A fun February hunt, in between ice storms!

Between ice storms we managed to get out on Wednesday. Almost a staff hunt, there were no more than 5 or 6 field members. Our huntsman, who also trains the occasional Maryland Hunt Cup horse, asked me to take one of the steeplechasers along with me as outside whip. No problem, my horse today was OK with company, so off we went, up the ridge path, keeping the hounds on our right.  We were at Patuxent River Park today which really helped with footing as it had been frozen and muddy. In the woods it wasn't too bad so we were able to trot along on the left side of the ravine. Very muddy in some spots but we were all glad to be able to get out at all. The hounds were a little far to my right so I had to keep stopping to listen but I generally knew the huntsman's pace so just kept trotting parallel. We passed Dead Man's Pond and moved across the field heading to the horse farm crossing. I could hear the horn faintly and kept going towards Knox's. We have had good luck here recently in an area that logged this summer. It is a mess of timbered debris but there are fox! Sure enough the whip behind me Tally-Ho'ed a red fox moving west towards the creek with hounds starting to speak. I told Caroline ( the girl on the steeplechaser) that we were  moving up the hillside to the west hoping to keep the fox in country if he ran towards us.  The hound music was fading so I knew the fox was circling to the south and waited,  knowing he might just make the circle complete. We moved back down and and wouldn't you know it, the fox circled and then hung a right crossing the hill where we had been standing. The huntsman asked if I was still up there and I had to tell him I had moved down and was going to stay quiet hoping to not turn him out of country. Good move! We waited watching hounds on the hill to our left and then, out popped Charles James, right in front of us, heading north. A beautiful big red with hounds about 50 feet behind him. One of our young entry from last year, Xman was right on the line, head down, showing the way. Thus began a run that turned out to be about 15 miles according to one whip. Perhaps a visiting dog fox, or one leading us away from a vixen, whichever, this guy put on some afterburners and took off. The hounds sounded magnificent, all on and running for glory. He circled briefly in the logged area and then our road whip, Mark, announced on the radio that he had just crossed Croom Airport Rd and was heading north. 

The huntsman sent me to the west briefly, galloping along the road. As I approached Croom Acres Rd, another smaller dark red fox dashed across the road right in front of me. I briefly wondered where the heck this one was going as he was running right behind a pack of hounds!  Who knows, maybe it was the vixen?  I checked at Croom Acres RD, listening as I heard Mark say they had turned right towards the Nike base. Now, I don't believe there is a missile base in Croom, MD. We all use landmark names that have funny stories that go with them, unfortunately I do not remember why this is called the Nike base, I just know where it is!  Doing a 180, I reversed and started a long gallop back down Croom Airport Rd. I could hear the hounds on my left and knew they were making much better time than we were so I kept up the gallop and headed straight east. 

 I knew Mark was on the left watching Mt. Calvert RD, the Patuxent River was straight ahead about 2 or 3 miles through the park. Jason, the huntsman, was still on my left so I knew to keep bending right. I also knew there was no way through the big ravine that extended past the Nike station except on the right paralleling Park Headquarters Rd. From years past I knew the quickest way to the river was around the station and find the long path on the right of the big ravine. Our huntsman was trying to stay with hounds as they chased through the woods.  I knew he was going to get caught by the ravine, so I was flat out on the path keeping the sound of hounds to my left. Every once in a while I shouted to Caroline asking if all was Ok. She said yes and kept up. That Hunt Cup horse was going to get his workout today! Later she said she actually had to put leg on the 'chaser for the first time to keep up!  I was proud of my guy and glad for all the muddy, mucky gallops we had been doing to stay fit. It would have been brutal without a fit horse. The huntsman and Mark kept telling me the hounds were heading to the river and just south of Mt. Calvert Rd.  There are some small farms and houses at the river so I was trying to get there fast. We made it to the last gravel road along the river running north and south just as the hounds could be seen in some paddocks along the ravine by the River. Mark is trying to keep them from crossing Mt. Calvert Rd and I'm trying to get eyes on and see if I need to try to stop them. As I watch them crossing back and forth in a paddock to my left I see a man, assuming the landowner, running flat out from a barn towards his house, with the pack of hounds right behind! My heart is pounding and I am hoping he is not running scared of them. At this point I'm yelling, trying to call them.  Jason, the huntsman is blowing and calling and Mark is saying they are behind chickenwire in an alpaca farm !!  Sounded a little dicey but everything was OK. The hounds were slowly coming in to the horn. The fox had obviously completely thrown them off by going through the barn and paddocks. The land owner was apparently OK, said everything was fine. I am thinking maybe he was running to secure a farm dog or something. Just glad hounds were all on and excitement was positive. There were donkeys and minis and alpacas all wide-eyed but cool!

