Lily's First Foxhunt

I had my camera. It's probably still in the truck. Lily went on her first fox hunt yesterday and I didn't take a single picture.

However, I do think I did everything else, from taking cookies and hot chocolate for the other Pony Clubbers to getting us there on time, even if we had to load the horse in the dark, and even had all my stuff for writing my novel with me. I'm doing NaNoWriMo, and yesterday was the first day. I managed to write over 1,000 words while waiting for Lily and Buddy, and then I got the rest of my goal when I got home.

Lily went cubbing (fox hunting with young hounds before the official opening of the hunt season, which is on Thanksgiving Day). Neither she nor Buddy had been before. They didn't think it was fast enough but would like to go again.

We had some teenager-related issues the night before. I had told her to get everything ready by Thursday, as I don't like to do a mad scramble the night before an early morning. I told her that the cubbing attire was "informal," meaning she should wear her tall boots, show coat (the only one she owns), a ratcatcher shirt and her one choker with a stock pin. She thought informal meant casual.

Finally I said, "informal" means cocktail dress. "Formal" means ball gown. You have to dress up for this."

"Why?" my teenager-living-dangerously asked.

"Because fox hunting is very traditional," I said.

"That's stupid," she said.

"I'm sorry. That's the way it is. You're supposed to dress in a certain way."

"Will they let me ride if I don't?" she asked.

"Probably," I said. "But they'll think you're a hick." I couldn't think of what else to say. Our culture has gotten so far away from the notion of what it appropriate. Even church is casual dress. That's fine -- if that's all you have or if that's how you most feel worshipful, and I'm glad I can wear pants.

Back to the fox hunt. Now, she'd given Buddy a bath, had cleaned him as if getting ready for Madison Square Gardens. He was dressed in his scary lycra stuff under his blanket (and my vote was that it was too cold for a bath, but I was not polled until after the bath). But she was completely neglecting herself.

This is the girl who can spend hours trying on the right nearly identical T-shirts for school. Of course she couldn't find her choker. And she brought the riding jacket she outgrew two years ago, not the one we got her for last Christmas that fits. Fortunately, we were able to borrow a jacket. And I think at least she "gets it."

For those of you who think hunting is cruel, all I can say is that I have hunted with the Camden Hunt off and on for decades and I was never, ever on a hunt where they caught anything. Not one cricket. No fox. Just some hairnets left snagged in trees, some of them mine.  I am happy about this no-catch thing, as I have no quarrel with the fox.

I waited in the club house (cold!) and worked on my novel. I went outside to warm up by walking around in the sunshine, and was surprised to see a friend of mine back early. Her horse had caught his hind shoe crossing the railroad tracks and had fallen! My friend and her horse were miraculously all right. Very scary. The horse somehow caught his shoe on the tracks, and when he tried to pull his foot free, he fell, tearing off his shoe and throwing his rider into the crush-and-run. They were both very lucky.

She did have the presence of mind to tell me how Lily and Buddy were doing. She said, "Well, of course Buddy started bucking but Lily rode through that. They're doing fine and having lots of fun."

It's a good thing Buddy is cute and not mean. I guess I'd buck if I could and if I felt so very, very good about being out on a cold morning with the hounds working in the distance.

They crossed the train tracks more than once. One time when they were about to cross a freight train came by. Lily said that Buddy was "mildly interested."

That's one good thing about having F-16s roar over your pasture on a regular basis. A train is nothing compared to that. But you never have to worry about tripping over their contrails.

Maybe next time Lily goes hunting Lucy (my out-of-shape TB) and I will go. After I finish my novel, I just might aim for that.

Comments

[Molly]

Fun reading about the hunt. I've never had the opportunity to actually go on a hunt but we had mock hunts in Southern Pines, NC. (I wasn't invited to the real ones.) That was some of the most fun and dangerous horse riding I ever did. I leased a big old Trojan-type horse that was full speed ahead.

[kidsmom]

Our PC had their hunt with one of the local hunt clubs on Sunday.

I came to learn that 99% of the riders (a quote!) Ace their horses for these events.

We PC parents, riding along in the hay wagon had quite the collective gasp.

No one told us!

Fortunately our narcopleptic QH was a saint. Dogs and herd behavior didn't get him going, and he only bucked once.

Given the number of flasks we saw, I wondered what the riders were taking, if they had to Ace their mounts?

[smellshorsey]

Kidsmom, that’s just awful. I’ve never used Ace, but wouldn’t that be like riding a drunk horse? At speed and jumping?

I also don’t get the part about drinking and riding. The Camden Hunt sometimes serves port and sherry (I think) on silver platters to mounted members before going out on Thanksgiving Day. This is at 9:00 a.m. I had a white (grey) horse that was spanking clean and one day decided to try the port, since I’d never had any. I still haven’t had any. My horse was excited and fidgeted so much that I spilled it all down his neck and chest. Pretty white horse all covered in purple port.

Maybe it hurts less when you hit the ground. I think the theory is it helps keep you warm. Certainly it's not a safe choice.

I don't understand people Acing their horses before a foxhunt. There is something wrong with this picture. I’m so glad your child was riding a good, honest, non-doped up horse.

I know that when I was young people didn’t have access to things like Ace and they just had to know how to ride. I wonder if people are now buying crazier horses, or just don’t know how to ride very well?

[Lori Skoog]

Anne...My hay was a fine grass, first cutting. Delivered for $3.00 a bale. The best deal of the season. We had so much rain off and on in June and July, we never thought we would get anything. I have many aged horses and they love it.
Regarding horsetrailers. I'm with you, a stock trailer is much better. I have a 16' Moritz and I keep all my tack in the front, which also acts as a changing room. Hauls beautifully and is like having a stall on wheels...when I have just one horse it is terrific.
Interesting blog.
Lori Skoog

[Strawberry Lane]

Fascinating info about the hunt. It is such a beautiful sight! Crossing the railroad tracks, now that is just too frightening! Thank goodness Lilly and Buddy were fine.

About Ace: it seems to be a common practice for the horse parades in the area. I'm completely against it. If the horse needs Ace, then it should stay home.

Thanks for you comment on Shadow, the horse that was rescued from starvation about 8 weeks, ago. We are proud of every pound he has gained, as well as his gentle spirit, especially with kids.