and so it begins!

it seems as soon as fall came, it went. we got about four gorgeous days of fall and then the gray sky and brisk chilly edged breeze of winter blew in. you know they say, "if you don't like the weather in Georgia, wait five minutes", which is partially true and especially confusing when trying to decide what to dress the horses in each morning/evening- or even how to dress yourself! this time of year the back of my car is covered up in boots of every shape and size, jackets, fleeces and t-shirts, because i just never know what i might need! there is my hidden pair of gloves in the console and a trusty flashlight for evening barn chores, since the time change has put us in the dark at 6pm. although i am a summer girl, fall is my second favorite, and i'm feeling a little shorted!

all negativity aside, fall/winter brings the beginning of something else which excites me down to my core and somehow allows me to propel myself from bed at 4am with energy and delight- FOXHUNTING!!!

now anyone who has known me for a Looooong time knows that I have somewhat of a storied history when it comes to the little creature called the fox. in general, i am NOT.A.FAN. of those sketchy little red or gray creatures that look at you like they are deciding whether or not to eat your brain with a side of fava beans. perhaps its because i was attacked by one of the little buggers that had rabies when i was 12- or maybe it's because another rabid one spent two nights torturing me by hanging out just outside of my townhouse in athens before animal control got tired of me calling them 86 times a minute and screaming in a supersonic pitch to come catch it, or maybe it's because while driving home to the river a few weeks ago one of them watched us from the side of the road and then proceeded to CHASE the car for a minute. it's like as a species, they are out to get me. i used to burst into tears every time i saw one, which totally prevented me from participating in a foxhunt, but now, i've decided that if they are going to spend their little lives chasing me for sport- then i will return the favor!

so I have owned Jazz since last December, so almost a year, and from day one I just felt like she really loved being outside of the arena. little did i know her first mommy spent lots of time taking her on trail rides when she had just come off the track and boy did it make a difference for her. she relishes being "out" so i have been thinking that she really might enjoy hunting. because i don't have a trailer at the moment, all of my plans to take her out hound walking and cubbing before the season "formally" begins, were dashed, so i just decided that she has been out enough with me and in the company of other horses that i trust her to at least not try to kill me in the hunt field. i was little worried about the hounds, but she has been around a few dogs and never tried to bowl them over, which was promising so I took a little risk and accepted the invite to attend opening hunt from a dear friend! my goal for the day was simple: "don't make a spectacle of yourself!"

after a long week of work, she was bathed and braided and the night before the hunt i hugged her neck and whispered to her that we were going to have tons of fun and she didn't have to do any dressage but she couldn't kick anyone or anything. she seemed to agree. bright and early my alarm sounded at 3:30am, which doesn't even count as morning- it's just really the middle of the night, but i leapt out of bed and into the shower and i was at the barn by 4:30 to feed the mares and get everything ready for the day. when we pulled into the lovely Bear Creek Farms, it was chilly chilly chilly, but dry and sunny. i tacked her up and as soon as she heard the hounds her ears perked in that direction as if she knew exactly what they were saying. after about 18 circles around the mounting block, i pretty much just jumped in a heap onto her back and she took off trotting towards the kennels. she was going to like this hunting business i think! i turned her back towards the trailer and the rest of our party and she showed me her distaste for that by throwing one of her crow hopping spinning fits RIGHT as who walked by in his bright red coat? of course, one of our masters. the goal of not making a spectacle of myself was on the brink of destruction, but after a very serious growl at her to "quit" from me- she obliged and decided to behave! she was just excited- as was i!

we paraded behind the masters and the hounds up to the breakfast area and the masters spoke and the hounds were blessed. i sat there taking in the scene- the horses that knew exactly what was going on, and those, like mine that could just feel the electricity in the air, the men on the ground dressed in barbour coats and wellies ready to drive the tally-ho wagons behind the hunt, the pony club kids passing out little shots of hounds blood (port/brandy mix), and the steam already rising from the braided necks of all the horses, and the backs of each of us that were mounted. the hounds pranced around expectantly, watching and listening for the master to cast them off to hunt.

