Country Pursuits!

Night turned into day, the light of a February morning barely kissing the frost-encrusted grass as it slithered icily over the roof of the stable block. Today could be a day full of excitement, the atmosphere expectant, earth smelling rich with hardened frost, country air filling the lungs with invigorating exhilaration, the English countryside exuding a mood with the clear sky gathering the frosty earth.
 
The horses were stirring as Emily braced the day, the cold biting her cheeks shivering her in moments of the past - her thoughts drifting... days skiing in the European Alps, high in the mountains, powdered snow blowing into the air like sugar crystals, glistening as jewels in the brilliant sunshine. Standing atop snowy mountains, looking far across the scene of thick snow-dusted brilliance as far as the eye could see, even into an adjoining country, she marveled at the extent of beauty before her, revelling in the awe-inspiring drama & serenity of being in the Alps. She embraced it longingly, wishing to stay there indefinitely. This scenery always had the same affect on her. It was being in heaven, her heaven, where the quiet of the mountains sang tranquility in her heart.

She thought of the time walking from a huge cable car with many others, clomping in ski boots as they trudged through the snow, people chattering, wearing an assortment of coloured outfits as they reached the top for the steep run down. Skis would be placed down on heaped up snow, sticks adjusted on hands, boots clicking onto skis. Then with a push off, they were blissfully enjoying the exhilaration of the cold on their cheeks, laughing joyously, skis gliding & carving on snow down steep runs, taxing the strength of legs to stay on the mountain, turning under control but letting the skis run with the wind.

'Ah' said Emily under her breath with a smile, 'what memories!' The snow or even blizzards, stinging the face horizontally weaving down narrow tracks in virgin powder, turning in & out of trees, smelling the freshly brewed coffee or lunch somewhere further down, wafting through the air as you flew past occasional restaurants dotted amongst the mountains, invitingly warm & comfortable.

Emily brought her thoughts back to the morning, scarf, hat & coat barely keeping her warm as she walked toward the stable block. It was a different cold she thought, up in the mountains it always seemed better somehow, a very dry cold, but enjoyable, lifting the spirits to heights not experienced anywhere else. A very special sensation that made her feel comfortable with it, never wanting to leave. Her heart sang there, sang with the mountains, sang with the icicles that hung from the overhanging timbered eaves, the lights in the alpine villages that twinkled like stars in the clear mountainous sky at night. It was a winter wonderland that only appeared in dreams, her dreams. The snowy alps would hold a unique fascination for her.

She rather relished the winter, the crisp cold invigorating her senses, the occasional snow turning everything white & clean, when all appeared quiet with thick snow on the ground, the icy air embracing her face as she sniffed at the cold. Footsteps crunched through it, but the countryside lay still, almost frozen in time. Her cheeks were often pink, coloured like an English rose.

Today the ground & muddy clods in some of the surrounding fields where the animals had trodden a path after previous rain, were white with frost. The garden had settled into it's winter slumber, it's non-productive phase with hardly anything living it seemed, especially in sharp frosts. It simply went to sleep, never to wake until the sun in spring would slowly bring it to life again adding a new warmth,  a freshness, gently encompassing all in its path. Life slowly returning within the buds of plants & trees, the grass growing lush & green under foot, the birds singing spring into the day, chirping & whistling throughout the apple boughs.

As Emily approached the stables, the horses already sensing the day at hand, tossed their heads snorting a little, moving around on their straw laden beds. They poked their heads  from the open top doors, looking straight out toward the distant countryside. Threads of silver glistening off the almost frozen grass, white in places like a lake shining in the moonlight before it's fully risen. She almost relished the frosty air, seeming to take its vengeance, the day still  early, the air quiet with winter.

After peering in at both the horses, hers & Ben's, she walked to the tack room next door to gather a few grooming items. The horses sensing the hunt would be out today & they wanting to be a part of it, shoved their noses at her, nuzzling gently as she entered one of the stables. 

'Hey, that's enough from you, naughty boy,' she smiled taking a brush to her horse Apollo. 'Yes, you know don't you? Move over a bit & keep your feet to yourself. You trod on me last week & it still hurts, you great lump.' Apollo happily obliged & seemed to calm a little as the brush strokes from Emily glided over his back. He shifted slightly, eyeing her from his large brown eyes. They were kind eyes, never showing the whites in anger, giving her a warm serene feeling rushing through her body, loving the smell of Apollo, a pleasant horsey smell that only he possessed. He had a lovely gentle canter, like an old rocking chair, his chest wide & feet strong & sure, he chose his path with care & she always felt safe on his back. His gait was smooth, but not necessarily at a fast trot. He often made her laugh when returning to Ben's farm, where sometimes he was kept in the stables when not turned out to grass.

