Before I even opened the blinds this morning I could hear the rain on the tin roof. I knew the forecast for today was for more rain and that really I should have been preparing the ark instead of the float.
I debated not even getting out of bed, after all I get up early every single day to ride horses so why not take one lazy Sunday every now and again? Natalie convinced me to go with the great line of “it’s perfect hunting weather”
I turned up at Range North today in the hills above Willunga. While trying to enter in driveway #1, I needed to stop and put the car in 4WD as the mud was so intense. Even that wasn’t quite enough so I opted to back out and enter in from another side of the car park. The rain was pouring down and we huddled inside Clinton’s float wondering why we were all mad enough turn up to ride.
A check of the radar showed that more rain indeed was on its way so bugger it, we were here and may as well hunt anyway! Coats on and Tally Ho!
This was the second to last hunt of the season, with Warradale Park near Waitpinga Beach next weekend being the closing hunt for Strathalbyn Hunt Club, and today being the closing run for Fleurieu Hunt Club.
All the horses are fit as fiddles at the end of the season, some are mentally cooked and others physically tired but still loving their jobs. They’re all keen to get moving, bouncing on their toes, with some walk to canter movements that would do then proud in the dressage arena. Some resemble Pepe Le Pew with their aerial circus moves while others like Ocean decide to kick the air behind them simply because they can! (Or because my wet coat was tickling him!) Some may charge at jumps, knowing their job and trying to get there as fast as they possibly can, others may cruise along like they’ve been doing it all their lives.
There’s never a dull moment on the hunt field, we always need our wits about us and keep our eyes peeled to the next jump and the horse in front. With the slippery take offs and landings today everyone was being extra careful and we had no incidents at all.
Today Ocean did not disappoint me and jumped like the true star he is. I know there are horses out there that clear jumps a lot larger than those we have on the hunt field or horses that are good enough to go to the top in eventing, but Ocean and I have no desire to do that. We simply want to hunt, enjoy what we do and stay safe! Ocean with pricked ears and no urging to go forward also seems to thoroughly enjoy himself while still staying soft enough in my hands to listen to me in such an exciting environment. He can bounce and dance in a way that would likely unseat many riders, I like to call it aeronautical acrobatics, some may see it as naughty or him playing up but most hunters know that our horses can get just as worked up and excited as we do on the hunt field and it’s all just a part of the excitement of the day.
Ocean jumped so beautifully, his powerful hind end never ceases to amaze me and I did my best to give him the reins so that I didn’t pull on his mouth. It’s a trust thing. I like to have horses that are so light in the mouth but in return I have to trust them enough not to ride around with my handbrake on all the time.
With many a jump today that gave me the thrills that keep me coming back for more of this addictive sport, there was one very large log in particular that I’d like to mention. Most likely the largest jump I’ve faced Ocean at, maybe around 1.1m log with the take off on the low side, landing on the uphill. “Legs on and look up” I said to myself and my beautiful boy jumped it like a champion! Could not have been happier with him today ❤️
One more hunt my boy, it will be our first visit to the beach together as our hunt heads down to the sands of Waitpinga beach next weekend.