So who's been out already?

[Sealine]

Got up at 4.20am for a 6am meet. It was such a beautiful morning and great to be out again. Went on my own but bumped into an old acquaintance which gave us a good opportunity to catch up.

Ready for bed now. 4.20am this morning feels like a long time ago!

 

[Ditchjumper2]

We start Sat! Bay boy is bouncing off the walls so may settle for fat cob instead as bound to be lots out. Downside is she is grey!

 

[Bernster]

I'm out on Sat for my first time ever on a hireling - I'm so excited! I did a hound exercise a few weeks ago on the same hireling and loved it. Unfortunately my own horse goes loopy when he sees hounds so thought I'd try going on a hireling a few times this season to learn the ropes before buying my own hunter.

Brilliant that you've found a good hireling. I had a 50/50 success rate but the good ones as awesome for giving you confidence. It also helped that when I first went out, I didn't realise there was a non jumping concept and assumed I had to jump everything. I wish I could find that bottle again !

Come with the East Essex, and cry in a corner with the mate I'll nannying. Ferg's first time out and he'll be nannying someone else

Well, hopefully he will be suitably bald by that time and therefore looking lovely and smart Have a blast, I reckon he'll be fab !

I just can't bring myself to contemplate a 4am wake up call, no matter how lovely that sun rise or how tasty the Sloe Gin !

 

[L&M]

Sadly not yet, but chomping on the bit...and coblet could do with starting soon as needs the stimulation!

Our Kennel huntsman unfortunately sustained a knee injury on a recent hound parade, so things have been understandably delayed.

We could go with a neighbouring pack, but too far too travel at 'silly o'clock'!

Have fun all.

 

[frostyfingers]

Having listened to rain hammering on the roof all night I was still up and about at 4.30am yesterday searching for my dark horse in the a dark rug in the dark with the sheep rushing about panicking. We got rather wetter than anticipated but had a fun morning followed by coffee and bacon sandwiches back at the meet - the perfect start to a season. I love watching the young entry on their first day rushing about looking slightly bewildered and then seeing them progress through the season to "grown up" hounds. I was absolutely kippered last night though, the early starts are going to take a bit of getting used to!

 

[Ditchjumper2]

Felt knackered all weekend! Had a good morning out, hounds went well and fat cob covered herself in glory. But must be getting old as not with it all weekend. Hopefully things will improve on Wednesday.

 

[Bernster]

Toyed with the idea of a 4am wake up this weekend but have too much on and the miserable rain outside is not encouraging me. We did do a hunter trial last weekend which was actually fairly good prep, less so with the jumping itself (they were titchy) but more so because it was busy, lots of lorries, horses, dogs (not hounds!) and generally quite buzzy. Horse was a tad lit up for the first 15-20 mins but behaved himself and settled down nicely. We also got to peer at some of the hunt jumps at it was at Tetworth, which should def only be viewed from horseback - they don't seem so big that way

 

[Goldenstar]

Saturday for me as well .
Hope my jacket will do up .
Fatty will be supervising a 14 yo advanced eventer having his first day out .
I hope Fatty doesn't buck to much .
Then on Wednesday fatty supervises his understudy H he's full of it ATM I think it might be fun for those watching .

 

[Hoof_Prints]

I'm in for a 4am wake up tomorrow morning! Can't decide whether I'm looking forward to it or dreading it yet . I'm taking my young Connemara out and my aunt is on "the unstoppable train" (my sister's pony who loves hunting!). Haven't hunted my youngster yet so hope he is ok (wish me luck lol).

 

[spacefaer]

Took new 5 yr old on Thursday - the meet was in the next village to the new yard, so it seemed rude not to.

Left at 6 and hacked down the road, stood outside a large covert in parkland for 2 hours, watching the sun come up gradually - started on the slopes around us, then finally crept over us, and wamred our frozen feet.

Baby horse stood, watched hounds popping in and out of covert with interest and then we hacked home. Result - nice educational morning !

 

[meesha]

Blimey spacefaer that sounds v civilised !!

 

[spacefaer]

Blimey spacefaer that sounds v civilised !!

It's what I do - I "make" young draughts into nice grown up hunters!

I'm too old and battered to put up with wildness!

