One month ago today.....

[SLW]

…marked the last time my hunt was able to hunt. Since then we had had a bunch of snow, and that wicked round of bitter temps which created the great South Artic Midwest Tundra. Because of the amount of snow it STILL has not completely melted.

Finally after 4 or 5 days of being in a deep fog a breeze has kicked in removing most of the fog, though no sunshine. And now the forecast is for rain!! :mad: Can’t imagine how long it will be before the ground drys up enough to allow us to hunt without doing damage to the land. Sigh.

My horses, hell they think they are wintering with a Pat Parelli groupie because I’m just feeding them, petting them on the nose and giving them kisses without asking for one dime of work.

I was back east for a couple weeks earlier this month and my husband was back home choring. In one phone call during the bitter cold he asked “should I stay out in the barn with the horses, you know, just hang out with them awhile??? They seem so bored, they come in eat, then just stand around in their stalls.” :lol:

The Port in my flask is one month older so now it is very well aged. :winkgrin:

So, who else isn’t hunting due to the hard winter???

[Little_Valkyrie]

We ended the first weekend in December and the horse is officially on break until April. (and at that time I will probably have some trouble keeping all four legs in the ground…) At least we made it to the first weekend in Dec with only 2 bitter cold days, that is something to be thankful for.

Here is a pic of me leading the huntsman’s horse home at the last hunt (everyone said it was the perfect pic to close out the season!)

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3036868&l=457a2adf97&id=644532484

[Hotspur]

We are shut down too. My last hunt was also a month ago and I’m really missing getting out with the hounds. If you would like to read a report on our Dec. 19th. hunt, I posted it here: http://www.chronofhorse.com/article_landing/voices/hunt%20reports
Or just click on voices on the green task bar above, then Hunt Reports.
It was so cold and icy the past month that there were weeks that we could not even take the hounds out for their usual 4 mile walk on the roads. We have had a bit of a melt, so walking has resumed. Good for us as well as the hounds!

I have been trailering my guy Riley to an indoor for some work each week. He has been very fresh but always sensible. We even did some jumping last week and he thought that was the best.

So, stay warm and think Spring!!

[pleasantmeadowfarm]

I hear you!

We finally got out this week. I didn’t get a fix between the Thanksgiving Hunt and last week! It was killing me. I made arrangements to go out down in Florida next week, as I was afraid our season was going to be cut short due to the artic temps and frozen ground. I’m so glad I was wrong, and so pleased that despite trappy footing my mare is still impressing me with every outing!

Do post when you get out. I’d love to hear how it goes. Have you gone out walking with hounds. I’ve really enjoyed it on days we haven’t hunted.

I started a blog as I had extra time on my hands!

http://myavhounds.blogspot.com/

Have faith, you’ll get out there soon enough!:yes:

[SLW]

Yeah to all 3 of you providing me with some reading and looking (I just did both with my 3:00 afternoon coffee! :lol: ) of your hunts. Weather ruts like this is exactly the reason why I wipe my calendar clean early in the season- ya’ never know when the season has to take an extended break.

As for hound walking, this year seems like mostly the whips & Masters are assisting with the walking. Hard to know what got done during the bitter cold snap but they are dedicated if they kept walking when the daily high was 2 above. :eek:

[Elghund2]

We’ve been getting out on the mid-week hunts for a few weeks now. We typically only have one field on those days and we adjust for the conditions and whose riding. we’re heading to SC/GA on Friday for five days of hunting down there.

[Hunter_s_Rest]

Very few of the NoVa hunts are going out. ODH went out last week but those who went called it ‘scary.’ Footing is really really bad. Early morning is fine (frosted solid) but midmorning its unfrozen a half inch on top of solid ice. Plus north-sides are still frozen and partially snow/ice covered. Alas.
Been jogging the road for 6 weeks. Borrrrinnnnggg. But better than nothing. Tried an indoor a few weeks ago, but, really, it was even more boring than just trotting the road. At least outside you can see what’s happening and wave at a neighbor or two.
Headed to Aiken in 2 weeks! I’m sure that’s just about hte time the weather will break around here. !
At least the days are getting longer. I LOVE spring and anticipate a dandy season of spring hunting!

[bigbaytb]

a muddy hunt

The last three hunts before the xmas break were cancelled here.

We did hunt new years day in the bitter cold, except for our master of hounds, it was entirely female feild! but the ice kept the hunt slow and short so we were all at the New Years Day Brunch early! But it has been too icy and snowy to go.

