lcharles
Well-Known Member
I go hunting quite reguarly, been to most cubbing meets and this was our second hunting trip out this year since open meet.
The meet was about 3 miles from my stables so decided to take the lorry otherwise it would be a long day for the horses to walk there and back after, we arrived at the meet only to be told that we couldnt park there now as the grass was too wet.....so we all turned around and headed 2 miles up the road - 1 mile from my stable so we could hack up
If we'd known this we would of either got dropped off or hacked in the first place!! Oh well......cracked on so we didnt miss out on port and food, my friends Rob was out for the first time on his horse, he had a massive grin on his face and we were both enjoying ourselves on the way to the meet.
Got to the meet and ate plenty, drank too much and as always i needed a wee before we set off! I always forget that drink = wee! So off we cantered across the field, we were on point with the whipper-in at first, nice to see it up close and tell Rob what was happening. After a few minutes we regrouped and trotted/cantered back past near where the lorry was parked . We went through a field full of cows.....somewhat angry cows!! My horse, Billy was not overly impressed and did he best 'warrier' look and Wispa - Rob's horse, hid behind Billy! A few braver horses went and scared the cows back so we could all scuttle through, went over a massive flooded ditch - Billy doesnt do ditches but when angry cows were closing in he opted for the ditch instead or being headbutted by a cow!
A few fields later we galloped up a big steep hill and Rob who was about 10ft behind me shouted 'RACE YOU' so we kicked on and a few people had jumped the hedge at the top, Rob who doesnt jump very often didnt see the hedge - i shouted 'LETS GO HEDGE HOPPING?' ........'ROB??' ...He didnt hear me so i thought i'd kick on and he could either follow or opt out!!
One of the whipper-ins on his horse was scrambling through the hedge, so I gave Billy a little reminder kick and shouted for Rob to kick on, Billy flew over the biggest part as the whipper-in struggled to get through, Wispa flew over as well, Rob definately flew but managed to hold on -somehow!
We then waited while the hounds were in trying to pick up a scent, but it was good to give our boys a break, off we went again over two sets of rails, the one i landed really badly but billy found his 5th leg luckily and Rob followed behind and nearly flew out the side door once more much to my amusement! x
We had quite a lot of roadwork after that then looped back up and across the fields behind our stables, we ventured towards the river and got a good few hedge jumps in.
There was only about 12 of us left by 3 o'clock, Rob and Wispa were starting to tire so we agreed that we'd head back when we next got back towards our stable or where the lorry was. We dropped down a hill and there was a tiger trap - a narrow one at that, a few people were saying 'oh i hate this jump', 'this ones awful' etc and not helping anyone confidence! It was about 3ft high and about 3ft 6 wide and in between some bushes which really needed cutting!! It was boggy going into it but 4 people went over first and I asked Rob if he was ready, tbh I was probably nervous about it but just thought i'd ride Billy into it abit more, Billy went over like a pro. I turned around to check Rob and Wispa and half opted out but managed to get one lef over the top, then roll over it and landed on top of Rob sidewards against the fence. I got back to the jump, although i was only metres away and Rob was stroking Wispas neck - for a split second I thought Wispa was dead I told Rob to get out the way so Wispa could get himself up, there was no way anyone could of helped him so it was safer to let himself up, Rob was clearly panicking - i was too but didnt show it the way rob did, bless him. Luckily Wispa got up fine and was walking fine. Rob was a little shaken but after we checked him over - the horse i mean - Rob got back on and we carried on. Rob left about 10 minutes after to go back to the stables as we were close by and I headed with the hunt to get the lorry. Robs incident had put the other 6 off so they didnt jump it and had turned back so we had a little chat and finished off our port on the way home.
Billy was exhausted and by the time i'd got him too his stable he was shaking, not sure if it was adrenaline, exhaustion or if he was just cold - although he had his rug on. So i fed him, he had a wee and a drink and i put him out so he could have a stretch.
