FHC, Locust Grove, october 25,2022

 

Things remain crunchy here in Virginia due to the drought.  It is extremely dry, the ground is rock hard and it is warm.  This morning we caught a break.  It started out foggy with clouds.  That kind of held for us and included a fine mist on occasion.  Despite it being a Tuesday, I think we had over forty riders out today.

We started with a loop around the meet and not much was happening there.  As we got back by the trailers we could hear the hounds speaking somewhat down along the Rivanna River.  We were staying up top and could hear the hounds speaking below.  It was not quite ever a constant, confident voice.

As we came around Horseshoe Farm the hounds caught on.  We crossed the river and went for a short run that brought us up by Whiskey Ridge.  It was a short run but fun.

After that we crossed Branch Creek and then headed up to the ridge.  We were just off of Buck Mountain Rd when the hounds got going below us and picked up momentum.  They came up the hill and crossed over. This had a familiar feel as we have a run a fox on the line in the past.  The hounds took the round down the side of the hill before reversing course and coming back at us.  When they got the top of the ridge the run kind of died out.  

We were heading in the direction of Whiskey Ridge and were about to cross Branch Creek when the hounds took off again.  They got along the creek where there was not a lot of good access.  We got above them, could hear well but not really see anything.  After a short run they were gathered and we moved on. 

We were hunting our way back in and had just crossed the river when the hounds hit and got running to the north.  Radio reports called in that the hounds had gotten as far north as Catterton Rd.  So basically back to where we had just come from.  

Hounds were gathered and the day was called.  Give the terrible hunting conditions we have these days, that the hounds run anything is really gate.  A busy day like today is phenomenal.  for the day we covered 8.68 miles.

THH, Chancelors Gate, October 21, 2022

 

This morning is evidence of why fox hunting is so interesting and why a fox is rarely ever caught. Munchkin and I were out with THH this morning. It started off in the thirties and was in the sixties when we came in.

At this fixture there is a fox that has a den at the end of a drainage just off the main road. So when we have been working from the trailer parking out, he tends to get to his den fairly quickly. Beth, our huntsman, had a plan. She was going to head out along the edge of the road and then hunt from the road towards the drainage. The idea was to get between the fox and his den.

At least, that was the plan.

She got the hounds in the drainage and they worked along the length of it. No sign of the fox. So we cut though the trees and cross the next field and on into another field. There was a dugout area that the hounds were milling around but they weren't really going anywhere. After a bit some hounds broke off and headed back into the tree line. That must have forced the fox out and it was viewed by the second flight.

The fox crossed the field we had just across and went back to his hole alongside the drainage. So it sounds good that we had run a fox to ground but in reality I think you'd have to call this a win for the fox.

After that it was warm and quiet. The only thing you can smell in the woods are dry leaves. At some point Munchkin and I went threw a briar patch. So when another member headed in, so did we.

For the day we covered about 5 miles.

ETA: After we went in early, hounds went on an hour+ run on a coyote despite the bad scenting conditions.

FHC, Overstreets, October 16,2022

 

 

Wally and I had a nice morning with FHC at Overstreets today. From a hunt perspective it was fairly quiet. The hounds got on a brief run when we were out by Amicus road but it ultimately really take off. They had some nice work later but again the line didn't really develop.

On days like this it is more about Wally's development and he keeps getting better. At one point we had 3/4 mile trot through the woods. If we were doing dressage test, it might have been a 9/10 trot. He was going along a woods trail like a metronome. He was perfectly balanced, lightly on the bit and just covering ground. I think it is the best trot work I have ever had him do and he held it together for ten minutes. His canter work was excellent too.

He earned his nick name the Wally dude when there was a horse that was being fractious in front of him. He kept himself back and you could almost hear him thinking "I don't know what his problem is but I'm staying out of the way."

It was junior day today and there quite a few out. Those kids can all ride really well.

A good outing for Wally. We covered 5.75 miles today.

THH, High Thicket, October 9,2022

Munchkin and I had fun but abbreviated hunt this morning. We were out with THH. It was a Junior North American Field Hunter qualifier. So some kids out with us today. The kids can really ride. One was 14 year old who I remember her mom pushing around in a carriage. Mom was at the back of the first flight with me.

 

Some of Bethany Wood's littles were in second flight. The two girls were pretty small and on their ponies.

 

The hunt started a bit slow with hounds speaking sporadically. But then they hit and ran good. Went silent again. Then really opened up with a roar that went for the whole run. since my GPS got crushed on Thursday I don't have a map or data from today. Once that run got going we made three big circles in the woods. They were really fast circles at that! The only time we weren't cantering or galloping was on the steeps down pitches and there we had a pretty forward trot.

 

It seemed like we were never far off from the hounds and they were always to our left. The hounds were very loud and being in the hilly terrain really accentuates. I figure Beth will post a recording but the recordings really never quite do justice to the sound.

 

I was watching the juniors while were on the run. They handled the speed, terrain and jumps really great. Second flight was always right behind us and Bethany's littles were right with the field master. So I figure those pony legs were really turning some high RPM to keep but the kids looked like they were having a great time.

 

Munchkin and I came in early because when we were near the end of the run, Munchkin had lost a shoe. It was the same one he twisted a few weeks ago. We'll get it back on during the week and I might give him a week off to let the foot grow a bit.

 

McNeeley's Shed, OCtober 6,2022

 

Wally and i had fun this morning at Mcneely's shed. Kind of a hit or miss day. Wally was very good. He was on a loose rein about 90% of the time.

The only casualty was my GPS. I forgot i had left it on the trailer fender. When iveent back and found it it was smooshed and dead.