 

[Hoof_Prints]

I'm shattered now after a 3.30am wake up ! Took my 5 year old Connie out and he loved it, he loves to make friends so every single horse that walked past him was whickered at, they were not so interested in him lol. He was perfectly behaved and even the unstoppable train was stoppable and behaved herself! She must be finally settling down at the age of 12 . Think we are out again on Tuesday, very happy to say that one is at 4pm, as nice as early morning hunts are.

 

[meesha]

Went out for third sat with new horse, much more settled, only stayed out couple hours as friend didn't want to push hers, v civilised, good turnout, couple of canters and lots of chatting. Lovely.

Hoofprints, 3.30! That's dedication, my alarm didn't go off till 6am

 

[Ditchjumper2]

Another nice morning but these 4.30 wake ups are getting a bit much. Had to slope off to bed for 2 hours this afternoon.�� Sat,Weds, Sat catching up on me.

 

[Hoof_Prints]

out meet set off at 7, was ready by 4 30, got to yard for 4 45, horses in and ready by 5 30, we were ready by 6 then hitched up and left for 6 15. We didn't have much time to spare ! I also had a 2 hour nap at 1pm. My back was killing too as I think I've torn a muscle so I had to lean on my saddle and let my poor youngster carry me round! Good job he was well behaved. definitely looking forward to an afternoon meet!

 

[chancing]

been out every sat and 2 Wednesdays since 28th august!! weathers been ok so far brilliant evening last night!!

 

[Goldenstar]

I had my first day on Saturday , I rode Fatty and my friend who rides ours a far bit rode C the advanced eventer I bought in the spring .
Fatty has his usual first day out first canter buck but was in his perfect companion mode showing C what to do .
C was very good calm but interested, survived being chased by a very nasty bull , he got a little upset by the noise the hounds made run through the kale but nothing nasty .
We declined to cross a very wet bit so rode up on to a ridge and watched everything going on below us ,standing in the sun , with wonderful views to holy island and Bamburgh castle and over towards Cheviot the other way it was lovely to be out .
This morning H our younger ID (7 ) had his first morning this season, a difficult Five yo he's taken time and patience and consistence effort to get where I want him .
It's took all of his six yo season to get him settled and mannerly and he finished last season well doing a few days field mastering and carrying MrGS at the end of the season .
I kept him up in March and gave him a short break later in the summer he's matured filled out and looks ready to do a job now .
I could not have been happier , he got out the trailer knew exactly what was going on was happy to be out but calm and attentive to the hounds and his rider .
He was field master, not onerous as the field consisted of fatty and I and two others .Fatty was hilarious he's so self important when his friends in charge .
It was another glorious morning and lovely to watch the sun coming up.
MrGS returns from golf in Spain in time for Saturday so Fatty is on parade the other four are going on a jumping course .
We have two more who have not been out yet J who will be awful he's a fool ATM so I will defiantly deploy FYF ( fit young friend ) and Tatts who FYF hunts who never does autumn hunting it's unpleasant all round so he has one day before the opening meet I love this time of year it's all anticipation ,lovely mornings and very little mud .
We took H indoor showjumping last night so it was a late finish followed by an early morning and another two to ride when I got back .
I think I need a power nap.

 

[Bernster]

Sounds lovely GS, and a very sensible plan. I like the idea of the anticipation, mornings and little mud, especially the latter. I've got Oct 10 booked in the diary for our first outing but doing a few bits ahead of then to continue F's training plan. Might try and get him out to South Ox sponsored ride although I land from the US early morning on Sat so I may be in no fit state.

Struggling to find many free dates to get him out much before opening meet but I do think he's more likely to be be well behaved once we get over the initial 15-20 mins of excitement. He's a sensible sort, not built for speed and has settled pretty quickly to each new activity he's been faced with. Mind you, I do realise hunting is probably the most likely to blow his mind so he could surprise me yet.

 

[Lynn11]

Took my 6 year old out for the first time on Saturday. He has hunted before but not since before I got him.
Nice 5am wake up, had a lovely hack over to the next village at 6.15am. Stood like a diamond at the meet. Then we set off.... Like a steam train... Tongue flying out the side of his mouth overtaking horse after horse. He did settle after a while and went lovely. But safe to say he's getting a grackle on next time!!

Was a lovely warm morning on the hills watching the sun come up. I was too warm in my thermals though!

