DefinitelyDressage.com

Foxhunting anyone?

I got to take the Irish mare Dagney foxhunting yesterday and apparently I've forgotten how much fun jumping and galloping through fields and trails with friends is. She is a steady eddy and raring to go. This was my second time ever foxhunting, first was 35 years ago. I cannot believe how much it seems like mountain biking it seems to me. Then again, we were on mountain biking trails in a state park so go figure. Along with the "give the horse the reins and trust her to do her job" while you keep your balance. I can't wait to go again.

She's the big gray.

Update:
I was instructed to work on Dagny's dressage skills, and was told she had them. SHE DOES!! I finally got to ride canter half passes on a horse that can do them. It took some work to get her up and moving from behind but wow. What a fun mare, she does it all!! Sigh, wish I could have a second horse. Good thing she's not for sale...

How fun! It looks like it was a glorious day, too.

How fun! I wish I had the guts.

Wish I had the guts to do this too! Sounds like so much fun.

That is exactly how it is fun, Chantal. I love the look of your grey! ("when can we go again?")

That's how I've always ridden out (give the horse the reins and learn to ride what he does). I always felt that over-controlling the horse to make it easier to stay in the saddle was a missed opportunity to develop a more secure seat.

SO jealous!!! Looks like a fantastic day for it.

I've never foxhunted, but I sure can appreciate that with a jumper that knows their job, you just stay out of their way. I had the opportunity to ride a hunter mare that was like that and she was phenomenal. She expected you to just sit there and steer and she did everything else. To foxhunt on such a horse would be the opportunity of a lifetime.

I have never been foxhunting or anything like that, although I have explored a great deal of the Sawtooth Mountains in Idaho on horse back. That involved some galloping, log jumping and lots of dicey terrain, and some serious fun. I have been considering, however, grabbing my eventing friend and going on a hunt somewhere in the East for my 60th birthday--either that or Ireland. Your beautiful picture makes me want to do that all the more.

That sounds seriously fun!

It was so much fun! I posted in the young horse forum about taking my 4yo to the hunter pace yesterday, that was a different kind of ride but also so much fun. He was amazing.

I think I'm going again Wednesday, last day of cubbing season. What an absolute dream to be able to ride such a horse, Dagny is very special. And only a 6yo.

you are so brave! lovely photo.

Ryeissa wrote:you are so brave! lovely photo.

Thanks Rye!! I think it's the mountain biker in me, and the past XC rider/jumper coming back out.

We went again this morning and the mare was really up today. Plus we had a saddle pad malfunction and until I figured that out she was bucking after about 3 strides of galloping/cantering every time. More like porpoising or whaling my trainer called it as she is so big.

And we jumped, lots! I went around 1 fence that intimidated me but jumped everything else and boy that girl can jump. Just too much fun!!

And then I get back to reality and read/hear the news and realize how good I have it. Gosh... these breaks in reality, or are they my reality, are amazing.