So excited - I had to post... Dressage horse gone wild!

[pleasantmeadowfarm]

I thought so toooo.

I chose a weekday hunt hoping that we’d be able to watch more hound work in a smaller field. I was mistaken. The ODH struck off with a vengeance! We spent a good deal of time on top of hills listening (and enjoying the breathtaking vistas). We caught up with them post haste and lost them again just as quickly. Regardless of the fact we weren’t close to the hounds I still had an amazing time. ODH hunt country is sooo beautiful. Thanks to Hunter’s Rest, I was on her wonderfully compliant homebred fieldhunter. I had no reservations what so ever putting my life in her/their hands/hooves. PB - rocks! Thank you again, for letting me borrow your baby.

[QUOTE=whicker;4765214]
ODH has a small field today, so PMF and C should be close to the action. Hunter’s Rest took some photos before the hunt moved off, so I am sure we will have an illustrated hunting tale.

Hounds struck immediately and took off. We car followers lost them as they headed first down the Jordan river then disappeared behind a mountain towards Flint Hill. Maybe the fox stopped by the Griffin Tavern for a pint…[/QUOTE]

I wish the hounds waited for me to catch up with them at the Griffin Tavern - bad manners not to wait for guests :winkgrin:

Clemetine and I are still reveling. Yup - that was most definitely the best way to end my first season! I swore that I would get to see VA hunt country - just not my first year. Whicker, I am indebted to you. It was a pleasure meeting your entire family (along with Wateryglen) and spending a lovely evening learning all about VA foxhunting’s past and present, along with enjoying a scrumptious meal prepared by your wonderful husband.

Hunter’s Rest - thank you again for your kind hospitality. We enjoyed our stay at your lovely farm. I’m very much looking forward to another visit with you Memorial Day weekend (along with my fellow AVH members!)

I can’t stand that I have to wait seven long months before VA hunt week! Hmmmmm. Whatever will I do to fullfill my fix now???

[whicker]

The time can be shorter

I’m glad you got a taste of our Va hunting this year. You have grown so much in this past year that you were ready for it! We, your enablers, really had a good time plotting your introduction. We are proud of you!

We do start hunting in September. Before then are trail rides, roading, etc. You may want to check out some of our other hunts as well. Most of us are sufficiently addicted that we have associate memberships, so we can go frequently. We have a large number of guests and suscribers that come in from far away hunts. I have made great friendships through helping our guests.

I think Wateryglen said that there are 18 hunts rather locally. Quite a buffet of opportunities for you to think about.

You just added another field hunter to your collection. I think you will want to have that 2nd horse trained and ready to go. You can always come down for some cross country schooling, in the mean time…

Please keep us updated over the hunting break. We will have withdraw, too. Your thread has been so much fun for us. Thank you!

[Hunter_s_Rest]

ODH has a spring trail series, as do many of the area hunts. Several have weekly summer rides. Some hunts do ‘hunting without hounds’ rides (fake hunts, for horses ready to go on a bit), others do summer hunt clinics.
I am planning another Paul Striberry ‘get ready for the season’ clinic here at Hunter’s Rest in August sometime (did it last year to RAVE reviews).
Some hunts begin cubbing in mid August.
Hound show season begins soon.
Point to point season is full swing. The big 'chases take up most of April.
Upperville show kicks off the summer season.
Warrenton Horse Show ends the summer season.
There’s polo and pony shows and and and and and …
While I FULLY agree that it is sad, so sad, to leave the hunt season '09-'10 behind, seeing all that snow and missed hunting in the rearview mirror doesn’t hurt my feelings at all.
There’s TONS to keep you busy, Pleasant Meadow. Tons!

[pleasantmeadowfarm]

It’s been a while, so I thought I’d post a quick update. So many wonderful things have happened, and they all relate to my involvement with the AVH.

Most notably, I was recently appointed as a member of the AVH Board of Trustees. So, I’m now intimately involved in inner workings of what makes our hunt great. What an honor and privilege for me.

A number of my new closest (hunt) friends and I have worked a good part of the spring/early summer helping out at the kennels with leash training. It’s been so much fun getting to know the hounds as individuals, and watching them grow and develop under our tutelage (luckily we have a AKC judge amongst us to assist our knowledgeable Huntsman, and inexperienced assistants). Many of us trekked down to the VA Hound Show, and out to Radnor to support our “troops” and watch them strut their stuff.

