I’m so excited, I finally get to try Fox Hunting! I’ve booked a vacation to Hunter’s Rest for my birthday in December and I can’t wait!
OOOO! cool! Hunter’s Rest is definitely on my bucket list now that I am based near H’berg for a few months.
Enjoy! But do take care because it is highly addictive…
Have fun!
LetItBe
Please share with us a full report! #virginnomore
#AFH
The best time for me to go is probably early December so we just might meet up! Me being from Haiti and you being from Florida, maybe the Master will give us special dispensation to wear parkas instead of hunt coats, I will certainly not be used to December cold.
Or El Nino could just give us dispensation of another kind, who knows.
ETA: I, and no doubt AFW, have show coats and breeches. But if I layer on enough longjohns to appease my subtropical thermostat setting, my arms and knees may not bend!
That is wonderful, AirForceWife! You are going to have a wonderful time!
Post all about it for us! With pictures!
Oh it would be awesome if you came too! I have to say, I was astounded at the rates and this trip is going to end up being far less costly than originally anticipated. I will certainly give a full report when I get home.
HIH, I fully expect to freeze while I’m up there, my show coat is not wool because I live in Florida, I might be shopping up there before I go hunting! I’ll be arriving the 4th of December and staying through the end of the next week. I can’t wait! After reading all of these great stories here and watching AFH’s videos all the time I decided this was something I had to do!
[QUOTE=AirForceWife;8399948]
I can’t wait! After reading all of these great stories here and watching AFH’s videos all the time I decided this was something I had to do![/QUOTE]
This statement makes all the feather boas, ridiculous masks, dropped and cracked cell phones and exceeded internet bandwidth worth it. :o
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I was in VA last weekend and kept the kids’ ponies with Betsy at Hunters Rest. You will have a great time! I hired a horse from Betsy so I could go out hunting (with the kids) and he was the loveliest creature and knew his job perfectly. I was very impressed with the hospitality of Old Dominion and of course their hunt country is simply spectacular.
Please let us know how it goes!
Hunter’s Rest and Anonymous Foxhunter, the boas are cute but not very warm. What do you suggest for us tropical riders who are taking the (sub-polar) capping plunge? Long Johns? turtlenecks? Therma-wraps? Electric heater boas?
Here is what I suggest for REALLY cold weather…you might moderate as needed.
Two pairs of socks, and if your boots are tight, then just add little tennis or ankle socks. Here is a tip: pull the socks back off of your toes a little bit, so they are a little loose at the tip of the toe. Do this with both layers of socks. A little extra fabric there will hold heat better than if you have the sock fabric pulled tight against your toes.
Also, use the Grabber MyCoal toe warmers. Tip: Unwrap them and let them activate, or get all warmed up, in a warm location, like your truck or home, BEFORE you stick them on the bottoms of your toes and put on your shoes/boots. Don’t just open them and slap them on and go.
Silk base layer under britches, and under the top half if needed.
Nice warm vest – the Anonymous Significant Other gave me a lovely tattersal vest from Brooks Brothers that somehow had “shrunk” so it didn’t fit him anymore – it has a complete wool back, not satin, so it is quite warm.
Heavier shirt than you would use in temperate climes. As long as your stock tie and vest obscure it, no one will know.
Many hunts will permit a conservative-colored sweater under your coat, if it will fit. On very cold days, some clubs will even permit a conservative-colored winter coat over your hunt coat.
Many will also permit a conservative scarf or neckwarmer, as long as any loose ends are tidily tucked into your collar. By the way, if it’s windy, you may flip up your coat collar – some even have a button and strap for this purpose. The Anonymous Foxhunter always feels a little bit like a badass with her coat collar flipped up. 
Yours Anonymously has hunted with fleece ear warmers that strap onto the helmet harness over each ear. They are the warmest thing ever and keep the entire face toasty. I couldn’t hear much, but I maintained consciousness, so we all have to place our bets and make our choices.
Warmer than usual gloves. Mittens, as you have heard, are warmer than gloves, but can make it more of a challenge to hold reins/take photos/open one’s flask. Tip: Before putting on your gloves/mittens, take a deep breath and SLOWLY blow warm air all the way in to the fingertips. Now put it on! Nice.
Grabber MyCoal hand warmers should be, again, activated in a warm place and allowed to reach hot temperature, and then put into the pockets of your innermost layer that has pockets.
Then hope for a good run!
At a long check, smush your fingers under the saddle pad, or between the pad and the warm horse’s shoulders.
Good luck!
#AFH
You will have a blast!!! I was a HP a few years ago-- in Dec… You should be ok, it is supposed to be in the 60s next week…and shouldn’t be too cold in Dec. I lived in the Netherlands Antilles for ten years so I understand the concern. 
You might even see a bear!
I bought my gloves at a Tractor Supply, FYI.
Enjoy ladies! Many fox hunters here in VA are so warm, friendly, know the history of their hunt club, and just over all lovely people. I personally never jumped but know that they will take good care of you…
You can use a mock turtleneck instead of a shirt. Your stock tie will hide it.
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AFH, thanks for the extra tips! Betsy has already given me some good tips as well but now I should be fully prepared to handle the cold! I’m so excited and it’s still weeks away!
The therma care back warmers can be used on your thighs.
The toe warmers and the hand warmers are a godsend.
I have a black cashmere sweater that is light weight I can use as an extra layer. I also have a light weight down vest I can use as well.
Ear muffs are a must if it is a cold breezy day.
If I wear exam gloves under my leather gloves, my fingers stay toasty. If it’s REALLY cold, I’ll double up the exam gloves.
But to do these things it has to be COLD…highs in the 20’s cold.
For crissakes you guys. It’s Virginia in early December, not Ancorage in February. You likely won’t need any extra layers.
And no, Virginia hunts do not typically allow any outerwear.
It’s been in the mid to high 60’s here in central Virginia this week. I rode today in a long sleeve polo shirt and a flannel shirt, and was too warm.
Holy cow - I just looked up this place and found the pampered ladies’ foxhunting camp: http://www.huntersrest.net/ladiescamp.php
I am now saving my pennies!
Definitely report back on how it was, please!
