Happy Boxing Day!

Happy Boxing Day!

While we didn’t have a full-blown Christmas this year….no tree and decorating kept mainly to the barn and exterior, it was just the right amount of Christmas that I needed this year and I’m ok with that! Next year there will be a new grandson and who knows, maybe a Christmas pony will bring a tree!

Nonetheless, it’s always fun to photograph the animals in their Christmas attire…I am sure they are wanting to run for the hills when they see the box come out full of santa hats and other silly items. This year the goats, normally the ones who have been most problematic, were the easiest to photograph, probably because I have learned to keep it simple with just a garland around their neck instead of trying to put the silly hats on them like in years past! The donkeys were also pretty easy, but those two bay geldings? It was like photographing my 3 kids and 2 dogs when they were young. But instead of getting the middle finger and tongues sticking out at me, I had biting and ears pinned and heads shaking the hats off. I have a blooper compilation on my socials, so be sure to check it out!

But I digress, for today is Boxing Day! How many of you will be foxhunting today? Or should I say, how many of you were up before dawn this morning to foxhunt? Never mind that the tradition originally began for servants being given this day off and being given a box to take home food, gifts and other goodies from their masters. In the equestrian world, Boxing Day has a far more important meaning, as this has become the holy grail of foxhunting, with everyone turned out decked to the nines. Hunts will also use this day to show their gratitude to huntsmen and staff, with members bestowing monetary gifts upon them. And of course, once the riding has come to an end for the day, there will be a tailgating breakfast, although some hunts will have a fully decorated table with all of the trimmings and more food than anyone can eat…and let’s not forget the stirrup cup that will be passed around, quite possibly before anyone has even mounted, for a warming sip of brandy or whiskey! I will never forget getting the call from my daughter after she had experienced her first foxhunt in Middleburg, Virginia, mecca of foxhunting lore. She had recently graduated from college and was catch-riding at a barn where foxhunting ruled. She asked me if I knew that there would be drinking at 5 am? It does explain a lot…

My first ever hunt was as a guest on my retired jumper, Sir Tally. I was so excited, but I forgot to consider that I would be at the back of the pack on a horse who still had just one speed, and it was not the walk! To make matters worse, my alarm clock failed to go off, leaving me driving like Tally galloped the jumper course, to get to the barn, where my barn mates had loaded Tally and my tack for me. In the chaos, my bridle got left behind. I had left it out the night before along with the rest of my gear but someone moved it and I thought it had been loaded in the trailer! It was with much angst as I went from trailer to trailer, looking for any bridle to borrow! I ended up with the wrong bit and slippery leather reins, not the rubber reins that I was used to! At the end of the ride however, I had a big grin on my face and I had the same feeling as a kid who had just ridden a roller coaster for the first time, screaming the whole way, only wanting to get back on when the ride was over! Nowadays, I am not as brave on my Thoroughbred and I regret not foxhunting my draftcross Tucker, who would have loved it. I will be thinking of those who are foxhunting today, enjoying your photos on social media! Tally Ho!

Enough with the reminiscing. I do want to mention a serious topic, something I have covered in the past. Not far from where I live, four horses were stolen two weeks ago, in Osteen, Florida, and while two were recovered, two have not been found. This is an ongoing problem in Florida for the illegal horse meat market. The good news is that there was an arrest made, an illegal from Cuba, who will be deported, but hopefully not before they get important information out of him first. (I will refrain from saying what I would like to be done with him!) I am reposting a link to my blog for keeping horses safe since there have been other new cases listed on NetPosse ID | Lost Horse, Stolen Horse, Missing Horse and Found Horse and Pet and Equine Database | ID System | Stolen Horse International 

Despite stealing horses being a 3rd degree felony in Florida, only a few have been arrested and convicted in the illegal slaughter trade. My husband has a hunch that there are probably a few thieves who were encountered by the horse owner as they were in the process of stealing the horse, and those are bodies that will never be found. Hmmm, he could be right, I know what I would do if I encountered someone attempting to steal mine (and we did have someone trespass our property right after we moved in, before cameras were installed. Gates were opened in the middle of the night, but for whatever reason, the person took off and thankfully everyone was safe.) So be diligent, keep your horses safe!

Happy New Year of the Horse and as always,

Don’t Forget to Hug Your Horse!

Lori