Dublin Meath Farmers Hunt

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The Dublin Meath Farmers Hunt was established in 2006. What makes the Dublin Meath Farmers Hunt different is that not only are we the only Drag Hunt operating in the area but also the fact that the vast majority of our followers are either landowners, big and small, or are people with a keen love of horses and hunting who live in the greater urban and rural area of north Dublin and East Meath.

For the season 2009 / 2010 we will be registered with the Masters of Bloodhounds and Draghounds Association of Ireland and its affiliated body in the U.K. which is fully approved and recognized by the relevant governing bodies.

Of course as a Drag Hunt we do not hunt live prey, instead training our pack of hounds to follow a pre-laid scent trail. This results in fast and exciting bursts of activity after which we rest briefly before moving on to our next drag. As you will appreciate this eliminates a lot of the standing around you may have experienced with other hunts, whilst losing none of the thrill of the chase.

As we are able to plan our routes in advance on any given day this brings great benefits to the landowners over whose land we ride because they get the chance to show us where exactly they wish us to enter and leave their land. It also means that we are able to pick out many more ditches and jumps in smaller blocks of land thus reducing the need to re-visit farms later in the season when conditions might be less suitable.

An additional benefit is that if a rider is having an off day with their horse they will never be left behind at challenging ditches as there will always be a less demanding option nearby.

Our experience so far is that those farmers whose land we have crossed over the last three seasons will be happy to let us through again. We work very hard as group to keep gates closed and gaps well fenced after our days out.

Another important part of our ethos is that we continue to be a small and friendly group of like-minded people with a great camaraderie and if any of our horses or riders do get into difficulty there will always be help available from designated people on the day. Like the Marines, we never leave anyone behind!

We normally hunt on Saturdays which facilitates a lot of people and we also support charity runs on Sundays and Bank Holidays.

The most important thing we stress to new riders is respect for landowners and for the land over which we ride. Accordingly Field Masters on each hunting day will instruct all riders where appropriate in the field. We also expect a high standard of turnout of horse and rider every hunting day and good manners and observance of proper hunting etiquette is taken as being understood. We will issue new subscribers with a leaflet containing guidelines in these matters at the start of the season.

Most importantly we would like to offer interested and capable new followers the opportunity to come out with us on any two occasions at the normal members cap fee for the day. This will give you the chance to see how we do things and hopefully after that you will want to join the Hunt as a subscriber and in due course become a full member.

You will be required to have full personal insurance, which we can arrange for you at a discounted rate, and also to sign a waiver on the first day you come out with us.

Meets: Saturdays

Subscriptions

Adult subscription: Euro 400 which includes mandatory annual personal insurance

Couples subscription: Euro 600 which includes mandatory personal insurance for both

Couples with children: Euro 600 which includes mandatory personal insurance for both

plus an additional Euro 25 per named child up to 16 years

Full time student to age 23 years: Euro 100 plus Euro 50 for mandatory personal insurance

Junior subscriber aged 16 to 21 years: Euro 100 plus Euro 50 for mandatory personal insurance

Daily cap fees are set at Euro 30 for adults and Euro 15 for student, junior or child follower.

We also offer a visitors cap of Euro 60 for those who only wish to hunt occasionally and do not wish to become full subscribers. Visitors must produce proof of personal insurance and will be required to sign a waiver form for the hunt on their first day out with us each season.

If you require any further information or clarification please contact Denis O'Connor, Membership Secretary on 087 2601974