Wally and I had a great morning at THH today. Thankfully we started earlier than usual because it was a warm day that heated up quickly. But it didn't heat up as fast the hounds did.
The meet was at the THH kennels. When we meet there we are all at the kennels. Wally has never hunted from the Kennels at either THH or FHC. So it was a new experience for him. He's good when they unload from a trailer but when 36 hounds came screaming out of the kennels that got his heart going a bit. BUt he was pretty good.
Beth took the hounds out the west gate of the pasture next to the kennels and the hounds erupted and took off like rockets. So add to the excitement of the kennels was the fact that we were on the run immediately.
The hounds quickly headed to and crossed the road to Eldon farm. We had to book it around to catch up. Wally was excellent. We hit an open field were the field picked up a hand gallop. He settled in behind two other horses and just rated himself. We crossed the road and headed up a hill. Unknowingly we were following first flight and not second, so Wally really stepped it. He hit about 18.8 MPH going up the hill.
Either the fox went to ground or the hounds lost the scent at the top of the hill. They were gathered and we head back from whence we came. We got over to Fletcher's Mill and headed down the road.
We were about a mile down when the hounds hit again. We turned a quick circle in the wood and were back on the road having down a 180. The hounds cut through High Thicket and heady for Turkey Mountain. They got a little ways up the mountain then started back around. The first and second flight were parked at the bottom and a big, and I mean big, red fox almost ran smack into us. He made a turn and cut behind us headed down the roads to the woods we just exited.
So back into the woods in the reverse direction and we ran the fox back towards the Thornton River.
The hounds were gathered and we were headed back in due the heat. We were not far from the trailers when the hounds all erupted in unison and headed straight up Mason Mountain. We followed a trail up and had the hounds cut right in front of us. They continued over the mountain and then headed east. We rode the ridge trail and the hounds cut across the trail a bit in front of us. That's when we could see it was not one fox but two they were running. And the hounds were close and it looked like they might account for a fox or two.
The hounds kept on the run, or maybe a new run, and reversed course and headed east back through Preacher's and eventually crossed Rudasil MIll road. They were called back and the day was ended.
For the day Wally and I covered 11.3 miles. Beth said the hounds did over 20. Wally and I had a top speed of 18.8 MPH and we did over 3000 feet of climbing. He has certainly developed his mountain climbing legs and stamina. He was great again. His balance has really improved and he is not falling onto the forehand anymore, even on trots down steeper slopes. The best part is having to manage him less and less. That allows me to pay more attention to what is happening with the hounds.
From Beth Opitz, MFH and huntsman
We had a very good day yesterday for Bennett’s Birthday Hunt. Within 200 yards of leaving the kennels hounds hit HOT. Hounds flew to 522, whipper-in Elida viewed our red pilot crossing 522. Mounted whipper-ins
Erwin, Bennett and Elida and car whippers-in “expertly” helped hounds cross the road, keeping them safe. The cars and truck on the road were all very polite. Our pilot was not very sporting and went to ground. We then brought hounds back across 522 to head
towards High thicket. Our 2nd pilot, a red beauty gave hounds a good 40 minutes of nice running around High Thicket, Wileys Woods, and Turkey Mountain until scent fizzled. We gathered hounds, crossed the Thornton river to head home to kennels ---
on the way hounds hit our resident Mason Mountain red beauty. Another 40 minutes of hounds on a fast LOUD run, until Mr Charles gave the hounds the slip. Hounds were satisfied putting in 20 miles for the day. A very fun day. Happy Birthday Bennett
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