RIDING AS A GUEST
Would you like to come ride with us but you are not quite sure what to expect? Riding as a guest is also known as "capping".
Riding as a guest or “capping” gives you an opportunity to try the OVH's hunting to decide if this is something you and your horse would like to do! Valid for one year, you can purchase up to 3 caps per year for riding with hounds. If you fall in love and want to become a member, we will deduct your hunting caps from the membership fee.
Capping
See the calendar for the published dates. OVH’s season consists of spring (May and June) and fall hunting (September – November).
Note that juniors under 18 years of age must ride accompanied by a capable adult companion or coach.
To get started:
Phone one of our Masters by 12 noon the previous day at the latest.
Primary contact
MFH Stacey Findlay
613-558-0178
Backup
MFH Laura Hillary
613-552-0582
- We will discuss a few things with you to help you have a have a good capping experience. If you are younger that 18, please include your parent/guardian/coach in the call.
- Tell us a bit about yourself and your riding experience.
- Tell us about the horse you will hunt.
- How will you get to the meet? Will you be travelling with another person?
- We will also talk about the arrival time, how to check in with a master, what time to be mounted, stirrup cup, announcements, fields or groups of riders that will be offered that day, what to wear and what to do if you need to return to trailers.
- The master will send you a link to the online form which includes your information, waiver and payment. You must submit your information and payment immediately following having received permission from the master to cap. We plan ride and hunt groups the evening before so we need to have all this information by the early afternoon on the day before at the latest.
- Read the Welcome to capping guide (for hunting) as well as the OVH hunt etiquette and Dress code pages.
- Arrive at least 30 minutes before the ride or hunt start time and check in with one of the masters. Plan to be mounted at least 20 minutes before the start time. Note that many seasoned hunters trailer tacked up in case there is a delay while driving and to eliminate their horse dancing around while tacking up. Remember your tack, safety-approved helmet and riding boots! Lunging in the parking field is not permitted and there is no need for a warmup as the hunt starts with a walk hack out.
- Please email masters@ottawavalleyhunt.com after the hunt and let us know how your hunt went.
Photo credit Brit Larkin
Photo credit Linda Banfalvi
The spring/summer cost to cap is as below:
Adults |
|---|
19 years of age and up |
$50.00 (incl. HST) |
Juniors |
|---|
5-18 years of age Must ride with an adult companion (adult companions also pay $25.00, coaches ride free with one or more paying students). |
$25.00 (incl. HST) |
In the fall we hunt on Wednesdays and Saturdays (and Thanksgiving Day) and the cost to cap is as below:
Adults |
|---|
19 years of age and up |
$100.00 (incl. HST) |
Juniors |
|---|
5-18 years of age Must ride with an adult companion (adult companions also pay $25.00, coaches ride free with one or more paying students). |
$25.00 (incl. HST) |
As a general rule you and your horse should be comfortable riding outdoors with a group of horses. Depending on your and your horse’s experience, you should choose which field you would feel most comfortable riding with. To allow different levels of riders to enjoy cross-country rides and hunting, we provide three fields:
First field
First field is the fastest field and usually suitable for more experienced riders and horses.
When we hunt, the first field follows the Huntsman and hounds closely and is expected to jump, although there is a way around most jumps.
Second field
The second field travels at a more modest pace and jumping is always optional.
Third field
The third field is for less experienced riders and/or horses and travels at a slower pace with no jumping permitted.
We offer a “coaches cap” which allows coaches to hunt with us at no cost when accompanied by one or more students! This would be a great way to help your students build their confidence and really experience the joy of riding cross country.
Our spring/summertime home territory cross-country rides and visiting trail rides offer about 1.5 - 2.5 hours of activity (10 - 15 km). See first-field videos of June 2020 cross-country rides: June 6, June 13, June 20
Our fall hunts take 2 – 3 hours. If possible, our fall hunts are followed by a wonderful member-hosted dinner (known as a greenbox) at the clubhouse.
If you are not comfortable with the field you are in (maybe it is too fast or too slow) or if your horse is misbehaving, you are permitted to change fields (with the permission of the fieldmaster) at the next check. If you feel the need to leave the hunt (perhaps because your horse has lost a shoe or is misbehaving) advise your fieldmaster, who will make sure you are accompanied back to your trailer.
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