By Julie Reardon

Because we’ve had what seems like a colder than normal winter, many of us, especially out here in the Blue Ridge hunt country, are anxious for spring. By March, the sun does feel stronger and days are getting longer; early blooming daffodil tips are emerging and buds are forming on flowering trees. But each spring rain, needed or not, makes for sodden dirt roads and swollen creek beds in western Loudoun and Fauquier counties. That shiny car you just had the winter salt washed off of is about to become splattered with mud. Maybe even stuck in it so badly you need to have it towed.

Gravel roads and driveways swallow what little gravel wasn’t scraped low by winter plowing and become mud roads and drives. Many early spring point to points have been canceled because of mud. Since they’re held in farm pastures and fields, their race course itself might be adequate but the sodden muddy fields cannot accommodate the spectator traffic. If there has been much rain the week before a meet, it’s always a good idea to call the information number listed to make sure the event hasn’t been canceled or postponed.

If you have dogs, you’ve had to wipe muddy paws whether you live in a town house or amidst 100 acres. Maybe not just paws, either; dogs love mud. And nothing loves you more than a wet, muddy dog.

Horse owners have to learn to deal with mud; areas where horses congregate like gates, near barns and watering troughs quickly turn into quagmires during mud season. Horses themselves are like little children, they seem to love mud, including wallowing in it. Cleaning the mud off a thick winter coat is a rigorous work-out and light colored horses never really look clean during mud season. And most of us have forgotten that we thought mud was fun in our younger days, too. Mud pies, face paint for playing cowboys and Indians; muddy clothes someone else would wash and more.

Now, if you happen to still think getting muddy is fun, mud bog racing really is a thing and has become quite popular in the rural South. Locally you can find them at Virginia Motor Speedway in Jamaica, VA, on the middle peninsula, as the strip of land between the Rappahannock and York rivers is known. Officials of the Pit at Virginia Motor Speedway have two scheduled: Saturday, May 17 and October 4. These mud bogging events feature classes for mega trucks and multiple hill-n-hole divisions, including one for kids. The Pit at VMS is located on the grounds of Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway on U.S. Route 17, eight miles north of Saluda, VA, and 25 miles south of Tappahannock, VA, less than two hours from the DC area. Other venues offer races for ATVs and even shoe leather runners can find extreme cross country events that incorporate mud into the course.