It seems so many years ago, but my second hunt out with Amwell on my dear old horse Sir Bentley was at Robert and Lisa Branders farm, and I remembered after we parked the trailer that I gasped at the stunning view across the valley.

It was wonderful to be invited back to use the Brander farm and surrounding area as one of our meets, and made possible after quite a bit of effort, including the Trail Clearing Crew, Master’s Stephen and Brendan, Lauren, Steve P, Richard and Ed and of course Mr. Farrin who worked for several days to redefined the well overgrown trails outside the Brander property.   Due to their hard work we returned to hunt another very large section of land in our Valley.

The day was particularly hot and humid and the ground as dry as a bone, having had no rain for the past 3 weeks, great for haymaking, bad for scent!  The hounds all 16 couple, tried their best but despite several foxes being spotted by our whips, Lauren, Ralph, and Richard and our wonderful Road Crossing Team, Bruce and Laurie, and Paul, hounds had little to pick up. 

It was also good to see several of our new members out, Samantha, Sally, Alex and Michael, and it made me realize just how much AVH has changed over the last 12 years since we left from the Branders Farm.  Of our current members only Ralph, Roy, Brian and Lynette and Masters Joanne and Stephen, if I recall, were hunting at that time, and a good field was 4 who would jump and 10 who didn’t.  We didn’t have “flights” then, let alone three, which we have today.   While today’s field was modest with 22 riders, compared to our usual 30 plus, everyone seemed hot and sticky but pleased with the ride and certainly delighting in the venue.

The breakfast was spectacular, courtesy of the team effort by Cheryl G, Chrissie, Frank and Maria. In fact people seemed to be sitting around in a very relaxed manner at least an hour or so after hounds had been packed up and horses loaded.

So its’ great to have another fixture, and an old one for some of us, a new one for most!

Cheryl B

CORRECTION RETRACTION - the Editor (me) wishes to apologies to Dan for the incorrect statement that he landed in a ditch last week.  This was in fact incorrect and his horse, with Dan, landed in a ditch together.  Dan did not, to the best of our knowledge fall from his horse, nor has to pay Master Stephen $25.00.  The Editor (me) would like to sincerely apologize for errant reporting and any harm it this may have caused.  No sums have been received or paid out in respect of the erroneous comment.  But Dan I am watching you very carefully from now on, LOL!

It always seems to me to be somewhat traditional to be out hunting in the morning mist with hounds chasing ahead and the field in order of seniority (more or less) following the Field Master.  Today was one of those mornings when 15 1/2 couple of hounds, including “Gadget Baby” a hound we helped to raise a few years ago met at our farm.  It used to be a tradition that hunt members would take young hounds and socialize them before they returned to the pack.  We loved having Gadget but knew it was getting tough when three mornings in a row she took off with our three terriers in hot pursuit after a fox.  I could scream at my three to come back- but well not Gadget, she was doing what she had been bred for.
 
Anyway, the meet was at our Riding Mill Farm, which used to be owned by The Weedons and was called Meadowberry, due to the wild strawberries that come up each year in the field we met in.  Our farm has been on the fixture card since Amwell was formed 52 years ago and we renamed it after our first home in England which was The Mill House in the tiny village of Riding Mill, Northumberland. 
 
This farm used to host New Jersey’s only one star event, and was the main fund raiser for Amwell Valley Hounds Pony Club.  When we moved here nearly all the jumps had disintegrated, but we have eventually got around to replacing most of them.  Master Joanne did a sterling job today steering the first flight over a great many of them.  Judging by some of the grins I saw when I caught up with everyone it was a blast!
 
Now speaking of Pony Club it was great to see so many juniors.  August (Gus) Torselleri and three of his delightful sisters, Geneva, Piper and Holly seemed to have had a great time out, as did our youngest and newest member Alex Valle.  Until we reached a road and there was a clanging sound and his horse was about to loose a shoe and so he had to walk back.  The Torselleri family are following a tradition of hunting in the Valley as Gus’s late uncle, Marc, a very special person, rode with me for my first year out with Amwell in Second flight. Marc made me feel so welcome and we would often be found at the end of the line giggling at something or other. 
 
