Tally Ho!

Our ever popular Youth Hunt weekend was a wonderful success!

On Saturday, Huntsman David Kruger brought our four beagles to Yutan to show our 33 riders what hunting “wabbits” is all about. It was a spectacular fall day– no wind, blue skies, about 40 degrees.

Thirty-three riders mounted and almost all of them stayed on. One horse was very naughty and bucked his rider off. She got back on and then rode him hard for about four miles. Needless to say, he was very well behaved after that! The other 32 riders had a so much fun. =) A few were a bit anxious, but handled their horses and ponies with guts and determination!

We viewed a coyote (Tally Ho!), but we sadly had to let him go on his merry way while the beagles worked hard searching out “wabbits.” We introduced these young riders to the all so important Whoopee Wagon! Thanks to Sam Matranga for her homemade chocolate chips cookies. (She also supplied cookies on Sunday.)

Helen Smith, Terry Moran, Deb Robinson and Sam Matranga hosted lunch– stew and chili that was excellent, the bread was soft and with butter was the BEST! Helen and Terry, who typically make the most excellent food, slipped a little with their cheese dip. A little too runny and REALLY hard to dip my chips … One of my customers came up and whispered to me that it was squash soup! I need to get out more.

Sunday we hunted from the kennels. 30 riders were mounted. Mason Herman hunted right behind Huntsman Dave and 20 NHH hounds. Mason did a nice job, waiting for the hounds to jump the coops before he would jump. (He had a couple of flyers that had the field holding their breath while we waited for him to land back in the saddle.) Breanna Orsborn had two youths whipping in with her: Morgan Herman and guest Kristen Didzinski. Helen S had Samantha and Maggie whipping in with her.

It was another beautiful day in paradise. I say this knowing that WINTER will show his ugly face way too soon.

We headed down the road. Lots of crops are still in the fields so we stayed on the roads until we crossed the little wooden bridge and rode into that first bean field. The hounds immediately put two raccoons to ground, and we had a nice gallop as we followed Huntsman Dave going around a creek to get from one field to another. Those gallops early on are just what the veterinarian/psychiatrist ordered. Blow those jitters out!

After a quick whoopee wagon break, this time hosted by MFH Luke, Tim and Libby Christi and Lana Lynch, we continued in an easterly fashion. We came to this one grove of trees. The hounds immediately opened up and started running. We were right behind (SO FUN!). The wind was blowing pretty good, so I had to turn my head to hear the hounds singing. I saw Helen wave her whip and take off running. Tally Ho! She has viewed and away we go!!!

I think we ran about 2 miles? The hounds had a loss and we turned for home. We walked back because Captain (Huntsman Dave) horse was a tad foot sore.

Ted Crosbie, Tim and Libby, and Lana provided our repast. Elk stew, some excellent tomato soup that Roe made, shrimp (that disappeared in about three minutes) and some very tasty desserts. (I had a little bit of everything. =))

Have a safe and happy week. =)

Carine/Indie

P.S. Mary Curran has some very nice NHH glasses: $5 for plastic or $10 for glass.