A Tale of Two Fox Hunters: the Veteran and the Rookie

A veteran fox hunter from England, who started at age 3. A long-time rider, but new fox hunter from the United States, who declines revealing her age.  Trot along in this blog post to discover what it’s like to ride to hounds in a village in England versus a California cattle ranch used for Hollywood productions. Tally ho!

Two Interviews, One Passion for Fox Hunting

I met Vanessa Hill via the Facebook group #Horsebloggers Meet Up and we decided to get to know what it’s like fox hunting in another part of the world. This blog post comprises two separate interviews: the first is my interview of Vanessa, the second is Vanessa’s interview of me. Vanessa is literally a life-long equestrian and blogs at her Facebook Page Nutty Nags where she does frequent product reviews. Enjoy!

Susan (the Rookie) Interviews Vanessa (the Veteran)

Vanessa, where do you live and how did you get hooked on horses? 

I live in a village called Preesall in Lancashire, UK. In between Lancaster and Blackpool. There are lots of horses in the area, but unfortunately a lot of shows are closing down. I have always loved horses from being a baby. My parents took me to a friend’s who had Shire horses. I used to cry when taken away from them.

Tell us about your current mount or mounts.

I have two mares, a 16.3hh ex-racer called Star of Kildare, who I brought off the track as a 3-year old, and Stormhill Dawn Light (stable name Tosca), who is a very sharp 15.1 Irish Sports Horse. I got her as a yearling and started as a 4-year old.

Describe the fox hunting scene where you live.

There are several hunts within a 60-mile radius of me, all our hunts in the UK are now drag hunts. I hunt with several hunts when I can: Vale of Lune and the Holcome and the Cheshire, but due to my injury, I have not hunted for the last couple of seasons.

What is your hunt season?

The season goes from 1st November until March, but the opening meet can often be the last week in October and some hunts carry on well into April.

How long have you been fox hunting?

I first went hunting at about 3 years of age. I lived in the South of England then and my parents’ friends had working horses and he was an amateur whip, and I was on the lead rein on my hairy Shetland. By the time I was 6, I was hunting every week on my pony and had been “blooded.”

What is the countryside like where you fox hunt?

The terrain varies in different parts of the country but where I am it’s fell land, so a fair few hills.
There are lots of hedges, sheep hurdles, gates and ditches also stone walls to jump.

Do the fox hunts you ride in have different levels or fields?

We don’t have different levels. Everyone follows the fieldmaster. Some hunts have a jumping one and a non jumping one. We have newcomer meets more nowadays, which are good to encourage people.
We also have ” hound ambles” at the start of the season. These are ideal to introduce a new horse or for kids on lead rein. Some hunts have “pony club” meets.

Have you fox hunted in other countries, or do you have any riding vacation bucket list items?

I am lucky enough to have hunted in Ireland.  I used to have a competition yard and brought a lot of Irish horses, so got invited over to hunt a bit. That really does teach you to ride across country and ithe reason why I love Irish horses. Both of mine are Irish bred. I would love to hunt in more countries though. (If you are ever in California, Vanessa, come hunting with us! ~ Susan)

Having ridden in California, I would love to also ride in Arizona, especially round Sedona and really want to do the ride down the Grand Canyon. I would also love to ride in the Camargue in France.

What else would you like to share? 

When I am hunting, I just like to enjoy myself and get my mount settled in a nice rhythm across country.
I’m looking forward to getting my new knees – having both replaced as I am struggling riding much at the moment, so I can get back to serious riding (it’s been 2 years of waiting)

Please tell us about your Facebook Page Nutty Nags!

My Facebook page Nutty Nags is about my life with my two horses. I also do a lot of free product reviews – always looking for products. Also, I do product testing for companies i.e trialling new feeds, gut supplements, liniments etc.

I started when I retired, I had run a yard – until I got divorced, then I continued coaching and doing some judging, so my old pupils suggested it. I had never even touched a computer before, so I’m completely self taught.

Nutty Nags is named after my nickname for my horses. Visit us at  www.facebook.com/Nutty-Nags.

Vanessa’s Interview of Susan

Where do you live and what is the horsey scene like there?

I live in Southern California and there is a vast horse scene encompassing everything from backyard horses to high-end reiners, dressage horses, show jumpers and everything in between. There is a real Western ranch heritage here as well. And I almost forgot to mention the two big race tracks Santa Anita Park and Del Mar in my area.

Also I live about a half hour from Norco, California which is known as “Horse Town USA.” I literally saw horses tied up to a hitching post outside a bar while driving through there one time! The other thing people outside of California might not be aware of is there is a huge equestrian neighborhood in the city of Burbank, which is actually also home to several entertainment studios (like Disney). This neighborhood has a few grand equestrian estates, but mostly medium sized homes with smallish sized backyards containing pipe corral stalls. There is an extensive network of trails that go up into the mountains. So when you ride on them you are still in a city, but it feels like you’re in the Old West.

