Newbie inquiry: How should one prepare for possible hunting?

[wateryglen]

You betcha!

Middleaged? No problemo!
Timid? No problemo!
Askeert? No problemo!
I think you might just be the average new hunt member for our area if you asked me! Lets just tell everyone that you just have “strong self preservation instincts”!! Thats all!! :winkgrin:
Cross country riding in groups or with some zoom will prepare you. Like everything else; the more you do it = the more confidence you’ll both get. It’s mileage baby; mileage!!
Keep smiling and never let 'em see ya sweat!!!
and you BETTER report back on how it goes!! :yes: Go for it; many of us are glad we did.

[Hinderella]

Thanks again for all the reponses!

JSwan, don’t worry, I picked right up on the flask part! Is there a protocol on what I should fill it with? I’ve always been a fan of Booker’s bourbon, but I suppose the libation of choice may be a regional matter.

I took Mahindra (the pony) on a trail ride a couple of days ago, the first time in a year. She was wonderful and calm. When the horse who acocmpanied us acted up a little circling and dancing, she walked right by, gave him one of those withering “mare” looks, and kept on going.

I’ll get in touch with Tyrone farm and see if I can audit their clinics…maybe I’ll get lucky and they’ll have a horse I can hire for the day.

[jawa]

Hinderella,
If you do a search on Foxhunters online (FOL), you will find many recipes for what to put in your flask.

If you’re not into mixing, just pouring, white port is nice on hot hunt days. Plus you don’t have to worry about staining anything if you spill a little. Hot Damn, a cinnamon schnapps is great for a cold day, as well as Wild Turkey Honey Liquor.

I was able to partake of a Godiva Chocolate Liquor mix that was dessert in a flask.

Apple Corn mixed with something else is a nice, tart but sweet concoction as well.

The possibilities are endless.

Stopping at checks as sharing flasks can be soooooo much fun!!

[whicker]

Are ladies still stuck with itty-bitty flasks?

[jawa]

I have one for my sandwich case and one for my pocket!!

[whicker]

More, More, I’m still not satisfied! Baha-hah-ha!

I was hoping a camel back would be fine… Maybe, instead of a vest, under the coat?

[jawa]

It would be awesome and I’m sure no one would notice, until you fell off and burst the camel back. “OH, look at all that blood!!” To which you would reply, “That’s not blood, it’s my bloody mary! Now the hunt has been ruined!!”

I really think the camel back is a great idea. You don’t have to worry about screwing the cap back on. It never fails for me that if I sit patiently at a check and don’t reach for my flask, thinking its going to be a short one, it ends up being long enough for several swigs, but as soon as I’ve uncapped my flask, the are screaming and the horn is a blowing and we’re off at a gallop with me trying to ride and cap and put flask back in its appropriate place. Luckily my pony has learned to follow, not pass. I’m good as long as there isn’t a coop near by.

You should go to the blog site for the lady who hunts with AVH. I think her thread on here was about going from a dressage only to hunting… Anyway with all the snow last season some of the hunt got together at her barn and had some fun jumping with champagne filled glasses to see who would have the most left in the glass at the end of the time. I’d love to try that sometime!!! Sounds like a fun drinking game.

[whicker]

Bwaa-ha-ha! IMPORTANT SAFETY INFO

Jawa,
Pleasantmeadow is one of my comrades in crime! She will be down here in Va hunting with me and I will go up there, too.

My son, the NASA scientist, wishes me to mention that the camelback is actually an important safety device. It provides a more useful cushioning during the impact of a fall than say, an air vest, ex. pro air or hit air. It doesn’t have the drawback of the explosion sound, since there is no canister to open. The camel back quickly provides liquid anaesthetic as well, useful for man and beast, and encourages others to help the injured.

The anaesthetic of course, would be carefully matched to the needs of the fallen, or the pre-fallen. It would probably require frequent product tasting to make sure that it was still palatable.:winkgrin::D:lol:

[wateryglen]

I loves whicker!!

OH Whicker! You slay me! The PRE-FALLEN?!!! I think my Snobbington Hunt has a whole hunt of pre-fallens!!
And as a nurse; I gotta say the true value of anesthetics is if they can also be used as antiseptics and of course most flasks contain bacteriostatic substances. But they burn when applied to open wounds and are best taken internally…bla, bla, bla…

And the EXPLOSION sound???:lol: Are we sure those aren’t ORGANS we hear exploding?:eek: Or riding pants?! :winkgrin: But gosh I do hate when that happens…
And that PRODUCT TESTING? Isn’t that what they call a “stirrup cup”?!!

