Learn to Hunt Clinic 2025

Have you ever wanted to learn more about fox hunting or wanted to try riding to hounds?  We are offering a two-part “Learn to Hunt” clinic for riders of all levels and disciplines.  Perfect for anyone who is interested in our sport and wants to give it a try. It is also a valuable refresher for current foxhunters, with the added benefit of one-on-one time with hounds and staff.  Learn more about the “why” behind the “what” we do and build your skills.  This clinic is a great confidence booster for everyone!  

The cost is $169.50, including HST, for both parts (for non-members).  If participants choose to join the hunt, the cost of the clinic will count towards their new memberships.

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Pre-clinic - Welcome Package
Participants will be sent a welcome package upon registration including all the information you need to know prior to arriving, including etiquette for horses & humans, where, when, and why to be at the clinic and supporting hunt, and finally, what to wear for both you and your horse. These tips & tricks fact sheets will help to ensure a fun and successful day for both you and your horse.
Part One - We Prepare!  In hand and mounted exercises
Participants: Humans & Horses
Location: Ottawa Valley Hunt Farm, 8935 Abb Road – Off Ashton Station Road 
Date/Time: Postponed until summer - date TBD
Attire:  Clean and tidy, all participants must wear an approved safety helmet for mounted activities

Join the Ottawa Valley Hunt’s Master-Huntsman, Jamie Hughes, and his whippers-in and Masters to meet the OVH hounds.  Observe the amazing relationship between Jamie and his charges as he manages a pack of hounds with only his voice (and maybe a few treats!) during this in-hand experience for you and your horse. 

Afterwards, we will mount and gather in the front field to begin the riding portion of the clinic. 
This will be a day of Introducing your horse to the atmosphere gently.  There are all sorts of strange sounds and smells at the kennels.  Here is your opportunity to ease into it.  Riders will be divided into their groups and will have a fun-filled day of hunt related activities with their horse including an introduction to hounds (in-hand),  mounted exercises and a short trail ride followed by a mock hunt after the lunch break.

Mounted – front field, warm up exercises  5 elements 
  • Front field exercise – Mounted meet and greet, Announcements,  riding exercises – approach stirrup cup table, have a stirrup cup,  hold hard, forward reverse, open & close a gate…
  • Intro to hounds at Kennels (in hand)
  • 3 fields following hounds (front field)
  • Trail ride
  • Lunch break
  • Mock hunt 3 fields (without hounds)
  • Tailgate to follow
Afterwards we will have a “tailgate” in the parking field, where there will be refreshments and snacks. Please feel free to bring a dish to share. During the tailgate, we’ll have a Q & A with staff and Masters of the Hunt.
Part Two - We hunt!
Participants: Humans and Horses
Location: OVH Territory
Date/Time: Postponed until summer - date TBD
Attire: A hunt or show jacket and show shirt or turtleneck with a stock tie (if you have it), riding boots, neutral-coloured breeches and a safety helmet. Basically, anything neat and tidy that you have in your closet will be fine, but the safety helmet is a must.

Put all your new-found skills and expertise together.  This part is a real OVH hunt with hounds at one of our beautiful fixtures. 

8:30 am: Be mounted and ready to go.  Take the advantage of this time and walk around and settle your horse, because this time the stirrup-cup will be held mounted! Everyone gets to practice riding your prancing pony with one hand and a cup of port or lemonade in the other.

8:45 am: The Masters will call for your attention.  There is always a list of announcements before a hunt.  At this time, the Masters will thank the many drag layers, whips,  field masters and other volunteers who made it possible that day to have our hunt.  They will give you a rundown of what to expect and make any additional announcements at this time. They will also identify your Field Masters. This is where you need to pay attention:
  • 1st Field – You will be galloping.  You will be jumping.  You may have to turn and stop on short notice.
  • 2nd Field – This field is still pretty fast. You won’t be that far behind the leaders, walk, trot, canter but there are never any jumps that you can’t avoid.  
  • 3rd Field – The slowest-paced field, still with walk, trot & quiet canter opportunities.  Your Field Master is going to take you for a slower ride, cutting a lot of corners to get views of hounds at work.  In doing so you get to see the hounds work from a different perspective and still enjoy the show.
Pick your group and keep your group.  If at any time you need to change groups or retire, tell your Field Master.   Your Field Master keeps track of everyone in their group so you must stick together. 

9:00 am: Release the hounds. Our Master-Huntsman will bring the hounds out of their trailer and blow the horn to start the hunt.  Because it is a drag hunt (where we follow a laid-down scent not a real fox) the hounds are usually “on” right away.  We ask that everyone stay quiet while the hounds are working. After the hunt is over, Jamie will blow his horn for the last time to signal that the hounds are going home. Everyone will thank the Huntsman, staff and their Field Masters and return to their trailers.  
After you have seen to your horse, there will be a tailgate “breakfast” before everyone hits the road. Please bring a dish to share.

Remember to share your post ride selfies on our OVH FB page and tag us on Instagram – we predict lots of smiles and stories to tell your friends!