Choosing a hunt for my retirement

[FatDinah]

Hi, I will be retiring soon, My new life plan is to work summers (May-September basically) at various national parks, etc, mostly in the West.

I want to spend my winters trail riding and fox hunting, something I have always wanted to do but never could because of my career. I have a 22 year-old gelding and only want to do the easiest hunting field: walk and trot, no or very low jumps. He is a marvelous trails partner with dogs now so I think he’ll transition fine. The plan is for him to board year-round there.

Two West hunts I am interested in are Red Rock Hounds in Reno and Grand Canyon Hounds in Flagstaff. Does anyone have any info on those and the likelihood of finding affordable rental housing or a parking spot for a travel trailer/RV for several winter months?
Any other West hunts I might like?

I did run across the Live Oak hunt in northwest Florida near Tallahassee and that looks interesting. So I’d appreciate any info on them.

I don’t think I really want one of the Virginia/Maryland hunts, FYI.

Thanks a lot!

[Beverley]

Both hunts you mentioned would be good choices, excellent sport at both. Pro for Reno, generally lower cost of living/housing than Flagstaff I think (but by no means an expert so it bears research- I know it’s a popular ‘summer home’ area for Phoenix folks which leads me to think that prices could tend to be higher). And Lynn would know of inexpensive to free plug-in spots in proximity to Red Rock kennels (40 miles north of Reno and actually in that area much trail riding available literally out the door). Both packs do cover ground! Red Rock does have fields for every speed though, don’t know about Grand Canyon because I haven’t hunted w/ them on their home turf yet.

Pro for Grand Canyon/Flagstaff: proximity to greater opportunity for summer federal employment, NPS, BLM and Forest. In particular, relatively nearby Utah has greatest number of national parks of any state in the US- but there are very cool opportunities on BLM land as well. And of course there’s the Grand Canyon not too far away, and national forest right there in Flag.

Weather in winter- Flagstaff can be very cold, I daresay colder than Reno, and gets more snow I think- but the underlying footing in both areas is conducive to winter trail riding.

There are other good hunts worth exploring out west, but based on your post I would say you have hit on two that are right in line with what you have in mind.

[xeroxchick]

Green Creek near Tryon.

[eesterson]

New Mexico

Two hunts in New Mexico–one in Santa Fe and the other in the Albuquerque area. Santa Fe can be pricey but the lifestyle is fantastic–wonderful cultured town–as is the weather–sometimes cold but almost always sunny and by midday it can be a beautiful and perfect 50 degrees. Nearby skiing, cooler summers, etc.

Horse boarding in and around Albuquerque are much more affordable than in Santa Fe but bargains are also to be had in the surrounding communities like Galisteo, Lamy and Eldorado. Both hunts are fun and hunt some amazing territory. Albuquerque is a much more “workmanlike” city, but we do have some nice cultural offerings and a smattering of interesting restaurants, etc.

Plenty of RV/Trailer parking in both cities.No jumps, thousands of acres of huntable land.

Caza Ladron: Santa Fe
Juan Tomas: Albuquerque