Oak Grove Hunt Club held its annual Hunter Pace on March 31 at Blackwater Creek Ranch near Laws Hill, Mississippi. Blackwater Creek Ranch is a working cattle ranch with beautiful countryside, rolling pastures interspersed with woods. Separate courses were flagged for jumpers and non-jumpers. Teams of two, three or four in both English and Western tack, as well as Saddlebreds and Tennessee Walking Horses, competed. The weather was perfect with clear skies and warm temperatures in the 60s.
The riders were encouraged to choose a team name and to wear costumes accordingly. A prize was given for the most creative theme and costumes.
Some teams wore matching shirts; some wore T-shirts with slogans. One cute one was 4-year-old Evelyn McGee dressed as a fairy princess, complete with wings, accompanied by her father Dr. Shannon McGee as her “defender.” They rode a pair of matching Haflingers. Evelyn was the youngest rider, but this was not her first time to compete. She rode in last year’s Oak Grove Hunter Pace.
At age 85 years and 6 months, Jack Bowman ex-MFH of Oak Grove Hunt club was the oldest competitor. He estimated that in his 44 years as a member of Oak Grove, he had participated in 35 hunter paces.
The Hunter Pace is a timed trail ride over a flagged course. The idea is to simulate what may happen on an actual foxhunt. At the beginning of the ride, riders get a story line, telling the tale of a hunt: where the hounds, huntsman, whips and field members go, and what they see in a day of sport. The story sets the stage for the pace of several miles, which varies from slow walk to brisk trot to a fast hand gallop down the valley known as “Armadillo Alley.” Riders must follow the flagged trail. At places, the trail may double back, just as a fox would do to elude the hounds. One noticeable difference that one will never find on a real fox hunt is a refreshment wagon at the half-way point with water and campaign.
Awards were given to the winning teams whose ride times were closest to the ideal, predetermined time on both the jumping and non-jumping courses. Other awards were given for best theme, slowest team, and fastest team. The costume winners were dressed as Easter Bunnies.
The riders were encouraged to choose a team name and to wear costumes accordingly. A prize was given for the most creative theme and costumes.
Some teams wore matching shirts; some wore T-shirts with slogans. One cute one was 4-year-old Evelyn McGee dressed as a fairy princess, complete with wings, accompanied by her father Dr. Shannon McGee as her “defender.” They rode a pair of matching Haflingers. Evelyn was the youngest rider, but this was not her first time to compete. She rode in last year’s Oak Grove Hunter Pace.
At age 85 years and 6 months, Jack Bowman ex-MFH of Oak Grove Hunt club was the oldest competitor. He estimated that in his 44 years as a member of Oak Grove, he had participated in 35 hunter paces.
The Hunter Pace is a timed trail ride over a flagged course. The idea is to simulate what may happen on an actual foxhunt. At the beginning of the ride, riders get a story line, telling the tale of a hunt: where the hounds, huntsman, whips and field members go, and what they see in a day of sport. The story sets the stage for the pace of several miles, which varies from slow walk to brisk trot to a fast hand gallop down the valley known as “Armadillo Alley.” Riders must follow the flagged trail. At places, the trail may double back, just as a fox would do to elude the hounds. One noticeable difference that one will never find on a real fox hunt is a refreshment wagon at the half-way point with water and campaign.
Awards were given to the winning teams whose ride times were closest to the ideal, predetermined time on both the jumping and non-jumping courses. Other awards were given for best theme, slowest team, and fastest team. The costume winners were dressed as Easter Bunnies.
