So today was the last day for hunting with Wolf Creek. Last night our MFH called and said they still had too much ice on the ground; the trailers wouldn’t be able to get in and out, and the hounds’s pads would be cut up. So he canceled.
I didn’t get to hunt in February at all; every Sunday was lousy weather or bad footing. I will be capping 2 x in March with other hunts, but then it’s all over.
So what do I do now? Count the days until cubbing starts in September? How do I get my fix?!?!?!
Oh, I know the feeling. I’m on hold now until hound jogging by June. I want to start riding now but I live on a hill this steep \ and it’s way too icey : (
What to do now? I suggest
March 20 Bridlespur Western Challenge meet, last chance to hunt HillnHound Farm I think!
From there trailer on out and hunt with North Hills, shoot, keep going to Wyoming and I’ll hunt with you there!
Attend MFHA seminar in Reno and hunt w/Red Rock there, Lynn has a few horses available I think
Hunt w/ Red Rock at Three Forks, Montana, you could fly in and rent a cowpony from Montana Horses.
Beverley, I’m planning on hunting March 20 with Bridlespur at Hill N Hound. I do hope it’s not the last time for riding up there; maybe the new owners will work something out?
And after that, well, there’s no way I could be a Western Challenge groupie! Unfortunately I have to work for a living, so traveling out west would be impossible.
Will you be at Hill N Hound March 20? It would be fun to meet you!
For me it will be
I’ve been thinking about giving my horse the month of April off for some R+R.
I think all the lower midwest hunting got tanked out this weekend. Our weather has made hunting be cancelled the past two weekends. 
I’ve already scouted the weather channel for this week’s weather and think I’m going to rearrange my work schedule to go out Weds & Sat. Our hunt season will run through the end of March so the time is winding down meanwhile with breeding season starting it will be harder to get off work- a mare is due to arrive tomorrow for us to foal out and breed on foal heat. Grrrr.
I can feel your pain Barb! This was an accidential season for me- at a friends invite I took my mare out roading hounds in August. I knew it was going to be perfect when that very first time, the hounds were released from the kennels and came running by us, then paused and scurried around all by the horses. My lil mare was like “Check, hounds run all around our legs.” Because of what I’ve done w/ her I knew riding in the field w/ all the excitement wasn’t going to be an issue- it all depended on what how she would react to a dozen couple hounds. I’ve spent the past 5 years of winter weekends hauling my daughter out to her rodeos so it was such a blast to actually get to ride in the winter! The hunt members were the icing on the cake. A nicer, more gracious group of adults does not exist!
Do me a favor, when you find the perfect fix for us share it here!!! I’ll be all ears and counting the days until roading begins. 
Our hunt cancelled yesterday. I think I’m down to one hand on counting the hunts I’ll be able to do the rest of this season.
In spite of this I took 3 1/2 couple of beagles out yesterday and had a fabulous run.
Today I trail rode in one of the local parks. They took 1 1/2 couple of beagles out with the local basset pack (they had five couple). We viewed 6 rabbits and one of my beagles was the star of the show.
I’m hoping to hunt twice next weekend (weather permitting).
Also hoping Beverly will be able to loan me a mount or I’ll find one to rent for one of the Colorado hunts of the Western Challenge. If not my last hunt will be the start of the Challenge with Bridlespur.
Well, I’m not going to say a single word about us being out for 3 1/2 hours today, going 12 miles over the countryside, the hounds finding 3 foxes, one after another, that took us in huge multi-mile loops (with 2nd flight and spectators getting some great views), our field recording a top speed of 25.7mph at one point galloping down a hill hell bent for leather (talk about grey hair time!!), putting one fox to ground the other two losing us, and ended the day with all hounds on, and everyone… and I mean everyone! … exhausted and happy.
Nope. Not going to say a single word. ;)
[QUOTE=gothedistance;3032654]
Nope. Not going to say a single word. ;):D[/QUOTE]
Did you say something???
(You lucky dog!!!)
things to do until roading starts
hunter paces
trail rides
add your fav here
We have not been able to hunt for the past two months because of winter weather and ice, so I feel your pain! I have been walking hounds each week and hauling to an indoor to ride when I can.
Just for diversion, my wonderful field hunter and I competed in a local dressage show yesterday. We event in the summer, so this was not too much of a stretch.
I have to admit that when another rider paid us a compliment after our test I took some pleasure in letting them know that we were fox hunters first and formost.
Good luck with your winter blues!
