Some epiphanies in the hunt field

[Risk-Averse_Rider]

Rivenoak and I took Prozac Pony and Mr. Blondie out with the beagles today. I think we had 8 or 8 1/2 couple, and a smallish field. Full staff, but only 4 of us in the field to start with, and then 2 more caught up after a bit. So we really only had 1 flight. Sort of. I tried to keep Mr. Blondie up with the rest, but there were 2-3 times when just became Too Much Excitement, so we dropped back and caught up at a slower pace (to the significant annoyance of Mr. Blondie). Rivenoak was kind enough to come back for us a couple times.

We’ve come a long way since the days when we spent most of our time searching for the hunt (and then running away once we found it Mr. Blondie and I - still have a long way to go, but we’re getting there.

In no particular order, here are today’s epiphanies:

• If I cantered my horse other places than just in the hunt field once a week, he probably wouldn’t get quite so excited by the prospect of cantering out there.

• If I were able to find the time to RIDE my horse more than a max of twice a week (once in the hunt field), he probably wouldn’t get quite so excited by the prospect of cantering out there.

• I’ve never actually taken Mr. Blondie out and let him gallop as fast as he wants to go. I’ve done it with Prozac Pony, but I don’t trust Mr. Blondie like I trust Prozac Pony (although I would never want to hunt Prozac Pony - he is NOT my father’s Oldsmobile in the hunt field

• If I could bring myself to trust Mr. Blondie enough to let him gallop forward with the field, I think we’d be fine. But I Just. Don’t. Know. (I am, after all, Risk-Averse Rider :() I don’t know that he’s not going to jump something suddenly and unseat me, or get his head down and buck, or suddenly duck sideways (he’s very catty) and unseat me. So I start hanging on the reins. And then he starts flipping his head (although there have been times when I’ve tried cantering him on a loose rein, and he’s still flipped his head). BUT… when I ask him to stop, he stops. He gets pissed, and he gets bouncy and annoyed and prancy, but (so far, knock wood) I’ve been able to handle him and get him back to the field. And did I mention he stops when I ask him to stop? And we’re making progress. Make haste slowly, right? This is not a competition, right? This is about being safe and having fun, right? Right?

• When I’m cantering along behind another horse (who is trotting, because he’s MUCH bigger than Mr. Blondie), and Mr. Blondie has finally settled into the lovely canter of which he is capable, I really need to remember to look where we’re heading, lest - as happened today - we suddenly find ourselves about to plow into a staghorn cholla the approximate size of a drive-in movie screen. Fortunately, Mr. Blondie “whoa’d” when I requested it of him, and we were able to negotiate a turn without parting company or merging with the cholla, but I was wondering there for a nanosecond or two.

• The terrain over which we hunt is bodaciously trappy. At one point today, we were bouncing downhill (behind that same horse), zigging and zagging between cactus and bushes and little washes - all I could do was stick my butt in the saddle and my feet out in front of me and stay off Mr. Blondie’s face. It was one of those situations (much like riding a cutting horse, I expect) in which there would have been no time for me to be making any sort of steering decisions. I was vaguely in charge of the general direction of travel, but Mr. Blondie was very much in charge of the details. (And a very good job he did, too. Gotta love those nimble little QHs.) And I must say, I had a big grin plastered across my face the entire time - and I’m still smiling about it

I think that’s it for the epiphanies.

All together, we were out about 2 hours. We had some drizzle part of that time, which made for good scenting conditions. Not enough to soak us through or chill us. It would sprinkle a bit, then we would start to dry off, then it would spit a bit more, then stop. I don’t know that it ever truly got to the point of actual “rain”.

