Life on the Farm: Hunting Highlights

The hunting season ended recently. I went out three times this year, which is once more than I did last year. The truth is that I am just barely good enough to keep up with the field. Having only regularly ridden horses as an adult, I really don't have the confidence to gallop full speed across 6 fields in one go, jump massive hedges and gates, and navigate my horse amongst the dozens of others surrounding me. Plus, I like to stay close to Christopher and Coco, but I also don't like to feel that I'm holding them back, as they prefer to jump everything and keep a faster pace. Despite the excitement I feel at the meet, two hours in I inevitably ask myself, "What the hell am I doing here?" If I am not worn out physically by then, I am usually exhausted mentally and emotionally. I often ask myself how the 70-year-olds easily carry on for hours after I have made the turn back for my horse box, and I think it comes down to adrenaline. Two hours of vein-pumping adrenaline is exhausting. I think the oldies have the experience to just let their horses take them along, not fighting to slow down or avoid jumps that look too big. Maybe when I reach that age, I will finally be able to just enjoy the ride.

But for now I just love going to the hunting meets on foot. People may have complicated feelings about the hunt and the people that enjoy it, but to me it represents a community-wide ritual with a history and authenticity that I have rarely seen in my life. I love the eccentric characters, the adorable and enthusiastic hounds, the beautifully groomed horses, the impeccable manners with which you are greeted, and of course, the clothes. The clothes are beyond chic. You rarely see anyone wearing anything new. Most of the boots, breeches, jackets, stock pins, and hunting caps are old and worn, likely passed down through generations, but still entirely elegant. The riders themselves also have stunning posture when sitting on a horse, looking far more glamourous than they do standing on the ground. Although it is my ambition to hunt more with each season, for now I am equally happy to be an observer capturing this incredible scene with my camera.

The huntsman greeting the field at the meet.

Sometimes a young hound gets distracted and subsequently separated from the pack. 

An early morning start during the cubbing season.

My favourite moment of the season. The beautiful girl in her bowler hat riding side saddle is too good to be true. (Photo by Christopher)

A fieldmaster coming through our farm late one day. When I am in my office writing I can often hear the hounds yelping in the distance. I first shut Ginger inside, even though it kills her to be excluded. She starts howling like a coyote at the sound of the pack approaching. Then I walk down to the fields, opening the gates to make it easier for field to pass through. Watching them all ride through our "backyard" is breathtaking.

Setting off from the meet.

Navigating the farm land.

These men have obviously spend some time on the ground on this particularly muddy day. (Photo by Christopher)

Christopher riding to a cubbing meet.

Me on Polo at my third and final meet of the season.

The morning light and the slower pace makes cubbing way more my speed.

You can always tell Matt by his top hat. He gets my vote for best dressed every time.

Taking a breather in the sun.

Christopher on his new horse Sylvie. Isn't she pretty?

Matt again. I love how his waistcoat peaks out from under his jacket. And he wears these fleece-y wool jersey breeches that are very chic. 

The hounds having a well-deserved rest at the end of the day.

Life on the Farm: Farm Fashion (not mine!)

There is nothing Christopher loves to do more than an outdoor chore. Whether it's spraying stinging nettles, strimming the edge of the garden, planting trees, removing a hedge, mowing the grass, tending to the compost heap, moving a large animal or even just weeding, he's in total heaven. He equally loves having the right gear for the chore. He spends hours in the farm supply shop and in the hardware store staring in awe and desire just like I do when I'm in Isabel Marant. Sometimes I walk outside, or round the corner towards home on my walk, and when I catch sight of him, I just can't help but burst out in laughter. His look often reminds me of a HAZ MAT inspector or Mr. Green Jeans from Captain Kangaroo or even, sometimes, when he gets overheated and unzips his white jumpsuit, of Elvis. Despite the hilarity, I thoroughly enjoy witnessing the pleasure Christopher takes in wearing and doing what he loves. 

Christopher in his beloved green onesie. But it's really more about the gear, isn't it?

More gear, and a white plastic onesie, the height of farming chic. 

He put on a special onesie that I'd never seen before to guide our giant pig into a trailer. I especially love the door-as-animal-handling-accessory. 

Elvis in the garden.

Using man toys to compliment his look.

