Lost Buttie?
Buttie didn't come in last night with the big boys. I had visions of him with his leg stuck in some wire from having tried to break out through or over the wall. Or a broken leg from a kick from one of the others. Nah, he was fine - SH went out into the cold dark night with a searchlight and said that as soon as Button saw him he came trotting towards the light. Why didn't he come in? A mystery.
Jazz and I have been hunting today and had a mostly fun three hours. The fields were very soggy but we got some lovely long canters and a couple of real gallops. The fences were dreadful, trappy and tricky out of terrible take-offs. Many of them had wire on the far side. I won't jump stuff like that, Jazz is too valuable to me to risk him on stupid things like trying to jump barbed wire.
For some reason, it was badly organised today and we kept having to wait for wire to be cut down so that we could avoid fences that we didn't want to jump. I got a lecture from the master for saying that half a dozen of us didn't want to jump a wall that someone had already nearly broken their neck at and every horse was jumping really badly. He said that if I hadn't said I didn't want to jump it, then the others would have done it. Since one of them was in total floods of tears, and another a girl of 13 on a tiny pony which had already steadfastly refused to jump a fence half the height, I doubt it. He owns the hunt and so I suppose he is entitled to lecture me if he sees fit - (and boy did he go on and on and on when I wouldn't grovel to him!) - but I really could do without it. That's the second time in a row now that I have been on the receiving end of his temper just for wanting to be a little bit safe. Last time out he screamed at a group of us for not jumping a ditch, when we were waiting for a loose horse to be collected from ten feet the far side of it. He's clearly totally disdainful of anyone who can't or doesn't want to, jump the fences he does. If he does it again, I'll change to the other drag pack that hunts the same country next year.
I'm off for a soak in the bath and to muse on the lovely whizzes that we managed to have today. You should see my muddy coat, tack, boots and his boots - there's a job that will take a while!
C
posted by cptrayes @ 5:07 PM
8 comments
8 Comments:
well if he forces someone into an accident, you know where to send them... hunt masters have as much of a duty of safety as anyone else! no one needs that sort of grief!
glad button wasn't missing...
OMG what a charmer he is! Good for you I bet the hunt pays for his horses. I was always careful with Monty when I hunted he has such flat feet, he was my only horse and I did other things with him too. I didnt have the luxery of a couple more fit and ready at the stables, However our master was a gentleman and would never have spoken to anyone much less the ladies in that manner I think I would be looking else where especially the price you pay to hunt these days it should be enjoyable end to end. I am glad you wouldnt be intimidated by him anyway whether he owns it or not you pay a long way towards his sport!
I wonder what Button was doing out in the dark what a funny fellow!
Anne
Not worth going out with a Master like that. No one should ever have the right to berate someone who makes a decision about his/her own safety, especially with horses. You are taking care of yourself and your horse. If he's done it before, he'll do it again. I'd already be looking into signing with that other hunt.
Button is definitely a "bit of a Chance," I think. Sometimes at a feed, the big Boys will be there and Chance is off on some "mission" or other. Usually, he moseys on in, but once or twice I had to go out to give him a special invitation.
Shows Button is well fed and quite confident on your property. I've gone out with a flashlight myself with the same worry in mind only to find a quite well horse just doing his own thing.
I agree with the others about the hunting, it is supposed to be fun after all.
There is an article in this week's H & H about hunting in Ireland and a nice picture of someone in mid flight about to land in a deep ditch.
I appreciate the support thanks, he has rattled me. I go out for fun and that doesn't include being told off like a child for not wanting to jump a fence. You should have seen the number of people finishing the day with mud all over their jackets from where they hit the floor.
Next year I will look at going out with the other hunt. They are a bit cliquey and don't talk to you much, but I was never treated like that when I went out with them.
I'm also going to be more picky about what ground conditions I go out in, because really all that mud is not that much fun.
C
ps long term follower of a local hunt died falling off two weeks ago - speaks for itself!
C
Yikes, he is from charm school isn't he? That sort of behaviour, plus a load of expletives and rubbish riding country are the reasons I don't go anymore, well that and the fact that the subs for a day's hunting round here is now £85!!!! How on earth do they think they'll keep going with this marvellous mixture of offerings?
I know you didn't have to pay that much Caroline, you wouldn't would you??
Loving the Button stories. :)
Tracey B
You know me too well Tracey! You are right of course. I pay £50 for the year and £25 per day I go out. The other hunt is £50 for the year and £35 per day, but my exerience of going out with them in previous years was that their lines were much better prepared, and because they have bigger fields, you have more company if you are not jumping the big fences. For example, if there are no jumps in the fencelines, they provide stand-alone tiny fences for people to jump. And if you are jumping a hedge, they have it marked with two big blue flags where it is safe to jump. Their hunt this Saturday is very close to home, and I am planning at the moment to ask to go with them as a guest so I can compare them.
C.
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