Genesee Valley Hunt - Opening HUnt 2017

 Genesee Valley Hunt Opening Hunt 2017 - Friendship Stop #2 with Hark Forward

By Barbara Smith

Genesee Valley Hunt was awesome!  Six foxes put to ground in 3 ½ hours! Epp Wilson MFH (Belle Meade Hunt) called it the best red fox hunt he had ever been on. Renown since 1880, as one of the premier foxhunting clubs in North America, we were privileged to join Marion Thorne, MFH and huntsman, for their Opening Hunt on Sat, Sept. 23rd. The MFHA’s Hark Forward tour includes some Friendship stops and after leaving Eglington and Caledon Hunt in Ontario, we drove south to Geneseo, NY. 

W. Austin Wadsworth, a passionate foxhunter, established Genesee Valley Hunt in 1876. His family was well established in the Genesee Valley, as large tracts of land were inherited by generations from an original purchase by Colonel Jeremiah Wadsorth. Jeremiah was Commissary General to George Washington’s Continental Army and it is alleged he was privy to information that the new Congress was going to buy up all the old colonial currencies. He went south and made a very favorable trade, which enabled him to purchase 2,000,000 acres in the beautiful, arable Genesee Valley. W. Austin Wadsworth inherited some 6000 acres and proceeded to provide some of the best foxhunting sport to his fellow sportsmen. President Teddy Roosevelt and Harry Worcester Smith were a few of his friends who came to hunt, and with the latter, in 1907, he helped start the Masters of Foxhounds Association. The idea for the MFHA was hatched at his lovely estate and home, The Homestead, and following tradition, it was here that we met for Opening Hunt. The day dawned with a stirrup cup followed by a parade of foxhounds from The Homestead through town to his brother’s estate, where hounds were cast into first covert at 7:30 am.

Note the absence of scarlet coats. The story is told that Austin Wadsworth stated, in 1887, “I’ll be damned if anyone ever sees me in the hunting field in ‘Tory Red”. For generations Wadsworths have worn the blue and buff of our own Continental Army. If it was good enough for them, its good enough for me.” Hence there is no scarlet worn in the field. On this Saturday we had about 100 riders follow Marion Thorne MFH into the woods below first covert and a fox was picked up in about 15 minutes. This one quickly found cover in a brush pile nearby and after the short run we continued hunting. Hounds spoke on a second fox in short order, which ran several large circles in the initial field and woods, giving the car followers a chance to enjoy excellent hound music before going to ground. After praising hounds, Marion moved off northwards along an old railroad bed, which bordered deep woods with many paths. The footing was excellent except for a few muddy crossings that the horses quickly learned to jump. Here we picked up a fox that started a run of about 45 minutes with ever-increasing circles. At one point I thought we were on a coyote because of the speed with which we were galloping through the woods. The expression, “hell bent for leather” comes to mind, as we careened around trees and through the mucky spots. Riders started to pull up and wait alongside paths for the next turn of the run. It was an excellent fox, passing several dens before finally slipping into one in the middle of the woods. Marion walked in to praise hounds, after which we had a short respite to shed jackets and have a drink. It was now close to 90 degrees in the sun, but completely unfazed, Marion announced we were going to “The Gully” to continue hunting towards the kennels. Many ravines and gullies cross the Genesee valley and are the remains of glacial action. The large rocks and slabs of shale are full of fossils and the steep sides are good cover for foxes and coyotes.

For the next hour we ran up, down, around and through the gully! We had a split and the field followed Marion left after one group, which finally put the fox to ground up on a steep hillside above the creek bed.  The hounds that had split had rejoined the main pack after we believe sending their fox to ground and all were again praised by Marion after a slippery climb up the bank. After an incredible 5 foxes the hounds had a well-deserved drink in the creek before heading for home. Tired riders and horses were grateful for the shade of the woods as we climbed out of the gully, but this serious pack of hounds was not done. The field viewed the “kennel” fox heading north and hounds were on. We crossed Roots Tavern Rd at a gallop and put the sixth fox of the day to ground in a deep bramble patch behind John Walsh’s home. It was a day to remember, in spite of the heat, the Genesee hounds showed tremendous sport.

The Hunt hosted a lovely breakfast at The Homestead, where we were treated to a special tour of the “smoking” room.  W. Austin Wadsworth’s office, it was filled with innumerable mementoes of a long, long love affair with foxhunting. Painting, photos, books, stuffed foxes; old swords, spurs and even ancient arrowheads were everywhere. His hand-written journals were displayed on the desk. One could just imagine the lively recounting of many foxhunts and steeplechases in this room.