It had been an awesome run after one very fine fox that gave us one of the best hunts of the season. All hounds on and some young puppies had a great day learning what it was all about.  We decided to hack back and people, horse and hounds were happy and tired. Now it is icy and snowy again and we are sidelined until a melt.

 

Summertime and the feelin' is easy...

 The two new boys, Frank and Danny, have been wonderful. They have been the easiest Thoroughbreds I have ever transitioned from the track. Both are leading trail rides, jumping 2'6" coops, going thru ditches, water....amazing. Sometimes they need a lead but I am so happy with both of them. They are best friends and seem happy with life on the farm. I keep the routine the same, going out for 20 minutes after morning feed. Sometimes just a walk-about, sometimes a gallop around the back corn field, which is now shoulder high! I am really happy they have been easy because the grandkids keep me busy a couple days a week. I love them and I love looking at the world thru their eyes.

ditches conquered...on to bigger jumps

My friend and fellow whipper-in loved Preacher and was looking to have her first Thoroughbred. He fit the bill perfectly and as I had two more youngsters to work with, Preacher went to a new home. They are both happy I am told!! He was as uncomplicated as a Thoroughbred comes, I may miss him!
Danny, the pretty chestnut, conquered his fear of a ditch and we have crossed many muddy ones at this point. He is a little bit lazy which is not a bad thing in a young Thoroughbred. I have ridden out with the mare and my daughter's horse. He is happy as long as they are in sight, only hurrying a little to catch up when they disappear. Only Thoroughbred I have ever had that actually has a Western pleasure "lope". He will make a show horse if not a foxhunter.
Frank, the old soul is wonderful. Does whatever you ask with absolutely no drama, he is priceless. I could not be happier with these guys and am having fun. I might go take a few lessons!!

it's the ditch, not the puddle.....

My three newbies have been doing really well. Preacher looks like a new horse, starting to dapple. I love a true mahogany bay that dapples, they just look rich, like fine wood. He is always calm and has no drama. Likes to jump and he is a pleasure. It is a good thing that I really don't have much to say about him, he has done everything right . A friend really wants him so I may not have three newbies after all. Frank, the big plain dark brown, is an old soul. I know he is five but truly, he acts like an old horse. As calm as Preacher, he has done everything that Preacher has. Jumped the same 2'3" bales and logs, goes through the water and ditches, doesn't spook when the deer bounce out. He has a very long stride which is a pleasure to ride. I think he will be a lovely whip horse. Just have to get them all past cows, which I do not have on the farm!
Danny Boy, the pretty chestnut 4 year old that was gelded three weeks ago is doing well. He is definitely a year younger than the other two, still hollers for his friends when he can't see them. Actually he hollers when he can see them, he is just young and enthusiastic. Nobody hollers back. But Bob, his "girlfriend", will nicker occasionally in reassurance. Love the old guy. Danny Boy has gone out alone around the big fields, he even followed my mare, who stayed well in front, but he behaved just fine. However he doesn't like ditches! He's ok in the mud and puddles, which I have plenty of, has crossed the wooden bridge, has jumped the logs. He even is happy
to just plow through the woods like a whip horse. But ditches are a no go. I think he can't understand the up and down of it.   He refused to follow me when I dismounted and tried to lead him through ( this is a a small ditch with a tiny stream of water in it), he refused to follow his buddies through. He was not unruly, just immovable. We had to go through the swamp to catch up and he was fine with that! So yesterday I cleared a path through the woods to a flat tiny stream crossing, probably muddy after yesterday's rain, which puts us on the far side of a ditch that goes back to the barn, which is visible. I am hoping this works. I may get hubby to lead Bob, old faithful, and I may just lead Danny with a chain on his nose. This is pretty standard racetrack persuasion.   I will let you know if it works. Wish me luck.

3 fence rails later....

