Post by Elaine on Oct 27, 2009 17:45:29 GMT
When Jack Walsh realised that Mrs Kehoe has bought her much-adored, twelve year old son Peter, a new pony and had signed him up with the local Pony Club he immediately saw a solution to a bit of an ‘awkward’ problem which had dogged the local hunt for many years.
As a result of some long forgotten but serious misdemeanour, no one could remember the last time the hunt had crossed the Kehoe farm. Jack Walsh’s lifelong interest and support for hunting was unquestionable, particularly so as he benefited from the lucrative hiring of hunters to what are commonly referred to as ‘visitors’ for a not insignificant fee.
It was while Mrs Kehoe was collecting her son from school some week later that Jack made his move. “Would you not let the young lad out for a day’s hunting?” Jack suggested. “There’s a meet at the cross roads next week and that lovely pony you bought him would be great over the banks around here, especially with such a good rider like Peter and I promise I’ll keep a good eye on him myself.”
And so it was, one week later after many long years of exclusion, the hunt once again crossed the Kehoe farm with its marvellous double banks and wide drains, and guess who occupied pride of place at the head of the field of followers but young Peter Kehoe.
However there was one problem, the lovely pony who was so well behaved at home and at the Pony Club turned into a real demon when he heard the hounds, he had absolutely no breaks. While Mrs Kehoe proudly drove around in her Jeep following the hunt, little did she realise that just fields away her precious son’s pony was totally out of control. Huge double banks were traversed at breakneck speed, drains as deep as the Grand Canyon were barely noticed and when the hunt happened to come onto the road, Peters pony’s performance would put many a rally driver to shame.
To their credit, realising that so much depended on young Peter’s well being, Jack Walsh ably assisted by anxious hunt staff did everything in their power to mind young Peter. Experienced hunting horses were used to guide the ‘out of control’ pony away from the more treacherous obstacles and it was a very tired but happy Jack Walsh who accompanied young Peter back to the Kehoe farmyard that evening to be re-united with his proud mother. “You have a right one there Mrs Kehoe”, Jack said. “He was up with the master all day, a natural horseman if ever I saw one”. He’ll sleep well tonight then” said Mrs Kehoe, “and so will we all,” whispered Jack under his breath.
And so it was that for many years the hunt enjoyed many great day hunting over the huge banks on the Kehoe farm. However nothing stays the same and some years later when young Peter decided that girls were of more interest than hunting the status quo soon returned. It appears that the hunt will have to wait for another generation to pass and perhaps another young Peter to get a new pony before the hunt will once again cross the Kehoe farm.
J. Heney.
As a result of some long forgotten but serious misdemeanour, no one could remember the last time the hunt had crossed the Kehoe farm. Jack Walsh’s lifelong interest and support for hunting was unquestionable, particularly so as he benefited from the lucrative hiring of hunters to what are commonly referred to as ‘visitors’ for a not insignificant fee.
It was while Mrs Kehoe was collecting her son from school some week later that Jack made his move. “Would you not let the young lad out for a day’s hunting?” Jack suggested. “There’s a meet at the cross roads next week and that lovely pony you bought him would be great over the banks around here, especially with such a good rider like Peter and I promise I’ll keep a good eye on him myself.”
And so it was, one week later after many long years of exclusion, the hunt once again crossed the Kehoe farm with its marvellous double banks and wide drains, and guess who occupied pride of place at the head of the field of followers but young Peter Kehoe.
However there was one problem, the lovely pony who was so well behaved at home and at the Pony Club turned into a real demon when he heard the hounds, he had absolutely no breaks. While Mrs Kehoe proudly drove around in her Jeep following the hunt, little did she realise that just fields away her precious son’s pony was totally out of control. Huge double banks were traversed at breakneck speed, drains as deep as the Grand Canyon were barely noticed and when the hunt happened to come onto the road, Peters pony’s performance would put many a rally driver to shame.
To their credit, realising that so much depended on young Peter’s well being, Jack Walsh ably assisted by anxious hunt staff did everything in their power to mind young Peter. Experienced hunting horses were used to guide the ‘out of control’ pony away from the more treacherous obstacles and it was a very tired but happy Jack Walsh who accompanied young Peter back to the Kehoe farmyard that evening to be re-united with his proud mother. “You have a right one there Mrs Kehoe”, Jack said. “He was up with the master all day, a natural horseman if ever I saw one”. He’ll sleep well tonight then” said Mrs Kehoe, “and so will we all,” whispered Jack under his breath.
And so it was that for many years the hunt enjoyed many great day hunting over the huge banks on the Kehoe farm. However nothing stays the same and some years later when young Peter decided that girls were of more interest than hunting the status quo soon returned. It appears that the hunt will have to wait for another generation to pass and perhaps another young Peter to get a new pony before the hunt will once again cross the Kehoe farm.
J. Heney.