Several different life events caused me to give up riding altogether until about three years ago. After 31 years I was back in the saddle! At the barn where we both keep our horses I met Dee Minault, the first flight fieldmaster at Beech Grove (http://www.beechgrovehunt.com) . One cold night she was all alone in the barn braiding her horse and she told us that she was going hunting the next day. That started the whole "hunt fever" back up again.

This year Dee invited me to hunt as her guest at the New Year's Day informal hunt. Flo's horse is a Connemara cross mare who is very green(inexperienced), and I rode her in the third flight that day. She was a dream in the hunt field, and seemed to enjoy herself as much as I enjoyed riding her. When the hunt was over I asked Dee how I could become a member of Beech Grove Hunt. My daughter, Flo, and I joined shortly thereafter as members, and intend to be very involved in the hunt and its activities.

Dee has taken on the role as mentor, friend, and general guide to things about hunting that I should know. She's a saint to be so good with my kids who can try the patience of  even those with the most laid back temperament.

After that New Year's Day hunt I was exhilarated and tired at the same time. If it had ended there, it would have been a fantastic day, but I met Elese and Dale and all the members that were there. They were so warm and welcoming that I knew I wanted to become part of the group.

The rest let's say, is history. Now we hunt whenever we are able, and have done quite a bit of hunting since cubbing season opened in mid September.