Remember what I said about horses going through the fence ...! Here is horse number 3, the Brad Pitt of the bunch. 4 years old and stunning, his name is Danny Boy ( Jockey Club name was Lettersfromdublin) so we made it Irish somewhat. He lost his manhood a week ago, but he does not realize this yet. So we have let him live in small paddock with Michael's old retired foxhunter, Bob. Bob is the best babysitter, long suffering and kind, mostly. He looked at the new studly fellow and then back at me, as if to say, Really!!! But all was well until I had the bright idea to let the other 2 new geldings as close as a fence rail apart. There had been a small aisle between, but I thought Danny might remember his stablemate and be OK. Well, in the space of one day with Bob he had made him his b***h and was not going to let any one else come near. It took about 30 secs for a body slam along the fence and the 3 rails went flying , splintered in 6 pieces. Old Bob thought this was his jailbreak and took off with the other 2 geldings, Frank and Preacher, who were justifiably terrified. Bob said "follow me" and took off across the pasture. Danny Boy didn't really understand what he had done and did not immediately plunge through the gap in the fence, because there were broken rails. He just screamed and ran around like stallions do who have just had someone steal their babe! My daughter and I looked on in horror. I yelled at her to put her horse away and I would fix fence hopefully before the colt found the gap. I managed one rail from another section to put across and then grabbed Danny Boy to put in stall. Sarh was having a problem with her horse who did not want to go in stall and thereby miss all the excitement, so she was yelling at me or him, not sure. I grabbed a leadrope and went to get Bob, who was blissfully eating with the other 2 new QUIET boys. He reluctantly returned with me to keep Danny Boy happy.
So I am now rethinking both the time and the way to introduce a recently gelded boy to the other 2.    I want to keep them all together because it is easier to bring three in and ride them all. By the way I have ridden them all and they all have been great. More on that next time.

Happiness is 3 new horses and a new truck!

My husband tells me he misses my blog writing. I miss Cookie McClung's funny stories in the Chronicle of the Horse. She was irreplaceable but there are funny stories everywhere with horses, so I am going to "chronicle" taking three new Thoroughbreds off the track and turning them into foxhunters.
This idea sprung from the fact that my best,   gold-standard whip horse, Red, is turning 19 this season and I needed to start bringing a new one along. I was down to 6 horses, having retired from breeding TB horses for the racetrack (which meant I sold them as yearlings at the big auctions). No more foaling monitors! I actually slept from March to May. No more crazy yearlings! It was great but ... and this will resonant with horse crazy people... I had 9 stalls!
I told a few people I was looking for a horse off the track, because that's all I can afford. I love those ads that say " low five figures". Are they kidding! Who spends 10 grand on a horse that can run through a fence the first day, who always pulls shoes the day after farrier is here, and the vet knows by name. I think "high three figures" is too much, but realize the seller has bills too!

At the end of hunt season my friend Bart told me about a little gelding he had that would be perfect! I liked the gelding part but the "little" part is a suspicious word for horse people. But I went to look and was horrified. This poor guy had the worst skin disease I had ever seen, actually second worst, as the other horse he had was even more pitiful. I could tell there was a nice frame under that skin, he was five, and he really needed a new home. So, new horse number one, Preacher, came home that day. He was maybe 15.2 and in really poor condition. I needed my head examined. But he jumped... did a little course of fences, chipped in on one and did it in three strides the next go round. That was with me and I am not a show rider, so he aimed to please. I liked that.

Word gets around when you say you are looking for a horse, even a cheap one, especially on the racetrack. Horse number two turned out to be tall, dark and handsome, but his name was Frankenstein. That's him in photo. Just didn't want to be a racehorse anymore, he is five and I thought he was great. Calling him Frank! Horse number three was his stablemate and had an owner that had had enough. Same trainer called and said "Want another?" Only problem, he still had his "doodahs", as my farrier says. When I told them no-one would take a 4 year old stud colt to their farm, the owner agreed to cut him and now there were three!  Oh, the new truck is a beautiful 2014 Silverado 2500, same as old one just newer.  Wish I could do this with horses. the ad would read: " Wanted- same model as wonderful, seasoned old gelding but newer with fewer miles!"  So the adventure continues.

Wicomico's Hark Forward Performance Trial . The trial started in a whirlwind....

 Hark Forward Wicomico Performance Trial March 2-4, 2018

-By Barbara Smith

Zeus, Champion Hound , Thornton Hill Hunt

 The MFHA Hark Forward Hound Performance Trial hosted by Wicomico Hunt in Chestertown, Maryland started in a whirlwind. Literally, Winter Storm Riley brought wind gusts over 70 mph, which resulted in travel restrictions on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, and overturned tractor trailers that closed I-95 to the north. Many participants were delayed more than a day with the high winds and traffic problems. Jan Sorrels MFH, Sedgefield Hunt, and Barbara Smith, Bull Run Hunt and Marlborough Hunt, two of the 5 judges, had decided to come a day early due to the wind warnings. We met up with fellow judge and host organizer, Alison Howard of Wicomico Hunt, on Thursday night for dinner and a lively discussion about hound trials. Head judge Fred Berry MFH, Sedgefield Hunt, and host Ed Fry of Wicomico were busy sorting out the storm delays.