I was lucky enough on the weekend of the VA Hound Show to spend some quality time with Whicker! What a whirlwind weekend we had. The shopping was amazing… Especially, since we didn’t HAVE to go further than Whicker’s closet. Several of my fortunate fellow hunt members (along with myself) will be wearing Whicker exclusives out in the hunt field this year. Whicker, I’ll never forget your kindness and generosity! Of course we didn’t stop there, and hit every tack store in a 50 mile radius of Morven Park!

More recently, Whicker and her charming son, came up north to participate in the AVH Hunter Pace! Although we all took our time, and chatted more than trotted, we all had a wonderful time, and ended up taking ribbons home.

Even more exciting news… I headed down to Virginia this past Friday, and picked up more hunt equipment… The four legs and a tail type I’m now up to 3 horses on which to hunt, and I’ll be looking at one more in the next week or so.

I couldn’t be having more fun if I tried. Weekly, I hit the trails with my fellow hunt members, and see others at least once a week for dinner/drinks and dancing!

After this Friday’s marathon twelve hour drive to and from VA, I took my mare to a Hunter Trial and actually made it around a course of natural jumps… 3 times. Open, Handy and Pairs classes. The next day I took my new pony to a Horse Trial to hang out and deal with more activity than he’s seen in years.

Wooo-hooo. First Flight here I come!

I’m coming home from vacation early so I can participate in the AVH Hunt Clinic on July 24th! Gotta cheer on the next round of “newbie’s”!!!

[whicker]

You know, Pleasantmeadow, it is a shame you are so blase and suffering from ennui about this hunting business.:winkgrin::lol::lol:

I have come to the conclusion that you have limitless energy and enthusiasm! I am so proud of you! You have accomplished so much and now you are, in turn, helping the newbies learn the way to sin and deprivation in the hunting field! :lol:

I’m glad that we can lure you back to Va. on a more frequent basis. Trips to Mecca are good for the hunting soul.

And of course, “Have I got a horse for youuu…!”
Bhwaaa-haa-haaa! Twirls mustache, grinning evilly, and rubbing hands in glee…

[wateryglen]

Hey!!

Hey - NO! !!!
Do I have a horse for you!!:winkgrin:
Just pick one!

Just not fair that Whicker-person hogging all the Pleasantmeadow…
WG sulks off…

[whicker]

There,there, WateryGlen (pat, pat)

That’s because WG was being an excellent ring steward and go- to person for the hound show. You had more important duties than just keeping Pleasantmeadow and the AVH crew happy. Aww shucks… I just filled in for you! :winkgrin::D:lol:

Please don’t sulk! I’ll share next time…

[system]

If you’re going to be hunting made hunt horses, I think its a no brainer. Half the time I think I get tired from battling the greenies. When I have a chance to go out on a point and shoot I’m no were near as tired and sore. How many times will you be able to do this? Not too many I’m sure!!!

You can always use the excuse that you’re making up for all cancelled hunts!!

[pleasantmeadowfarm]

Awww - you’re making me blush.

Wateryglen,

Fear not. Truly, in person I’m as quiet as a church mouse. I walked around the hound show nervously chatting, as I’m not good in crowds. I literally hid behind Whicker and my fellow hunt members. Good listener, bad story teller - that’s me.

On to more important things… Did someone say they’ve got a horse for me??? Sign me up! Of course, they have to be perfectly quiet, perfectly mannered, and cater to the nervous (on a strange horse) rider that I am! :lol::eek::lol: I suppose that means he’s got to be a clone of one of Hunter’s Rest’s mounts.

The new boy that I picked up last week has now done a trail ride (off farm) like a gentleman, intermediate lesson, gingerly stepped around with a 3 year old in the stirrups playing Simon Says, and so far has drained his water buckets everywhere I’ve brought him. This is going to be the travel to far away hunt’s guy! My dressage mare won’t drink off farm and this year, we be a travellin’. Good thing I’m up to 3 hunt horses now!

I hope to get out and hunt almost weekly with new hunts in new territories. In addition to going out twice weekly with my crew, of course! Can’t wait… I’d love to get down to the “Mecca” (repeatedly), North Carolina, South Carolina… PA, MD… the list goes on and on. We’ll see how lucky I get! I wonder, who I can get to tag along with my on my adventures? I suppose I should start planning now, as hunt season will soon be upon us!

[wateryglen]

“Perfect”??