Austin’s son, W. P. Wadsworth, was as equally passionate about foxhunting as his esteemed father. He wrote “Riding to Hounds” in 1962, some 30 years after becoming Master of Genesee Valley Hunt. This small booklet is still considered to be the “Bible” of foxhunting, covering all manner of foxhunting etiquette. Routinely given to new members of a hunt, it humorously dictates the customs and traditions of his beloved sport. His son, also W. Austin Wadsworth, became Joint Master with his father in 1973 and solo Master in 1976. Austin’s sister, Martha, joined him as Joint Master in 1987 and they both remain today. The direct lineage continues as Marion Thorne, whose mother married Austin Wadsorth, became the third Joint Master and huntsman in 2006. She is as devoted to her hounds and hunting as any of the Wadsworth ancestors. And that the hounds reciprocate this love and respect is evident. They watch her every move and stay quietly beside her until allowed into covert. Her husband and professional whip/kennelman, Travis Thorne, is every bit as much as dedicated as Marion. Together they make a formidable team, which will ensure the future of Genesee’s reputation as a premier foxhunt. Eerily enough, Travis looks very much like the original Austin Wadsworth. The handlebar mustache is not yet white, but the engaging personality and pride he takes in the Hunt’s history is equal to any former Wadsworth.

Friendstop tour stop at Eglington and Caledon Hunt

Eglington and Caledon  Hunt- 1^st Friendship Tour stop, Sept 20^th, 2017

                                                            -By Barbara Smith

Who do you call for overnight accommodations for 10 horses and 5 people when your plans fall through 12 hours before arrival? In this case we were blessed to land on the doorstep of Christine Gracey MFH of the Eglington and Caledon Hunt in Caledon, Ontario. She was completely nonplussed by our 12^th hour arrival and Joint Master Alastair Strachan had made arrangements for the horses. We pulled into Sleepy Fox Farm, the lovely hunter barn of Al, and daughter Jennifer, Borrett, at midnight after driving 15 hours from Illinois.

This was the first Friendship stop on the MFHA Hark Forward 2017 tour. We had just left Massbach Hounds -Fox River Valley Hunt in western Illinois, where the 1^st Hound Performance Trial had successfully concluded. Swinging wide into Canada, crossing the border just north of Detroit, we drove east to the Eglington and Caledon Hunt (1930) located about 2 hours northwest of Toronto. Beautiful hay fields and wooded coverts are bordered to the west by the Niagara Escarpment, a geological wonder left by the retreating glaciers of the last ice age. The day after arriving, we wanted to stretch our horses’ legs a bit after the long haul, so Christy Gracey MFH took us for a trail ride at Mono Cliffs. Hikers, Mennonite picnickers and riders all enjoy this provincial park that climbs the Escarpment.

Nancy Smith, Epp Wilson, Judith Craw, Jean Derrick, Barbara Smith, Christy Gracey

 

That night Adam Gracey grilled a delicious salmon with dill and we met several other members who brought sides to share. Dessert was Canadian butter tarts and they made my trip (twice as tasty as pecan pie)! After dinner Epp Wilson MFH (Belle Meade Hunt) explained to our northern hunt brethren about the Hark Forward initiative. The MFHA is excited about the new headquarters in Middleburg and, in addition to fundraising, is reaching out foxhunters to share resources and help with issues we are all facing nowadays. Shrinking hunt membership, landowner relations, as well as needing to educate the public about foxhunting’s support of land conservation are but a few of the concerns of every hunt. Epp Wilson is encouraging all foxhunters to get involved and participate in some of the events of the MFHA Hark Forward celebration.: hound performance trials, joint meets, hunter trials and these “friendship “ stops. By sharing stories and hunt experiences, we renew friendships and learn about ways to capture the interest of the next generation and increase the positive perceptions of a sport that we love and cherish.

Wednesday morning we met at a 2000-acre dairy farm, Henria Holsteins.  Alastair Strachan MFH, who was also hunting the hounds today, greeted us warmly and introduced us to the landowner, Henrik. We had already met Hugh Robertson, first whipper-in, and Tina Walker, Honorary Secretary and Fieldmaster, last evening at dinner, as well as, their Joint Master Sue Rasmussen. Today everyone was in formal attire including a gentleman in top hat and tails, and a lady in sidesaddle and veil. It was going to be hot so we moved off quickly into the cool of some wooded coverts, skirting hayfields and tall corn. In Canada they say “Headlands, please.” which we quickly understood to mean single-file around crops.

