First Time Out Hunting

[MDLawGirl]

My daughter and I just returned from a 3 day intro to fox hunting clinic, and we had the best time. I took my gelding and she took her mare, and both were great.

We walked out with the hounds the first day, roaded them (I hope I got that term correct) the next and ended the three day journey with a 7am hunt in some of the most gorgeous country I have ever had the pleasure of seeing. We were out for about an hour and half, and I am sold sold sold on the sport.

At one point, we were trotting through some pretty dense woods and part of the pack emerged and started running with us. Our horses picked up a nice canter and I looked down to see hounds running along side of my big guy, urging us onwards…my guy never kicked, his ears were up and he was loving life as much as I was. I could hear other hounds speaking in the distance, and it was a truly moving melody. We finally emerged from the woods into a mist covered clearing and slowed to a trot and then a walk…I was grinning from ear to ear and my heart was racing…I saw my daughter and the first flight group she was riding with emerge from the trees at the other end of the clearing with the rest of the pack. We all turned our horses to face the hounds as they swirled around and the staff called to them to “pack up”. The scene was just gorgeous.

I have wanted to give hunting a try for the longest time, and am so greatful to have had such a wonderful introduction to the sport.

If there are any lurkers on this forum who were like me…reading these wonderful tales written by the foxhunters on this forum and dreaming of what it would be like…take my advice and just do it! You won’t regret it.

[ReeseTheBeast]

L,

What a wonderful post! Reading it, I felt like I was there with you :yes:

And then I felt like I wanted to go hop on The Beast and join a hunt!

Next time you go to something like that, let me know; I’d love to join!!!

[SLW]

Congrats on giving it a try and that sounds like a wonderful clinic the hunt hosted!

Now tell, was there anything that surprised you or was way different than you expected?? Had your horse ever hunted before?

[MDLawGirl]

Reese,

We are going to go back up north for a hunter pace hosted by this group in Oct. I’ll email you the info so you guys can join us.

SWL,

My horse hunted first flight for two years, so he knows what it is all about. Even though he hasn’t hunted at all in the year that I have had he, he was very good to me and basically a gentleman, despite prancing a bit. Fortunately, the huntsmen we were out with were tolerant of us just walking through his anxiety…small circles were the order of the day for us when we stopped to listen for the hounds. He just really wanted to go, but I am not yet ready to ride that way…yet!

I wasn’t expecting to be in the woods as much as we were. We had gorgeous open fields to ride through, but we also picked our way through very narrow trails in the woods…luckily we trail ride alot, so the terrain didn’t really unnerve us the way it might have had we been mostly ring riders.

[Rt66Kix]

I feel as though Buddy comes ALIVE when hunting. Not in a bad way; he’s never ill-behaved. But a switch just flips in him when he sees the hounds, and hears the horn. It’s different then when on a hunter pace, or hacking out in the park.

It’s been on of the best experiences I’ve ever had with any of my horses. I love seeing him enjoy himself so thoroughly. Of course, I have fun, too. But it’s always fun when your partner is as passionate about the sport as you are.

Congratulations! I hope to read many more posts from you. With which hunt were you?

[SteeleRdr]

[QUOTE=MDLawGirl;3466610]
My daughter and I just returned from a 3 day intro to fox hunting clinic, and we had the best time. I took my gelding and she took her mare, and both were great.

We walked out with the hounds the first day, roaded them (I hope I got that term correct) the next and ended the three day journey with a 7am hunt in some of the most gorgeous country I have ever had the pleasure of seeing. We were out for about an hour and half, and I am sold sold sold on the sport.

At one point, we were trotting through some pretty dense woods and part of the pack emerged and started running with us. Our horses picked up a nice canter and I looked down to see hounds running along side of my big guy, urging us onwards…my guy never kicked, his ears were up and he was loving life as much as I was. I could hear other hounds speaking in the distance, and it was a truly moving melody. We finally emerged from the woods into a mist covered clearing and slowed to a trot and then a walk…I was grinning from ear to ear and my heart was racing…I saw my daughter and the first flight group she was riding with emerge from the trees at the other end of the clearing with the rest of the pack. We all turned our horses to face the hounds as they swirled around and the staff called to them to “pack up”. The scene was just gorgeous.

I have wanted to give hunting a try for the longest time, and am so greatful to have had such a wonderful introduction to the sport.

If there are any lurkers on this forum who were like me…reading these wonderful tales written by the foxhunters on this forum and dreaming of what it would be like…take my advice and just do it! You won’t regret it. :)[/QUOTE]

Congrats on getting hooked!!! What hunt did you go out with? Glad you and your daughter enjoyed your experience!

[strawberry_roan]

Yippee! Another one gets hooked! Isn’t it just the greatest?? So looking forward to our season starting. Not long now! :)

[Arado_TB]

I am so glad you had a good time. I got “chills” reading your post.
At opening hunt last year I don’t know who was more excited me or my daughter.
We just received our email regarding our fixtures being mailed in the near future… ohhh I am so excited!

[farriergodmother]

I’m curious, who were you out with?

[MDLawGirl]

We went out with New Market Middletown Valley Hounds…a wonderful wonderful group located in gorgeous Middletown MD.

[farriergodmother]

I’m glad you enjoyed your time out with NMMVH. I’m one of the landowners at the Station Rd fixture and heard the hounds out. I wondered if it was just staff or not.

There will be a “hunter pace” here the last weekend in September. I can forward details if you are interested.

[MDLawGirl]

That is exactly where we were: The Station Road Fixture!

Thank you so much for allowing us to ride on such gorgeous property…it truly was a wonderful experience.

My daughter and I definitely would love to come back for the Hunter Pace…we thought it was the first week in Oct, which wouldn’t work for us bc we must attend a friend’s wedding…but the last weekend in September would be perfect!

I’ll check back on this thread for the details.

Again, thank you so much!

[ayrabz]

what a great post—yup, ‘lurker’ here, as I’ve never hunted–but your retelling was so well written! How great that you and your daughter got to experience this together. While my guy will most likely never be foxhunting material (!!):eek: (yup, ‘ayrabz’ sez it all!) I can imagine it must be a wonderful experience!

[My2cents]

I’ve only ever hunted (and gone cubbing) in Ireland and boy do they know how to do it! The first time out was an experience like none other. The horses knew their jobs and the 99 other people and horses all did too! Galloping in a crowd of behaved AND excited horses is a thrill that everyone should have the pleasure of, at some point in their lives. Thanks for your post, it definitely conveys the joy of the ride.

[beanie_boomer]

It’s a Small Hunting World!

What a funny coincidence that farriergodmother and MDLawgirl connected this way! Hopefully you all will meet up in person at the cross-country fest/hunter pace.

I was the one who put the clinic together and it was really a wonderful experience. We had 5 kids ages basically 10-15 and 2 adults, and I think they all really got a lot out of it.

The riding was great, but I hope I was able to convey an appreciation for the hounds. We walked hounds on foot, roaded them on horseback, and then had the wonderful opportunity to ride along on one of the pre-cubbing staff hunts. It was the first and also a hot day, so things were fairly sedate, but the hounds did really welll and worked hard, hopefully giving the participants at least the flavor of foxhunting.

I’m sure everyone was exhausted at the end of the two and a half days – especially the kids who were roused at 4 AM to make the 7 AM staff hunt! Adults were fairly groggy, but powered by caffeine. I know I collapsed after everyone left!

Many thanks to the powers that be at New Market - Middletown Valley Hounds in Maryland for letting this happen. The real test will be whether they let us do it again next year!

Marcia
Maryland