05-10-2022, 08:58 PM
I suppose it would be a good idea around now to explain the layout of The Summertide and Barnstead Hunt Horse Race.
On the private property of Lord Tatem, it's technically a four-and-half mile steeplechase in which competitors from as far
as Wildhorn County have encountered such fences and ditch-obstacles that it's said it'll make the average rider hesitant
to take part in. The prize for the brave winner of this contest is one thousand numma and the Summertide and Barnstead
trophy, a gold cup engraved with the distinguished title of the race and the victor.
Six hurdles on a course travelled around twice and designed by the best landscape artists that Lord Tatem's money could
buy to separate jockey from horse. One might be believe that such investment would be the reason why the fourth fence
is named 'Archibald's Hindrance' by certain parties.
The first two fences are fairly high and are constructed of long wooden boards with freshly-cut spruce branches strapped
around them in the attempt to emulate a hedge. From what little information is available about the famous county chase,
it was decided to erect these fences in this manner due to the memory of what certain residents of Dibbleswith did with
a rather well-honed stake hidden in the naturally-grown hedges.
The third obstacle -as a particular soothsayer would describe, is a 'bit-of-a-bugger'. It's basically two high fences placed
fairly-close together and shrouded with the obligatory evergreen foliage. This is the one that always unseats the jockeys
who never committed themselves to researching the Summertide and Barnstead race. You see, the ground on the other
side of the hurdle is lower than where the horses launch themselves from and to some of the older patrons of The Merry
Oak Tavern in Dibbleswith know the fence as 'The Fall'.
If the valiant contestant finds his mount's legs aren't shattered by the alarming drop on the other side of The Fall, Archibald's
Hindrance awaits and with it, quite a distance to reach the aristocratic-titled barrier. This is where the participants can jostle
for a leading position, but this stretch to the next fence can be taxing on the horse and why it was designed that way. I heard
that a professional equestrian once said this strategic scamper was the most crucial part of the whole race.
Believe it or not, Archibald's Hindrance has a bower or pergola-type surround that stands high enough that if a jockey lifts his
or her head up during the jump, their hat can be snagged and even cause said rider to become unseated. So a large circular
trellis decked-out with ivy, Dutchman’s Pipe and Morning glory entwined in a garland-effect set to scare the Billy-Be-Jezus out
of the tiring horse and beneath this elaborate nod to the dignitary who funded the construction, a five foot-high fence smothered
with the usual spruce branches. This engagement isn't for the faint of heart.
Following the white-painted barriers of the course, the group of entrants for the large prize money reward and the acclaimed
cup now turn left to begin the last section of the actual course. However, this part is -in reality, only the second portion of the
Summertide and Barnstead Hunt Horse Race. Twice around, remember?
But to regain some stature from my smug reminder, one could suggest the next obstacle isn't a fence and they'd be correct,
it's an artificial tributary of the River Skinny. Back in Lord Bennet Jasper Tatem's time, the Groundsmen of the estate decided
to irrigate the massive vegetable gardens and thought it wise to dig a channel that would assist in growing the bountiful fare
often found on the dinner table of Lord Archibald's father.
However, halfway through the excavation, the Nurserymen realised that a single conduit needs an outlet to avoid flooding and
so, the stream meandering back to the Skinny that's bordered by two three-foot fences became part of the Summertide and
Barnstead Hunt Race. It's a wide one and many riders have found themselves taking an early bath.
The final obstacle is 'Ivor's Folly', a reversed-idea of The Fall. A three-foot spruce-branch covered fence succeeds a higher
hurdle of five-feet with the land behind Ivor's Folly above the take-off side. This usually brings horses to their knees and the
easy-looking obstruction is named after Lord Jasper's original rival, Sir Ivor Bentone.
If all of this doesn't break legs, dislocates shoulders or draw concussion, the run-in on the second circuit seems like a million
leagues long. Any remaining horses are exhausted and it takes great expertise to evoke an extra chunk of pace from one's
mount in order to cross the winning-line first. Expertise -Peggy Powler came to realise as she was tucked-up in her satchel
hanging in Diabolus' stall, she just hadn't been trained to obtain.
But sleep brings its own type of salve and in the Last Witch of Underhill's dreams, she rode the race and remembered what
the Sprites had told her. Morning mist makes a fine blind for covert observation, especially when one's home lies in the balance
and a friend needs that extra chunk of help.
