Whipping -in with Barclay Rives at Keswick

Day 9 was my grande finale. I decided to skip Bedford County (too far away) and was invited to come back to Keswick on Wednesday. This is a premier hunt in North America and I was delighted to have the chance to hunt with them again. To my surprise, Tony Gammell, their wonderful and talented huntsman, offered to let me ride up with their equally renown whipper-in Barclay Rives. I accepted and had a great day following one of the best whippers- in in the country. We followed Tony and their fast American pack,  exchanging comments about PennMaryDels and American/Crossbred hounds. Barclay was wearing a video cam for a documentary they are making. It was a slower day than Monday but it was a great honor for me to whip with one of the best hunts in the country! At one point Barclay took me deep into a lovely woods we were hunting through and showed me a lone headstone, in the middle of nowhere that said,  "Here lies three Confederate soldiers. Deserters. Shot and Buried. May God Rest Their Souls 1864."  Wow, it was amazing. I wondered about the soldier who came back to mark their final resting place. It was a quiet woods, just birdsong and the sounds of Tony hunting his hounds through the covert. I felt transported back 150 years and felt a deep love for this sport that has changed little in centuries. I thanked Keswick for a lovely day, a couple good runs, big jumps and the  honor to go out with Barclay. It has been an awesome 10 days of hunting in the most beautiful hunt country in the land. Thanks to the organizers, it was great!!

Farmington Hunt -Day 8

Farmington Hunt is close to Charlottesville and was the largest turnout so far I think. A lot of riders. Another picture perfect fall day along the Blue Ridge, we spent most of the day in lovely woods, up and down hills and back and forth across a big stream (little river?). American hounds worked very well for the huntsman and wife whipper-in Irish duo who have been at Farmington for 11 years I was told.They didn't look that old, must have been very young when they started here! Nice big jumps and a couple of decent runs. I think I liked the river fording the best , as we entered the stream and walked several hundred feet downriver ( or up) each time to exit riverbed. It was very beautiful. I wonder what trout think of horses? I can't believe it has been 8 days of beautiful weather, this trip has been fantastic.

Keswick Hunt- Day 7

Today was the BEST!!  We galloped and jumped lots of fences and saw some awesome hound work. Today was fantastic, exactly what hunting in Virginia should be like.  I have a humongous smile on my face that will not stop. I realized that this really is an adrenaline junkie sport. In the first twenty miutes at Keswick we were galloping so fast I was hard pressed to keep up and I was riding first flight, right behind Jennifer Nesbitt, our terrific fieldmaster. She and I met at the Field Hunter Championship this year and it was great to ride together again. She has a faster Thoroughbred than me and mine's fast! After the first wild gallop trying to keep up with Tony Gammell and Keswick's American pack, I asked Jennifer about worrying about holes. She said, " I was watching." Yeah, right, the tears were flying out of my eyes we were going so fast!. Slightly, well maybe more than slightly, out of control, this is what fast, hard hunting is really like. I think it compares to ocean surfing big waves, or skiing black diamonds or white water kayaking- out of control, exhilarating, mind-blowing sensation. Going downhill at a gallop is like skiing big mountains and you hope you don't fall in either. The jumps were great, fairly big coops but very inviting and the thrill of jumping at speed and it just being right is awesome. I had fun today. Weather was also perfect, the countryside is big pastures and ponds and lovely woods. I wish I lived here and could hunt this country all the time. I did not have time to take many photos today, just at opening and coming home!

Oak Ridge Foxhound Hunt Club -Day 6

Ms. Rita Mae Brown hosted us today at her Oak Ridge Foxhounds Hunt Club, in Afton, VA.  The mountains and pine woods we rode through were spectacular. The air was crystal clear, that same heartbreak blue sky we have had most of the week was overhead and the pine trees were cool and fragrant.  Scenting was difficult again, I don’t know if it is something about the leaves falling or the temperature but none of the days has been rip-roaring hunts, but the scenery has been incredible. I have had a great time seeing the different hunts, both hound –wise and country side hunted. I will never hear an owl hoot again and not think of Rita Mae Brown. As she weaves through the mountainside or swampy pastures she softly “hoots” to her hounds, calling them “ Good children! “.   All huntsmen are unique but Ms. Brown is very entertaining. Announced at the start that, “ (she) hunts the old way! I let my hounds go and trust them. Sometimes it seems they have gotten away but I trust them and let them hunt”. I am not sure what that means, although she only uses one whip. Our fieldmaster was excellent and kept us very close to Ms. Brown and her hounds. It was really fun to watch her, with all the stories from her books in my imagination. The fieldmaster did whisper to me that she watches her “P’s and Q’s” for fear that she will end up as a character meeting a bad end in one of Rita Mae’s books

