Code of conduct.

Objective

This Code of Conduct aims to make sure that all members of the public who encounter the Hunt, be they in a vehicle, cycling or on foot are treated with the respect and good manners for which the Warwickshire Hunt is well known. 

Who does this apply to?

The Hunt membership includes all those following i.e. on horses, ponies, in cars, bicycles, quad bike’s and on foot. Members should therefore agree collectively, and individually, to follow a simple common-sense code of conduct with self-regulation, enforced if necessary by the Masters and Hunt Committee.

On Horses or Ponies

1. Followers on horseback are to remain with and follow the Field Master of the day. They are to abide by his or her instructions.

2. To ride at all times with care and consideration for growing crops, livestock and field margins.

3. If a Master or Field Master asks the field to keep off certain areas of land or asks for the field to ride in single file it is the responsibility of whomever is at the back to make sure the remaining field are aware of and adhere to the instruction.

4. To make stock proof immediately any damage caused to fences and hedges which secure livestock and to report the damage to the hunt secretaries, Masters or Field Master immediately.

5. To shut gates securely at all times.

6. On public highways, or anywhere else, to acknowledge other road or countryside users.

7. On roads to ride or stand no more than 2 abreast down the left hand side of the road allowing traffic to pass freely in both directions. Where possible stand off the road.

8. To thank traffic for slowing down and, if necessary, apologise for any inconvenience caused.

9. To ask other members of the field, if required, to make way for oncoming / passing traffic and to allow it to pass safely.

10. Not to ride along a public highway using a mobile telephone unless in an emergency.

11. To adhere to any notices (written or oral) given by the Joint Masters.

12. To park safely, horse boxes and trailers as directed by the Masters at least a mile outside villages. Horseboxes and trailers are not be parked in any way which obstructs traffic or blocks any gateway; never park in a village or built up area.

13. The operation of changing second horses should never obstruct or delay any other road users for any period of time.

14. To ride safely and with care and consideration for other riders.

Motor Vehicles (cars, motorbikes and quad bikes)

1.   Vehicles always to be driven legally and safely with due care and attention and with courtesy of other road users and the public.

2.   Vehicles to remain on the road and, in or near villages not to drive or turn on verges, mown or otherwise.

3.   To access estate and farm tracks only with express permission of landowners and not to leave the hard surface for parking or for any other reason.

4.   Vehicles are not to overtake other hunt vehicles, climb pavements or turn around in private driveways whilst in villages. It is preferable for them not to stop or park in villages at all.

5.   When parking, ensure hunt followers park on one side of the road to allow other road users to pass safely.

6.   Quad bikes, motor bikes and any four-wheel drive vehicles are to only drive on margins, tracks and edges of fields and not across drilled crops. Members using these methods of transport are to only access private land with the express permission of the appropriate farmers and landowners.

7. Quad bikes are to be driven legally, safely and considerately at all times and, where required, with its passenger sitting pillion.

On Foot

1.   All foot followers again to respect farmland, livestock and fences/hedges and property and to shut gates.

2.   To consider whether they are welcome rather than simply walking anywhere following hounds, with or without dogs.

3.   All dogs to be kept on leads.

4.   If a fox is seen not to point, holloa or shout as hounds are now only trail hunting.  The Hunt staff will stop hounds as soon as they can if hounds are hunting illegally.

Sanctions

It is hoped that with everyone’s help this code of conduct will be self-regulated.

If any of these codes of conduct are disregarded Masters, with the support of the Committee, will have the authority to ask offenders to leave the hunt.  For persistent offences the offender may be so unwelcome that subscriptions or caps will not be accepted.

For vehicle users not abiding by these codes of conduct on private property they will be denied access; on public roads there is no formal sanction that the hunt can enforce.  However, offenders will not be recognised as hunt supporters.

Summary

All supporters and followers of The Warwickshire Hunt should take care and consideration of each other and of the reputation of the Hunt.  Breaches of these codes of conduct are likely to jeopardise good will, access to private land and damage the Hunt’s reputation and the future for others. All of us represent the Hunt at all times and the hunting and countryside community both locally and across the country. Always support the Hunt, and any of its activities, quietly, diligently and with good manners. No contact whatsoever, physical or verbal, is to be made with hunt saboteurs or anti-hunt Activists. We are judged not so much by our activities but by how we conduct ourselves.