Um. I would love to try this some day. So would my DH. I have a lovely steady draft cross who was said to have been out fox hunting before I bought him. I don’t think I would say he is a “trained” fox hunter though. He has proven to be very good hacking out. My question is…just how good of a rider does one need to be? I feel a little goofy asking, pretty sure my skills aren’t quite there yet. Thanks in advance!
Bluegirl, send an email to Hunter’s Rest. Her web site is in post #12. She can talk to you about your riding skills. If you’re not sure about your horse, she has trained hunt horses that will allow you to focus on yourself, your riding, and your fun!
I can’t make the “Hunter’s Rest 1st annual Bluegrass Festival” 
but I expect to be down the following weekend with a pair of aspiring junior hunters. I’m handing out the Kool-aid to the under 21 set now…
I can open a second subset weekend if Hinder. is squatting on the 9/22 weekend if anybody else wants to come then. Probably not quite as developed a plan but still fun and lots of riding and hunting.
Ooooh, I couldn’t make any of the Spring dates but mid-September is just about perfect! I’m putting it on my calendar. I’m local enough I won’t need accommodations, and hopefully, I’ll have a truck and trailer by then so I won’t have to arrange transportation, either! I can’t wait!
Off to practice my up-do to complimet the new tiara… 
Back from Yellowstone
Hinderella,
I leave for my first vacation in 15 years, and look what you have started up!:eek::lol:
I didn’t have phone or wifi. Egads! Can’t be out of range of my hunting cothers.
I have to admit, I looked at the Yellowstone country with foxhunting eyes. I didn’t see any fox, but one coyote waved at us. That’s rough country- I’m guessing that it is like Red Rock? Any dinosaur bones lying around in your territory, or just R.R. newbies who missed the refreshment 4 wheeler?:winkgrin:
Ok, I expect to be “at home” during the first weekend. Hinderella, we need to talk about your weekend as I know Saint Carl wants to spend his time with your Knight in Shining Armor. Then there are all those great cooking lessons…
Whicker, I am giving up exploring Yellowstone in order to attend the Coth Weekend at HR. I’m curious as to what you enjoyed and what you could do without in a trip there. (It will probably be a couple of years before I can get out there now.)
Cheval… Are you contemplating joining the COTH group this fall??? Oh, how wonderful. Whether it be car following, or on a trusty steed, what fun we will have!
Yes, PMF, I just had a conversation with Hunters Rest and I am officially signed up! My trainer told me that I will be fine hilltopping but that I need to build up my stamina. She will have me ready for September. This would not have been possible without all the Coth enablers. So, for good or for ill, it’s all your fault!:lol:
Yellowstone tidbits
Cheval,
I’m looking forward to seeing you this Fall.
I’m writing an opus about the Yellowstone expedition for you all.
For now, some tidbits:
They keep the horses far away from the geysers on the west side of the volcano caldera. (If you fall in, you die from scalding.) The elk however, like to lie down in the bushes between scalding hot pools and take naps. Lord only knows how many of them went through the thin skim of crust of mineral/liquidy hot rock in the basins. Under the crust are deep hollow chambers for the piping from the magma chambers. Darwin in action…
It still is snowing in the park… And quite windy. But, there are very few people in the park, so it feels wild and more like riding in the Old Dominion territory. (Although our little Va black bears are so gentle compared to tip-toeing around the massive grizzlies. We didn’t want to be lunch.)
Oxygen is noticeably lacking at the high altitudes.
The trout streams were beautiful. We watched fly fishermen play the trout into the net and then release them. I really missed Jimmy Wofford, whose tales of fly fishing gave me some understanding of his sport.
Whicker,
One gets used to the altitude (okay, I live at 5000 ft so I have a head start).
Yes, in these parts, at altitude, it can snow on you 12 months/year. It’s part of why people die when they leave a trailhead in shorts when it’s 80 degrees or so out. One can go from shirtsleeves to duster w/fleece liner in 15 minutes or less.
Windy? Hey, it’s Wyoming, where the wind festival lasts 330 days a year:cool:.
I have a collapsible fishing rod for my saddle bags which comes in handy should I desire to hobble my horse and catch lunch.