Middlebrook Hunt - Day 5

This was another PennMaryDel pack, almost exclusively bluetick and black and tan hounds. The master, who hunted the hounds was an energetic, brusk fellow who announced himself by saying, "Welcome, ride anywhere you want , just keep up!"  The few of us who were from Hunt Week sort of looked at each other and wondered, "What now?"  The day started very promising with a fast run on the first fox, who went to ground after about 20 min. Their countryside is another incredibly beautiful range of pastures and woodlands. More hilly than Glenmore, but we enjoyed vast panoramic views of the mountains. Reminded me of Ireland  in that you were on one hillside and could  see very far across the valley to other farms and distant beautiful green pastures. Lots of cows. Not too many fox. I am not sure if these hunts are experiencing a downturn in fox population or if the scenting has just been very tough, but I have been surprised at the lack of fox. I remember years past when foxes would jump out of covers everywhere in Virginia. Not the case on this trip. But we had a good day and I hope these members realize how fortunate they are to have this beautiful countryside.

Glenmore Hunt- Day 4

Today was windy and cold. I did not bring warm enough clothes for this wind. We were hunting near a place called Buffalo Gap with Glenmore Hunt in the Shenandoah Valley and the members said it is windy there most of the time. Yikes!  The best part was they have PenMaryDel hounds like Marlborough (my hunt) and it was very nice to hear their beautiful voices again. I have been hunting with Crossbreds and American hounds these past few hunts and I love PenMaryDels the best. The former do not have the deep voice that you can hear all over a covert or a pasture. The Crossbreds are fast, but that just means they disappear fast and then you can't hear them!! In the kind of windy conditions we had today the Penmarydels were perfect. Glenmore even has some drafts from Marlborough, so I was able to see some old faces, Nimble, Lansdale, Leia and Oprah to mention a few. They were doing very well and are beloved! The country is so gorgeous, open and unending views of the mountains. We really have nothing like it in Maryland so I am enjoying the beauty of these different hunts and everyone is so friendly and inviting. I saw some old friends also, Hugh Brown and his friend Jim. They were respectively field secretary and fieldmaster!. I remember loaning them a horse for their first hunts with Marlborough quite a few years ago. Tomorrow is Middlebrook, another hunt in the Shenandoah. The colors of the fall leaves are peaking right now, so it is spectacular.

Old Dominion Hounds -Day 3

Another fabulous fall day. We have been so lucky with this weather so far. Today was with Old Dominion in Flint Hill, Virginia. They have a mostly American pack, very consistent in coloring (tan and white). That is the legendary Melvin Poe in the foreground of photo,talking to Old Dominion's huntsman. We hunted with bitch pack today and they gave us several good runs. It warmed up very quickly again today and I think scent diminishes as the temperature goes up. The countryside is so incredibly lovely with large tracts of pastures, cool wooded trails and trout streams that both hounds and horses are happy to traverse and get a drink during the morning.We hunted about 3 hours and called it a day after putting one fox of a brace we jumped to ground. The landowner came out to watch and was relieved that "her" fox was safely into his den! I came home this afternoon to rest horses, wash clothes and see my husband ( not in that order!). Tomorrow is off and Thursday it is down to Staunton area and the other side of the Blue Ridge. Someone said it is the Shenandoah Valley, so I am looking forward to some more beautiful scenery.

Day 2- Bull Run Hunt

Today was another gorgeous fall day, the kind you wait all year for. We met at The Hill and everyone had said how wonderful this fixture would be. Well, I don't know if it was the late start (10AM) or just a tough scenting day, but it was a fairly tame hunting day. We had one good run but that was it; but beautiful views of the Blue Ridge and lovely, large pastures to gallop in although the hounds really only fixed on the one run.  We did jump some decent size coops and some large logs but all in all it was just a pleasant fall day of hunting. They have tremendous country in Virginia and Bull Run is no exception. The hounds were Crossbred and this time we did not lose them but they had a tough time following a line. Our fieldmaster, Jerry, was a delightful Southern gentleman who declared that we had not lost the rest of the field, but they had lost us, after a fall and a loose horse had derailed the majority of the first field. The five of us left, myself, two women from Dallas ,Texas, and a member of Bull Run had a fast run for about 10 min and then spent the rest of the morning just enjoying the day.

