HMX-1! The President’s Helicopter!

February 27, 2008

I was one of ten lucky lottery winners from our Quantico Officers Spouses Organization to be selected to attend a tour of HMX-1. This is a serious high security place and they had to run a background check (or some such) on me just to make sure I qualified to “get in” and see the birds!

They showed us a video about HMX-1 and its history before taking us up to security to sign out our visitors badges and finally through the security door. We got to go up in HMX-1, walk around and sit in the VIP chairs! It’s stocked with Starburst candies, gum and some other treats and even has it’s own toilet in case someone needs to use it on the ever so short flights the President takes on it! An interesting tidbit, H stands for Helicopter, M stands for Marine, X stands for Experimental and the 1 because there is only 1 squadron of them! It was truly a once in a lifetime experience!

Old Dominion Hounds and Keswick Joint Meet

February 23, 2008

Lucky me was able to car follow for the Old Dominion Hounds and Keswick Joint Meet and what fun! A quick view of the fox at one point and there was beautiful views of the hounds and field throughout! I’ve received quite the influx of emails with questions about fox hunting or fox chasing (whichever you’d like to call it) and hopefully we will answer some of those questions in our episode on March 15th. Oh and they enjoyed the beautiful countryside but all the foxes were safe in their dens which is the usual! 🙂

I’ve been working non-stop but enjoying every minute of it and we’ve been approached by several top western riders and trainers about episodes! I’m very much looking forward pursuing western episodes and learning more about some of these fine successful western and AQHA trainers! Yahoo!

Thanks for watching!

My first fox hunting (fox chasing) experience

February 19, 2008

Nervous is a word I would use to describe how I felt this morning. Exciting and anxious would work as well but I headed out for the 1.5 hour drive to Flint Hill, VA area for my first ever fox hunting experience this morning. If it weren’t for the ever SO comfy dress shirt Horse Country, see Dressing for the Hunt sponsored me and the second skin and oh so good for maintaining my seat FITS Breeches, see Innovative Riding Breeches I would have not known what to do!

Gus Forbush, Joint Master of Old Dominion Hounds, was kind enough to invite me to join the field this day. I sadly have not ridden since our Patrolling with the Mounted Police episode this past July and before that it was the beginning of June the morning we left the west coast for Virginia! Needless to say, I knew I was going to be sore but ready for it! I rode, Mountain Lad, a 15 year-old Thoroughbred with a heart of gold. I felt like a child again galloping across the countryside up and down hills!

About 30 minutes in, we were blessed with a viewing of the fox. He ran over the hill, towards us hilltoppers, saw us, stopped at about 100 yards and cunningly paused to take us in before springing off to his right. Of course, per usual, we did not catch a fox but enjoyed the chase.

This has inspired me to get into the ring and get some basic jumping lessons. I’m sure Morgan would be proud to read that comment! LOL!