Virginia, again. Warrenton Hunt. Rented mare with roached mane (already in trouble, nothing to hold on to!). CeeCee was her name. She had a rubber snaffle, "pretty cool", I thought. CeeCee must be an "angel". As Larry trotted around "warming up", I climbed aboard CeeCee. Oh boy. I could feel every inch of sinew like a rubber band right through my very well endowed butt! I sat on her quietly. Did not budge. As I checked my girth (gingerly I might add), the leasor said to me very nonchalantly, "She has a problem with her mouth, don't hang". That was it. How can you not "pull" galloping with 50 other horses over coops? Honey, Larry that is, trots on over and asks: "Why aren't you warming up?". I could not respond, he just would not understand. He gave me that disapproving scowl. MEN. Hounds are off! It's a "screamer"! Ut oh. The first coop was fast approaching. Two point, set hands on side of neck, "DON'T CHECK", let her do her thing!

WHOA! We jumped that thing from 50 feet out. I landed on this lovely horse's neck. Fifteen years ago I was more agile, so I quickly recovered. OKAY, bad idea. Must keep some contact. The wonderful, kind and extremely friendly members of Warrenton urged me to the front since I was a guest. I declined, of course. No sense in letting the whole field know that this yankee is in trouble! I settled in the back. Came through the jumps OK. Sort of got in the groove with CeeCee. Three super riders, all under 14 were in front of me. Just when I thought I was going to live, I heard the first one say, "I think we are headed for the big coop up the hill". 90 degree turn to a stone wall. GREAT. Quick right. There was the entire field in front of me. Charging up a hill. Right smack in the middle was a 3'9" coop that looked 4 1/2 feet because of the incline. Do you know those kids took it like "nothin". I gave CeeCee a squeeze & we powered up the hill. A SCREECHING STOP! AYE!

If you are "bored" then do not continue. This story is not so much "funny" as it is a tribute to the riding knowledge acquired through lessons from some great teachers on LI. The ring work made practical in the field.

SETTING:

Piedmont Foxhounds. Mrs. Randolph Hearst's (MFH) estate, Virginia. Jackie O in the field on a drop dead gorgeous gray. Jimmy Wofford's wife, Fieldmaster. WOW, what a day. This time, I was on my horse, Buck. Larry, on Winter. I was a bit nervous. You know, riding with one of the most distinguished hunts in America and with no excuses 'cause I was on my own mount! Heard alot about their imposing obstacles. Could I handle it? Whew! That first coop was only 2'6". Easy. Good start. We landed in a beautiful field, grassy, flat, panoramic. The riders bended left to an in & out. Two 3'6" coops. Oh no! The Fieldmaster's horse was straddling the second coop. It was about 15 minutes before he extricated himself. Unhurt. For safety, the Fieldmaster decided that we should enter through a gate and jump just one, the second coop. We had to jump one because there were two fence lines. I watched as one by one each person walked through the gate, parked his/her horse's rump against the back of the first coop & kick on straight ahead to negotiate the second (barely two strides?!). Well, it takes an awful agile, scopey & willing horse to do that. Needless to say, there were some disasters. Chewing my lip and thinking. Thinking. Thinking. I knew full well that Buck & me would never make it. He & I were not skilled enough. Oh, what to do? The lucky ones in the field who made it over were patiently waiting yonder (about 100 yards) and watching with amusement. My turn was coming up fast. "Larry, do what I do, I shouted (he was terrified). Buck & me cantered through the gate at a 45 degree angle to the coop on a straight line to the waiting field (a little incentive for Bucky boy). Over we went without a hitch with Larry and Winter in tow. What can I say? I learned that maneuver from watching jumper classes! THANKS TO YOU, LONG ISLAND INSTRUCTORS! You are the best! 