we were introduced to the fieldmasters for each flight. a big crowd demanded at least three, and my orginal intention of just hilltopping to introduce her to hunting was quickly changed as she pranced in place and threw her nose in the air over and over to say "let's goooooo mom". i knew keeping her at a pace that could follow the big drafties and the ponies being led just wasn't fair to her. she was pumped- she was trying to tell me that she was ok, and if i would just let her go 2nd flight where the pace was up, but the jumps were optional- that she could be trusted. so i did. her BFF horse, Ember was going 2nd flight as well, and i can only imagine the cacophony of whinnies if we had tried to separate them! again, "don't make a spectacle" echoed in my head. i was nervous like i hadn't been in a long time. what idiotic human takes a first time hunter 2nd flight? on opening hunt? when EVERYONE was there? me. yep. me.

as first flight trotted off towards the woods and we followed behind she was like a coiled spring underneath me- i could feel her energy and i took just a second to close my eyes and breathe out my nerves. heels down, sit up and breathe....

second flight, otherwise known as first flight- part B, was off! we had lots of good trots and canters and several rather exhilarating full out gallops across the open pastures and hay fields. we never lost sight of 1st flight and we cantered past the tally-ho wagoners, then, as if to show off, she took the bit and dropped her back and we were galloping like i never have before- my half halts were futile and i may have been i daresay, muttering an expletive or two, but not because i don't trust her, but just because i didn't want to be the one with the horse that won't rate, apologetically shouting "no brakes!" as you pass your field- which is a no no! thank the Lord, as the field slowed, so did she. after getting over the initial shock of that gallop which is BIG and FAST and unlike any other horse I have ever ridden, i started to smile because really, it was awesome. one of those moments never forgotten; full of adrenaline and the feeling of a blessing that most people never get to experience, much less on a regular basis.

for the rest of the hunt, she was a star. she was bombproof and stood at checks- only her nose flicking to remind me not to forget the rein stops for a running martingale next time, and she was sound and surefooted and smart. she got the idea about going when everyone goes and stopping when everyone stops. she popped over the big log with glee and jumped ditches and crossed water without a second thought. she is one hell of a hunt horse in the making because the has that 'thing' they need- it's a safety and a fifth leg that kicks in when you need it. instead of me riding her, we were just there together and i knew the move she would make before she made it and she read my mind before i gave her the aids. our big flight was full of lots of green horses and inexperienced hunters- we were cut off and passed and bumped into and hounds were running underneath and along as we got the scent of a coyote and they worked the woods we were in. the footing was dodgy sometimes and deep other times and wet and muddy and dry and hard!! it was everything in one day- and nothing overwhelmed her.

as we galloped up a clay trail in the woods, the land changed and became steeply banked with wet Georgia clay on each side- the trail dictated the we be in single file and then out of nowhere, a little horse came up beside us and cut right in front. we were easily at a good hand gallop and there was a crowd behind us too that prevented us from slowing. my mind thought, "there's no where safe for me to put her, we are about to crush a quarter horse!  it was one of those moments when my human brain did NOT know best and many years of riding left me with no good answer. in a split second as all of this was racing through my brain, all i could imagine happening next was us getting pushed sideways into the slippery clay banks on each side of the trail, her slipping and then... i just gave her the reins and she saved my butt- as i was being stupid and panicky she just took one big stride and jumped UP to the top of the big clay bank and rounded the turn and found a spot to parallel park between a big grey and the little quarter horse. that bank was huge and i have no idea how, while at a gallop, she jumped up and moved laterally all at once, kept her footing and kept us safe. all of that happened in probably a total of 5 seconds, but in my mind, it was slow motion. as the field slowed to a trot i rubbed her neck and told her "thank you". i was useless to her and she saved my butt. she has that 'thing' that makes a great horse- a lifetime horse that you can always trust. even when she is crow-hopping and spinning to argue her point with me- i can always trust her.

we finished the day and although i thought after about 30 miles she might be tired, we galloped (she decided to) across the polo field back to the trailers and when i turned her out at home she trotted off while flipping her head and celebrated herself with tail flagged to take a tour of her pasture and find a suitable spot to roll.