Opening Hunt

I have spent months convincing Letisha that she needs to go hunting with me! A couple of years ago I joined Southern Eyre Hunt Club and had the most wonderful time with them, as they are a wonderful welcoming group of people and the the hunts are so much fun (so long as you enjoy a bit of speed across a paddock - jumping is optional!). 

Letisha went from being very adamanet that she would never jump, to borrowing my old jump saddle and having a practice at my place, to being very keen and looking forward to attending the Opening Hunt at Tcharkuldu Rock, hosted by the Upper Eyre Hunt Club (another wonderful welcoming club). Unfortunately my beautiful mare Luna went lame less than a month out from the opening hunt, and I despaired that I wouldn't be able to go, after doing so much to encourage Letisha.

Thankfully Letisha was able to organise a horse for me to borrow from a friend of hers. I picked up Toastie only 14 days before the first hunt; not much time to get to know a horse. After getting her home I found out she had only retired from racing a few months earlier! Even better!

Luckily for me Toastie (Toast The Deel) is one of the best examples of a thoroughbred that you can find, and she safely carried me around the entire hunt. We had some hot moments and green moments and fast moments and awkward moments, but we had so much fun, and it was amazing to see Letisha go from being a ball of nerves to absoloutely loving the adrenaline rush. Best of all...after falling in love with Toastie over the two weeks that I borrowed her, luckily for me her owner was willing to part with her and she's now a permanent member of my stables!

If you enjoy bombing around at speed with a group of horses I highly recommend you check out the two hunt clubs on the Eyre penisula. Jumping is entirely optional, so long as you and your horse can ride at some speed with a group safely, it's so much fun.