Emily thought of the time out riding with him, trotting along the lanes toward the end of May when they seemed full of spring.  Suddenly Apollo bent his head, grabbing a mouthful of flowering cow parsley & continued on his way before she could stop him. She laughed to herself. There he was, trotting along, cow parsley sticking out each side of his mouth as he munched around the bit, still at a good pace. She smiled again at the thought. 'Naughty boy,' she said out loud, loving his naughtiness at times, his gentle nature & temperament.

She had finished the grooming of both horses, her & Ben's - named Tigre. He was her long time friend going back many years & his farm was where she kept her horse & visited the milking parlour where she often found herself standing on the gate, chatting to Ben or looking for him for one reason or another. 

Both horses were a little on their toes, somehow sensing the day ahead, a possible day full of excitement out hunting with the rest of the field, sharing a good gallop. She had not been that keen on the idea of hunting to hounds for more than one reason, but her friend Ben often participated. He even took Apollo out once, clipped & fit for the occasion & seeing the state of him on return to the farm, Emily had almost exploded with laughter at the state they were both in.

'I'm exhausted' said Ben tiredly, still sitting on Apollo's back, reins slack, a little sweat on his forehead & completely plastered in mud. 'Your horse has a hard mouth. I didn't feel much in control at all! He pulled on the bit whilst hurtling himself down wet grassy hills with many others, all heading for a five bar gate at one time. He frightened the life out of me at one time. I almost shut my eyes & prayed, but thought better of it, as I needed to try & keep abreast of things & my wits about me. It pays to keep focused on what's ahead, just in case!'

'Oh, you get use to him Ben,' grinned Emily, trying to reassure him. 'He does that sometimes, always seems to pull up when he knows he has to. Best to let him get on with it. He's good like that, an excellent sense of knowing what's ahead & acting accordingly. He'll never take a flying leap over a five bar gate, just stops in time to wait until its opened. In fact, not many WOULD jump a five bar gate in that lot. They usually open them first & file through,'

'Could have fooled me!' Ben snorted half heartedly.

'Got good brakes, but steering can be a bit of a nightmare at times!' she laughed.

'Well, I'll stick with Tigre from now on,' he had said, looking thoroughly resigned to the fact, slipping off Apollo's back. Reins were now over the horse's head as Ben lead the sweating horse back to the stables for a brush, feed & finally a blanket to keep him warm. He felt he could do with the same treatment, looking down at himself & raising eyebrows at the sight.

Ben joined her a little later where the hunt was to meet, looking rather dapper in black hunting jacket with white stock & clean jodhpurs. Together they walked the horses to the meeting place where the rest of the field were gathering at a friend's farm.

'You look very smart Em' he called to her trotting alongside, following a large bay horse ridden by a solid looking young woman. She appeared not at all comfortable in the saddle he noticed, as they passed her along the track.

'Thanks Ben. You don't look too bad yourself,' indicating his black jacket looking groomed & well turned out. 'So you decided against a hacking jacket today hmm?' she teased, smiling cheekily at him, head cocked to one side.

 Ben didn't answer, concentrating at what the gathered field were about to do. He wondered if the hounds would draw in old Alfred's wood later. It was locally called that, but legally belonged to the large estate nearby.

'Looks like the weather may stay calm, good for the hounds to find the sent easier' said Ben, sitting on Tigre sipping a sherry which he didn't much like. He preferred a good whiskey. He offered it to Emily while accepting a sausage roll to eat from their host & thanking him.

'Suppose I'd better drink it.' Emily grinned at him. 'I don't mind a sherry now & then, but not my favourite tipple either,' she whispered to Ben, leaning over her saddle toward him.

The field master was gathering up the hounds, calling some by name as they walked quickly in & out the mounted horses looking very alert. The hunting horn sounded in the traditional manner & a stream of riders were starting at a slow trot, filing out from the farm in groups of three & four  - one or two youngsters following parents from a lead rein attached to their ponies.

Emily's horse immediately started dancing on his toes, head up, sniffing the air, becoming rather too excitable to her liking. She glanced over at Ben, where Tigre was passive & well behaved. 'Looks like it's going to be one of those days,' she grimaced. Apollo often became a little difficult to handle in these circumstances. To hold him back, she had to circle now & then keeping him well back from approaching too near the front of the field. That's one reason why she didn't participate too frequently in hunting. Passing the field master was not acceptable & considered bad manners. She knew that was definitely not within the correct rules of etiquette.

The horses were all tightly packed in a narrow lane, hounds almost underfoot of the riders, scrambling along banks on the side of the road. The whippers-in gathering them, while the master of hounds lead the field through a gate at the top of a large field. Alfred's wood was lying at the bottom, a large five bar wooden gate stood between them & the thick woodland. The field now taking off at a good canter, becoming faster as the five bar gate loomed over the ears of Emily's Apollo.

