BarmyC
Well-Known Member
Hi all,
Some of you may remember my post "How to make a Hunt Horse" well following on from there im pleased to announce that yesterday was our first meet.
We went out with the Mid Surrey Farmers Draghounds on their opening meet which goes from the yard i am stabled at.
Yesterday morning came and as the morning got on i gradually felt myself feeling sick with nervous excitement. I dont do nerves but for some reason yesterday the last 25 years of riding nerves came out in one go. I felt sick with them it was awful. Dont ask me why i was so nervous as its not like i havent done all the correct prep work with her and she was more than capable.
Well whilst filling the hip flask up with the port i had a few cheeky swigs and my boss had opened the bar so after some more port i gradually started to feel better.
We got on and waited for the others to get their horses and then the hounds came past on their way out and charm was fab just turned and looked and stood there for a bit.
We were off!
We hacked along a bridlepath to where our first line was starting. I thought i would be better off at the back to begin with. There was a bit of a hold up at the first fence and Charm started bouncing around so i missed it out as the front of the field started to jump back into the first field i decided to join them up the front.
She jumped the first rail like a pro and didnt leap, plunge and **** off towards the jump which was nice!! We then had a long gallop up a fairly steep hill to another rail which she popped over nicely. Then a bit of a walk down a steep hill to another rail and into the woods where there were two more rails and then a check.
(would you believe that this is INSIDE the M25???)
She doesnt understand yet that the checks are for standing and catching breath and most importantly a cig and a drink for me so i had to drink and smoke on the move otherwise she started to bounce up and down on her back legs.
After about 15 mins we set off again on the second line. I rode to the point where i would meet them when they finished the 2nd line as there are a few jumps that aren't particularly easy for a youngster on her first meet so i got off and waited with 2 of the hunt grooms with the 2nd horses for them to come back. These are 2 pics taken at the check here.
After another check we went off up the stubble field to a double of rails then another with a long slightly downhill gallop to a drop rail into a track with one on the other side. Then off to the local racing yard for a line round there.
There is a mile long gallop on this line and my god did she gallop!! I had no leg on at all and i did try to steady her up but she wasnt having any of it!!
Another check at the end of the line and she was getting better and not boucing around so much but still full of energy.
Some more rails gallops and a few logs and we were nearly home. We had a hack through some woods and then 2 rails later we were done.
There was a short hack home and i was lucky enough to ride up the front with the Huntsman and the hounds!! She was a star with them and got some VERY admiring comments from the huntsman She handled having the hounds running along behind her like she had done it her whole life!
Im so pleased with the Barmy one its like this horse is born to hunt!!
When she got back to the yard i washed her off and gave her a small amount of hay and went in for Hunt tea came back and she was so chilled like she just hacked around the block.
This morning she came in from the field as sound as a pound and although a little tucked up she was in fine form.
So...... guess what
We are off again with the drag on saturday then after that she is off showjumping and will have a couple of quiet weeks till we go out again.
Some of you may remember my post "How to make a Hunt Horse" well following on from there im pleased to announce that yesterday was our first meet.
We went out with the Mid Surrey Farmers Draghounds on their opening meet which goes from the yard i am stabled at.
Yesterday morning came and as the morning got on i gradually felt myself feeling sick with nervous excitement. I dont do nerves but for some reason yesterday the last 25 years of riding nerves came out in one go. I felt sick with them it was awful. Dont ask me why i was so nervous as its not like i havent done all the correct prep work with her and she was more than capable.
Well whilst filling the hip flask up with the port i had a few cheeky swigs and my boss had opened the bar so after some more port i gradually started to feel better.
We got on and waited for the others to get their horses and then the hounds came past on their way out and charm was fab just turned and looked and stood there for a bit.
We were off!
We hacked along a bridlepath to where our first line was starting. I thought i would be better off at the back to begin with. There was a bit of a hold up at the first fence and Charm started bouncing around so i missed it out as the front of the field started to jump back into the first field i decided to join them up the front.
She jumped the first rail like a pro and didnt leap, plunge and **** off towards the jump which was nice!! We then had a long gallop up a fairly steep hill to another rail which she popped over nicely. Then a bit of a walk down a steep hill to another rail and into the woods where there were two more rails and then a check.
(would you believe that this is INSIDE the M25???)
She doesnt understand yet that the checks are for standing and catching breath and most importantly a cig and a drink for me so i had to drink and smoke on the move otherwise she started to bounce up and down on her back legs.
After about 15 mins we set off again on the second line. I rode to the point where i would meet them when they finished the 2nd line as there are a few jumps that aren't particularly easy for a youngster on her first meet so i got off and waited with 2 of the hunt grooms with the 2nd horses for them to come back. These are 2 pics taken at the check here.
After another check we went off up the stubble field to a double of rails then another with a long slightly downhill gallop to a drop rail into a track with one on the other side. Then off to the local racing yard for a line round there.
There is a mile long gallop on this line and my god did she gallop!! I had no leg on at all and i did try to steady her up but she wasnt having any of it!!
Another check at the end of the line and she was getting better and not boucing around so much but still full of energy.
Some more rails gallops and a few logs and we were nearly home. We had a hack through some woods and then 2 rails later we were done.
There was a short hack home and i was lucky enough to ride up the front with the Huntsman and the hounds!! She was a star with them and got some VERY admiring comments from the huntsman She handled having the hounds running along behind her like she had done it her whole life!
Im so pleased with the Barmy one its like this horse is born to hunt!!
When she got back to the yard i washed her off and gave her a small amount of hay and went in for Hunt tea came back and she was so chilled like she just hacked around the block.
This morning she came in from the field as sound as a pound and although a little tucked up she was in fine form.
So...... guess what
We are off again with the drag on saturday then after that she is off showjumping and will have a couple of quiet weeks till we go out again.
