Holy Coyote, Batman!
We blew the barn doors open today! What a SUPER FUN, AMAZING, AWESOME, Top 10 day!
On our drive to Cumberland we viewed a big, fluffy coyote in a corn field, a flock of turkeys, deer and a fox snacking on a dead deer (Bre called to tell us to keep a visual by milemarker 60 for the fox). We’re feeling the hunting vibes….
Huntsman Dave, Professional whip Bre, Honorary whip Jubilee and since we were short staffed, Tristen Wigg and I rode up as whips (I HAD SO MUCH FUN!)
There were 11 riders in first flight with Jay leading. Judith J led the 4 riders in the gate group.
Mary Curran
We headed North out of Brahms, jumped a coop and then headed east. We had been riding about 15 minutes and the hounds started working a CRP field. Jubilee and I are a little ahead of the hounds and I am scanning the tall grasses when I see this black/tan coyote moving through the field. I tally ho ( which is incorrect. Whips -even quasi whips like me-are supposed to halou, take our hard hat off and point)
Huntsman Dave starts encouraging the hounds, they pick up the scent and starting voicing. The coyote slips off through the tall grasses and heads south. The hounds turn around and work hard on the line. The field gets a great view of the coyote as we are galloping along, the hounds are screaming. We kick up that coyote (maybe a different one?) We chase it as it runs across the bean field, running down the terraces and heading for cover. The hounds are screaming, Huntsman Dave is blowing and we’re all running. We seen two big deer jump out and head towards the road. The road whips view the deer, but not the coyote. The hounds keep working hard and as we’re following them, Bre is calling for help. Another coyote has headed west with the pack splitting and following that coyote. They put that coyote to a brush pile. Lyse, Lyla and Ollie were leading that attack. Their GPS collars had them at 32 mph. These are the 3 bitches that qualified and entered at the North American grand champion performance trials. Benado was clocked at 37 mph(he’s with us on the other coyote)
Bre and the gate group stay with those hounds, she can’t pull them off, anyway. Huntsman Dave, the other portion of the pack and first flight rode a loooong way away. The Whoopee wagon caught up with us-thank goodness! We gave the horses a breather and then worked our way back home.
the carnage
Jay viewed yet another coyote running through the bean field and the hounds gave voice, but were unable to put anything together.
resting at the brush pile
We eventually made our way back to Bre, the gate group and the rest of the hounds. They were able to call the hounds off and make our way back home.
We rode for 2.5 hours, 14.5 miles, my fanny is chafed and my ankle was screaming U.N.C.L.E. when we were done.
tired. sweaty.dirty
Kate Murphy had a SCRUMPTIOUS feast ready for us: Brisket, butternut squash dip, spinach/artichoke dip, carrots and celery, leaf lettuce salad with walnuts, blue cheese and raisins, potato salad, assorted pastries and choc chip cookies!
mmmmmm
What an amazing and fun weekend!
Carine, Honorary Secretary, quasi whipper-in
The Outlaw Josie Wales. She was so fun to ride and tried so hard!
viewed this bald eagle as we headed home. Lauren and Catherine viewed two more! What a day for wild life !