'Oh hell!' she gasped, Apollo eyeing the gate with rapid legs cantering in haste to get to the gate & possibly take it on before everyone else. 'Oh dear God'!' prayed Emily quietly, wrestling with the reins, trying to get Apollo's head up more. Ben was within reach & moving in swift succession with a few others. He glanced over at her briefly, noticing the fear on her face. Arms pulling almost out of their sockets it seemed.

'You'll be all right Em, just go with him & let him have his head!' Ben called to her quietly. 'You know he will pull up & not jump that gate. You said so yourself. Just try & keep him behind the field master, that's all!' He was trying to get in front of her to slow Apollo down a bit.

'I hope you're right Ben!' she replied, still a little flustered but relaxing slightly. The pace not exactly slowing or orderly, as they all headed towards the gate. It was a case of every man or woman to himself.

They approached the gate quickly & as expected, the field slowed to a more sedate pace, until someone stopped & with great control, opened it then standing back to let everyone through before closing it again.

Many utterances of 'thank you' as they rode past, a few pushing others as they bumped through. There was a stile nearby which certain bold horses jumped with relevant ease & grace, clearing it without mishap.

As they were now in the wood & at a walk, Ben said 'are you all right Em, I knew you would make it without coming off?'

'Of course I'm all right, I'm still on Apollo aren't I?' she retorted, slightly indignant. But very relieved that bit was over & done with. It was a steep, long hill & the horses liked a good canter or gallop where possible.

'I wonder if Lizzie will join us?' Ben said, swiveling around in his saddle looking back up the hill. Lizzie was a good friend to both of them. The trio sometimes getting together for different reasons & often helping each other out when needed.

'She did say she was coming' replied Emily in a low voice. 'She must have been held up somehow.'

"I thought so too,' said Ben. Steam was rising from the horses after a good fast canter, hitting the air like an old copper kettle left to simmer on a large log fire. Then it would vanish in the crisp winter air before more rose up from hot sweating horses & invigorated riders, some chatting quietly as they rode through the wood enjoying the winter atmosphere amongst the trees.

Just at that moment they heard a horse approaching from behind & both swiveling round in their saddles, found Lizzie riding her mare Minerva, tying up the gate before joining them.

'Where have you been?' whispered Ben as Lizzie pulled up next to them at a walk.

'Got thoroughly held up didn't I?' muttered Lizzie, looking slightly out of sorts. 'The blacksmith was so late in leaving. I thought he would never be done with the new round of shoes Minerva has just acquired. But somehow I have managed to catch you up.'

'Good for you,' said Emily. 'All is well now & we should all enjoy our day out. At least the weather is favourable.'

Lizzie & Ben agreed while all were keeping a close eye on the proceedings up front. The field were starting to spread out while the hounds went into the deepest part of the wood to draw there. Not too long after, the hunting horn sounded again & all the field looked alert & expectant. At that moment Lizzie was looking keenly into the trees, when suddenly she noticed a fox darting out from cover, heading for an open field, but first passing almost under her horse's legs. She was utterly amazed.

'Good God!' she exclaimed. 'Did you see what I just saw?' she added, indicating the path the fox took as it headed for the open field.

'That's the one all right!' commented old Bob as he shifted on his huge dapple grey gelding's back. He was old, but still sprightly & always wore a monocle sitting on his nose with a fob watch in his waistcoat pocket. He had a glass eye which dropped out once & rolled down a skittle alley when he bent down. His legs were not long by any means & bowed as they were short, probably from riding his large grey for so long.

'That's a bit unusual' he added. Bob owned a small business nearby & had been hunting for many years.

The hunting field took off at a strong canter to start with, followed by a full gallop. Helter skelter in pursuit of the fox the horses & riders following in earnest. The ground having melted slightly from the sharp frost earlier, was turning to clods of mud in places. More than a few of the riders were slowly being splattered with thick chunks of cold wet mud being thrown up by the hooves of the galloping horses.

The three friends, like many others, were now bespattered with brown blobs all over their clothes & faces as they all broke from the wood & tore across the field after the fox.

Best I keep my mouth firmly closed thought Emily, grimacing briefly after looking down at herself. Clods of grassy mud were flying in all directions, mainly up at their faces & the front of the horses. It flew up & hit the face with rapid velocity it you weren't concentrating. Ben was trying to duck a few, eyes focused carefully on the flying dirt which made Emily smile. She couldn't help feeling amused at the site of both horses & riders dolloped with chunks of brown mud. The ground tended to be a little marshy where they had just ridden from.