Talking of end of the line, it looked quite a long line today when I started in Third Flight in fact I was 29th!   Trying to accompany Master Stephen, who is still recovering from a back injury, I realized just how hard it is to ride in the third flight, my horse normally very well behaved acted like a real cow.  She was having none of it.  Cindy Nance how do you do it? you are a Goddess!   So, we gradually moved up to Second Flight- a tradition that this flight goes just as fast but elects not to jump.  The Second Flight Master, Brian in our case, has to know the countryside well enough to be able to take alternative routes quickly and help settle new folks in, who often chose to start here.  Yeah for Brian!
 
After I excused myself from the field for a bit, I returned and moved my way up to first flight where the tradition in Amwell is to pay a donation to the hounds if you have a unintended dismount-There was a “Dan in the Ditch” moment!  You owe Master Stephen $25 but glad you are fine! 
 
So with a pretty poor scenting day, but yet still managing to put two fox’s to ground and after the trip around our farm we crossed to the Wielenta’s fields, skirted around Unionville Winery and went along Linvale Rd. On our return trip we went along Rocktown Road passing Clearview Farm and then rode a fast circuit back to Wertsville Road.  After a couple of hours out it was very pleasant to enjoy another tradition of Amwell – the Hunt breakfast hosted by Ruth and Sue D.
 
Cheryl B
 

It was said that this was one of the coolest weeks that we have had in August for many years and at the dreaded 4.30am start; it did seem a little chilly.  But, as we gathered at Garrett’s pipeline, which is next to Ben and Gail Cahill’s home, the sunrise was magnificent. 

We had a great turnout of 23 riders in the field and with Masters Joanne and Brendan, our Huntsman Steve, and Whips, Lauren, Ralph, Lisa and Richard that made a whopping 30 of us. We set off and Steve cast the mixed 15 ½ couple of hounds, which included three puppies, Sportsman, Spanner and Speaker into the corn of Mr. Visceglias’ land (formally known as Greeks). They quickly picked up a scent and chased a fox into Mr. and Mrs. Holcombe’s ditch. 

The field seemed to enjoy a handy cater this way and that, and yes this way and that, and did I say this way and that?  But we found Steve and the hounds and looped around again, and again and again! 

Then we moved off across to the edge of Greg Manners Terracelands Farm.  This farm has been in Greg’s family for generations. I have a map of the Valley dated 1857 and the Manners family were certainly farming then.  The farm is called Terracelands because the land was originally laid out into terraces for irrigation purposes and is unique in the area.   Anyway…our hounds picked up another fox and chased it all the way to the edge of the former Peacocks’ store, where our Huntsman viewed Charlie Fox and hounds chased it all the way back to Terracelands!

In the meantime the sky had turned grey and started to spit with rain, and we ran up and down and round and round Greg’s corn fields!   Footing was made much easier by the precision mowing courtesy of our Huntsman.   Then the rain came and we lost the second flight, who apparently were smart enough (well done Brian) to calmly walk up to the highest point so they could observe fox, then hounds, then field dashing around in the corn field below them!

The rain came down- we all got wet, and like a dork I had leather reins that slipped like satin through my hands!  After one more dash, Charlie Fox was spotted by Ralph crossing Wertsville Rd, no doubt sniggering.  We headed for home.  This nicely coincided with the sun making an appearance, ready to warm us up as we feasted on breakfast prepared by Barbara and Dan.  The chocolate torte was to die for.

So two hours out and I’m pleased to say Rain didn’t stop play!

Cheryl B

It seems to me that Cubing is laced with an air of unpredictability.   Some of us try out new hunt horses, many of us remind our older hunt horses what they’re meant to do, and it’s that time of year when young hounds are tried and tested.  Three puppies at the start of the meet ran joyfully in the opposite direction, a bit confused before being rounded up.  It’s also a time when fields which had corn last year now have beans on them, when jumps seem to have disappeared in a jungle of brambles, and well… we haven’t quite got into the rhythm that hunting mid-season seems to take on.  