Describe your family, and reveal if they are as horse crazy as you are.

My mom grew up loving horses, but lived on a dairy farm and horses were not viewed as productive animals. I’m told my grandpa referred to horses as “hayburners.” My paternal grandfather was a lawyer and had a hobby farm. He loved horses. He had a big chestnut Saddlebred mare named Suzy. My dad had a pony growing up, but he is very allergic to horses, so he never got too involved because he was so busy sneezing. I have two older sisters and one loves them and the other is ambivalent about horses. My husband likes horses and has ridden with me, but he’s not in love with them like I am.

Tell us about your current mount.

I have a big dark bay Thoroughbred gelding named Tiz A Knight. He is a retired racehorse I fell in love with about four years ago. His sire Tiznow is quite a famous horse who won the Breeders’ Cup Classic two times in the early 2000s.

Knight looks like a stunt double for this gorgeous stallion (although a little chubbier and not as sleek–I am boarding him in a 24/7 pasture setting.) He is smart, kind, and has wonderful ground manners. I joke he is easier to walk than my dogs. I really hope he will like fox hunting because I’m kind of hooked.

Describe the fox hunting scene where you live?

In Southern California fox hunting is not that common, I think just because it’s so heavily populated, there’s not a lot of open space. There are three main fixtures the hunt I’m a part of takes place at, and they are cattle ranches. Actually, fox hunting is a misnomer because the quarry out here is coyote.

My hunt in California has first, second and third fields, for example–first is fastest and with the hounds jumping all the things, second is fast, but there are options to jump or not jump, third is no jumping and mostly walking with some trotting. So far I have been riding in second field. I have it on my bucket list to make it to first field one day. I don’t think I’m fit enough or bold enough to do that quite yet. The season starts in October and runs through March. The hunt goes out every Wednesday and most Saturdays.

I just started fox hunting this year when I saw a Facebook post inviting equestrians to come on out and ride in a fox hunting clinic. I emailed and then called to get more information. The people I connected with were so welcoming and lovely. I got a friend to ride with me too–we both leased horses for the day (we have horses, but don’t have trailer and our horses have never hunted–yet). We had so much fun and felt like kids again. It was so freeing to leave the arena and be out in nature. I was hooked, and then joined as a social member for this year. I wanted to try it out a few more times before I committed. Each hunt I’ve ridden in is better than the last. My goal is to be a full-fledged member next season and ride my own horse.

What is the countryside like? For example, what is the terrain like and what types of fences do riders encounter on a typical day of hunting?

One of the fixtures we hunt at is actually a ranch that has been in many Hollywood movies. It’s got a rugged landscape with mountains and sagebrush and cacti that you could picture in a Western. The footing is quite sandy in places, which seems odd since we’re riding at elevation. It’s really beautiful and looks nothing like what you probably think of in a fox hunting painting or print. It’s not very green. There are not dozens and dozens of fences, but several coops and logs that used to be standing pine trees. A few ditches. Nothing like what I’ve seen on social media from hunting in the UK and Ireland.

What is your blog Saddle Seeks Horse about and how did you get started?

I started my blog back in 2013 as a way to chronicle horse shopping. I had just gotten married a few years earlier and about four months after my wedding, my longtime horse love colicked and that was it. I was out of horses for a few years and when I started shopping for a horse, it reminded me of dating! I had a really hard time dating and meeting someone, and horse shopping was so similar. The misrepresentation, the withheld truths, the online photos that don’t really tell the full story. So I started writing about it.

My blog is really for the everyday equestrian. By that I mean people, mostly women, who are horse-obsessed and work hard to support their passion. I am a full-time school teacher and I have a long commute to both my school and my horse (they’re about 90 miles from each other). I don’t get to ride every day due to the distance, but I do what I can and make the most of those precious hours in the saddle. When I’m not with my horse I can still think about him, write about horse-related topics, connect with fellow horse lovers online. I write for some of the popular horse magazines here in the United States such as Horse Illustrated and Sidelines.

I would love to have people follow my Facebook Page @saddleseekshorse and interact with me on Instagram @saddleseekshorse.  And for those who like reading stories about lame men and gallant steeds, they can take a look at my book Horses Adored and Men Endured on Amazon. It’s a memoir that tells how at age 10 I wanted to marry a horse, and when I was 30, I thought I might have to actually marry a horse. One reader compared it to a horse lover’s more wholesome Bridget Jones’ Diary. That was a fun compliment. And, of course, visit my blog saddleseekshorse.com for more stories and images of hunting in California!

Thanks for reading the tale of two fox hunters.

Question: Are you a veteran or rookie when it comes to fox hunting? Would you like to try riding in California or the UK? We’d love to hear from you in the comments section.