West Wycombe 24th Feb 2008

How lucky we were with the weather. Yet another marvellous day - warm and dry.  The going was just wonderful. It was just a shame that there were not many hunters out enjoying the lovely lines.

We also had our Huntsman, Robin back from his week's skiing and our whipper in, Jeff Hobby riding again having had a long time off with an injury. 

We welcomed a few new faces who all thoroughly enjoyed themselves. 

We started out from the back of the pub - The Dashwood  Arms,  A long canter up the steep, punishing hill and then across the farmland to the first of the hedges. Due to the steepness of the hill, a number of us decided to take the short cut and missed a corner of the first line to meet up with the rest of the field cantering through the woods. This line had a number of brush fences which always jump well on good ground. This is also part of the Berks and Bucks Easter Monday sponsored ride route. 

The second line went over lots of farmland and again had lots of good galloping with two lovely hedges and some smaller jumps. We did have a faller!  He did jump the hedge but nose dived afterwards. His horse returned,  soon remounted and revived by a little bit of Sloe gin before we all carried onto the third line. 

This line again had a couple of hedges over which field master, John expertly led. We went through the yard of a riding school. They were in the middle of a lesson with a number of spectators watching but as soon as they saw us, the spectators forgot the lesson and crowded the bank to watch a hedge being successfully jumped by a number of the field. Great delight and cheers as horse and rider jumped clear.  Again this line had some fabulous galloping up the hills and down the other side over some smaller wooden fences. It was just lovely to ride in some beautiful countryside.

  It was then a good long hack to the fourth line which had some fabulous views. This last line was over the other side of the A40 and again the going was excellent. We jumped from field to field. Unfortunately, we had another faller, her pony charging off and not wanting to be caught until he had a few mouthfuls of grass!

 Then it was wash horse off and onto the pub for a wine or two.

 Another wonderful day.       

NE