One weekday hunt did go last week where I heard a whipperin became a cropper from a spectacular slide down a hill (from a trot no less)

We finally were able to hunt this past sunday. It was a gloriously muddy mess but very fun, and no croppers! just a couple near misses.

Today, though, its cancelled due to rain and too much thaw.

However, it’s taken me two days to get the mud out of my tack, and I’m still working on it!

Here’s some pix of the aftermath.

http://www.facebook.com/#/album.php?aid=139564&id=547431777

[pleasantmeadowfarm]

I’m with you Hunter’s Rest!

[QUOTE=Hunter’s Rest;4629940]
Very few of the NoVa hunts are going out. ODH went out last week but those who went called it ‘scary.’ Footing is really really bad. Early morning is fine (frosted solid) but midmorning its unfrozen a half inch on top of solid ice. Plus north-sides are still frozen and partially snow/ice covered. Alas.
Been jogging the road for 6 weeks. Borrrrinnnnggg. But better than nothing. Tried an indoor a few weeks ago, but, really, it was even more boring than just trotting the road. At least outside you can see what’s happening and wave at a neighbor or two.
Headed to Aiken in 2 weeks! I’m sure that’s just about hte time the weather will break around here. !
At least the days are getting longer. I LOVE spring and anticipate a dandy season of spring hunting![/QUOTE]

I’m hunting next week in Florida, and hoping to get down to Aiken SOON! Glad I have the indoor to ride in - but now that I’ve had a taste of foxhunting, riding inside bores me to tears. Yes, I take dressage lessons weekly (to distract me;)) to give me something else to focus on.

Bring on the sun and warm weather!

[SLW]

@bigbaytb;4630813

The last three hunts before the xmas break were cancelled here.

We did hunt new years day in the bitter cold, except for our master of hounds, it was entirely female feild! but the ice kept the hunt slow and short so we were all at the New Years Day Brunch early! But it has been too icy and snowy to go.

One weekday hunt did go last week where I heard a whipperin became a cropper from a spectacular slide down a hill (from a trot no less)

We finally were able to hunt this past sunday. It was a gloriously muddy mess but very fun, and no croppers! just a couple near misses.

Today, though, its cancelled due to rain and too much thaw.

However, it’s taken me two days to get the mud out of my tack, and I’m still working on it!

Here’s some pix of the aftermath.

http://www.facebook.com/#/album.php?aid=139564&id=547431777

Oh, PERFECT and I am pea green with envy after seeing your photos!!! It’s like “Survivor- The Countryside”!!!

[Ponyclubrocks]

I sat at my desk today and drained my flask while I pouted about not getting out to hunt since early December…I guess I was afraid the brandy might go bad if it sat much longer…

[strawberry_roan]

We are slowly starting back after one hunt in 6 weeks! But footing is slick and there are still a few ice spots out there–when you least expect it. :eek: And of course more weather is due. Love the wet stuff for the water table but get cranky when I don’t get to hunt–wah wah! :lol::lol:

[SLW]

PCR- it might be time for me to empty my flask, a tribute of course to the great hunting days from earlier in the season and not a reflection on the Fox Hunting withdrawl which Mother Nature has forced upon me due to the weather!!

SR- I was in Culpeper, VA earlier in the month and driving over on 64 from WV I was reminded of how damn pretty VA is. I left VA in 1989 but use to enjoy the hunting invites from a friend in Culpeper. Otherwise I hunted w/ Princess Anne down in tidewater. The return drive home started down in Columbia, SC so as we drove west through GA, TN & IL I daydreamed about hunting on the lovely rolling terrian in those areas. There is nothing better than driving the interstate in the winter because you see the countryside, just beautiful!!

[bigbaytb]

SLW–yes, it did feel like survivor.

It is raining again today and supposed to continue, so I think the next hunt is going to get cancelled too!

It’s so frustrating because I’m close to getting enough hunts under my belt to be considered for colors. Yet all these cancellations will have me put off til next season. Bummer. Especially since I usually cannot make the weekday hunts.

I keep teasing the MFH if it’s possible to get my colors via my horses since I let my friends ride my horses during the week or when I’m out of town. My horses have actually hunted more than me this year:cry:.

[SLW]

The Mother Nature imposed Sabbatical is OVER!!! The hounds will be released from the kennels at 1:00 today and I, astride my trusty lil mare, will be in attendance.

We have sunshine, strong winds and brisk but bearable temps, can’t wait!!! The footing will be gunky but the Masters are terrific and will keep things sensible.