[pleasantmeadowfarm]

I thought I'd post a few photos from the Penn. National at Harrisburg - that was quite a hoot! I REALLY wish I had switched her out of the pelham into her loose ring. She tossed her head a ton. So, yes I was slightly embarrased, but had a fantastic time! We've got plenty of time to improve before next year. Of course, she's never be the slow, loose reined, plod along quiet horse, but if we can at least be steady... we'll have an improved showing!

Harrisburg Link:
http://www.pleasantmeadowfarm.com/recentnews.cfm

Opening Day Link:
http://photos.tallmanphoto.com/Eques...97891932_gFCLa


Opening Day was great. Even my daughter got to be involved for part of it. She came out to the barn dressed and ready at 6:30 asking if it was time to go yet. I'm terrified to actually take her out, despite her being a fine little rider... she's still just 6 years old. Everyone keeps incouraging me to bring her on a leadline. I worry about the ditches, water crossings, and deep woods... the pony I'll take her out on is a saint, but a large leap across a stream... as much as she wants it, I don't know if I'm ready yet...

Question - how young were your kids when you first took them out???

[pleasantmeadowfarm]

I've been promising my 6 year old daughter that she could tag along with me and go foxhunting one of these days.. I offered to organize the Thanksgiving Hunt brunch, and told my daughter she could go out with us.... busy day!

So, she's up at 2:00 sick as a dog. What's the one thing she asks - as she's, well getting sick... "I can still foxhunt, right mom"? How could I say no?

So, I borrowed my trainer's VERY quiet young gelding (brought him out once so far this season) and my new pony (who has never been out with hounds)... Boy have I gotten over all of my fears since I started. I knew I could trust both horses, and my daughter had a blast - for the short time we were out. Hounds went off hard and fast, and we turned back early to host brunch. She wants to come out again on Sunday. Another addict is born!

Wanted to share a couple of pics from our return:
http://www.facebook.com/inbox/?ref=m...=1255281255452

Still LOVING every minute out with the hounds, staff and field. Can't wait to learn more, and be a part of the process. It's just amazing to watch and learn!

[Risk-Averse Rider]

Can't see the photos, logged in to FB or not.

Is that supposed to be the public link for sharing?

Must. See. Photos.

PLEASE!!

[pleasantmeadowfarm]

As my facebook link doesn't appear to work, I've updated my website with Thanksgiving Hunt pics of my daughter.

We had such a good time... glad we didn't stay out for long as hounds ran for 50 minutes without a check... It was a great day for the group and the brunch afterwards wasn't too shabby either!

http://www.pleasantmeadowfarm.com/thanksgiving.cfm

[Gestalt]

Your posts are incredible and I love all the pictures.

What a great job you have done with your mare. I wonder if you would have had this much fun with your irish horse.

[mrs.smith]

It just doesn't get any cuter than that

[Rt66Kix]

How wonderful that you, your mare and your daughter found foxhunting. It was a life-changing experience for me, and my beloved Buddy, and I hope to return to it next season! Keep it up!

[pleasantmeadowfarm]

I really am having the time of my life, and I'm so glad that I'm able to share it with my daughter.

[whicker]

Love the photos!!! Everyone looks so happy to be out. Congratulations on finding the saint pony and having your mare like the pony, too. I am sooo happy for you!

[Risk-Averse Rider]

That is SOOOOO cute!

So... hm... Baby Alex (my grandson) is almost 8 months, and we are a week away from Opening Hunt.

So... <counts on fingers>... I've got... 5-6 years to get Mr. Blondie to the point where he will pony Panda-chan...

I might be able to manage that in 5-6 years.

(Did I mention how incredibly CUTE your daughter and her pony are? And the ribbons in her braids... and the eentsy-weentsy eventing vest... OMGiH!!!)

[pleasantmeadowfarm]

So, I haven't been out hunting in over a month... I think the hunt has gone out once in the last month and a half. Ground here in NJ is frozen solid... To make matters worse, there's a ton of ice from the heavy rains prior to the deep freeze.

As a newbie, I've been awesomely impressed at how careful my hunt is on SO many levels. As we're going out tomorrow, I'd like to think that all will be rosy, but I know how dangerous it can be on frozen/ice covered ground (and how much it hurts to land on it).

I desperately want to go.. So much so, that I'm ready to hook up the trailer and head SOUTH... Southern Pines, Aiken.. etc. I can handle the cold - no problem dressing appropriately for that. Just not sure if I want to take a chance on the ice/frozen ground.... I'll take getting dumped in the mud a thousand times over on hard ground...

So, if you were me.. what would you do?

PS - my mare is fit, happy and more than ready to go. So, no out of shape excuse here. We've kept busy in the indoor! Yawn...

[Beverley]

Go. Give her a nice work indoors today to allow for the release of any pent up energy, and you'll both be happy tomorrow. Horses do have to work VERY hard when the footing is trappy- I've had 'em work up more of a sweat just walking on icy ground than galloping over hill and dale- but a horse that's sensible about footing is sensible about ALL footing.

[pleasantmeadowfarm]

Thanks for sharing your opinion Beverly,

Yesterday we had a great jump school, today we went and did our first gymkhana (what a blast). It's amazing how much hunting has helped us in other venues... I used to have a hard time getting her to stop and stand quietly for three seconds at X during a dressage test and today she stood half asleep waiting to go in the ring and race around barrels/poles etc.

