Most of the time we had to load all the horses and the hounds into the trailer and drive to a different place (which meant waking up even earlier). After putting the bridles on the horses and making sure that all the girths are tight (very important!) the horses were mounted and the hunt began. "Tally Ho!" and we are galloping across the sage, up one side of the mountain and down the other, running after the hounds who were chasing the coyote. Hunting gave us a great experience that we will never find in Austria. And through hunting and Lynn we met so many people. Everybody around Lynn is a great person and so friendly! It is really amazing, everyone wants to help out and you have a lot of people to turn to if you need anything! Now that it is almost time to go back home we know at least half of the hounds by name and each one of them has a different, great character. Almost every one of them is very friendly. They just love to come up to you and get petted. You call their name and they wag their tail and bark because they are so happy to be around you. We think they really love their life! We enjoy working here and we learned so much about horses and hounds and it must be said that we had our greatest moments around Lynn and her friends who are hunting through their life and have the biggest fun with it! Ciao, Ruth and Terry Alexis Collatos My seventeen year old niece visited the hunt barn this summer. Although she didn't hunt, I thought that a peak into a youthful experience in our off season would provide its own incite. I didn't know what to expect when I arrived in the Reno airport. Being a Bostonian, I don't often have the opportunity to spend time at Red Rock, or in the West, for that matter. All I knew was that I was here to visit my aunts for one week (one week which lengthened to three after I called home and begged). My expectations, however, were soon surpassed. The people and animals of Red Rock are unlike any I have ever met before, and being there in the summer, when things are (I assume) a little more relaxed, gave me a chance to enjoy them.

The everyday rituals of exercising and caring for horses and hounds were spiced up by trips to horse shows, pony swimming, vet calls, and parties. I met a fabulous group of people, energetic and warm, whom I am glad to know. I also learned a wide variety of useful knowledge, from how to swear in German to how to avoid lightning. Being able to come and work in the barn this summer has been one of the highlights of my year, and I send my thanks to everyone who made it such a wonderful experience. I must admit that barns in the summer are not always my favorite places, due to the heat. Nevada, with temperatures hitting 112 degrees, melted away any last doubts on the subject. Even with the heat wave, which I'm assured is unusual for the area, things proceeded in an orderly fashion. All the horses were exercised, all the lessons were given, all the tack was cleaned and the horses fed. After wondering bitterly how it was possible to function in such heat, I settled down and began to go with the flow. I learned new things everyday, from all different sources. Nikki, Ruth and Terry taught me how to swear in German, and a few other essential phrases. "Ich bin mude" (I am tired) "Vo est mine hoot" (where is my hat) "Wir gayhen swichmen!" (We're going swimming). Chrysann taught me how to crack a hunt whip and took me with her on vet calls, and Lynn taught me how to yell at the hounds and turn on the forehand. Tifannie taught me everything else about riding. Judy Vose explained the rules of life. Dena Cox told me how to find crystals, and Billy Brinson told me where to find a fugitive. All in all, I feel very learned. But I also had time away from all that strenuous brain stretching. Riding out with the hounds, taking the horses swimming, sleeping on the porch, and playing with the dogs were all fun diversions from barn chores, and wonderful ways to disappear when it was your turn to do dishes. All together the experience was great. For a city-dweller, to be able to go to the west and work in a barn for a few weeks is a priceless experience, not only for the change in climate, but also for the opportunity to live in a different lifestyle. I had a fabulous time at Red Rock, and I hope to return soon. Feel the Freedom Hunt Red Rock Wednesday 9/11/02 8AM No Coincidence