Talking of rhythm, getting up at 4.30am to get horses ready didn’t seem all too routine this morning either, but what a treat, a summer full moon.  Tonight, we will have what’s known as a Super Moon, when the moon looks its brightest as its closest to Earth than any other time of the year. Also, look out for the asteroid show on the 12th and 13th, also said to be best of the year.  Whoa I digress….

So with the August vacations we were a bit short on Whips, and it was good to see Master Joanne and Brian S, stepped into the breach to help Lauren, who was riding a new mount.  Master Brendan and Wendy led the field, or should I say led around two fields?   As the sun rose over Big Sky Farm, my cursing about breaking my back putting cogs in two horses melted to “ ah isn’t it great to be out here?” and “wow look at that Sun rising through the mist.”   But I’m glad I put cogs in, it was a tad slippery.

Our hounds quickly picked up scent and over the next hour and a half managed to put three foxes to ground.  But of course when you are in the field, you can hear things but see next to nothing, and at one stage the hounds seemed to be in one corn field for an age…  Huntsman Steve went in on foot, then Brian went in on foot, followed by Lauren.  Now I really was confused! LOL.  Some of the new horses also got a bit confused as to what they had to do, and I’m pleased to report Nicole collected her horse from a local barn safe and well.  The barn owner was a bit confused.

As no one has volunteered to do the breakfast, a pot luck did the trick, but while creative, when you are phoning your husband to read out the email standing in the middle of Shop Rite and believe its based on letters, like last year, A-G bring appetizers etc., and he is asking me what color horse I’m taking, wow I was truly confused.  However, Kat’s instructions were clear and somewhat creative, Bays bring appetizers and Chestnuts bring savory things, but then I had to ask myself, which horse was I taking? 

Then to round out the day the great Mr. Nicolas, Master Stephens’s horse came off the trailer with a knee that had a lump on it which seemed to grow and grow and looked like a giant duck egg (they are big aren’t they?)   So when the very nice vet came out to examine him, and after much prodding and probing said, “hmmm it’s a bit confusing as to how he could have done this”  …I gave in!

Cheryl B

So for of all you reading this blog who didn’t hunt today, you missed the best day of hunting ever!   Don’t you hate that when you can’t make a meet and everyone tells you this?  No I’m kidding (read on).  My first meet of the Season started with trying to find a horse, anyone would do in the pitch black and rain at 4am.    Luckily Charlie’s young horse was curious enough and like a Venus fly trap I had him!

We arrived at Cindy and John Nance’s, to rain and gloom, but by the time Master Joanne address the field, our Huntsman, three whips, (Lisa, Richard and Ralph) and ten of us, the field; the rain had stopped and the first light of dawn shone across John’s bean fields.  Richard Pye known for hating the wet, insisted we were in a dry cell for the next few hours, and indeed we were.

It was a very calm and quiet day, and 18 ½ couple tried their best to pick up a scent in the corn and beans, however, the air seems heavy and humid and as they worked and we rode around we seemed to come across pockets of still and fragrant heavy air.  No wonder they struggled to get their noses on a decent scent.

We moved onto Mrs. Van Dorens land and Mr. Farrin dismounted and walked the hounds through one of their cow pastures, only to find the cows scattering the pack this way and that.  Luckily, Sportsman, Spanner, Sprocket and Spooner (male puppies) stayed close to Steve.

So while it wasn’t fast and furious, it was a good enough pace to get my horse back into Hunting mode and two hours of exercise.  As we walked back the only sound seemed to be a flock of starlings, and the call for hounds.  The sun still didn’t appear, but neither did the big bugs- yeah!

Jeanie Sharpe, who had risen at 2am to finish baking, provided us with a very nice breakfast.  The peach fruit cobbler was a big hit! 

Apparently the weather will be returning to seasonal norms this week and so no doubt next weeks hunting will be the “Best Ever” – drat I’m at a horse show!

Cheryl B