cap of the established crash helmet variety with fitted safety harness, conforming with British Safety Standards.

2. JUMPING Whenever possible spread out at a fence and never ride immediately behind the horse in front. Always ride straight at a fence. A horse ridden at an angle may cross the path of others and put them at risk. If your horse attempts to refuse or refuses, clear the takeoff area immediately and re-present at the back of the field.

3. LOOSE HORSES These must be caught at the earliest possible moment. If necessary the field must stop to enable this to be done.

3. GATES Follow directions from the Field Masters to ensure that all gates which should be, are closed properly after the field has passed through them. If you go through a gate either shut it or ensure that somebody behind you will do so.

4. KEEPING TO THE LINES The direction of the line has been carefully planned between the masters, field masters and landowners prior to the meet. If by any chance you get left behind, follow either the path of the Line or go back the way you have come. DO NOT take a Line of your own. Make every effort to keep up with the field, not doing so may mean you end up in the way of the hounds and huntsman if the Line, or next Line doubles back or repeats any section.

5. DAMAGE If you cause serious damage to any fence or break a rail, you must inform one of the Masters immediately. (Preferably The Field Master of the day).

6. HORSEBOXES Drivers of these are requested to ensure that the highway is at all times kept clear. We wish to avoid complaints as a result of boxes blocking highways, gateways or public rights of way.

7. CHILDREN (under 16 years) All children must wear, when out with the Highmoor Bloodhounds, protective hats and back protectors. ALL UNDER 16s MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT THROUGHOUT THE DAY – this adult is responsible for the child for the entirety of the meet, for ensuring the child and their mount are suitably under control and for accompanying the child back to the horseboxes in the event that they need to return home early.

SAFETY DECLARATION

In consideration of being permitted to hunt with The Highmoor Bloodhounds I confirm on my own behalf that: I recognise that hunting is a high-risk sport and that, whilst The Highmoor Bloodhounds through its officials and employees will endeavour to reduce the risks for those hunting, it cannot always guarantee that its risk reduction system will have been fully complied with or that some human error will not occur. I have read and shall comply with the conditions of hunting with The Highmoor Bloodhounds. The value of horses differs significantly and cannot be expected to be known by the Masters and Officers of The Highmoor Bloodhounds. Accordingly, in the event of injury or death to my horse or any other horse ridden by me, whether due in part or full to any error, neglect or default on the part of The Highmoor Bloodhounds, its officials or employees, I will not hold The Highmoor Bloodhounds, its officials or employees responsible for such injury or death or any consequential expenses. I further agree that it is my sole responsibility to arrange effective insurance cover in respect thereof and (where I do not myself own the horse which I am riding) to indemnify and save harmless The Highmoor Bloodhounds, its official or employees against any claim or claims made by the owner of any horse ridden by me.

BY BOOKING A PLACE ON THIS EVENT I AGREE THAT I HAVE READ THE HIGHMOOR BLOODHOUNDS SAFETY CONDITIONS AND FULLY UNDERSTAND AND WILL COMPLY WITH THEM.