[SLW]

I’ve hunted off an on all my life. Three years ago I joined a hunt very close to me and it has been the best investment of my time and money. The members are so much fun with each one bringing something unique to the group.

You would fit right in with my hunt!! In fact today during hound excercises we informed the second flight Field Master that we (me on my new mare who is new to hunting and another member who getting back into hunting after a 4 year break on a horse that is also new to hunting & we have done the Pinky Finger Pledge to ride together all season) that we just might even be off the pace of second flight this year. :eek:

At age 50, The Pinky Finger Pledge Sista’s are into self preservation and when the second flight is being led by an 80 year old horsewoman who can ride circles around you, well you just have to stand your ground. We told her “you better not yell at us and make us cry!!!”

Good luck with getting started hunting. You will have so much fun!!!

[wateryglen]

question…

Yeah but are the Pinky Finger Pledge Sistas considered “Pre-Fallen”!!! I’m kinda thinking so…just sayin’!!!

[SLW]

Oh yes, the Pinky Finger Pledge Sistas are pre-fallen.

[whicker]

80 and an energizer bunny? Another tale…

I want to know about the field master in her 80’s who can ride rings around you. Whatever she is having, I want some!

Anyone else practicing their vaults and forward somersaults and rolls for the opening of the gymnastic hunt season?

I took my little trak, Wren, out to do a conditioning work on our small mountain trails last evening. Thought I could squeeze it in, while my DH was distracted by a movie. We passed the usual deer, who now don’t bother to leave, as we mosey by. One buck, I think, has been given treats because he makes baby mouthing at us, looking hopeful.

So we get our trot sets in and start the galloping trail. Wren hates going through a very large puddle that has frogs in it. She KNOWS for sure that there are monsters that will eat her because even I can see them. We practice going tippy toe through about 8 times before she relaxes. I can’t wait until she has jumping lessons and learns she can fly it…

We pick up the gallop again, rolling up the mountain, come over the crest, and discover we have company. There is the neighborhood adolescent black bear having angst. He has heard Wren galloping towards him, and decides that he has to out run her. I ask Wren to halt, which she agrees is a GOOD idea. We watch the bear run down the trail ahead of us, as fast as his little legs can go. I feel sooo bad about scaring the little guy.

We take a different trail down to avoid spooking him again. After that, the deer, turkey and hidden tractor don’t seem so bad.

[SLW]

I did my somersault practices Memorial Day weekend. Actually it was more like a 14 year old Russian Gymnast dismount from the blance beam- go airborn, spiral twice, land feet…to knees…to butt…except I’m not 14, athletic or Russian. It was painful, especially the second time. My cussing was in English, with a southern accent…and I walked liked Festus for about 4 days…

I couldn’t bear hunt…at.all. I mean, what does it take to earn colors or buttons in Bear Hunting clubs?? :eek: What do you serve a Bear Hunt breakfast?? Maybe Snobbington Hunt will need a Bear Hunting field on the days we hunt in Virginia…just sayin’

[pleasantmeadowfarm]

Ya’ll have me in stitches!

SLW, Whicker, Jawa, Wateryglen, JSwan - I think I’m going to have to suggest that the AVH have a Chronicle hunt day!!! I would soooo very much love having each and everyone of you up to share a stirrup cup with me! Any takers? Seriously… Junior day, Joint meet day… why not a COTH day? Earlier in the season would be ideal, as I’m sure I’m going to be sniffing around for warmer weather outings before the season is over!

Hinderella - Why don’t you make a pit stop in NJ on your way to visit Whicker… Get a couple of hunts in along the way? Are you game? You can pick me up if you’d like some company for the trip! (OK, Whicker already mentioned that I’ll be heading in that general direction in the near future.)

I posted a video from first day of cubbing with my new pink pony… edited for a PG audience. It was the first time I took my new boy out hunting and the first time I went FIRST FLIGHT!!! What an incredible morning. Despite, having a super dry/hot spell, there was enough dew on the ground early in the morning to give hounds something to pursue five minutes out. We marked one to ground in the first twenty minutes. Puppies all did well, and it was a great first day out!

