[drivingpairs] Re: Foxhunting ala wagonette!
- From: "Alpenland Haflingerhof" <alpenhof@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <drivingpairs@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 27 Nov 2006 13:51:55 -0800
Hi Carla
Thank you for that beautiful message, and the poem, which I enjoyed very
much! I haven't ever been on a hunt, but I feel now that I understand what
it must be like much better, thanks to your lovely descriptions. I wish I
could have seen your horses all rounded and arched - they sound wonderful!
A good horse is a treasure!
I usually only drive my teams of Haflingers in parades and for practice in
between, as I don't have a gooseneck trailer to haul everything in, so I
have to drive out from my house or haul the wagon and horses separately. I
still enjoy what I do, but I would love to drive in open country sometime.
I dream of buying some land where I could keep a wagonette and haul my
horses for drives that would be more natural and peaceful. Someday,
perhaps.
Thanks again for sharing!
Heidi Forchemer
Leavenworth WA
www.alpenlandhaflingerhof.com
----- Original Message -----
From: <Dynasorz@xxxxxxx>
To: <drivingpairs@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: <CD-L@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, November 25, 2006 5:57 AM
Subject: [drivingpairs] Foxhunting ala wagonette!
>
>
>
> Hello friends,
> Thanksgiving Day was Opening Meet for the Tennessee Valley Hunt. It is
> always
> a big "dog and pony" show with a huge white tent on the Holston
> River--bagpipes, bonfire, art displays, stirrup cup and all sorts of other
> fun horse and
> houndy hoopla.
> Thursday was gorgeous. You could not have asked for a more beautiful
> November
> day--cloudless sky, no wind, sweater weather. Everyone was in great
> spirits
> and there was a feeling of celebration in the air.
>
> Since the founding of this hunt, I have never missed an Opening Meet.
> Always
> I have been mounted on my best horse--all braided up and polished. Last
> season
> I decided to step down as joint master and let someone else enjoy the job
> for
> a while--so this seemed a good year to "do something different" for
> Opening
> Meet.
>
> Instead of braiding manes the night before, John and I, with the help of
> our
> main groom/driver, Ashley, and our newest groom/driver, Lisa, polished our
> two
> oldest, best, and wisest geldings, Mo and Duke, their harness and the
> eight
> passenger wagonette.
>
> We had just gotten a new (to us) gooseneck trailer set up the way we want
> for
> hauling, so this was to be the maiden voyage.
>
> Horses and wagonette loaded easily Thanksgiving morning (the horses pull
> the
> carriage on, then we unhitch and turn them around and back them into their
> stalls for travel and tie down the wagonette.) We had practiced this only
> once
> the day before. This trailer is intimidatingly HUGE enough for four draft
> horses
> plus the wagonette and we live on winding mountain roads--so we were a bit
> nervous, hauling it loaded for the first time. Anyway, I digress...
>
> We got the old guys to the meet without incident and put them to the
> carriage. There were dozens of horses and riders, four other horse drawn
> vehicles, and
> of course, the hounds.
>
> Here's the really cool part. These two old geldings have seen it all.
> They've
> worked hundreds of weddings, hayrides, parades--everything, but they've
> never
> done a foxhunt. They stood quietly while we loaded our guests and were
> patient during the blessing of the hounds, etc. Then the horn sounded, and
> hounds
> were cast onto a drag line for the spectators to watch (normally ours is a
> live
> hunt, but we put on a show on Thanksgiving). Suddenly hounds opened up and
> their great Pennmarydel voices filled the river valley. They were off!
>
> The field of horses galloped ahead of us, some twisting and bucking,
> everyone
> in high spirits. I studied Mo and Duke. Their ears were up--- "wow!" Their
> necks arched and they rounded their backs and became dressage Belgians! I
> watched them watch the hounds and before long I knew that they "got
> it"--that
> ethereal link between human and horse and hound--the thrill of the
> chase--they were
> having FUN! Weeeeee......our wagonette full of horse/hound people saw the
> connection and everyone was laughing and enjoying the chase.
>
> All morning we followed as close to the action as possible and those old
> guys
> hardly ever took their eyes off the hounds. It was fascinating to me that
> it
> was the pack of hounds that interested this pair, rather than the field of
> galloping horses. Mid-morning, hounds were cast in a corn field and Mo and
> Duke
> were right on top of things, noting every peep the hounds made. Our guests
> loved it and everyone got a kick out of those horses getting into the
> hunt.
>
> The chase ended on top of "champagne hill", where bubbly was served to
> all.
> We ambled back to the meet for turkey and dressing and all the
> trimmings--served under the tent, pilgrim style--while Mo and Duke munched
> hay back at the
> trailer. Ahhhhhhh...a perfect day in the country.
>
> Here's to the connection of spirit between people, horses and hounds, to
> our
> love of the earth and to the excitement we feel, every now and then--just
> being alive with these fine creatures and our good friends! I hope you all
> enjoy
> this poem I wrote a few years ago--I thought before that it summed it all
> up,
> but feel now that I should add a line in it about wagonettes!
>
> May Hounds Run Ever
>
> To endless years of hounds' sweet cry
> To thundering hooves, and foxes sly.
> We raise a glass to the life we love
> For grass below and sky above.
> To friendships forged on ridge and valley
> When going is deep, yet hounds still rally.
> To outreached hands, when we meet the earth,
> To reckless laughter, wind and turf.
> To the horn that calls us all back home
> To aching muscles, weary bone.
> God bless this hunt and every friend
> May hounds run ever o'er this land.
> by Carla Hawkinson
>
> Best,
>
> Carla
> Walland, TN
> http://www.echobrookefarm.com/
>
>
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