Friday morning dawned with Winter Storm Riley’s full strength. The wind was ferocious, opening a stall door was almost impossible, and we began to hear of the problems other participants were having trying to arrive. Beth Opitz MFH of Thornton Hill Hunt had the roof blow off her puppy kennels, a fire started in a hayfield’s round bales from a sparking wire and a tree fell on a tenant’s moving truck! But she was still coming! David Twiggs, MFHA Executive Director, was stuck in traffic for over 9 hours due to bridge and highway closings. Fellow judge Mitzi Cabeen of Smith Mountain Hunt, and the huntsman from Mt. Carmel Hunt, both travelling with hounds and horses, finally gave up and spent the night on the Western shore or went home after trying for 11 hours to get here. One half of the participating hunts decided to wait until Saturday to avoid long delays at bridges. For the brave ones who crossed the Bay Bridge in scary winds and beat the traffic delays we dined on delicious prime rib, chicken marsala and Caesar salad at Garon and Donna Stutzman’s Muleskinner’s Lodge in Centreville, MD. We congratulated those who made it and shared stories and Moscow Mules in the lovely lodge. All looked forward to Saturday’s “hurricane hunt”, sure to test even Penn-Marydel hounds!

The winds had diminished slightly by morning. The sun came out and with an hour delay to help the Saturday arrivals we trailered 40 minutes, to Starkey Farms on the water near Galena, MD. Seven hunts had made the journey; Marlborough Hunt, De La Brooke Hunt, Carrolton Hounds, Mt. Carmel Hunt, Kimberton Hunt, Red Mountain Hunt, Thornton Hills Hunt. This was an all Penn-MaryDel hound trial and we were expecting to hear some great hound music. The five entry from each club were painted, some collared and the guest huntsman, Greg Thompson of Wicomico Hunt, simply put the pack together and we quickly moved off to the first covert. . Large open fields bordered by the Chesapeake Bay offered pine trees and thick brush along the shoreline. Hounds opened quickly on a red fox and, as Greg had hoped, the pack came together as one. This fox was turned back several times by the fields eager for a view, ran into Greg Thompson’s horse at one point and soon after that he slipped away in the thick brush. Hounds settled and we continued on, but the wind was still a factor.  Gusting 30 mph, we could see white caps on the water and Garry Riggs MFH, Red Mountain Hunt, told me at the breakfast, when waves are slapping on the shore the game “sits tight”.  The next fox ran tightly in the thickets and marsh, never breaking out into the open. Viewed briefly by one judge and the riders in Garon Stutzman’s mule-driven carriage, this fox ducked back into covert and eventually was put to ground by the raucous and excited pack. We were able to get some great Marking scores.  Greg Thompson said he could just see the fox, which the hounds were determined to get, but after much praise he remounted and called them away. But a few of the hounds would not leave the fox until Fred got off his horse and yelled at them. And as soon as the last hound was out of the hole, the fox bolted- to a chorus of delighted Tally-Ho’s from the field. The Gone –to- Ground was the highlight of the day.

We called the hunt after several more short runs and returned to the Starkey Farm buildings for a hearty, delicious tailgate and to tally scores. We were to meet at dinner for the Day One results and another fun evening at Muleskinner’s Lodge. The jokes and wisecracks abound between huntsman when they get together, but Fred Berry’s  “Smart Ass” award actually went to the Stutzman’s chef who was determined to hold his own with these foxhunters. We cheered and gave him a warm thank you for the food and fun! Thornton Hill Hunt’s Beth Optitz MFH, the sole woman huntsman, won the requisite horn- blowing contest and she was widely cheered by all in the room for her excellent Gone Away. Her closest competitor from Mt. Carmel Hounds graciously said he couldn’t come close and just bowed to her prowess. Doc Addis MFH, her dad, at the table with wife Happy and other daughter Anne, couldn’t have been prouder!

Thornton Hill Hunt took top honors on Day One. Red Mountain Hunt and Marlborough Hunt were second and third respectively. Every hunt had hounds represented in the Top Ten hounds in the categories, which are Hunting, Trailing, Full Cry, Marking and Endurance. These are combined to reach the Best Hound and Top Three Hunts. Red Mountain’s Remus was Best Hound on Day One and the favorite of the trial’s organizer, Fred Berry MFH, Sedgefield Hunt. Marlborough’s Vice Admiral also ribboned in several and the Thornton Hill hounds did Beth proud, with Zeus, Lentz and Utz receiving high marks. It had been a great day and tired foxhunters thanked our hosts again and left to get ready for Day Two.

