Coyote Invasion• Phoenix Rising • Foxhunters take on Mongolia
The Magazine of Mounted Foxhunting
fall 2014 • $5.00
s J o h n C o l e s 2 0 14 s spriNg hiLL
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Comparable to exquisite Kentucky Horse Farms, the gently rolling fields are lined with white board fencing. Features include a gracious 6 bedroom manor home, pool with house, 8 barns, large machine shop, 2 ponds, 9 tenant homes and at one of the entrances, the owner’s handsome office inclusive of conference and impressive trophy room. $7,500,000
The stately 128+ Acre Middleburg Virginia Country Estate offers a genteel lifestyle and majestic views. Handsome stone and clapboard manor home, 3 additional homes, 2 apartments, farm office, 6 barns, 45 stalls, indoor arena, all beautifully maintained and surrounded by the meticulously groomed grounds. $6,000,000
NorTh hiLL
whiTe rock
c. 1774, Sited high on a knoll, the 16 room Manor Home and “Garden Tea House” enjoy expansive views of mountains, rolling hills and the property’s wonderful Shenandoah River frontage. Once a thoroughbred breeding farm, it offers 20+ stalls and numerous paddocks. North Hill’s rich history provides potential for Historic Preservation Tax Credits. $3,300,000
Overlooking a serene pond, this magnificent European style manor home is on 115 acres surrounded by thousands of protected acres and the Bull Run Mountains. Custom built in 2001 using Olde World craftsmanship and materials this stunning home offers five bedrooms, 6 baths, 10’ ceilings, wide plank flooring, pool and geo-thermal heating and cooling. $2,395,000
gosLiNg
mArLeA
18+ acres of mostly open and rolling land with the home sited perfectly with vast views from both front and back overlooking the pond, gardens and front fields. Cathedral ceilings, Master on the main floor, huge library/living room, private guest rooms, apartment on lower level w/own kitchen/entrance, sprawling deck w/awning. In OCH territory; VOF conservation easement. $2,195,000
90 acres w/approx. 45 fenced acres and 45 acres in woods with trails. 3 bedroom manor home, Indoor and Outdoor Arenas ,2 barns open into the indoor arena, Main barn has 20 stalls, Show Barn- 5 oversized stalls, 3 tack rooms, office, 2 wash stalls, 2 bathrooms, laundry room, 14 paddocks. Manager’s cottage. 2 add’l DUR’s and is in land use. $1,900,000
wiNDrush
Magnificent country retreat on 30 acres with incredible privacy & beautiful views. The c.1850 manor home has been graciously expanded into a 7 bedroom home with separate entertaining venue & two-story office w/T-1 capability. Pool, tennis court, gardens, greenhouse, 5 car garage. $3,495,000
fox DeN
Private 65 Acre Estate near historic Middleburg. 3 porches add to the charm of this restored Farm House, c.1830 w/ pool. Other features include 4 stall barn w/ guest suite, 4 bay open equipment barn and 2 bay garage. Beautiful land w/ views, creek, meadows and board fenced pastures w/ spring fed waterers. VOF and PEC Easements do allow for two additional dwellings. $2,395,000
ALessio
18 acres in the heart of OCH Territory with a lovely 5.5 Bedroom Italianate Style home in a beautiful setting. Formal and informal spaces, high ceilings, wonderful kitchen, expansive rec room, full basement, private pool, extensive landscaping and more. Property is in a VOF Open-Space easement. $1,695,000
LAND
pegAsus riDge fArm
TAkAro fArm
POTTS MILL - on 137+ acres with frontage on Little River, Open Space Easement, rolling fields with mature hardwood forest, Orange County Hunt Territory, great ride out, very private, within 5 miles of the village of Middleburg, views in all directions. $2,800,000
Located at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the farm is beautifully sited so that the views are enjoyed from many of the spacious rooms and porches. Wonderful finishes, vaulted ceilings, stone fireplace, reclaimed flooring, first floor owner’s suite, finished lower level incl. second kitchen, pool. Fenced paddocks, 3 stall barn and, wonderful views! $1,650,000
OLD CARTERS MILL ROAD - Rare find. Just over 53 acres of prime Orange County Hunt country land with views of the Blue Ridge Mountains on one side and gently rolling, open hills on the other. All of the adjacent land is protected by conservation easements. The access to potential ride-out is exceptional. A potential home site has been studied including an engineers report verifying a certified 5 bedroom septic site and potential well site. $1,400,000
Expanded through the years, Takaro has wonderful entertaining areas both inside and out, many overlooking the pool. 2 separate suites are wonderful for guests or home office. A dramatic main level apt. is attached to the handsome 7 stall barn. This 14.73 acre property offers a carriage barn, air conditioned dog house, paddocks and pond. $1,550,000
Offers subject to errors, omissions, change of price or withdrawal without notice. Information contained herein is deemed reliable, but is not so warranted nor is it otherwise guaranteed.