Soon the riders slowed at the edge of the field where it joined the road, drawing in reins, feet low in stirrups, standing on them for more control as the excited animals were pulled to a slow canter then walk.

After a time, everyone had been moving down a narrow lane once more, where someone spotted the fox crossing, heading for a copse of trees.

'Think he went that way,' one of the older ladies said, pointing with her riding crop through the trees where a narrow path ambled through them. The group of mounted riders were now following the master of the hunt in almost single file through the bare trees. They noticed it was necessary to keep elbows & knees in tightly, as they weaved in & out around protruding branches.

There was a large young woman on a huge bay called General, in front of Ben. The same one he noticed much earlier not looking at all comfortable in the saddle of her horse.  Emily & Lizzie were following him.

As the woman's horse rounded a tight bend between trees, there was a thump in front of Ben's horse as the young woman had come clean off the back of her horse, landing rather ungainly in front of him. The branch of a tree catching her on the chest & knocking her to the ground. She forgot to duck. He pulled up immediately feeling quite alarmed, his horse not close enough to trample on what lay on the ground. Being careful not to step on the poor unfortunate young woman, Ben alighted from his saddle, quickly handing the reins to Emily.

'Oh dear, that must have hurt! Are you all right? No damage I hope?' he commiserated with the young lady.

As she managed to gather herself together, while still sitting on the cold wet ground holding everyone up, she muttered, 'yes I think so. Didn't see that last tree branch sticking out,' she said, feeling somewhat indignant with it.

Ben helped her up as best he could, the woman starting to brush herself off a bit, feeling rather embarrassed at the predicament she found herself in. 'Are you able to continue riding?' he asked hopefully.

'Yes I think so, give me a moment longer,'  thanking Ben for his help. She turned now, looking to see if her horse was still nearby. Relieved that he was, as someone had noticed she had come off & stopped several others, catching the horse which wasn't too difficult between the trees in a tight situation. She staggered a bit, still not perfectly recovered from the mishap which had shook her. Clasping the reins while Ben held her horse, the young woman heaved herself back into the saddle, still looking a trifle stunned.

'Phew!' muttered Lizzie turning to Emily close behind & with a slight grin, pulling a face at her friend. 'Might be best to keep elbows & knees in tight from now on,' indicating to Emily.

'Absolutely!' replied Emily. 'What a thing to happen Lizzie! I don't fancy ending up on the ground under any circumstances.'

As they continued on their way weaving in & out on the narrow path between the trees, Emily kept her head down, eyes closed, knees tight in against Apollo, leaving him to pick his way carefully through the trees before arriving at the beginning of another field.

The morning continued, turning into a bright & invigorating afternoon with several fast gallops, horses sweating with lather on their chests, even though they were clipped. Riders were hot & flushed with the exhilaration of the cold air on their faces, pink & rosy under the spattering of mud. Older riders gasping a little after a long gallop, the horses enjoying their freedom as much as the riders on a winter's day in February. Tiredness was setting in, arms & muscles aching, lactic acid had been building up in the legs, posteriors getting a little sore.

The hounds had been running for some time, spreading out, some getting a little lost after becoming separated & heading in the wrong direction, splitting the pack & would be found well after dark no doubt. The hunt servants trying desperately to keep them orderly & from straying.

Eventually, a few were starting to head for home, their horses tired, some not as fit as perhaps they should be. Several streams had been scrambled through over the course of the day & in the woods, fallen trees had been carefully negotiated & jumped without problems. All except for one man who decided to take on a large wooden fence, not accessing the situation correctly & not taking a good run at it. Consequently, his tired horse promptly stopped dead in its tracks, eyeing with disdain, the height of the wooden fence. Digging in his front feet he totally refused the jump at slow speed, knowing full well it was not possible. Not so his rider, who promptly flew off over his horse's head, landing with a deafening cry & a loud thud on the sodden ground. Several bruises later, it was a miracle he had not broken every bone in his body, or even worse, considering the pace at which he hit the ground. Although thoroughly disgruntled at his horse, rather than blaming himself at the stupidity of attempting such a high fence, the foolish man slowly recovered & eventually was able to re-mount & continue, much to everyone's relief.

Ben turned to his two friends & wondered if they, like him, were ready to head for home. They readily agreed with the decision & after bidding the master 'good night', walked their horses toward a warm bath & clean clothes, after first seeing that their horses were well taken care of & fed a good mash for their efforts.

All three plodded home, tired & very dirty after a good day out riding to hounds on a crisp winter's day in February. The camaraderie between friends & the sheer pleasure of being at one with their horses, were shared experiences. They were all encompassing earthly joys, the beauty of the countryside was at peace with itself, their inner thoughts private & serene, each to his own as to the future outcome of field sports in England.