Yep, I’m planning on it, just waiting to see what schedule changes there are since Waldingfield won’t be coming. I’ll email you once I know what the deal is!
[QUOTE=Rt66Kix;3031716]
I didn’t get to hunt in February at all; every Sunday was lousy weather or bad footing. I will be capping 2 x in March with other hunts, but then it’s all over.
So what do I do now? Count the days until cubbing starts in September? How do I get my fix?!?!?![/QUOTE]
You can come volunteer for me until your hunt season starts up again…
I used to hate summers, now I am busier then than in the hunting months!
Where to begin? All tack taken apart, summer bridles put together ( I switch out lots of reins and bits for the hotter months; ex., use milder bits in the warmer months etc.). Everything looked through for repairs - boots, saddles, blankets, clothes, tack, even grooming equipment. Some stuff may need to be replaced too, stock up on stable supplies like clipper blades and oodles of Whisk.
Already trying to figure out how much hay I will need and order early.
Trailer will be stripped and washed and repairs made as something always breaks and has to wait until hunting is over; ex., left water in the tank on a freezing night and pump busted (actually, I told someone to empty the tank a few days beforehand and certain someone did not do it, argh).
Same with the truck. Actually, will do both before summer trail rides begin and again at summer’s end.
Lessons, need to take some in the cooler months before the flies get awful.
Turn some horses out to summer pasture, bring others up.
Fence repairs, walk every inch of the farm. Major renovations are in order this summer. Hauling off deadwood, (have a huge pile to burn already) sprucing up the place, endless things to do before the ticks come out and I have started early this year.
Catch up hunt journal if behind.
Organize scads of hunt photos taken over the winter months. Frame some and always find a few to send to friends.
Build some fences. I collect stone and also am a scavenger, have been given fence boards etc. and have a pile of stuff to work with and will be building small fences like baby coops etc. with go arounds all over the farm to school the green horses over. Also collect downed trees in the woods and use them to make natural obstacles to jump. Already have a lovely stone wall up, complete with cedar rider, and it rides well!
Hit a few horse shows and remember what they are like, drool over the $$$ horses but thank goodness am more interested in being scared to death in the hunt field than 8 good fences which I can no longer afford anyway <sigh>.
Compete in some hunter paces, maybe a few low key horse shows, then the hunt club trail rides kick in and get incredibly busy doing as many of them as possible. They have taken over the summer for sure.
Horsey travel like Rolex, Saratoga, Upperville, Devon. Watch the derby, sightsee at the Gold Cup in May etc.
GO TO THE MALL and see what spring and summer fashions are…that is, if I can remember how to get there…
Middleburg, finally have time to visit the National Sporting Library!
Take a map out an explore some hunt country by car on those impossibly hot summer days.
Videos, catch up on horsey ones always too busy to watch in the winter.
Hunt reading, ditto.
Barn tour and hound shows and spring chases.
Plan a BBQ in the depths of summer when hunting seems so far away…invite horsey friends and catch up on summer comings and goings.
VA Garden Week Tour - last week of April - several horsey houses on it this year! Revisit Ladew Gardens in MD. Do some different things like spend a weekend at Fair Hill exploring their thousands-of-ridable-acres-park.
Go horse shopping!
Before you know it…cubbing will be around the corner!
I never get blue - too much to do!
Point to points, hound walking, got a young horse to bring along, another to show, farm work to do, have to get the truck and trailer fixed up now so I can use it over the summer, getting together with fellow hunters to work our young/green horses, jumps to build, more farm work to do, and then some more farm work to do… hound shows, more hound walking, more farm work,
hounds hounds hounds, work work work, ride ride ride…
I’ve always counted the first day of hound walking as the first day of the next season - not when cubbing starts. For me, our next season is just a few weeks away!
You could alway try eventing! Our season is about to get underway. We get the end of season blues in October/November.
I really want to try hunting…
Once hunting season is over I will be introducing my 6 year old this spring/summer to group hunt trail rides, and hopefully bring him out cubbing this fall. Also endurance riding the one I’m currently hunting, and picnic carriage driving the pair. No ‘end of the season’ blues for me – all my riding/driving seasons overlap. My biggest problem is selecting which sport to indulge in when dates overlap!
I know the feeling
Between eventing and vacations it’s hard to get the young horses ridden too.
My plans this weekend unless weather interfere’s
Friday - Haul down and hunt with Shawnee Hunt
Saturday - Hunt with Bridlespur Hunt
Sunday - Hunt with Sanandona beagles, Three Creek Bassets, and bring some of my own.
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