On the private property of Lord Tatem, it's technically a four-and-half mile steeplechase in which competitors from as far
as Wildhorn County have encountered such fences and ditch-obstacles that it's said it'll make the average rider hesitant
to take part in. The prize for the brave winner of this contest is one thousand numma and the Summertide and Barnstead
trophy, a gold cup engraved with the distinguished title of the race and the victor.
Six hurdles on a course travelled around twice and designed by the best landscape artists that Lord Tatem's money could
buy to separate jockey from horse. One might be believe that such investment would be the reason why the fourth fence
is named 'Archibald's Hindrance' by certain parties.
The first two fences are fairly high and are constructed of long wooden boards with freshly-cut spruce branches strapped
around them in the attempt to emulate a hedge. From what little information is available about the famous county chase,
it was decided to erect these fences in this manner due to the memory of what certain residents of Dibbleswith did with
a rather well-honed stake hidden in the naturally-grown hedges.
The third obstacle -as a particular soothsayer would describe, is a 'bit-of-a-bugger'. It's basically two high fences placed
fairly-close together and shrouded with the obligatory evergreen foliage. This is the one that always unseats the jockeys
who never committed themselves to researching the Summertide and Barnstead race. You see, the ground on the other
side of the hurdle is lower than where the horses launch themselves from and to some of the older patrons of The Merry
Oak Tavern in Dibbleswith know the fence as 'The Fall'.
If the valiant contestant finds his mount's legs aren't shattered by the alarming drop on the other side of The Fall, Archibald's
Hindrance awaits and with it, quite a distance to reach the aristocratic-titled barrier. This is where the participants can jostle
for a leading position, but this stretch to the next fence can be taxing on the horse and why it was designed that way. I heard
that a professional equestrian once said this strategic scamper was the most crucial part of the whole race.
Believe it or not, Archibald's Hindrance has a bower or pergola-type surround that stands high enough that if a jockey lifts his
or her head up during the jump, their hat can be snagged and even cause said rider to become unseated. So a large circular
trellis decked-out with ivy, Dutchman’s Pipe and Morning glory entwined in a garland-effect set to scare the Billy-Be-Jezus out
of the tiring horse and beneath this elaborate nod to the dignitary who funded the construction, a five foot-high fence smothered
with the usual spruce branches. This engagement isn't for the faint of heart.
Following the white-painted barriers of the course, the group of entrants for the large prize money reward and the acclaimed
cup now turn left to begin the last section of the actual course. However, this part is -in reality, only the second portion of the
Summertide and Barnstead Hunt Horse Race. Twice around, remember?
But to regain some stature from my smug reminder, one could suggest the next obstacle isn't a fence and they'd be correct,
it's an artificial tributary of the River Skinny. Back in Lord Bennet Jasper Tatem's time, the Groundsmen of the estate decided
to irrigate the massive vegetable gardens and thought it wise to dig a channel that would assist in growing the bountiful fare
often found on the dinner table of Lord Archibald's father.
However, halfway through the excavation, the Nurserymen realised that a single conduit needs an outlet to avoid flooding and
so, the stream meandering back to the Skinny that's bordered by two three-foot fences became part of the Summertide and
Barnstead Hunt Race. It's a wide one and many riders have found themselves taking an early bath.
The final obstacle is 'Ivor's Folly', a reversed-idea of The Fall. A three-foot spruce-branch covered fence succeeds a higher
hurdle of five-feet with the land behind Ivor's Folly above the take-off side. This usually brings horses to their knees and the
easy-looking obstruction is named after Lord Jasper's original rival, Sir Ivor Bentone.
If all of this doesn't break legs, dislocates shoulders or draw concussion, the run-in on the second circuit seems like a million
leagues long. Any remaining horses are exhausted and it takes great expertise to evoke an extra chunk of pace from one's
mount in order to cross the winning-line first. Expertise -Peggy Powler came to realise as she was tucked-up in her satchel
hanging in Diabolus' stall, she just hadn't been trained to obtain.
But sleep brings its own type of salve and in the Last Witch of Underhill's dreams, she rode the race and remembered what
the Sprites had told her. Morning mist makes a fine blind for covert observation, especially when one's home lies in the balance
and a friend needs that extra chunk of help.
Edith Head Gives Good Wardrobe.