Alastair Strachan had invited Epp Wilson to ride forward with him and at the end of day, Epp was  so impressed with the quiet, relaxed way of Alistair’s hunting that he urged him to come with us to the next Performance Trial and help judge. We are hoping he will! The hounds hunted hard for about two hours before the coyote was viewed streaking west across open fields. We reversed course and jumped back over a ditch that horses had calmly dealt with earlier,  and galloped around corn. Breaking into open fields we moved off quickly in pursuit. The coyote ran for the next hour and we covered about 10 miles back northward. It was awesome and fun and why we come to do this. Happy grins and pats to the neck of fit horses were the finishing touch as we waited with Alastair and whips to collect all hounds.

We joined members for a delicious shepherd’s pie breakfast, after which the landowner  gave us a tour of his ultra-modern dairy, which impressed us all with its efficiency and cleanliness. Epp Wilson had asked Colin Brown, their huntsman and his wife Victoria, for a tour of the kennels and he left in the hunt truck. He reported a lovely operation and at dinner was telling us that they put boards up between runs in the winter for warmth . Sometimes the cold is so extreme they can have frost-bitten hounds within 15 minutes if out in runs. Perhaps we can leave some Georgia heat for them!

The next day we thanked our hosts and the barn owner before heading off  for the next Friendship stop at Genessee Valley Hunt in Genesseo, NY.

Hunting in Illinois with Tony Leahy- Performance Trial

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Massbach-Fox River Valley Performance Trial Sept 16 - 17, 2017

-by Barbara Smith

I met Boo Montgomery (Bull Run Hunt) at Chicago’s O’Hare and we checked out each other’s season-opening bumps and bruises. I am sporting a ridiculous black eye from a tree branch lashing yesterday and her fingers are orange from working on sore hooves. We will be right at home with the foxhunters from Massbach Hounds and Fox River Valley, which is where we are headed for the first stop of the MFHA Hark Forward   celebration.  Tony Leahy, the current MFHA President, is hosting the kick-off for the tour with a Performance Trial in Elizabeth, Illinois. As a diehard Virginian- Marylander I was thinking, “ who hunts in Illinois?” but I have been assured it is God’s country, so Boo is here to judge and I am helping with the Hark Forward team.  Epp Wilson, Master and Huntsman of Belle Meade Hunt, and Jean Derrick, First Flight Fieldmaster, who had driven 16 hours from Georgia yesterday with 10 horses were already settled at Massbach’s kennels. The adventure begins.

Friday night was a Mexican fiesta under the stars on John Novak and Marie Henrich’s porch, as all the hunts were welcomed. Six hunts had come to Leahy’s Massbach-Fox River Valley country to participate in the performance trial: Fox River Valley, Midland (GA), Mill Creek (IL), Shawnee, Hillsboro (TN), Bridlespur (MS) and Elkridge- Harford (MD). When hunts get together for Performance Trials, friendships are renewed and good-natured insults abound between huntsmen that truly admire one another. A mariachi band wandered among guests, the margaritas flowed freely and the Mexican buffet was thoroughly enjoyed by all participants and guests. Fireworks ended the evening as the last party- goers were leaving. It was a fabulous party.

 On Saturday we hunted two contiguous properties for three hours, and I admit it is God’s country. Each hunt entered 5 hounds, and the pack of 17 ½ couple was blended together in the morning. They soon harked to guest huntsman, Ashley Hubbard, the new huntsman at Green Spring valley (MD). He had previously been Tony Leahy’s right –hand man here at Massbach – Fox River Valley. Starting at our host, John Novak’s beautiful farm, we moved from one cornfield to another, skirting the occasional soybean field as hounds worked on coyote lines. It was hot and dry today, but still green and beautiful. The green fields actually reminded me of Ireland. The next farm was Bryan and Christy Cressey’s 5000-acre property and we were proudly told it boasted 120 miles of mowed paths! There were endless views of fields and woods and coverts that would be the envy of any foxhunter.

The hounds found three coyote Saturday and, regardless of the heat, they were hunting as hard after three hours as they did in first covert. Liz McKnight of Elkridge-Harford tally-hoed the first coyote and hounds quickly harked to Fox River Valley’s Daffodil and Bracket, Hillsboro’s Bridget and Mill Creek’s Dallas.  Judges were right there and all scored these hounds as the lead on the first Full Cry. I am noting this first run because three of these hounds were Top 5 overall. Bracket, Dallas and Bridget were 2,3,4 of top five hounds. Hillsboro‘s Dagwood took the top honor and Midland’s Caper was fifth. These hounds hunted hard from start of day to end and it is gratifying to see them rewarded for their endurance and overall hunting ability. This is why we have Performance Trials. Hounds can be judged objectively from different vantage points over several days and the true stars of a hunt stand out.

