As I lay here stiff as a board and aching all over I do wonder - is it the sign of a great days hunting or just a sign that I'm so unfit? Do tell me regular hunters!
Sunday was the Cambridge University Drag Hounds (probably) largest meet of their season at the infamous Semer. With a very respectable 50 on horse back and lord knows how many foot followers, as well as dry mild weather it had the recipe it to a great day out. And that it was!
I found out midweek that there was a possibility that I was going to be able to ride, so come Saturday I inquired to see if I would be riding to find out to my delight, that I was indeed going to be able to attend.
I wrote above about it being infamous and that it is. Georgie attended last year and said just how fast and chaotic it is; as well as various other seasoned hunters saying the hedges were big, the pace fast and all bets are off with regard to any sort of hunt etiquette! Plus the team chase there being well reported this year as big, so I won't deny that when I mounted up yesterday I was a little nervous having no idea what to really expect.
New jacket got it's first run, and I'd like to think I looked smart.
Thank you to G for lending me her fabulous Hit Air jacket and I felt safer wearing it!
It was lovely trotting down to the pub for the meet to see so many horses, as well as lovely food and refreshments!
Thank you to Sam for all the photos
After unfortunately running a little behind schedule we kicked on about 1.30pm to start the first line. All I'm going to say on the matter was that it was a free for all!
Aforementioned hunt etiquette of not cutting up or overtaking others was well and truely out the window but I'll say no more on it.
The first line was extremely fast paced but all jumps seemed to be taken well and with only one faller, which to her credit (apologies but I do not know the girls name) but was not her fault (note the free for all)
But after the first line the field started to spread out a little and with a rather unfortunately loose horse incident delaying it only slightly (again don't know the girl but I do hope, if she reads this, that herself and her horse are all ok).
At the start of the second line I soon realised that I was having slight brake failure on the cob; I would say Supercob but he has to redeem himself a bit first, but more on that later.
Alas while coming towards the hedge cob thought nothing of slowing down or turning so with my full strength I pulled him away from it, and good time I did too as a lady took a rather large tumble in front of me, so myself and the non jumping pack pulled up to check she was all ok while Ginny and the trusty pilgrim set off to retrieve her mount!
Meeting up moments later with the main field we regrouped and set off towards the third line. It was a lovely sound to here 50 sets of hooves trot up the road!
The third line took us up the side of the shooting cover (corn rows) towards a wood which we jumped into, snaked through and then back over a hedge out towards a gorgeous rolling grass field which the field and I galloped across, ready to take a set of double post and rails either side of the road into another lovely grassy field, where the field regrouped and had a little breather.
I mentioned to nearby riders to kick on and be aware to not fall off as a rather large group with cameras were waiting the other side!
Supercob in full flight. Preparing for landing
The field then lead out over a big hedge (above) a few meters later an upright with a drop a stride or so later. I must admit I didn't see the drop until the last minute as Scully put in a big one and within milliseconds the drop was right in front of us and I had to sit back, and sharpish! Otherwise I'd have been in the tumblers club!
This then wound round to another post and rails out of a marshy area, up a tight turn to another set of post and rails at which point my brakes and steering failed. Scully in his exuberance outright missed the turn and I could do little to stop him. Eventually pointing him into a bushy hedge to stop! I won't lie that this terrified me somewhat, I've never not been able to stop. Tony would later yell at me for not doing my flash tight enough!
Once I had jumped into the field to join the rest of the field I decided that my hands and arms needed a break and I need to get back some of the nerves I'd just lost, so I tucked in with the non jumping pack.
Don't get me wrong but Scully is a tank on legs and very stubborn and with his failure to admit he was getting tired and his will to gallop full speed at post and rails I decided that rather than risk an accident I was going to take a breather from jumping and try and regain brakes.
I took the rest of the third line at a much more leisurely pace and soon had a smile back on my face. Plus I got to view Sam Morgan and Coco slowly herding a rather large flock of somewhat puzzled sheep away from the gate we needed to exit from. I think Coco was rather unfazed by them, what a gent!
Scully then felt that to spite me for not letting him jump anymore, that first a gate, then slightly later a gate post were mere immovable objects and that slamming my leg directly into them was no bother! My right shin is now black and blue, thanks mate!
It was soon apparent that it was 3.30pm and getting rather dark by the minute, so when the field regathered near the farm I decided to join a group of others to head back the boxes at Boyton Hall as the sun set. It really was very beautiful!
You know what they say, red sky at night; shepherds delight.. Aye Sam?!
I got back to the yard to the very last of the light and untacked the cob and kept him warm while waiting for Sophie, Tony and Ginny to return. We chilled and I gave him 'the I'm not angry, I'm just disappointed' look but it doesn't seem to work on horses as it does on children.
See, not even slightly bothered. Not even looking at me!
When all horses were untacked and resting on the box, we made our way down to the pub for after day refreshments and to catch up on each persons take on the day. All round were reports of a wonderful day and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, me included!
Thank you to the Drag Hounds lot, as always! To everyone that came out and to Mr James Buckle for allowing us to use his land, it's most appreciated.
I'm now going to try and regain the use of my arms, shoulders and legs again!
"When in doubt resume the safety position - legs forward, slip the reins and sit back" - Georgies very wise advise. It served me well!
Sophie