Virginia Hunt week- Day 1: Rappahannock

Today was a gorgeous fall day, one of those kind when the air is crystal clear and the sky is heartbreak blue. We met at Red Oak Mountain to hunt with Rappahannock. There were three fields, about 40 riders I think. I went first flight and our fieldmaster, Virginia did a great job. The jumps were fairly big coops , a couple of timber rail things (bigger) and just pasture after pasture with incredible views of the Blue Ridge mountains. We topped Red Oak Mt. after about 1 hour and enjoyed some picture -taking of Old Rag. I know this mountain because my kids have all climbed it with school trips. It is tall but it felt like we were equally as high. We went up and down the mountain twice, no bears thank you ( always mentioned) and the scenery was really spectacular. The hounds, Crossbreds mainly, ranged far ahead it seemed. We were on a different mountaintop than the hounds several times it seemed. The huntsman called for quiet and we listened, hoping they were circling back. Which they did a couple of times, then the last time they booked it out of country. The huntsman remarked that " Wouldn't you know, they had 2000 acres on the north side of the mountain and the fox and hounds went south - where we could not follow!". But it was actually a great day, five hours long. We did not come in until 2Pm, our group picking up 11 hounds as we went.  I loved it . Tomorrow is Bull Run and now after a shower and rest, there is a cocktail party in Culpepper.

2011: Two weddings and a funeral

After two weddings and a funeral this year I am taking a break. Can't believe it was a week ago that I was preparing for Sam's rehearsal dinner and then wedding. It was a beautiful wedding with gorgeous weather and all a dream wedding should be. Seeing family together and your child so happy makes all the work and  effort so worth it.  Sarah was married in April, Sam a week ago and the funeral was that my Mom died in January. 2011 has been a very big year. I want to just chill for a bit.  Decided to do Virginia Hunt Week, which means I am trying to do 10 hunts in about as many days. The first one was Casanova this Saturday but was unfortunately canceled due to Tommy Lee having pneumonia I heard. Hope he feels better soon. So now it starts with Rappahannock on Sunday. I am taking two horses and staying at Hunter's Rest, a horse B& B near Warrenton. Bull Run on Monday and Old Dominion on Tuesday. Can't wait. I will post a picture or two and a description of each hunt if I can.

wedding day

It is here and it is a gorgeous day. All is done and there is a moment to enjoy and wait. My eldest son is getting married in three hours and embarking on his biggest and best adventure. I think the best part of weddings may be that I get to see my family. They have come from Edmonton and Los Angeles, even Hawaii! We cram so much catching up in a few days,  I wish I lived closer to all of them ( kinda impossible)  So I will now ENJOY today.

after wedding

It was a wonderful, beautiful wedding. We are finally catching our breath after all the festivities and clean-up. It was a whirlwind and now I can relive it in all the photos. Sam and Stephanie shone like bright stars, beautiful and beaming. Family and love were themes that reached through the whole wedding, from the farm ceremony to the wonderful dinner setting and dancing to the wee hours.

Piedmont Hounds- Day 4

Well, they saved the best for last. We had the most awesome run yesterday at Piedmont. We met at Atoka which is one of their best fixtures I was told and we ran and ran and jumped and saw the most beautiful scenery. The Piedmont is gorgeous. Everyone needs to hunt with this group once in their life. Once may be enough for some but it is an exhilarating experience. They have a lot of fox, hounds never seem to check for long. The last run of the day was miles of galloping through manicured farms and estates (seemed like golf course type manicuring). We ended up and Ben Zohar's estate, beautiful red fox ahead by 100 yards, all hounds on, stretched out with maybe 40 riders galloping in a row behind. Gregg Ryan said to me later, "looked like a National Geographic photo", I wished my friend Isabel had been there for that photo op. I did not get picked , seems ex-racehorses are not quite the type that wins but it was so much fun. Polly banged her knee on one big wall, it blew up, we lost a shoe and I still have a sh**-eating grin on my face. I guess you can tell I loved it. Now to focus on son's wedding plans . One more week! Can't wait to see my family too!