It's all about the hounds

To answer the question of what I chose to do last weekend........

I couldn't resist it.  I know I want to do some horse shows, and hunter paces are always a blast, but watching the hounds work is facinating and I simply love riding across the country side.  This is the first year since I've been a member that Wentworth has offered a spring cubbing season.  How fantastic!  They are going out every Wednesday and Saturday until June 12th. :D  Looks like I better adjust the show calendar to accomodate!

The hunt was at a slower pace, which gave me lots of opportunities to photograph the hounds up close. 

 

No hunt this Saturday though, as everyone is going to be in Va, which is good for me as I've entered the Groton House Farm 2-phase and that is this Saturday!  I don't expect repeatability of our performance at UNH, but.......we need the practice, so we'll just have to see what Daatje brings to the table on Saturday.  We've signed up for Elementary, which is a W/T dressage test and itty bitty 2'3" fences.  I'll give her the ride, and we'll see if she gives me her will. :)

To spice it up (and not feel silly) we're also doing First Level test 3, which we're capable of, but I suddenly realize totally out of shape and unprepared for!  All I can say is thank god we no longer have to sit the trot at 1st level! :o

So many shows, so few weekends!

This weekend, May 18th and 19th, there are 4 events that I'd like to do.  On May 18th there is a horse show in Amesbury, MA, but also my hunt club's Hunter Pace in Milton Mills......

On May 19th there is a horse show in Chester NH, at Senator Bell Farm but there is also the Myopia Hunter Pace in Hamilton, MA.

Hunter Pace or Horse Show, that is the question......

Truth is, I can't decide.  Saturday is a bust, I think.  My truck's rear passenger side tire started leaking air about a month ago (about 15 lbs every 2 weeks).  Could be a nail, could be that the rims are shot.  I brought it to the shop and they wouldn't touch it because the side walls are cracking to the point where the tires could fail and the shop did not want to be held liable in that case.  Oy.

There goes 900 bucks and my Saturday morning.  I suppose I can't complain.  I did get 8 years out of that set of Michelins.  The kicker is they're not worn out, just aged out.  I'm totally NOT ok with hauling Daatje around on those tires.  Not with the leaky one, and not with the ever-growing cracks in the sidewalls.

So, I think Saturday is out, which leaves the question of what to do on Sunday?  Help me out here......horse show or hunter pace or..........foxhunt?  Yup. The Wentworth is having a spring cubbing season this year and there is a high probability that they will be taking the hounds out on the 19th of May.

I'm leaning towards the foxhunt. :)  What do you think?