I woke up this morning and the weather was glorious. The meet of the hunt I no longer go with was only just down the road. I thought, oh hell, what else am I going to do with the day, and we went!
We had the most fabulous time. Not much in the way of hedges, but plenty of well built timber, a river fording, and a lot of open fields with rolling contours which were fun.
Best of all, Radar was great. The schooling seems to have really paid off. He hardly pulled at all, and when he did I was able to control him with a one-handed pull on a rein and a voice aid. Most of the time I had slack in my reins and could just let him run at his own pace. I am so pleased with him!
We had one funny moment, when we were at a check, he jerked his head, and the martingale snapped off the breastplate. I had to borrow a rope from a bystander, and he ended up with a "sailor boy" white lanyard round his neck, because there was eight feet of it and I had nothing to cut it with. It worked though! Thank goodness it did not snap half way through a run, or I might have lost control then.
What an unexpectedly fun day!
C
Wonderful! I am so happy you managed to get out to hunt on the spur of the moment. But better still is the news that Radar's schooling seems to be helping. Fantastic.
ReplyDeleteAll you needed was a proper uniform to complete the military vision with that rigged martingale. *lol*
OH Jean, we would BOTH suit it! I wish :-)
ReplyDeleteC
Sometimes the most fun is had because of an impulsive decision. Amazing how in control Radar was. I sure hope he keeps this new behavior up. You had fun and I bet Radar was smiling too. He probably can't wait to do it again.
ReplyDeleteHe was still feisty, but feisty and controllable, which suits me fine :-) I was able to hold him and let people jump fences before us. I'm not sure HE cant' wait to go again, I know I can't!
ReplyDeleteC.
Don't you think he's feisty because he loves it? Giggle - I wonder what he would do if you turned him loose at a hunt with no tack, no rider!?
ReplyDeleteDid I ever tell you that back in Cambridge, when Tetley was supposed to be on rest, turned out in a small field that happened to have a number of jumps in it, he got excited and ran around the field and jumped all the jumps twice, all by himself? I wish had seen it but wasn't there. Rob saw it and told me about it. Clearly Tetley loves jumping!
I had forgotten ML, but you did tell me. It paints a wonderful picture, doesn't it. I think Radar might do the same thin. I SO wish you had a video!!
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