A repeat of our successful mini-meet of last season saw a pleasingly large field of 40. Lots of little
ponies and people assembled for a
lawn meet, kindly hosted by the Brunskill's, as ever. Some may have borrowed
ponies for the occasion and certainly one borrowed a child!Drama at the kennels, involving a dislocated knee in collision with hounds as they bounded enthusiastically for the trailer, meant we had a few couple less than anticipated but they showed excellent sport and obedience on the settling hacks between lines. Poppy Stronge showed maturity fieldmastering on her smart 12hh
palomino, although a couple of the field did lose control and pass both
her, the whip and the huntsman! What fun they all had, pulling up at the end of
the first line around Marcus Tregoning's gallops: "I was in control" "I wasn't!"
"I was - marginally!". Meanwhile, Phoebe Hobby fieldmastered the slower half of
the field at a more sedate pace with some ponies led from horses and some by
energetic mothers and fathers. When we had all reassembled and caught breath, it
was time to sing "Happy Birthday" to Jessie Tregoning - I think the Hunt staff
ride better than
they sing! We then hacked back down the hill, slow ones first to make certain that everyone was at the bottom before hounds picked up the scent on the next, short line. Some new portable fences acquired by the Hobby's beckoned and provided the spectacle of pairs jumping off a lead rein! Back across the road, where we finished with a short line up somewhat larger fences beside another Tregoning gallop. A lot of tiny ponies and people were then invited to join the hounds for the hack back home. They all loved it and it made a delightful picture - Jeff Hobby, huntsman of the day, as a Pied Piper with happy hounds and children behind him.