THH, Chancelor's Gate, 12/30/22

 

Wally and I were out with THH this morning. Like yesterday at FHC the scenting was poor due to the ground conditions and how fast it got warm. When we started it was about 53 degrees and when we finished it was around 68 degrees. When we were on the north side of mountains and hills it was frozen. On the south side it was crumbly and deep.

Even with that we still had some accomplishments. I've been working with wally about getting his weight back on his hind end for climbing but more importantly for coming down hill. I think he's got it now. Early in the hunt we had some climbs that exceeded 25% grade. He just powered up off his back end.

Coming down, with no assistance from me, he sat back and worked down through the crumbly deep footing. It was that kind of footing that studs were of no help. Those slopes were in the 25-30% grade range and he just sat back and did it while I was on a loose rein. When he hit the spots that created a slide, he just let the slide happen then worked his way down.

He was 99.99% on a loose rein today. We covered 7.27 miles that included 2482 feet of elevation up and 2482 feet elevation down.

FHC, Yadkin December 29,2022

Munchkin and I got out hunting today with FHC. With the cold and rain we've had footing was pretty dicey. Anything from ice to frozen solid to greasy in the sun. Luckily, when I was getting Munchkin ready and was putting his studs in I pulled out 8 brand new studs. I figure every little bit helps.

The scenting conditions were pretty poor. I would call the conditions dry because all the moisture was locked in the frozen ground. Things were compounded by a quick rise in temperature. It went from 38 or so at the start to almost 60 at the end.

If nothing else it was good to get out. We had a pretty big group out. I think everyone, horses and riders, were glad to be out. For the day we covered 5.51 miles. The interesting thing was that out of the 94 minutes we were out we were moving for 87 of them. So that was long slow workout for the horses.

 

FHC, Red Gate, December 20,2022

 

When I got to the meet it was 29 degrees and never got warmer than 39. Perfect hunting temperatures. I was expecting the footing to be very slick but it was actually pretty decent. It probably helped to have some decent studs in the shows. We also had some big fields. we had 28 just between First and Second flight. I don't know how many were in third flight but I guess the total was over 40 for the day. Where had a pretty fair number of juniors out. I guess everyone looked at the forecast and decided this might be the one and only day to hunt for the next week.

We started out by crossing Millington Road into the open field. We weren't that far in when the hounds started speaking in the field. The sound of the hounds was a bit high and off. That usually indicate that they are not sure. Mathew gave them time and they kept working, They ended up working the line into the wood were they really caught on. (yellow line on map).

The run was one of those steady runs where the hounds are really having to work hard. Those are fun because you really get to see what their training is all about. And because things are not moving that fast you get to watch a lot. That's always a treat.

The hounds seemed to be following along the creek in the woods. We came to a crossing that was pretty treacherous. Bethany Wood had a bunch of her kids out and made the good decision to not have the kids try the sheer drop into the stream. That meant finding a work around. So half of second flight turned back and worked through the woods back to Millington road. We eventually met up down the road about two driveways down and into the woods.

The hounds continued along the creek and crossed Millington road near Wards Creek Bridge. Shortly after that the fox was lost. In the mean time another fox was spotted back on the other side of Millington Road. The fox had a 15-20 minute head start (orange line(. The hounds picked it up but the run only lasted about 15-20 minutes.

All in all a good day on a cold day .We covered a little of seven miles today. It wasn't fast but it was fun which is nice on a cold day.

FHC,Overstreets, December 17,2022

 

It was a gorgeous day, at least I thought it was. When I got to the meet the temperature was about 46. Then I stepped out of the truck into a stiff, cutting wind. I was hopeful that we could get out of the wind and find something.

So the hunt started slow. The hounds spoke a few times but nothing developed. We were about an hour and half in when we just had come down into the field. This is the string of fields along Quarter Creek one of which has the porta-potty in it. The hounds started speaking but it was a bit disorganized. Mathew then moved the hounds a bit and we were off and running. They initially started back up the hill but then started to circle toward the house along Morning Glory Lane.

The second flight viewed and it was a coyote.

The coyote and hounds kept circling and were coming around us between the field and Welsh Road. They kept going on that route in the direction of Still Pond Farm. They spent a bit of time in the loblolly pine woods before seeming to start back in the opposite direction. The hounds went quiet and I am thinking the coyote exited the territory. The hounds were gathered and the day was called.

The first flight covered a lot of ground, 11.6 miles for the day, but the hounds covered a lot more. When we were gathering them at the end, there were some tired hounds. It doesn't show on the map but it seemed like there was quite a bit of back and forth, and some circling around.

It was a really good run under some tough conditions. For the day we covered 11.6 miles and First Flight topped out at 21 MPH today.

