THH, Oronoma, August 18,2023

 

It was a lovely morning for riding.  Not so good for hunting.  The temperature was pleasant.  There was a nice breeze.  Very low humidity.  There was almost no moisture to hold any scent.  We did pass through some areas where a fox could be smelled but the scent was already head high on the riders.

We did have one spot where the hounds got really active.  It was an area of thick underbrush and tall weeds.  The hounds were in there with a strong voice but nothing popped up.  The fun thing was that Wally and I were on the trail right next to this area.  You could hear the hounds, see the underbrush moving all around but couldn't see the hounds at all.  Wally watched for a little and then just went to grazing.  Shortly after that as Beth was pulling the hounds out, we had hounds on either side of us.  At one point I think one ran into us.  Wally tucked his butt under and then stomped a foot,  That was it.

Wally was very good today.  He pretty much was on a loose rein all day which is how he was at the end of the last season.  We covered about 5.2 miles with about 2000 feet of vertical change.  A good workout.

THH, Kennels, August 8,2023

 

All hunts do things differently.  In August, some hunts do what is called roading.  That is where they take the hounds out with horses but not with the intent to hunt.  It's just about exercise.  Some hunts do staff hunts where the staff only takes the hounds out and actually hunt.  At THH, the hounds go out to hunt and all hunt members can go out.  Even guests can come out as long as they pay a cap fee.  The difference is in August how much hunting we do is limited.  Today we were out just about one hour total.

It was a good hour though.  We came east from the kennels and the hounds were in a flattish area between Mason and Little Mason Mountains.  They hit and ran up and over Little Mason and then came back over and headed across the gap to Mason Mountain.  They went up the shoulder of Mason a bit before coming back down, right in front us.

They crossed over back to Little Mason and went partway back up before losing the fox.

It was a nice day that warmed quickly.  It was abut 65 when we headed out and it was about 75 when we came back in.  Total mileage was just about three miles but we did do about 1500 feet of vertical up and down.  So it was a good workout.  wally was not as up as last Sunday but still strong at the beginning.  The run took the starch out of him but then we headed in.  Wally is careful coming down hills.  As we were coming off little Mason, he fell behind and picked up a canter.  It was a pretty good down pitch with some double digits slopes.  His canter was never on the forehand at all on that.  His balance has become pretty remarkable.  I really need to trust him more and I'm sure as the season comes along that will happen.