[strawberry_roan]

As long as you have that grin plastered on your face, then it is all good! To me, that is the most important thing. Your grin says it all. :D:D:D

[armandh]

there may or may not come a day

a day when the dim bulb of equine intelligence lights up and the horse realizes you are going with every one else, and he/she does not have to pull you there.
when you are behind and canter up to the field at a check and the horse stops easily!
when you know he will stop when you want…
because he/she knows you will still be going where they went/the horse wants.

it is a great day in the hunt field when you and your horse are both relaxed and enjoying the view [a view]

see signature below for a good way to get there

[SLW]

Okay, I’ve never lived west of Kansas. What exactly is a staghorn cholla??

You did just fine! I can’t imagine foxhunting where a wrong turn could take me smack dab into a cactus!! Does Horse Country or Old Habit offer clothing that provides protection from that??!!

Being safe is the name of the game. A riding instructor I had back in the late 70’s had a saying “your the brains, he’s the athlete!!” and you nailed that you zigged and zagged through the washes.

Keep up the good work and don’t fret not allowing Mr. Blondie to gallop full out. That is a privledge they earn over time.

[Risk-Averse_Rider]

Staghorn cholla:

http://cals.arizona.edu/pima/gardening/aridplants/images/Opuntia_versicolor.jpg

http://www.delange.org/StaghornCholla/Dsc00196.jpg

Buckthorn cholla:

http://cals.arizona.edu/yuma/horticulture/moody_garden/garden_plant/buckthorn_cholla_opuntia_acanthocarpa/buckthorn_cholla.htm

Upon further reflection, it might possibly have been a buckthorn cholla. I think it was more spiny than the staghorns usually are.

But basically: long, skinny stems, all covered with spines.

(Mr. Blondie has a highly-tuned respect for staghorn cholla, having stuck his nose on one once while one a trail ride. He is prone to slamming on the brakes when he sees them in his path.)

As opposed to prickly pear cactus, which have flat sort of paddle-shaped things that are covered with spines.

Or teddy bear / jumping cholla, that have shorter and rounder stems that look deceptively soft but are covered with spines.

Or saguaro cactus, which are tall and sort of telephone pole-like (they’re the ones you see in the Snoopy cartoons when you see his cousin Spike) and covered with spines.

Or barrel cactus, which are short and barrel-shaped and covered with spines.

And then there are the various thorn bushes, all of which are covered with pokey parts.

Are you beginning to see a pattern here?

I was cleaning my tall boots the other day in the house for a change, as opposed to the quick post-hunt wipe-off they usually get at the trailer, and I could see all the “Sonoran Pin-Striping” on them from riding through the thorn bushes. That would be why I have a pair of boots for hunting that are distinct from the boots that I will wear should I ever venture into the show ring again.

[Acertainsmile]

Sounds like a nice outing… and thanks for the visual on the Staghorn cholla… I was thinking it was somekind of deer…LOL.

[Risk-Averse_Rider]

@armandh;2984157

a day when the dim bulb of equine intelligence lights up and the horse realizes you are going with every one else, and he/she does not have to pull you there.
when you are behind and canter up to the field at a check and the horse stops easily!
when you know he will stop when you want…
because he/she knows you will still be going where they went/the horse wants.

it is a great day in the hunt field when you and your horse are both relaxed and enjoying the view [a view]

see signature below for a good way to get there

Thanks for the encouragement. I know we’ll get there some day. And I know we’ve come a long way. And I know that most of my friends (except for Lisa W-B, with the stellar Mr. Whiskey, ex-ranch horse now Husband Horse Extraordinaire) wouldn’t be caught dead out there, because their event horses would blow a gasket at the mere sight of all those horses & all those woofies & all that chaos.

I just wish that “some day” were NOW!!!

Both boys get maybe a cup of Nature’s Essentials Mare & Maintenance and a cup (or less) of oats once a day. And 3/4 cup of flax seed. Just so I have something to mix their supplements with. Mostly, they get bermuda grass and some alfalfa (2 flakes/day between the 2 of them - Prozac Pony gets more than his fair share of that). So they’re not exactly being over-juiced in the nutrition department, I don’t think.