 

[meesha]

Haha lynn11 sounds a bit like mine first few times out, stands like a rock lulls you into false sense security then hoolies off, hooves flying and grinning like a loon

 

[Happy Hunter]

Finally got out on Monday - Eclipse woke me up at 3am - then hacked over at 6.30.
Left my reflective jacket in a bush and enjoyed a good 3 hours - Quite fast and exciting for September!
Horse was a prat for 10 minutes, then suddenly remembered where she was and who was riding her - then quite angelic....

Except for when she was 'ambushed' by 7 or 8 hounds popping out of the undergrowth - that spooked her quite a lot!!!

Ended on a good note and a nice walk home grinning.
Then had to go back to work! (Booo!)

 

[ester]

Just back from this morning . On supervising duties for my YO and her dressage horse who only partly contained himself. Frank was good once he settled, I think the fact that we usually hack to meet doesn't do him any harm! Unfortunately just a short one as I have to go to work for the afternoon .

 

[Goldenstar]

I had a nice time this morning .
Fatty and H where out on Saturday they had a much busier time than expected .
H is our seven yo ID who was quite challenging at first he arrived in the December of his five yo year.
His rider on Saturday was a younger friend of ours who has no horse of his own but rides ours his known as FYF ( fit young friend ) he has done a lot of work with H .
We decided to go out this morning on H and C ( the advanced event horse we bought in feb for me to have fun on ) .
Not a long trip out ,FYF has to go to that nasty thing called a job .
But I was delighted H was settled and watching hounds like an old pro I am tempted to say my work there is done he knows his job and is set up for his life .
C was super too I have no idea if he's saw hounds when young but he was sensible and watching hounds too it was his third morning .
Saturaday is the next test our afternoon meet ( 3.30) it has proven track record of causeing unscheduled excitement ( I got spectacularilty dumped one year ) if C is good at that I am going to be so lucky I never thought when I got him I would be able to hunt him.
The next task is to get J out he's wild ATM a job for FYF I think.

 

[Ditchjumper2]

Nice morning on Sat. Brown hairy one had his second outing this season and was very well behaved especially as we were on unexpected field master duty. Despite his age he still rock and rolls on the lorry when on his own. He is now a less hairy pony as clipped 2 yesterday and OH kindly did fat cob today.

He will probably go again Weds with fat cob as ginger one still recovering from abcess. Already seems to be work, clean horses, clean tack, work........... Needless to say house looks like a skip ! Hopefully will have visitor s soon as then at least lounge, kitchen and loo get mucked out!!!

 

[Goldenstar]

Yes visitors are the best thing for house work but you know they never Hoover in the corners .

 

[Bernster]

I'm such a lightweight. Trying to persuade my friend to do a xc outing instead on Sat as if we hunt it's a 4am wake up and Friday evening spent prepping. I know I'll love it when we finally get out there but I need to ease myself back into hunting slowly!

 

[Hoof_Prints]

Had a fantastic meet with the Readyfield on Sunday, out first time out with them as we normally go with the Atherstone. I was on my young pony and he loved it, they were very welcoming. The best bit was it was at 12:30 so no 4 am alarm ! Was cooking though in our jackets, I took my helmet cam if anyone wants a watch, was around the Staunton Harold Hall estate so had some gorgeous scenery. Hoping to go out with them again in a couple of weeks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWoFk_gekPw

 

[Bernster]

Had a fantastic meet with the Readyfield on Sunday, out first time out with them as we normally go with the Atherstone. I was on my young pony and he loved it, they were very welcoming. The best bit was it was at 12:30 so no 4 am alarm ! Was cooking though in our jackets, I took my helmet cam if anyone wants a watch, was around the Staunton Harold Hall estate so had some gorgeous scenery. Hoping to go out with them again in a couple of weeks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWoFk_gekPw

Perfect, I can just stay at home in the warm and watch videos instead

 

[Bernster]

I am continuing to be a light weight when it comes to my hunting, and I'm sure I shall be punished accordingly ! Avoided the 4am start the weekend just gone and had a later morning xc session at our local course instead. Boyo continues to be a poppet, and was less fidgety this time around as well - result. Jumping nicely, keen and forward, taking a tiny hold but comes back ok. Might need an upgrade in tack for our first outing though, just in case - planning on 24th which is mighty close to opening meet and the full season but it's apparently a good outing and I'm pretty confident he's going to be a well behaved hunter given all we've done so far.