The fields were treated to some great views and even the road followers enjoyed watching across the hills. Riders were able to stand on the hillside and watch as hounds worked hard, doubling back on themselves as the coyote ducked through the cornrows below. After giving hounds a final drink and cool off in a pond, we roaded back to Novak’s farm.

Scores were tallied for the day and we drove with results of the day to Bill and Ellen Hunt’s farm where an enormous white tent had been erected on the old airfield. Prime rib and scalloped potatoes, followed a delicious salad and nobody missed the dessert cupcakes. During dinner Epp Wilson And Jean Derrick made opening remarks and thanked all participants. David Twiggs, the Executive Director of the MFHA warmly greeted everyone and spoke enthusiacally about the new headquarters in Middleburg. He encouraged everyone to get involved and to come and make use of the MFHA resources. Boo Montgomery then assisted Epp with the awards. There are 5 individual categories with an overall, cumulative award for top scores. “Hunting, Trailing, Full Cry, Marking and Endurance” are the areas that the judges are critiquing. The top ten scorers in each category are calculated and ribbons given to these top ten. The top ten hounds and top three hunts with the most points are noted and at the end of both days Champion ribbons are given to these.

Sunday morning started with a beautiful sunrise over the Massback kennels, as we met Tony Leahy and 12 riders, to hack to the meet at Bill Hunt’s farm. Again it was warm and dry, which made scenting difficult. A coyote was viewed early and hounds were off. The runs were short but exhibited diligent work from hounds. After scoring it was clear that the same hard working hounds were there for every run. Tony kept the pack and fields out for an additional hour to ensure that every effort was made for the judges to see hounds work. A house cat interrupted one run and brought to mind the famous Ben Hardaway story. One day his hounds unfortunately accounted for an old woman’s cat and, hat in hand, he approached the porch saying, “ We are terribly sorry, ma’am but here is a token for your trouble.” as he hands her a $50 bill. She replied, “ It is no trouble sir. I can have another here for you next week.”  Luckily today, the hounds returned to the line and all was fine. Riders had many great opportunities to watch hounds. There were lots of coops to jump and riders had big dusty smiles when they finally came back to the trailers. John Novak had returned with food and drink as we waited for Tony and hounds to return.

Sunday night we went to Sunny Beaulieu’s home for another great dinner of chicken cacciatore.  Epp Wilson again thanked all, as the final ribbons were handed out. As earlier mentioned the top five hounds were rewarded for hard work on both days. Hillsboro’s Dagwood was awarded top hound, which made Leilani Gray smile. He had been her pick for the Trial and had not disappointed. Fox River Valley’s Bracket was next. These two hunts were a mere 2 ½ points apart for Championship Honors and Tony Leahy graciously tipped his hat to John Gray as he won overall. Midland Foxhounds took third place. Tony then very sincerely thanked all the hunts individually for coming. He had high praise for his fellow huntsman and was generous in his compliments for specific hounds. Stories were told about the lineage of two top hounds Hillsboro’s Bridget and Fox River Valley’s Bracket, as he remembered a hound that John Gray’s father hunted named Swimmer, whose descendants impressed today.  Bracket was the Huntsman’s Choice for top hound overall. Ashley Hubbard, picked her because, “ (she) was very accurate up front speaking. She kept everything going. When hounds checked she‘d be the one to hit off and keep it going.” Johnny Gray then later told me the story of Hillsboro’s Dagwood, who with littermates, FRV’s Daffodil and Mill Creek’s Dallas, all in the top ten, have an interesting history with Fox River Valley.  Their mother, Warwickshire Daylight, was bred herself in England by Warwickshire’s Joint-Master Charmaine Green, who was Master and huntsman at Fox River Valley 35 years ago. Of special note here is the extraordinary fact that Hillsboro hounds whelped six of the top ten overall hounds.

Everyone took home a renewed appreciation for the hard work it takes to make a great hunt. It takes a team. Boo Montgomery told me she especially enjoyed judging, as she was able to watch Glen Westmoreland whip. Said he is one of the best ever and now she knows why. I know from scoring that Eleanor Hartwell is extremely dedicated and doesn’t miss a thing. She caught on average ten hound numbers at every opportunity.  Her judging was excellent. Everyone brought something to the table and this is why these hound trials are important to the next generation. Excellence is noted and explained, histories are repeated and we learn why some hounds shine. It paints a bigger picture and captures our interest to watch and keep hunting, to keep learning and ensure that our sport continues.