Bear spray on one’s person is a good accessory.
BTW, Red Rock hunts 3 days in Three Forks MT every April, convenient to Yellowstone.
Looking forward to your writeup!
Altitude!
Hey booze makes you “happy” quicker at altitude! That’s why Wateryglens farm is so much fun! I’m at 850 feet! Wine goes further up here!
I once got trashed on one beer in Aspen…hugging telephone poles walking back to the lodge…first day of a ski vacation…yup! Altitude can be tough for us lowlanders! :winkgrin::lol::lol:
And the lack of oxygen to my horses brains explains EVERYTHING !!! Yah, that’s it…
And thank gawd we don’t have to carry no bear spray round here!
Omg WateryGlen! I stayed upstairs in your house so I was even higher!
We NEED pics of you hugging telephone poles!!! Inquiring minds want to know!
And y’all, if I can make it to HR for the 15th HP weekend I can teach clogging to anyone who is interested. :-). Boy Howdy!
So bummed
…just found out I can’t make the fall CotH hunt.
I have to obtain my Series 7 license and my two-week training course starts 9/11/12.
Just in case I don’t make it into that class, I’m keeping my vacation time booked. But, I suspect I’ll be cramming for a test while all y’all are hootin’ around in VA.
http://www.investopedia.com/articles/financialcareers/07/securities_licenses.asp#axzz1z0xhnDYs
DH says, “We’re in!”
It has long been my dream to go fox hunting. I grew up admiring pictures of my uncle and cousins fox hunting in Warrenton and Middleburg, and now I’ll get my turn too!!! YAY. I e-mailed Hunters Rest for details and cannot WAIT to join the fun. DH is looking forward to a “different” vacation than our usual camping/boating/fishing in the Keys and Everglades. Where is JSwan? LOL. So excited b/c I was just up there last weekend for my BFF’s 50th b-day and we partied at the pub in Flint Hill.
We’re closing in on hunt season and the Inaugural Bluegrass and Barbeque weekend at Hunter’s Rest!
Sorry I’ve been absent – July camps are running into August clinics and, now, an extra-early CotH hunt in September!!
I have confirmation from Cheval and ManyDogs for the whole hunting deal, and definite maybes from Cammie and several others.
The local crew is lined up ready to entertain – JSwan is ‘hosting’ dinner at Warrenton’s trendy/hip Black Bear Bistro Thursday night (this being Sept. 13); I’ll host a very simple supper Friday night (potluck, sort of, if guests want to bring something to share).
The hunt moves off from here at 8 am on Saturday. In lieu of a traditional hunt breakfast after the hunt, I’m hosting a 5 pm bluegrass jam and barbeque (featuring JSwan’s tasty pork shoulder and homegrown goodies from this garden and many others!)
Wateryglen traditionally ‘host’ Sunday afternoon with the Ashland Bassets. And there are various rides planned (hopefully Whicker can join us!), open-days for visiting/shopping in Middleburg and Warrenton, probably a kennel visit, and lots more fun stuff planned!
Please email BetsyP@crosslink.net to get on ‘the list’!!
Unlimited room for the Bluegrass Barbeque. Please come and bring friends/relatives/neighbors.
Yay!!! I get to meet JSwan too! This just keeps getting better!
I am so happy for everyone:D
the weather will probably be fantastic, sure I am jealous but, it is not in the cards for me this year, 
or, not this trip:winkgrin:
HAVE FUN, I know you will.
Holy moly I forgot I was bringing pulled pork!!! I really need to remember to write things down.
I hope all y’all like Carolina style sauce. Cuz that’s what you’re getting.
The bistro features food from local farms. HR will get me the final list of guests and I’ll make the arrangements. First round is on me.
I just spoke with Hunter’s Rest today and I’m so excited - I’ve decided to make a weekend of it! I’m a little more than an hour away and was going to trailer in and not stay but have now decided I don’t want to miss any of the fun and/or be worn out driving back and forth so a friend and I are staying Friday and Saturday nights. How fun!!
Wooohooo B Street Tango! See ya in a few weeks! Hunter Princessesssesssesss RULE!
