My DS and I met with Araphoe Hunt Club yesterday. While we didn’t get to see the entire hunt because the snow melt was making the roads a bit tough for vehicles, we were able to see enough to know that we want to go back soon! DS actually rides western but after yesterday he is wanting to learn more about english and then go hunting!!! I have introduced him to dressage, stadium jumping, eventing, and pleasure riding but he’s never found something in english riding that interested him. Hunting motivated him though. He really enjoyed learning all the traditions, learning about the hounds, and when they started riding he was pretty excited about it all. I am pretty excited that we may finally have a horse activity we can share besides basic trail riding. He has the best OTTB anyone could ask for, a horse that takes great care of his rider, so I think they will do well together even with the excitement.
Everyone at Araphoe was so friendly and welcoming. They have a member that is 86 years old and she rides a horse that is 23 years old. She told me that she feels there should be a “Century Award” for horse and rider. I agree! Gosh, I hope I am that active when I am that age, and I hope my horses are as well. I feel confident that my silly OTTBs will be okay with their level of training and I am sure they will enjoy this. The hunt area is quite nice and they have offered to provide a “babysitter” for us for the first few hunts. I am so excited about going back soon. I still can’t believe I haven’t tried this before.
She hunted with me a few years back and enjoyed it a lot. She is horseless right now but would enjoy following a hunt and taking photos.