Sunday was sunny and less windy, though gusts were still in the 30 mph range! We met at Chino Farms, the 5000 + acre farm of Dr. Henry Sears. Our gracious host welcomed us, wished us a good day and said to stay off the landing strip as his wife was coming home at 11! He has deeded a large parcel of the farm to Washington College in Chestertown, MD and every year Ed Fry hosts the Chino Chase, a foxhunt fundraiser for the College that draws hunts from near and far. It is a beautiful fixture and we immediately found a fox on the north eastern shore. Hounds came together quickly, just as the previous day and we continued to draw towards the east along the water. Today we were getting solid hunting and trailering scores, as we paralleled the landing strip eastward. Once we turned back into the tall grasses, hounds opened and judges raced for full cry scores. This fixture yielded lots of fox and the field was treated to many views. At one point the huntsmen group, shepherded by Garry Riggs MFH of Red Mountain Hunt, viewed 4 fox coming out of the same ravine. Grumbling that no judge was present, they were relieved that the scorers did arrive to get great scores as the hounds ended the day on another fast, all-on, full cry across the field back in the direction of home. As we were galloping toward a road and the clock was reaching noon, we called it a day when there was a simultaneous quick dismount and hound check.  With all hounds on, we roaded back to the meet to again tally scores, put tired horses away and return to the 4-H Park for breakfast.

Hosted by Wicomico members Leo and Liz Courtney, chili, fried chicken, ham and all the fixings as well as endless cakes, awaited grateful foxhunters who ate and drank as they waited for final scores. It was a long wait but well worth it for those who stayed. Thornton Hill Hunt was the top scorer overall, followed by Marlborough Hunt and Carrolton Hounds. Thornton Hill and Marlborough had three hounds each in the top ten hounds.  Thornton Hill’s Zeus and Lentz were champion and reserve champion respectively, with Utz also top ten. When asked about her hounds Beth Opitz said Zeus was by Bishop, her best THH hound, “ …(he) is heavy Kimberton/ Addis bloodlines.  Zeus and littermates are super hounds-in front when on fast run, but can really get down and hunt when scenting is tough…Lentz is all Addis bloodlines. ... Utz is Golden’s Bridge bloodlines”.  Marlborough’s Vice Admiral was third, Valor was fifth, followed by Vidalia, also in the top ten. This sort of placing in a Performance Trial is one of the ways hunts and huntsmen can evaluate a breeding.  All three of Marlborough’s aforementioned hounds and a fourth, Victor, are littermates, by Marlborough’s O’Jay out of Golden Bridges Kelby. When I checked with Marlborough’s MFH Katherine Cawood, she said, “ Both O’Jay and Kelby were outstanding hunting hounds”. To see the get of a breeding excel like this at a Trial is gratifying to any huntsman. Another hound worth noting was Carrolton’s Hounds Korvette, number 23, who placed fourth overall. I saw this hound up front on the lead in every full cry run on Sunday and every judge had him placed numerous times. Red Mountain Hunt’s Remus, was the favorite and top hound on Saturday in tough scenting conditions. Huntsman’s Choice was De La Brooke’s Vector, number 32. Greg said he noticed the hound due to his diligence and honesty, acknowledged to the delight of De La Brooke’s kennelman. Ribbons, silver trays and beautiful wooden sweat scrapers were handed out amid much applause. As the goodbyes were being made and plans laid for the next Performance Trial, everyone agreed it had been a fun, successful weekend, albeit a windy one! Beth Opitz MFH, Thornton Hill Hunt, said in a follow-up message to her members, ”While it’s nice to get ribbons the best part is getting together with fellow fox hunters”. I think we all agree.

Of interesting note to myself is that our guest huntsman, Greg Thompson, Wicomico Hunt, whom everyone thought did an excellent job in tough conditions, is leaving to assist MFHA President Tony Leahy of Massbach and Fox River Valley Hunts in western Illinois.  These two hunts hosted the first Performance Trial of the 2017 Hark Forward Tour Hark last September. I was blessed to have been at Leahy’s and Wicomico’s and a few in between.  Hound Trials are really fun and a great way for hunt clubs to support each other and to share ideas on breeding, membership, land conservation, to mention a few issues.  We all face the same challenges and we need to come together as we move into the next generation of foxhunting.

Huntsmen