Weeellllll…uuhhhhhhhhh…too many perfects in your desired horse description for me. And HR clone? No way Jose!
Forgetaboutit!!!
Just another reason to continue sulking…

[SLW]

@wateryglen;4954247

Weeellllll…uuhhhhhhhhh…too many perfects in your desired horse description for me. And HR clone? No way Jose!
Forgetaboutit!!!
Just another reason to continue sulking…

In May I was moving out two horses and looking for a new “main” horse and I told my trainer friend who was helping me “I DO NOT want a Grand Mother proof horse because I fox hunt with Grand Mothers and some of them ride HOT horses. I want a Bassinet on Hooves- a horse that you can strap a bassinet on top of it’s back, stick the baby in there and slap the horse on it’s arse and say ‘now giddy-up hoss’.” The horse I bought just MIGHT be that guy, hound exercises on horse back start soon…to be continued…

[pleasantmeadowfarm]

Wateryglen… I’m sorry

Dear, Ms. Wateryglen, I can’t apologize enough (sniff, sniff) for my elitist attitude… Truly, I was kidding. Perfect horse – AS IF! I don’t think a one of us could afford the mythological beast even if it did happen to exist!

Now, on to the important things… Whatcha got for me? Care to make a trip north? Cause I’ve got a buncha horses for you! OH YEAH - OH YEAH. Perfect - Nah, Fun - Oh:yes:

[pleasantmeadowfarm]

Virginny, Virginny - We’re ready for Virginny!

Well the week is scheduled (deer week in NJ) and the details are being finalized. For the first time, I’m not counting on one of Hunter’s Rest’s heavenly hirelings to carry me across VA’s rolling hills… I’m bringing my DQ of a mare down! So excited.

We’re doing a joint meet with Loudon West on Wednesday - WOO HOO, Old Dominion on Saturday, and trying to figure out who/where to hunt on FRIDAY! If I’m bringing my girlie down - we’re going to have some… FUN!!!

Perhaps another visit to all the local tack shops on Thursday, followed by a dinner party with Hunter’s Rest (Thank youuu). I love hunting in NJ, I find it very comparable to Old Dominion (on a smaller scale) and our hounds are hot, hot, hot. Still, there’s something about being out in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountain that makes my heart sing!:yes:

Looking forward to catching up with my COTH buddies that live in the area! Hinderella, I’m wishing you had a few extra vacation days to spare;) Whicker, I’m very much looking forward to seeing you and ONE of your beautiful mares out hilltopping again!!!

[wateryglen]

Oh goodie!

Yippeeee! The yankees are coming!
The yankees are coming!!!

But!!??? Are they buying?!!! :winkgrin:

[Hinderella]

Have a wonderful time, PMF, I’m terribly jealous. There’s just never enough vacation time to go around, is there? I’m hoping to get back to VA in the spring. I’m sure you’ll have a terrific time with your DQ and the rest of the COTH gang. Will you be bringing your helmet cam?

[pleasantmeadowfarm]

Hinderlla, let me know when you’ll be making the trek back to VA in the Spring! I’ll try and sneak away to join you.

I will most certainly bring the helmet cam again… hopefully it will not malfunction the way it did on our last trip. I have a few still photos of you in the field, but after hours of editing I couldn’t get it to upload to youtube. Bummer. I’ll be bringing a back-up camera though!

[pleasantmeadowfarm]

Ladies and gents - hoping for some jingles (not jingle bells, just jingles). My perfect DQ, I mean main squeeze hunt horse has been battling cellulitis since Thanksgiving. I planned on bringing her down to VA to hunt with my COTH buddies and AVH pals, early in December and she was looking Oh so fabulous…

A week before our departure I noticed slight filling in one hind and once I saw pitted edema I knew what it was. We treated hard and fast with heavy antibiotics. The day before we were to ship out, she took a hard fall in the pasture and her health went down hill. We’ve been close to perfect, yet the swelling and heat kept coming back (3 times).

By the third round I decided to send her for an ultrasound (we did xrays early on), hoping there was a foreign body (splinter or something of the like) that was preventing the drugs from killing the bacteria in total. Yesterday, she went in and YES, there was a small resistant pocket of infection that seemed to be causing the flare ups. Guided by ultrasound the wound was opened, cleaned and flushed with antibiotics. I decided to give her three days in clinic and pray that 24 hour care will keep the evil infection at bay. I’ll do the after care for the open cut near the hock joint starting on Monday… but I’d love some jingles for my mare’s hopeful recovery.

Now, the trip to and from VA is worthy of a whole new thread!!!

[jawa]

Jingle, Jingle,Jingle…

I hope that this will be the cure!!!

Wishing you and her a happier, healthier New Year!

[Hinderella]

great big Santa size jingles from CT!! Hope all goes well soon

[Doctracy]

Here’s a big jingle for you and your mare! Get well soon!