THH, Clover Hill, December 11,2022

 

A good hunt today for Wally with THH. It was a real good step up for Wally as we were never on level ground and we were on a lot of very steep ground. For the day Wally had 3440 feet up and 3440 feet down over 8.3 miles. Needless to say he was a tired horse at the end.

 

It was a good hunt. It was a joint meet with Rappahannock Hunt and they brought hounds as well. We started the run 12 minutes in and part way up Slaughter Mountain and ran that fox up and down Slaughter and Fielding Mountain for at least 1:45. I was a lot of up and down. If you look at the altitude profile below you can see how many steep climbs and descents we had to do. 

 

Wally was really good. I did forget his flash so there were a couple of canter/gallops where he got his head down and rolled on the forehand. But overall I was pretty happy with him. He is learning to deal with the steeper terrain of Rappahannock County and the higher speeds that forces in order to keep up with the hounds. At some point today Wally got up to 19.1 MPH.

From Beth Opitz, MFH and huntsman:

THH hosted Rappahannock Hunt yesterday. Our fixture, the beautiful Eldon Farms- Clover Hill. A 1 hour 45 min run up down and all around Fielding and Slaughter Mountains entertained all. Our first draw produced a difficult line, hounds worked and worked towards the Southern side of Slaughter Mountain. Finally after about 20 minutes of slower work, hounds moved up on a big orange beauty, viewed by Erwin heading towards Fielding Mountain. Soon after, hounds were able to pick up speed, making the mountains ring with the big PMD voices. Around and around until finally our big orange pilot picked up enough of a lead for scent to fizzle. Fun day for all.

FHC, Chapel Springs, December 7,2022

 

Wally and I had a good day hunting with FHC at Chapel Springs. I wasn't sure what we were going to get. It rained/drizzled on us from home to about the airport and then it stopped. When we got to Chapel Springs the rain seemed to be gone. It was cool and damp, and half the field opted for rain gear and half not. It was anyones's guess who was going to be right.

 

The day started slow. We had worked our way all the way down the XC field and were just going into the woods when the hounds started speaking. It was a slow run with a lot of field reversals. I think Mathew came and went several times during the run. It did sound as if the hounds had come to a halt and treed or put something to ground. It turned they had kept moving slowly but had run into a kennel of other hounds. So not a blazing run but some good work by the hounds.

 

We moved on and out into the field by the log cabin. We looped around the cabin and went back into the woods. We weren't far into the woods when the hounds hit again. We ran past Maccie's house and kept going through the woods and above the lake. We were running hard into the open by the equipment sheds and came around the other end of the lake and continued back up to the cabin.

Mathew put the hounds back into the woods and the hounds caught on again and we basically ran the same route until the hounds lost back up by the equipment sheds.

 

We hunted back in but nothing else developed. it was a slow start but ended up a good day. Amazingly we stayed dry until we were all starting to leave and then the rain kicked in again. The second flight covered 8.5 miles and topped out around 18.2 MPH.

THH, Thornton Hay Field, December 2,2022

 

Munchkin and I had a great morning with THH today. It was a cold start but as the sun came up things got comfortable. It made for tricky scenting as in the shade was still very cold, frosty and frozen whereas in the sun was warm and thawed.

The hunt started slow. In fact it seemed the first flight horses were getting irritable with all the walking. We were about 40 minutes in when the hounds starting speaking. However, not much developed with that.

Then a call came it that a fox was spotted and the hounds were taken over in that direction. It took a bit for the hounds to grab hold of the line but eventually they did. In the mean time the fox was spotted by the fields crossing along the crest of the hill back behind the kennels. That fox must have really run a zig zag pattern because it took a while for the hounds to get to where the fox was last viewed.

As we looped around and were coming a hill to the paddocks where the evil mini lives, the fox was viewed again. He continued his run very similar to what we ran last week. All the horses got past eveil mini and we headed a long. We were just down the road when the hounds ran across the road and were heading to high top turkey.

That is where we broke off from the run and came in.

This is where I am glad not to be hunt staff as the hounds crested over the mountain and got down the back side. Over an hour after we came in they were still not back.

As we were coming back in we saw several bald eagles flying about. Initially the count was two but it may have been as many as four. It's pretty cool to be out and about getting to view the fox multiple times and to thrown in some bald eagles as well.

I will say munchkin earned his keep. We had two mountain climbs going up that were steep, loose and scattered with broken tree limbs. Munch got pissy on the second climb of that trail because I wouldn't let him run. My saddle had slipped and when we got to get a gate, I got off to adjust the saddle and get the gate. As we moved off he picked up a lovely canter/gallop and never offered to blast past everyone. Later in the hunt when we were on the run, we came down another mountain trail that was steep and loose on a trot. He's done this so long that I just make sure I stay out of his way and let him handle it.

For the day we covered 7.3 miles and Munchkin topped out around 21 MPH.