So proud of him as he's come so far. Can't wait til next week!! x
The meet was about 3 miles from my stables so decided to take the lorry otherwise it would be a long day for the horses to walk there and back after, we arrived at the meet only to be told that we couldnt park there now as the grass was too wet.....so we all turned around and headed 2 miles up the road - 1 mile from my stable so we could hack up
If we'd known this we would of either got dropped off or hacked in the first place!! Oh well......cracked on so we didnt miss out on port and food, my friends Rob was out for the first time on his horse, he had a massive grin on his face and we were both enjoying ourselves on the way to the meet.
Got to the meet and ate plenty, drank too much and as always i needed a wee before we set off!
I always forget that drink = wee! So off we cantered across the field, we were on point with the whipper-in at first, nice to see it up close and tell Rob what was happening. After a few minutes we regrouped and trotted/cantered back past near where the lorry was parked . We went through a field full of cows.....somewhat angry cows!! My horse, Billy was not overly impressed and did he best 'warrier' look and Wispa - Rob's horse, hid behind Billy! A few braver horses went and scared the cows back so we could all scuttle through, went over a massive flooded ditch - Billy doesnt do ditches but when angry cows were closing in he opted for the ditch instead or being headbutted by a cow! A few fields later we galloped up a big steep hill and Rob who was about 10ft behind me shouted 'RACE YOU' so we kicked on and a few people had jumped the hedge at the top, Rob who doesnt jump very often didnt see the hedge - i shouted 'LETS GO HEDGE HOPPING?' ........'ROB??' ...He didnt hear me so i thought i'd kick on and he could either follow or opt out!!
One of the whipper-ins on his horse was scrambling through the hedge, so I gave Billy a little reminder kick and shouted for Rob to kick on, Billy flew over the biggest part as the whipper-in struggled to get through, Wispa flew over as well, Rob definately flew but managed to hold on -somehow!
We then waited while the hounds were in trying to pick up a scent, but it was good to give our boys a break, off we went again over two sets of rails, the one i landed really badly but billy found his 5th leg luckily and Rob followed behind and nearly flew out the side door once more much to my amusement! x
We had quite a lot of roadwork after that then looped back up and across the fields behind our stables, we ventured towards the river and got a good few hedge jumps in.
There was only about 12 of us left by 3 o'clock, Rob and Wispa were starting to tire so we agreed that we'd head back when we next got back towards our stable or where the lorry was. We dropped down a hill and there was a tiger trap - a narrow one at that, a few people were saying 'oh i hate this jump', 'this ones awful' etc and not helping anyone confidence! It was about 3ft high and about 3ft 6 wide and in between some bushes which really needed cutting!! It was boggy going into it but 4 people went over first and I asked Rob if he was ready, tbh I was probably nervous about it but just thought i'd ride Billy into it abit more, Billy went over like a pro. I turned around to check Rob and Wispa and half opted out but managed to get one lef over the top, then roll over it and landed on top of Rob sidewards against the fence. I got back to the jump, although i was only metres away and Rob was stroking Wispas neck - for a split second I thought Wispa was dead
I told Rob to get out the way so Wispa could get himself up, there was no way anyone could of helped him so it was safer to let himself up, Rob was clearly panicking - i was too but didnt show it the way rob did, bless him. Luckily Wispa got up fine and was walking fine. Rob was a little shaken but after we checked him over - the horse i mean - Rob got back on and we carried on. Rob left about 10 minutes after to go back to the stables as we were close by and I headed with the hunt to get the lorry. Robs incident had put the other 6 off so they didnt jump it and had turned back so we had a little chat and finished off our port on the way home. Billy was exhausted and by the time i'd got him too his stable he was shaking, not sure if it was adrenaline, exhaustion or if he was just cold - although he had his rug on. So i fed him, he had a wee and a drink and i put him out so he could have a stretch.
So proud of him as he's come so far. Can't wait til next week!! x
