The importance of a good hunt horse, lesson learned once again.

 Yesterday I went foxhunting here at the farm with the TN Valley Hunt. I was taking a student out for his first hunt so I let him ride my "made" field hunter Isabella in my very balanced Flyover saddle that is made for hunting and cross country jumping. John was riding Falstaff so I decided to ride my "carriage" horse Ritza in my dressage saddle since we were not going first flight. No problem I thought....then the snow started blowing so hard sideways that you couldn't see anything. Trotting through the woods blind can be a exciting experience and was all well and good till Ritza over and over tried to buck me off, especially after jumping ditches and logs like a crazed grand prix jumper! As the day progressed I knew I was on borrowed time so I went to the back of the field in search for some calmness:) I didn't get it. 

I saw the log coming up that was on a slight down hill and saw the riders ahead of me having trouble, but all stayed on and then the next thing I knew I was flying through the air and realized, oh sh** I am falling off! (Ritza took off about 15 ft too early and then bucked). Then I hit and continued to hit various body parts as I flipped down the hill:) My first thought was I can't even remember the last time I fell off- then my next thought was well thats what I get for not riding a real true hunt horse! Especially in a dressage saddle, I knew better but thought I could get by....the number one thing I tell prospective fox hunters is that its all about having the right horse and equipment. My student riding my wonderful hunt horse Isabella finished the hunt a few hours later, smiling. I decided to come on back with a friend who had to get back to work. Next time I am riding Falstaff and John can ride another young one! As for Ritza, she will go back into the carriage and keep on showing in CDE's where she is a great driving horse.