And once we’re back with the field - or in sight of the field - I can put him back on the buckle, and we’re back to a flat-footed walk. So it’s not like he gets riled and stays riled (unlike Prozac Pony, who gets off the trailer at home and bombs around the arena for several minutes, alternately rolling and snorting at the Dragons in the Desert).

[Delphia]

Relax and let horse perform its task.

in charge of the general direction of travel, but Mr. Blondie was very much in charge of the details.

Relax and let horse perform its task. That is how to have the most fun! Watching hounds and pageantry unfold in breathtaking scenery! Foxhunting! ( or hare hunting ) Being in tune with your horse is so much fun because you can enjoy while leaving details to your horse. It takes many miles and many hours in the saddle to achieve this connection with your horse. Well practiced transitions, leg yields, turns on fore and aft all lead to a wonderful experience where you can concentrate on hunting and feel confident that a subtle shift in your weight and outlook will avoid your knee impacting something or having to duck a low branch. Horses and riders without a tuned connection or lack of basic movements seem to always be ducking, steering and concentrating on the near, whereas the tuned combination seem to move into the distance as if on rails. Achieve the next level when you hardly notice a log or panel because that becomes horse’s detail.

[JSwan]

Holy Moly.

That is some serious cactus you got there. I can see why you are risk averse - it’s more like cactus averse, isn’t it. Ow.

Eventually a little light is going to go off in your horse’s head. Everyone told me it would happen to my horse, and I didn’t believe them.

But - it did - and now I can gallop gleefully about while still screwing the top back on my flask. I can also blow my nose, finish telling a joke, actually squiggle around trying to listen or look for hounds, and have to do nothing more than a half halt or use my seat if I want to slow or stop.

You’ll be the same way. Sounds like you are having a lot of fun!! I’m jealous - I haven’t been out in a month. And it doesn’t look good for this week, either.

[Foxtrot_s]

Delphia: That is so well worded - when your horse can take care of the details and you can see the far picture. That it takes many miles to become tuned to your horse. I love that memory of being totally confident and sublimely happy. The mare I have now has never had the temperament to make hunting easy and, sadly, I have given up actually riding to hounds. Much as I love her, and she’s the best horse, osteoporosis makes discretion the better part of valour. I probably should have got a different horse years ago if I wanted to continue. Our Whip hunted until she was 70 and her horse was 23
and to see her flying along, over all terrains, always in balance with her horse, over hill and dale, concentrating on the hounds and her horse doing his job - she was magnificent. I have an Irish horse in utero - but maybe I’m being overly optimistic to make plans yet!

[rivenoak]

JSwan,
If only could could take a weekend away from Kevin Bacon, Saf-T-Man, Mr JSwan, and the farm…

We were just saying yesterday that it’d be fun to introduce some East Coasters to hunting Sonoran Style. We can find a visitor a mount!

Delphia sums it up so well.

I know there have been times over the years when I’ve asked Risk-Averse Rider, “Hey, did you see that coyote?” or some such, and she hadn’t because she’s concentrating on riding. I’m fortunate, or stupid, enough to generally ignore whichever horse I’m on and concentrate on game and/or hounds. I forget what it’s like to be new to hunting and learning to ride over open country at speed.

At the start of yesterday’s hunt she was blaming me for getting her involved in hunting (it’s really her fault ;)), but by the end with that grin, I think she was thanking me. It’s been fun to see her confidence grow each hunt.

And I’m really fortunate that she’s loaning me Prozac Pony this year. I’m usually found on the most unlikely mounts, green beans, or am starting yet another one in the hunt field. It’s nice to be on a solidly trained beast who I know has no tricks in the bag that’ll intentionally kill either one of us.

Next week, we start the horses on a Tuesday work program, so hopefully this will help. Maybe we will canter in the washes a bit. If nothing else, we’ll all get exercised once more a week.

[Risk-Averse_Rider]

@Foxtrot's;2984948

I have an Irish horse in utero - but maybe I’m being overly optimistic to make plans yet!

Ooooooooooh… that delivery is gonna be TOUGH!!!

:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

Wait… you mean you have a MARE in foal. Ahhhhhhh. :lol:

(Sorry - couldn’t resist - Mr. RAR was just commenting the other day about how all we [crazy] horse people talk about our horses as if they were humans. We had our daughter’s bridal shower at our house, and except for the girl who organized it, her BF, and my daughter’s fiancé, everyone there was horsey. And we had all boarded together at one point, all ridden each others’ horses - so there was lots of “How’s Chance?” “What’s up with Marilyn these days?” etc.)

And yes, rivenoak is right - it IS my fault that I got into hunting. She was sighing about wanting a horse van. And she had been saying that I really needed to learn to hunt. And I was demurring. She kept going on and on wistfully about wanting a van. Finally I said, “If you buy a horse van, I will learn to hunt.”

And THEN, as final proof of my stupidity, I went online and found her a horse van to buy!!!

So she did and I did, and here we are. I tried going out on Prozac Pony for part of one season, but he was Not Happy at the back of the pack (he might have been okay had he been given Mr. Blondie’s slow introduction, but he never had that opportunity). After 3 or so outings, when he would stand shaking at checks, I decided neither of us was having enough fun to warrant continuing. Then I got Mr. Blondie, and someone came along who was willing to hang way back with us and give us a really slow introduction (some of you no doubt recall my tales from that first season, when we spent much of our time wandering in the desert in search of the field, only to run away in terror when we would suddenly find ourselves right in their path

MTA: If I might sing Prozac Pony’s praises for just a bit - even though he is not the horse for me in the hunt field, and rivenoak and he have had some discussions about who gets to be in charge out there (nothing outrageous, just him trying to see if perhaps he might be able to Get Away With Something - answer: no). On Saturday, after he had not been ridden since the previous Saturday, I put my daughter’s fiancé on him and we went out and trotted in the neighborhood. Ken has ridden just a few times at our place, and I believe this was the first time he’d been off the property. It was certainly the first time he had done anything more than walk outside the arena. Scathingly brilliant physicist, but definitely a newbie rider. And PP was perfectly well-behaved as we walked and trotted and walked and trotted around the neighborhood, with PP in the bitless bridle. Even when we went past the tractor being CHAINED to a trailer. Even when the truck pulling that rattling trailer later passed us on the road (although I did make sure that we got as far off the road as possible).

And later that day, PP took rivenoak’s 2 1/2 year old son for a lead line walk (and he was MUCH better behaved than The Princess, who kept trying to make breaks for home). Mr. Blondie also did lead line duty, much to my surprise - he was hanging by the gate looking like he wanted a turn, too, and didn’t walk away when I went in with the halter - in the past, he has opted out of munchkin contact.

Anyway… there’s a woman from my husband’s church who used to hunt as a kid. She has MS now but still loves horses. She has just discovered that we have them. She’s going to come visit soon, and when she’s feeling strong enough, I’m going to put her on PP. And I know he’ll take care of her. Because he’s that kind of horse.

Priceless.

(And he has auto changes <G>)

[Foxtrot_s]

Ooooooo … well you should see what they are jumping on another thread x-rated, actually.

[Risk-Averse_Rider]

Which thread?

[Painted_Wings]

I think it’s “Dressing for the hunt field” or maybe it’s undressing for the hunt field.

Just kidding.

[Foxtrot_s]

Nah, not so funny - jumping the barn cat on the Eventing thread.

[Risk-Averse_Rider]

I almost jumped my trainer’s 3-year-old daughter once :eek: that was NOT funny. Just as Prozac Pony and I were approaching the fence, little miss started to wander across on the landing side. Fortunately, mom snagged her out of the way, and Saint PP didn’t bat an eye.