(540) 270-0094 THOMAS AND TALBOT REAL ESTATE (540) 687-6500
Middleburg, Virginia 20118
www.Thomas-Talbot.com
fall 2014 • Volume 5, Number 3
Features 16 PHOENIX RISING by SUSAN HOFFMAN An extraordinary Penn-MaryDel hound sweeps the big hound show championships.
22 COYOTE CONUNDRUM by JO MESZOLY The proliferation of the coyote is changing foxhunting forever.
28 HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE
Page 22
Adrian Jennings
More coyotes, fewer foxes in hunt territories across the United States.
By MARCIA BRODY A guide to the characteristics that make a great whipper-in.
In Each Issue: From the President p.2 From the Publisher p.4 MFHA News p.6 Last Run of the Day p.52
8
12
THE FIXTURE The NBC’s Institute gets a makeover. YOUNG ENTRY Lowcountry’s many activities attract juniors.
14
seven QUESTIONS FOR MFHA What is a district director?
38
HOUNDS & HORSES Reflections on judging the PMDs. Three foxhunters take on the world’s most difficult horse race.
46
ASK THE HUNTSMAN Techniques for starting puppies.
50
Fare & flask Pitchfork fondue
On our cover: William Atherton shot this photo of Golden’s Bridge Hounds, with Phoenix — hound show superstar — front and center (red and tan). http://cargocollective.com/billathertonphotography
fall 2014 | 1
from the president
A Blessing
MASTERS OF FOXHOUNDS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA www.mfha.com
F
2 | Covertside
OFFICERS Dr. John R. van Nagell, MFH • President Patrick A. Leahy, MFH • First Vice-President Leslie Crosby, MFH • Second Vice-President Joseph Kent, MFH • Secretary-Treasurer Lt. Col. Dennis J. Foster, ex-MFH • Executive Director
MFHA FOUNDATION Dr. John R. van Nagell, MFH • Chairman PO Box 363, Millwood, VA 22646 (540) 955-5680
HUNT STAFF BENEFIT FOUNDATION Nancy Stahl, MFH • Chairman PO Box 363, Millwood, VA 22646 (540) 955-5680
COVERTSIDE EDITORIAL BOARD dave traxler
all is an exciting time as we welcome the start of another hunt season. We are able to observe the results of many hours of training our young hounds, and to follow them as they learn from the veterans. Our horses have had a chance to rest over the summer and are enjoying the hunt again. One of the important traditions of foxhunting is the Blessing of the Hounds, which signifies the beginning of formal hunting. A senior member of the clergy usually presides over a ceremony in which hounds, horses, riders, and quarry are blessed. On this day, and many others throughout the season, we are reminded of how fortunate we are to be able to participate in this sport. We are the ones who are truly blessed to be able to follow our hounds over a beautiful hunt country on horses we love! With each new season, one of our recurring, major challenges is to find ways to introduce more people to our sport. The MFHA Subscribing Membership Program is a perfect venue to enable others to understand more about foxhunting. Each MFHA subscribing member receives a subscription to Covertside, as well as access to numerous MFHA educational activities and sanctioned events. This year, I am asking each of you to join me in giving a MFHA Subscribing Membership to at least one person who supports your hunt — perhaps a landowner, feed store proprietor, or community leader. They will be grateful for the membership, and you will have enriched our sport by encouraging their participation. I’d like to reiterate that the MFHA is here to help. Please let your MFHA District Director and MFHA Executive Director Dennis Foster know if there are any issues that you
would like the MFHA to address. We serve the membership and are here to provide aid if the need arises. Finally, I would like to invite each of you to come to New York in January for the MFHA annual meeting. Our invited speaker this year is Nigel D. B. Peel, MFH, renowned Master of the North Cotswold Hunt in England, who, as you know, is an outstanding breeder and judge of foxhounds (see page 6). We will also have an afternoon seminar for new Masters, and the MFHA Master’s Ball at the Pierre Hotel. This is an event you shouldn’t miss! Happy hunting and best wishes.
