Tuesday was our second hunt of the season. After  an unseasonably cold winter, we’re enjoying an unusually warm week. It was  75 degrees today — almost too hot! But I’m not complaining.

The territory we hunted today is a beautiful one with lots of open fields for galloping. We had a very small group which meant we rode as a single field and could move along at a good clip. What a gorgeous day to be out following a pack of hounds!

But the best part came at the second cast when I was invited to ride with the huntsman. Riding up front is like having a front row seat. You get to watch the hounds work up close and personal, something that you don’t always get to see when you’re riding back in the field.

I’m not sure who enjoyed it more, me or Freedom. Some horses don’t like to leave the field; Freedom never looked back. He loves following the hounds and always hates to wait his turn at the cast and go with the field. When I told him to move out, he was off like a shot, keeping a watchful eye on the hounds.

I think he wants to be a staff horse so he can stay close to the hounds. The problem is me. To whip you really need to know they hounds and they need to get to know you. Right now it’s all I can do to keep all the balls in the air, but spending the time at the kennels and working with the hounds is definitely on my bucket list.