She is smart and sensible about where she puts her feet. As long as I can stay balanced and leave her alone to do her job I'm sure we'll be ok. A couple more opinions would put me over the edge. Almost there...

Go. Give her a nice work indoors today to allow for the release of any pent up energy, and you'll both be happy tomorrow. Horses do have to work VERY hard when the footing is trappy- I've had 'em work up more of a sweat just walking on icy ground than galloping over hill and dale- but a horse that's sensible about footing is sensible about ALL footing.

[jawa]

I would go!!! Once your horse knows their job it takes alot of the worry away. Getting dumped on frozen ground would suck. That's when you use all the dressage she knows. Make her work in the turns and keep her feet under her and most importantly, under you.

[whicker]

So, How did it go?

I stayed in deep grass whenever I could. More traction. The dressage training makes a huge difference in her being able to keep her balance.

Your mare sounds like such a wonderful sensibile girl. I have really enjoyed reading about her adventures.

[pleasantmeadowfarm]

Whicker - sad to say I wimped out last minute. I set everything out last night (4 layers plus), had the trailer hooked up, and tossed and turned all night debating pros and cons. Yes, I'm an addict, but a real chicken at heart. My mare has absolutely amazed me time and again. It's the fear of the unknown that always gets me!

I went with a bag full of bagels, some OJ, champagne and had a fresh pot of coffee made for the field before they returned to the kennels. As we've had so many cancelations, I wanted to hear from my hunt how it went - footing, scent and so on.

Wednesday's the day. We will take our chances, and have faith that we'll stay up on all fours and my bid for the slippery saddle award will come on softer ground.

Will keep everyone posted

So, How did it go?

I stayed in deep grass whenever I could. More traction. The dressage training makes a huge difference in her being able to keep her balance.

Your mare sounds like such a wonderful sensibile girl. I have really enjoyed reading about her adventures.

[whicker]

I hope you go Wenesday. In Va, we are suppose to have a heat wave, on Wenesday, and get above freezing. Here that means that the top thin layer of soil/mud/ice thaws, while the ground is frozen underneath.

The trailers need to be parked uphill from the entrance to the meet, so that after the sun creates the grease, you can slide in the right direction.

I try quite hard to stay on the deepest grass I can find, to have some traction. Even the regular paths are treacherous. Jumping is a very bad idea. Stream crossings ice over quickly. From what I have read of your experiences, you have a wonderful, careful hunt. I know that they will take good care of you.

Next year, I hope to have a horse ready and come hunt with you. You have given that much fun with your thread!

[pleasantmeadowfarm]

Whicker - one more thing to worry about. I think I'll give it a shot on Wednesday. It's supposed to warm up here as well.. just enough to complicate things I'm sure... either way, if my hunt goes out - I'm crossing fingers, toes, holding on and praying! Have to make sure I've got a 20 in my pocket just in case.

Whicker - Would love to have you come out with us next year. Thanks for the kind words, and ware grease!

I hope you go Wenesday. In Va, we are suppose to have a heat wave, on Wenesday, and get above freezing. Here that means that the top thin layer of soil/mud/ice thaws, while the ground is frozen underneath.

The trailers need to be parked uphill from the entrance to the meet, so that after the sun creates the grease, you can slide in the right direction.

I try quite hard to stay on the deepest grass I can find, to have some traction. Even the regular paths are treacherous. Jumping is a very bad idea. Stream crossings ice over quickly. From what I have read of your experiences, you have a wonderful, careful hunt. I know that they will take good care of you.

Next year, I hope to have a horse ready and come hunt with you. You have given that much fun with your thread!

[wateryglen]

Not to subdue your enthusiasm but......I'm a bit superstitious about hunting decisions. Invariably...for me...if I go when I have any reservations then I always seem to have a problem or bad time....Some greasy footing/ice/snow is "no- go" for me. But it really depends on the meet site area and how I think it'll ride footing wise. It always seems the worse the weather & footing; the BETTER the hunting so....beware! I've had horses slip/fall/hit themselves/get injured and because I brought them there I feel horribly guilty. Ditto for my own injuries or miseries. I mean, we do need to be safe and not let our enthusiasm drive us to make poor or marginal decisions. When I first started hunting I never missed a meet....years later I make what I think are more experienced decisions for my horse & me. It's caution learned from experience. There always another hunt, another season. Why risk it in borderrline conditions?

When it's borderline- guarantee ya I'll get a flat tire too!

[pleasantmeadowfarm]

I too am a bit superstious about going out. That's truly what kept me out of the tack on Sunday. I keep trying to make smart decisions, as it's my first year out, I have to have a bit of faith in my hunt as well. Of course, when I hear everyone's crazy stories afterwards, it gives me pause. I'd really prefer NOT to have any exciting stories to share, other than, description of hound work, and how much fun I had being there! I want to be an "old timer" in a newbie's body (it that makes any sense).

So, I will be heading out this morning. Driving to WAWA at the crack of dawn to get some coffee (dropped my coffee pot yesterday morning), and the sunrise was breathtaking. It gave me pause, and I know the "Big Man" is out there smiling down on me... I just hope he isn't thinking - Hey, moron - I can't save you from yourself! Either way, today I go out with confidence.. It should hit 30 degrees by the time we're done.. Hopefully, I'll be able to post later on this morning how things went... as long as my limbs are all intact and functioning!

Stay tuned....