Christopher's Breaking Bad moment.

Celebrating the arrival of the baby pigs in a Carhartt onesie. It's the winter version of his green one and is lined in flannel. 

Loving the red gloves.

ACE, the Chanel logo of hardware store fashion. 

Rainy day garden get up.

The gloves add just the right pop of colour. 

Always armed with the right hat for the right moment.

Life on the Farm: More from The Selby

You all know I am such a huge fan of Todd Selby, and that he paid us a visit in the summer of 2012 when we first moved to England. Some of his photos ran in The Guardian last year and I posted them here. This week he posted his own edit of the pictures on his website. I loved seeing the additional pictures of our kids living out their farm life dreams, and Christopher was delighted that he included the more real, messier parts of the farm like the abandoned barns, the storage sheds and the compost pile. Enjoy!

The best view of the farmyard is from the treehouse where you can see the side of the cottage, the old grain barn and sheds in the distance. The stables and old piggeries (where Christopher's painting studio is) are across the track on the right side.

Zach headed down the fireman's pole.

Zach drawing in the treehouse. We have since transformed this space into a little art studio for the kids. 

Old Land Rovers are the best family cars for the countryside. We can fit 10 people inside comfortably (with seat belts!) and you can cross even the most muddy, bumpy terrain. We love ours.

Giving Zach a cuddle in the Land Rover.

It's funny to me that I look at home in the garden here because I am so not a gardening person, apart from liking to pick the flowers to make arrangements for the house. Occasionally I do some weeding, but it is really more Christopher's passion.

Poor Clementine. We went out to feed her one morning and she had died. She was only a year old. Life on the farm can be really harsh sometimes. 

Coco feeding her twins - Clemmie and Hamlet. 

Jack Bauer and Inspector Clouseau chowing down on fresh grass.

Coco always says she's going to train the donkeys to be ridden, but it hasn't happened yet. But otherwise, she is a real pro on the farm - helping out with all the animals and not afraid to get her hands very dirty.

I posted most of the interiors of the house in my last Selby post, but there were some nice details he included this time, like the 70's fashion illustrations I bought at a yard sale on Shelter Island.

I don't know what it is about England, but we eat an unfathomable amount of toast here. Therefore, many condiments are required.

Cheese! We eat a lot of cheese here too, as we did when Todd came to visit. My shirt and vest are by Proenza Schouler, by the way.

I love this picture of Christopher. Our house is really his genius. He converted it from a cart shed 25 years ago. 

A silhouette of Christopher by artist Elliott Puckette.

A glimpse of Christopher's motorcycle collection from days past.

The most photogenic part of the farm is definitely the garden shed. People love to fantasize that there is some cute little guest bedroom with a fireplace in there. As much as I would like that to be true, it really is just a garden shed. Christopher feels it's pretentious to convert every old building into something overly cute and decorated, so it just is what it is - a garden shed. 

The inside of the garden shed. Doesn't get more real than that.

Another view of the garden shed. It has since been organised a bit, but nothing dramatic. 

Coco has since moved onto to a bigger horse, but Polo will always be her true love. He has taught her everything she knows about riding and now it's time for her to teach a younger horse how it's done. Polo remains a legend around here though - he has been ridden by my niece and many neighbours over the years so all the local trainers and teachers from pony club know him well and give him lots of shout outs. Recently he also became a top model when he appeared on the cover of JCrew and the back page of Teen Vogue. As you can tell he is very loved.

Some of Coco's rosettes in the tack room. The rest are in her bedroom.

In the summer I get very into arranging flowers for the house. Occasionally I mix, but on the whole I like very simple arrangements with just one variety of flower. 

The barn. Ugh!!!!! What an amazing space, right? But you can see what a money pit and a time suck this would be. Sometimes we get so excited by the idea of doing it up and living on a bigger scale but then we think about how much we love the simplicity of our lives at the moment and realise how grateful we are for what we already have. Maybe some day.....

A window in our "master bathroom" in the barn. 

Even though we have no current plans to start construction, the fantasy lives on in the reclaimed wood, windows, and architectural details Christopher has accumulated to one day use in this project.

Gingy girl, catching her breath on the top of the hill. 

Christopher showing off his perfect soil from the compost pile.

Have you ever seen such a smile?