[Jaegermonster]

[QUOTE=armandh;2984157]
a day when the dim bulb of equine intelligence lights up and the horse realizes you are going with every one else, and he/she does not have to pull you there.
/QUOTE]

amen. This made me laugh aloud.
I’m bringing along a homebred 5 yo who is AMAZING but alas, still just coming 5 and has baby moments

[Painted_Wings]

Yeah, I know the feeling. I’ve been hunting my coming 6 year old most of the season. Most of the time he’s better than my other horse that’s hunted five seasons but then there’s the other 2% of the time when he just can’t deal with life in the hunt field. He still has issues with cars and running up the road can be exciting if there’ a car coming the other way.

[Frecklefacedfrannie]

[QUOTE=Risk-Averse Rider;2985077]
Ooooooooooh… that delivery is gonna be TOUGH!!!

:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

Wait… you mean you have a MARE in foal. Ahhhhhhh. :lol:

(Sorry - couldn’t resist - Mr. RAR was just commenting the other day about how all we [crazy] horse people talk about our horses as if they were humans. We had our daughter’s bridal shower at our house, and except for the girl who organized it, her BF, and my daughter’s fiancé, everyone there was horsey. And we had all boarded together at one point, all ridden each others’ horses - so there was lots of “How’s Chance?” “What’s up with Marilyn these days?” etc.)

And yes, rivenoak is right - it IS my fault that I got into hunting. She was sighing about wanting a horse van. And she had been saying that I really needed to learn to hunt. And I was demurring. She kept going on and on wistfully about wanting a van. Finally I said, “If you buy a horse van, I will learn to hunt.”

And THEN, as final proof of my stupidity, I went online and found her a horse van to buy!!!

So she did and I did, and here we are. I tried going out on Prozac Pony for part of one season, but he was Not Happy at the back of the pack (he might have been okay had he been given Mr. Blondie’s slow introduction, but he never had that opportunity). After 3 or so outings, when he would stand shaking at checks, I decided neither of us was having enough fun to warrant continuing. Then I got Mr. Blondie, and someone came along who was willing to hang way back with us and give us a really slow introduction (some of you no doubt recall my tales from that first season, when we spent much of our time wandering in the desert in search of the field, only to run away in terror when we would suddenly find ourselves right in their path

MTA: If I might sing Prozac Pony’s praises for just a bit - even though he is not the horse for me in the hunt field, and rivenoak and he have had some discussions about who gets to be in charge out there (nothing outrageous, just him trying to see if perhaps he might be able to Get Away With Something - answer: no). On Saturday, after he had not been ridden since the previous Saturday, I put my daughter’s fiancé on him and we went out and trotted in the neighborhood. Ken has ridden just a few times at our place, and I believe this was the first time he’d been off the property. It was certainly the first time he had done anything more than walk outside the arena. Scathingly brilliant physicist, but definitely a newbie rider. And PP was perfectly well-behaved as we walked and trotted and walked and trotted around the neighborhood, with PP in the bitless bridle. Even when we went past the tractor being CHAINED to a trailer. Even when the truck pulling that rattling trailer later passed us on the road (although I did make sure that we got as far off the road as possible).

And later that day, PP took rivenoak’s 2 1/2 year old son for a lead line walk (and he was MUCH better behaved than The Princess, who kept trying to make breaks for home). Mr. Blondie also did lead line duty, much to my surprise - he was hanging by the gate looking like he wanted a turn, too, and didn’t walk away when I went in with the halter - in the past, he has opted out of munchkin contact.

Anyway… there’s a woman from my husband’s church who used to hunt as a kid. She has MS now but still loves horses. She has just discovered that we have them. She’s going to come visit soon, and when she’s feeling strong enough, I’m going to put her on PP. And I know he’ll take care of her. Because he’s that kind of horse.

Priceless.

(And he has auto changes <G>)[/QUOTE]

Sorry, I didn’t mean to quote the whole text - just the paragraph about PP taking the bf for a ride.
Just out of curiosity, do you call the horse Prozac Pony while a newbie is mounting? "Cause I am not sure I would get on a horse named Prozac Pony. Have a friend with a horse named “Widowmaker”. Makes ya wonder…