Polishing my boots, I was filled with excitement at the prospect of trying a new place to ride. New country to explore, new horses to meet. Well, to be honest, the countryside isn’t totally new in that it is only twelve miles from where I habitually ride but, nonetheless, it is different. English landscapes alter and modulate as the geology changes - and the geological map of the British Isles looks like marbled paper in its complex patterns and colours. The new yard is in Beaufort Hunt country, characterised by large pastures, excellent bridleways, walls and hedges carefully maintained for the hunt to jump over. Much of the woodland was first planted as cover for foxes to live in so they could then be chased in the winter. Hunting is deeply paradoxical. My usual hacking is in old parkland, with grassy rides designed to provide distant vistas and planned woodland to provide specimen trees. But a new place means clean boots and an early arrival so time to get on….