Foxhunting

I try to have a plan for each ride when I start out. Sometimes the plan changes, but I try to set my goals -- or my limits -- before I ride.

When I got the fixture card in the mail, a few weeks back, I was grinning from ear to ear. Spring hunting is the perfect antidote for chasing out the blahs of winter.

Is my horse ready/suitable for hunting? I get asked this question frequently by my friends who would like to try hunting but are still nervous about the whole hunting environment. Galloping horses, hounds, varied terrain and jumping all combine to make even accomplished equestrians somewhat apprehensive.

Last week was the first time I was able to foxhunt this fall. It was a glorious day at a spectacular location. The fall colors were amazing.

The first half of the hunt was outstanding. Right up until the moment at the check when I realized Freedom was missing his right front shoe.

Last night I took the red-eye back from San Francisco where I was visiting family.

I had planned to pull Freedom's shoes this winter and let the nail holes on his hoof grow out. In the spring we had a lot of mud and the wet/dry cycling did not help his TB feet. Although the new growth looks good, keeping shoes on him has been tricky and has required careful management and patching.