Hunted for 2nd time - what fun!

[twofatponies]

So we went out again today - our second ever time hunting. So much fun! Saw three coyotes up close - they seemed to be enjoying themselves, popping up here and there, then leading a merry chase and disappearing again.

What a lovely way to see the countryside and socialize. I’m glad I’ve been brave enough to give it a go!

My mare seems to have got the hang of how it works. When we would stop to listen she would stand so quietly, then suddenly point with her ears, and moments later we would hear the hounds in that direction.

Thanks to everyone here for the useful and supportive posts and threads (even the ones I don’t post on, I read - always useful!). This is a great resource.

[Lifting_Chickk]

Oh, so glad you had fun! This is our first season and we are LOVING it as well.

What an experience a live hunt must be!

[twofatponies]

I hadn’t thought about live vs. drag. Hm. I suppose a drag could be just as unpredictable, depending on how the scent is laid down?

The hounds didn’t find anything this morning for the first hour or so, then they finally started finding good scent. The hilltoppers quit after 3 hours, but the rest of the hunt trickled in over the next two hours!!! Some of them had ended up at the far end of the territory! I’m glad I was conservative with the riding - that would have been far too much for my horse to do 2nd flight.

I did learn a small thing, though - excess amounts of showsheen are really unnecessary! I was worried about looking as neat and tidy as possible and put in a big prep last night polishing tack and vacuuming the heck out of my dusty mare, then I showsheened her up and down (I know better than to do the saddle area!!!) so she wouldn’t get all dirty again overnight (she lives out).

Given that on most hills and many flats I’ve got a big fistful of mane, making the mane very slippery didn’t help!! I also had new breeches which turned out to be a bit slick on the saddle. We survived, though.

[linquest]

[QUOTE=twofatponies;3578329]

I did learn a small thing, though - excess amounts of showsheen are really unnecessary! I was worried about looking as neat and tidy as possible and put in a big prep last night polishing tack and vacuuming the heck out of my dusty mare, then I showsheened her up and down (I know better than to do the saddle area!!!) so she wouldn’t get all dirty again overnight (she lives out).[/QUOTE]

And don’t polish the saddle-side of your boots! Not that I would do anything that stupid

[armandh]

tack plays a big part keeping the horse between you and the dirt,

what ever works for you is great but some saddles are a bit more slippery than others.
some times that last bit of fly spray will cause slipping.
old elastic in the girth combined with some water weight loss can be troublesome

[strawberry_roan]

Twofatponies–always worth it to be neat & tidy! It shows respect. I am so glad you are enjoying yourself!! :)

[SLW]

Neva, neva put Show Sheen in the middle of the mane of the horse you are about to foxhunt! I think the hounds know if several riders have Show Sheened the manes and select hilly, trappy terrian on those days.

It is important to me to be turned out tidy at each hunt and it is never a chore. I keep a bottle of somebody’s Leather Care product in the trailer tack room for touch ups. A turnout sheet the night before, or blanket during the winter, helps keep the pony spiffy heading into hunting day. Perhaps the smartest thing is to own brown horses with little or no chrome, there are two in my backyard.

[twofatponies]

[QUOTE=SLW;3578997]
Perhaps the smartest thing is to own brown horses with little or no chrome, there are two in my backyard. :)[/QUOTE]

Yes, that’s handy! My mare is dark brown with no white. One rider was on a feathered Shire/Clyde type cross - that’s a lot of shampooing!

[Rt66Kix]

@SLW;3578997

Perhaps the smartest thing is to own brown horses with little or no chrome, there are two in my backyard.

My latest rescue horse, Thomas, is an 18 hh grey Percheron/TB cross. He’s hunted with Carmargo, and I’m SO hoping he’s rehabbed enough to hunt next season.

However, just thinking about getting an 18 hh light gray horse, with a white mane and tail, clean enough to hunt is daunting. Here he is. I’m 5’6, and he’s barefoot (actually has no heel on the LF; totally crushed from shoes). That’s a LOT of horse to get clean!

http://pets.webshots.com/photo/2242731100041571637TBZbYt

[CharliesMom]

[QUOTE=SLW;3578997]
Perhaps the smartest thing is to own brown horses with little or no chrome. :)[/QUOTE]

That doesn’t help me much. My hunt horse is a grey named CHROME! She always finds a poo pile to use as a pillow the night before. However, keeping her clipped and blanketed has helped.

Rt66Kix, Mine is a Percheron/TB cross as well. I think they make the BEST hunt horses. I love mine. It’s worth getting them clean, because the photographer always seems to find us!

[SLW]

I DO feel your pain…Back around 1999 the horse I was hunting was white, not gray- a paint horse who had lost the two roan spots he had. Whew! Somewhere in my digital photos I have a picture of him after a muddy spell and written on his side is “WASH ME”.

Once in life one must own a white horse and/or a persian cat. Both are beautiful creatures and both are work.

[wateryglen]

Goddie, goodie!!

woooo hoooo! Everyone stand up & clap! We have another convert! And she’s using show sheen!! She’ll learn!!! :winkgrin: You can always use a “sissy strap” ya know! An old stirrup leather around their necks to grab on hills, bucks, trappy ground or jumps. Better than mane anyday! AKA as “jesus” straps, “safety” straps. It’s a good thing!

And…I think I hate you! Your horse sounds wunnerful! And I’m jealous…So there!!!

Good luck with the gray horse thing…:sadsmile: :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

[Fancy_That]

Mine’s the color of mud - very handy…

[QUOTE=twofatponies;3579201]
Yes, that’s handy! My mare is dark brown with no white. One rider was on a feathered Shire/Clyde type cross - that’s a lot of shampooing![/QUOTE]

With my mud/dirt colord horse with no white legs…I’ll be in great shape!!! As it is, I love how she hides being dirty so well!

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk150/elaineshickman/HunterPace_082507.jpg

OP - glad you had such a great time! I hope to venture into hunting next season - we have a wonderful local hunt that I’ve been doing Hunter Paces and Team Chases with.

[birdsong]

So where are you and which hunt? The coyotes made me wonder. In Ga maybe?

[twofatponies]

This is upstate NY - Dutchess County, lots of farmland, but not a lot of big wilderness, though most of the ridges and mountains are unfarmed and provide “corridors” for wildlife, I think.

Coyotes are quite common. I see the occasional fox, too, but I hear coyotes often in the evenings. We have bobcat & mink, beaver and lots of turkeys, too, and the occasional disputed mountain lion!

The hunt is Golden’s Bridge Hounds - based south of here about an hour, but they hunt up here a few times a year.