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.