To begin with, Larry started riding because he met a wonderful guy, named Stan who would ride every Sunday at Sweet Hills stable with a bunch of fun-loving guys. There must have been between 7 and 10 of them. He convinced Larry that he would have the BEST time if he would give it a try. So off Larry went. One guy had a bugle! This group of "city slickers" would head out for the prairie...cavalry charges could be heard all over West Hills Park...These were not conventional riders, they rode "off trail". Larry was in shock. WOW!..this is exciting. Wifey had no clue. 

The following weekend, as I was diligently cleaning tack at Hunting Hollow Farm, one of my barn mates barging in, out of breath said, "It's your husband! He's coming up the driveway with a BLACK western saddle. He says he is going to ride your horse!" YIKES! My horse, GARY D, was a beautiful chestnut TB. 16.1h, sensitive & not at all a beginner's mount. He needed a special fit for the saddle because of his high withers. MY GOD! Larry riding GARY in a black western saddle?

Our eyes met. I could see there would be no argument. This man was determined. So what could I do? I sat in the tack room while my friends assisted my husband in "saddlin' up"! I could not bear to watch.

From the front barn door I heard, "He's on! He's trotting, He's bouncing! GARY is getting FASTER!" Larry is OFF!

You just can't help lovin' some guys, now can you? Well, he came in. He said, "I guess I need lessons". Duh, right.

So as it turned out...one thing lead to another, Larry found his way to The Thomas School of Horsemanship. Who did he meet there? Mrs. Marge Wrigley (Whipper-in). Of course after a few short lessons on survival, he announced that he was going to ride with the Smithtown Hunt! Moma mia! I was astounded. "Do you want to die"? There was nothing I could say to deter him. So he went. He rode with them for an entire year, coming home telling me the most amazin' stories! He said that the adrenalin never stopped rushing. Well now, could I let this man have all the fun? So in 1985, I capped. OKAY, this one time, LARRY WAS RIGHT! There I said it. I am "hooked". 

Yes, I have poked fun at my "beloved"; but, I owe it all to Larry! "ALL" that is, my Smithtown Hunt introduction.

Just a comment. Nearly ALL of the "HUNT" people I know take lessons. I, for one, LOVED dressage, and as well as, my jumping lessons. We are just like everybody else with possibly a bit more appetite for some adventure and sport. I will tell you a little story. My first horse, Gary D, was your typical "sensitive" thoroughbred. I was just taking lessons at Stony Hill in Northport a few short months & fell in love with him. I had to have him. Well, honestly, what the heck did I know about "caring" for a horse. I barely had enough money to pay him off & feed & clothe myself. It was not long before I found out that I should be paying for turnout! I tried to ride as much as I could during the week; but, of course, it was very difficult working 9 - 5 in Manhattan. So, needless to say, Gary was a bit full of himself and ALOT of horse for me. Well, my Friend, Lou, asked me to trail ride with him on Sunday a.m. SURE. I never took Gary out on trail. What fun. I tacked !

Gary up as usual, in his eggbutt snaffle, no martingale (didn't own one). Lou, his mare, Gary & me headed out. We crossed roads, walked, trotted, cantered and galloped. NEAT!! This was "living". As we walked down the Stonyhill driveway, I noticed some of my barn mates sitting on the front porch, awaiting our return. They came up & asked "How was it?" I did not realize what they were driving at & just told them the truth, I HAD A GREAT TIME!

Anyway, they confessed. None of them thought I would ever return alive. Gary was "never" out on trail - or at least, not in the recent past. None would have ever ventured out. He was a "show" horse. It just goes to "show" you, nothing ventured, nothing gained. Well after that, GARY could not wait to get out on trail. He was a much more pleasant & cooperative partner. Guess what, I even hunted him! He was fantastic! A suggestion to some of you show riders, when you can, take a break, relax, get out to Connetquot Park. Experience another side of riding, of sharing your life with your horse and good ole Mother Nature. There is nothing like it & I will bet my bottom dollar, you & your show partner will be even better in the ring! Who knows, maybe at some future date, just for fun, you will try a ride with The Smithtown Hunt!