The addiction continues:winkgrin:

http://myavhounds.blogspot.com/2010/08/i-feel-like-i-just-finished-hell-week.html

[bigbaytb]

i’ve been practicing

Yup, I’ve been practicing my vaults:

http://s855.photobucket.com/albums/ab118/tracyt829/the%20infamous%20dismount/

granted I did not come a cropper last year but my two friends both did on my horses…but not from a stop at fences…

So i’m thinking they’re out to get me…so at least I’ve been practicing my dismounts…

Now I just need to add “permission to dismount” and all is good…:lol::lol:

[Hinderella]

OMG…Bears…scary videos…flying dismounts!! And here I thought I was the only one who falls off regularly.

BigBayTB, all I can say is OUCH! But you certainly stuck the landing!

My usual technique is over the off side shoulder, rolling over my right shoulder onto my back, bang the hip bones around, limp back to pony. Mount up, grimacing, saying “no, it doesn’t hurt at all…” After my last good fall I was so sore that I finally broke down and bought myself a Tiperrary vest.

Pleasantmeadowfarm, I loved the video…even though it watching it made me wonder just what I might be getting myself into. The territory through which you’re riding looks exactly like the trails I’ve ridden. Our barn is adjacent to a 100 or so acres of farmland next to the Connecticut river. Our bogeymen are the BIG farm tractors, the loud boats and jet skis on the river, and the guys who are prepping their pointers for their (pheasant) field trials in the fall. Unlike scaredy cats like me, those guys are insane, riding their Tennessee Walkers 100 miles an hour down the rows between the corn.

A stop in NJ sounds like a great idea. I better pick a date before I lose my nerve entirely.

I think I may need to tip the flask a bit well before the first check…maybe even before I get on?

[wateryglen]

lets get serious for Newbie!

Poor Newbie…she asks a simple question and here’s what we suggest to her for hunting preparation…:eek:

• practice gymnastic dismounts?!
• learn how to ride w/bears?!!
• learn how to walk like Festus?!!
• learn & heed the Pinky Finger Pledge and become a Sista!
• become “Pre-Fallen”?!!
• taste all anesthetics and antiseptics before using
• learn proper flask etiquette and contents
  I mean…where’s the part where we tell her all about “bitting up” or conditioning her horse, or get “stickem” for her exploding riding pants or…you know…the serious hunting prep suggestions?!!! I mean, come on people!! We need to tell her which saddles she should use and all that stuff.
  Sometimes you guys disappoint me…:sadsmile:

[SLW]

OMG :eek: BBTB is fancy enough to be riding her pony where the Paparazzi hang out!!! :yes: I want her autograph!! At best, I’m captured on the wildlife cameras located in the hunt territory as we scoot down the trails. The septia coloring in those cameras is very flattering for those of us with eh, less than a swanky, junior equitation riders physique. :lol: Rider sweat and fear doesnt’ show up as much on those cameras either…just sayin…and thankfully no black bears have shown up in our territory!

Pleasantmeadows- way neat video!! And you east coasters are already cubbing??? Not fair. We are a month away…which is a good thing since I’ve only had my new horse two weeks and we’re still having to interpret each others ques. Do you have any idea how dorky it looks when you press your right leg on your horse to move it over to the left and the horse starts doing reining spins??? :eek: The hazzards of cross-training, well retraining since the mare is western and I’m too stoopid to know how to ride western so she is officially stuck in the hunt seat world now. The good news is that she isn’t fazed by the whips cracking their whips…the mare kinda looks at them like “is that mock team roping??” :winkgrin:

[SLW]

@wateryglen;5037084

Poor Newbie…she asks a simple question and here’s what we suggest to her for hunting preparation…:eek:

• practice gymnastic dismounts?!
• learn how to ride w/bears?!!
• learn how to walk like Festus?!!
• learn & heed the Pinky Finger Pledge and become a Sista!
• become “Pre-Fallen”?!!
• taste all anesthetics and antiseptics before using
• learn proper flask etiquette and contents
  :sadsmile:

Ugh Wateryglen, this important information IS IN the Snobbington Hunt 2010-11 edition of “Riding to the Hounds in America”. It’s the forward you wrote for the book, doncha remember??? We are just renforcing it here for newbies.