NewHeights_SJ
Well-Known Member
I was a little nervous as it came round to boxing day, but also really excited as i have only ever been hunting once before. I was fortunate enough that one of the grooms at the yard plaited up for me, and both horses looked fantastic! However, once they were all clean and ready to go, i went to start the lorry only to find it had a flat battery...and to top it off, there was a lorry parked next to ours which meant it blocked the skirt locker and our jump leads were to short to reach. Que a slight panic from me and debates abut how we were going to get round it. To cut a long story short, the only real choice was to hack, or we wouldnt be there in time!!
I was slightly worried as my two sjers are not exactly hunting fit and although we made it to the meet on time both horses and riders were tired!! It took just over an hour to get there, but luckily the hunt decided to wait around and we had half an hour for the horses to catch their breath. The scene was fantastic, right in front of the house. Both horses seemed unfazed by it, though Fee liked to amble round whilst Wester stood like an angel. It was soon time for the off and i took a deep breath (and alot of dutch courage) and off we went. Fee was a little excited but behaved and once again Wester was amazing. We galloped down the lawn and follwed into the countryside. It was an amazing day and as it went on Fee settled and Wester continued to show just how good he is, going through water and ditches and taking just about everything in his stride.
After two hours i decided it was tme to head home, the lorry had made it by then but subseqently got stuck in the mud!!!! (Not a good day for my OH) and as a result we had no choice but to hack back again. Wester had lost a shoe so we took our time and all in all we were in the saddle for over 5 hours - Im aching today!! But both horses made it back in one piece and i am one very very proud owner. The lorry eventually made it back to, with a not so pleased OH who had spent the day trying to sort out all the problems (que lots of grovelling from me!!)....
Pictures:
The view of the house:
Fee and Wester:
The off:
I was slightly worried as my two sjers are not exactly hunting fit and although we made it to the meet on time both horses and riders were tired!! It took just over an hour to get there, but luckily the hunt decided to wait around and we had half an hour for the horses to catch their breath. The scene was fantastic, right in front of the house. Both horses seemed unfazed by it, though Fee liked to amble round whilst Wester stood like an angel. It was soon time for the off and i took a deep breath (and alot of dutch courage) and off we went. Fee was a little excited but behaved and once again Wester was amazing. We galloped down the lawn and follwed into the countryside. It was an amazing day and as it went on Fee settled and Wester continued to show just how good he is, going through water and ditches and taking just about everything in his stride.
After two hours i decided it was tme to head home, the lorry had made it by then but subseqently got stuck in the mud!!!! (Not a good day for my OH) and as a result we had no choice but to hack back again. Wester had lost a shoe so we took our time and all in all we were in the saddle for over 5 hours - Im aching today!! But both horses made it back in one piece and i am one very very proud owner. The lorry eventually made it back to, with a not so pleased OH who had spent the day trying to sort out all the problems (que lots of grovelling from me!!)....
Pictures:
The view of the house:
Fee and Wester:
The off:
