28th December, Monday holiday day

Jo (Mel's friend) came round with her horse today, and we went out for a ride. It was a hard frost last night, and the temperature didn't really lift at all through the morning. We left at 10.30am and there were still some really bad icy patches on the road. We had a nice hack round to Itchingfield, and Ellie was quite bright, but was very good.

She is improving all the time with traffic, and is almost ok now with a slow moving car. Still.... won't be riding up any main roads with her yet!!!!

Boxing Day

They are hunting today, but as I haven't even sat on Ellie for 2 weeks decided this one wasn't for us.

Went on foot instead, and Mel & Rick came to the meet as well and we had mulled wine, and I went and chatted to everyone. Hazel and Sorrel came for the walk.

Nearly all the snow has gone now with all the rain, but it is still cold, although there is the odd cloud break, and a bit of the suns rays filter through.



I had a little chat with the huntsman to find out where they were going, and I took Rick & Mel to Hay Barn so we could watch a little bit as they all galloped round in the mud.

There were meant to be 80 mounted today, so I was pleased not to have taken Ellie, although when I was at the meet I wished I'd had been mounted.

We came home and tacked up - me on Risque - and went to see if we could find them, but found out through Lizzie that they had gone south so we weren't going to hack that far.

Had a good blast round and got plastered in mud, but a real good pipe opener for the horses. Risque loved it.

24th December, Christmas Eve Risque is 15 today

Woke up and the rain overnight has melted a lot of the snow. However, the yard is still thick with ice where it has built up over the last few days of snow and freezing temperatures.

Hunting has been cancelled today.... but it is not meant to be quite so cold tomorrow so I expect Boxing Day meet will be on.

21st December, Monday Bakers Shoot Rusty is 10 2morrow

Hunting is cancelled today.... too snowy and icy.

Went to the shoot instead......

Bakers Shoot
Rusty, Hazel and Sorrel

Everywhere is still covered with snow and ice.... the glam of it all has definitely subsided and now it is just a pain.... the horses are ploughing up the field galloping about and playing is 'white stuff' and can't be exercised because the drive is like an ice rink.

Took all 3 dogs today. Rain is forecast, and it did rain on and off for most of the day. But it is still so cold. Much off the rain is falling as sleet and we did have some hail. It is settling on top of the snow and forming more ice... it is lethal to walk on...

The dogs did great, but it was so cold came back at lunch time and got the horses in and left the 2 vizsla's at home and just had the lab out this afternoon for 2 last drives... It was nearly dark at the last drive. Poor pheasants.... :-(

19th December, Saturday Thick Snow

Hunting on Foot

Too snowy to go on horses, so met on foot, and footfollowed a bit with Rusty.

Nice afternoon, wasn't out for long, as had to get my own horses in, but lovely meet with port and sausage rolls.

18th December, Friday Findon Valley Thick Snow

Findon Valley
Hazel and Sorrel

Today is thick snow, just beautiful scenery, all the branches are heavy with snow. Later the sun came out, with blue skies, it could have been Switzerland. It was just gorgeous.

We did 5 drives this morning, and 2 this afternoon, finishing really late. There weren't the birds there that there should have been and I think the total bag was about 150, about half of what there usually is.

This had a lot to do with the guns only trying to shoot the really high birds, and then missing, and not even shooting at the low birds.

It was a bit frustrating day for the 'keeper, but Gay and I were stocked up with our raspberry vodka and sloe gin, along with sausage rolls, and we had a really great day.... including a snowball fight with anyone who suggested we'd had a drink!!! :-)

15th December, Tuesday Ellie H

Ellie
Hunting

Met just up the road from me, so was able to hack to the meet. I know it is going to be muddy but think this is a good time for Ellie to really know that hunting is all about going fast and jumping. and going fast and jumping is what we did.

Jumped loads of things, and this is really Ellie first day of doing this many fences. waaaohhh... she gave me a great ride, and what a difference sitting on a scopey horse.

A couple of fences I really messed up and she just flew.... actually she is better a sorting it out than I am.... gave me such a good feel, especially when she just took off over a fallen fir tree, we were a mile off it but she just lept.... she was a bit buzzy today and overall no naughty losing the plot issues at all.... didn't kick anyone.... and no bucking..... fantastic.... have we got it sorted now?????????

Could be a cracking hunter... fingers crossed xxxx