Hello again to all of the RHF Hunt Blog Followers -
I set this page up so that those who cannot hunt with us via four legged friend, four wheels, or by foot - can now 'hunt' with us via blogger... who would have 'thunk' it!
As some of you well know Blogger was set up with RHF two seasons ago but was not kept up with half way through last season due to the fact that I was over killing my work load ability and thinking I was something like super woman trying an experiment of galloping race horses 7 days a week, while hunting four days a week, AND running a riding/horse sales business at my farm. Needless to say my 'blogging' was not on the back burner - it never made it to the stove!
As I have given up my adventures in racehorses and now focus on my farm and show horses, as well as being extremely excited to hunt again and share time with our 16 new hound puppies you will find many more 'blogs' and updates on all things River Hills.
Wednesday, August 22nd marked day one of the RHF hunting season.
Couples - 18 1/2
Staff:
Huntsman - James Paxson, MFH
Whip - Priscilla Godsoe
Hound Truck - Gary,Karen, Connor Kennedy
Meet - Herr's Stone Lane
Time - 8:00am - 9:45am
We started off by heading down the lane towards Jims Barn and to the left of the barn up onto the bank where the hounds started working early. They slowly worked up behind Eds and still kept working as they went down the bank toward the stream and Park Rd. Dorothy would open up here and there and the younger hounds would honor her but all kept fairly quiet as we went across the small field along side the road and across Jims drive towards the big pond. As soon as we cross into the woods by the coop across from the drive they were off! It seemed almost as if our little fox friend had been sitting and waiting for us. The younger hound went full blast through the Clear Woods and towards the Stump Woods but since it was our first day I asked them to hold up as we waited a few seconds for the older hounds. I had trust in the younger hounds all last season but I just couldn’t believe they were all working so well after having off for almost 4 months! Clearly they didn’t forget because in second Cindy and Fritz where there to give them the 'Ay Okay'.
They took the line strong into the Stump Woods and in the direction of the cow pastures that are along Freemont Road. I position myself in the woods where I could watch the fields and still watch the hounds - you can see the video via RHF Facebook. Text book fashion the fox came out and ran across the pasture in no big hurry and then crossed up through Barkers Woods towards the dump in the woods, then full speed ahead towards the Park. I was galloping along with the hounds and they DEAD STOPPED at the Park boundary and when quiet... Fritz then went to the left and picked up the line again as they flew back across the Clear Woods towards the Ring and then a hard right toward the Park again in the direction of the Burn and the Mystery Hole.
By this point my horse had definitely broke into a sweat and I was remembering why we wake up at 4:30 in the morning to come out for this. The hounds were hunting as if they had never stopped from last season. As the hounds dove into the briers in the Burn all went quiet as they had put the fox to ground. The fox had certainly out foxed the hounds but the hounds where thrilled with themselves getting that musky smelling back into there nostrils.
We called the hounds back and took them to the big pond where they went for a drink and a swim and we headed back to the meet to load up and have Karen's special coffee and doughnuts. It was a great morning and we were also luck enough to have Hoppy Stearns our other whip out as a car follower, she is recovery from knee surgery. I fear after she heard the hounds she will not be taking doctors orders for much longer!!
Next meet:
Friday, August 24th at Mount Rocky - 5:30pm (EVENING MEET)
Saturday, August 25th at Down Patrick - 9:00am
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