Boxing Day Meet
Glamorgan Hunt meet in Cowbridge on Boxing day and Jen and I decided to go. At 8am this morning the weather was grey and drizzly both horses were in the field and fairly muddy, it was tempting to stay in bed. Jen took Buffy and being a coloured pony it took some doing to get it looking half tidy(nice tail plait thou). Muppet being bay was much easier, a quick wash of the tail and legs and a good groom and we were presentable. Muppet is 7yrs old, not particularly fit and hasn’t hunted before so we decided to go for an hour. I changed both snaffle bits for 3 ring gags having hunted Buffy before I know the gag works otherwise it puts it head down leans on the bit and goes with no brakes and I just felt Muppet being shire x TB would need brakes. We loaded the horses on the lorry and parked up in the cattle market in Cowbridge.
The Hunt met in the car park at Arthur Johns behind the main street. Arriving at the meet we were both offered a glass of port(Warms you up on a cold day). After a short speech by the Master the Hunt set off down the main street. Cowbridge is very supportive of Glamorgan Hunt and many people lined the streets clapping as we rode by. There were 102 mounted followers out. Buffy was a little strong to start but soon quietened down. Muppet was a getting excited and insisted on cantering down the main street. The Hunt continued along the main street and then left for Aberthin. On reaching Llanquain road (still cantering) we then turned right onto the downs which is a steep, long hill and quite muddy at the top we had a short canter, then proceeded down the hill which was quite treacherous in places arriving back on the Llanquain road further along(pointless excercise I felt) . My friends have land along this road and were at their gate watching so I made Muppet stop and chatted to them whilst the rest of the hunt rode by. We then carried on along the lanes and went into our first field. Both horses were tiring abit but we stood for a while in the field which gave them a chance to recover(and Jen’s legs), one horse behind us reared up and the rider came off but was unhurt. Several gulps of the hip flask and then we set off along a few fields, back onto a lane and into another field which had a partially open gate so the horses had to wait on the lane and go through one at a time, the problem with this is as soon as the people go through the gate they take off across the field leaving the horses that haven’t got through yet very agitated and anxious to go, therefore nearly taking your legs off on the gate. Muppet went through steadly then walked in the field till I told him he could go. I like horses to have manners when hunting and so many don’t, having been allowed to go when the rest go. I expect mine to stop when I want to stop. Having gone through a few more fields we arrived in Welsh St Donats and decided to say Goodnight (Traditional to say goodnight when leaving a hunt no matter what the time of day) 
We met Steve at the Forestry car park and loaded them up to drive home. I enjoyed the Hunt on Muppet and will take him again possibly New Years Day although he may be much worse next time as I often find the first time they are good because they are in shock and the second time they think they know what they are doing. Since the hunt now follow scent as opposed to catching foxes they are inclined to cover more ground and move faster so horses need to be very fit to stay out any length of time.