Dr. Jack van Nagell President, MFHA
Emily Esterson • Editor-in-Chief Dennis J. Foster • ex-MFH Dr. John R. van Nagell• MFH
DIRECTORS Canada • Laurel Byrne, MFH Carolinas • Linda Knox McLean, MFH Central • Arlene Taylor, MFH Great Plains • Dr. Luke Matranga, MFH Maryland-Delaware • Sheila Brown, MFH Midsouth • Orrin Ingram, MFH Midwest • Keith Gray, MFH New England • Dr. Terence Hook, MFH New York-New Jersey • Marion Thorne, MFH Northern Virginia-West Virginia • Tad Zimmerman, MFH Pacific • Paul McEnroe, MFH Pennsylvania • Russell B. Jones, Jr., ex-MFH Rocky Mountain • Mary Ewing, MFH Southern • Mercer Fearington, MFH Virginia • Bob Ferrer, MFH Western • John P. Dorrier Jr., MFH At Large • Daphne Wood, MFH At Large • Mason H. Lampton, MFH At Large • Dr. G. Marvin Beeman, MFH At Large •Ed Kelly, MFH
COVERTSIDE (ISSN 1547-4216) is published quarterly (February, June, August and November) by the Masters of Foxhounds Association 675 Lime Marl Lane, Berryville, VA 22611. Periodical Postage Paid at Winchester, VA 22601 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to MFHA, PO Box 363, Millwood, VA 22646. COVERTSIDE READERS: Direct all correspondence to the same address. Tel: (540)955-5680. Website: www.mfha.com
Featuring Fine Spor ting Ar t , Am e r ican Pain t in gs an d Scu l p ture
John Frederick Herring, Jr. (British, 1820-1907) THE HUNT OUTSIDE THE BLACKSMITH’S FORGE Oil on canvas, 30” x 50” | signed, dated 1858
NOVEM B E R 1 9 , 2 0 1 4 Keeneland Race Course, Lexington Kentucky The Sporting Art Auction 4201 Versailles Road, Lexington, Kentucky 40510 Phone: 859 233-3856 info@thesportingartauction.com | www.thesportingartauction.com
from the publisher
fall 2014
Bring a Friend
Editor-in-Chief/Publisher Emily Esterson publisher@covertside.net 505-553-2671 Art Director Glenna Stocks production@covertside.net
I
4 | Covertside
Editorial Joann Delaney
recently returned from Lexington, Kentucky, where I had the opportunity to participate in Pony Club Festival at the Kentucky Horse Park. At festival, which is held every three years, about a thousand kids come for championships and for educational events. As part of festival this year, the Iroquois hosted a mock hunt on the cross-country course. About 80 kids and horses showed up. Yes, that’s a lot of kids and a lot of ponies, many of whom hadn’t ever been in that kind of group situation. For those of us on the ground (or following along in a golf cart, as I was), it was a bit hair-raising to watch, but what an incredible experience for those kids. Every one came in smiling, and many wanted to have their picture taken with Huntsman Lilla Mason and the Iroquois hounds. Out of those 80 kids, I’ll bet we recruited a few new foxhunters. Some may not come back to foxhunting until they are older, but you can be sure they’ll remember the experience of cantering along behind the hounds. True, kids are our future, but there are also plenty of adults who might be interested in foxhunting. Think how the sport could grow if every devoted member brought one friend to hunt each season. We all know riders who have said, “I’d like to try that some time.” So next time someone says that to you, set the date, call the Master, find them an appropriate horse, and make it happen. If every member invited one person to hunt a season, and maybe 10% of those guests continued to hunt, that would be an additional 500 foxhunters in the world.
Why is it important to have more foxhunters? To maintain the sport and the tradition, of course; foxhunters help to maintain a rural lifestyle, because they care about land and open space and wildlife. And more foxhunters means more subscribing members, and subscribing members are the base of support for all that MFHA does. Without subscribing members, you wouldn’t be receiving this magazine. Subscribing memberships help to pay for MFHA’s important political work, and also help to financially support the hound shows. The educational opportunities would be much more expensive, and the Professional Development Program may not exist at all. I’ll reiterate what President van Nagell said in his letter: Help MFHA and the sport of foxhunting grow by tearing out the subscribing membership card stapled in this magazine and handing it to a friend. Because keeping the sport alive and thriving is every foxhunter’s responsibility. Story suggestions, comments and letters to the editor are always welcome. Send me a note at publisher@covertside.net. Kick on!
Emily Esterson Editor-in-Chief/Publisher
managing Editor Katy Carter katy@covertside.net
Contributing
Writers
Glenye Cain Oakford Laura Mullane Susan hoffman
Advertising and Marketing Senior Account Executive/ South Cheryl Microutsicos sales@covertside.net 434-664-7057 Pennsylvania/Mid-Atlantic KATHY DRESS kdress@ptd.net Northeast Spencer Moore spencer@covertside.net Events Hope Lynne Graves events@covertside.net Covertside is the official publication of the Masters of Foxhounds Association Published by E-Squared Editorial Services LLC 2329 Lakeview Rd. SW Albuquerque, NM 87105 Telephone: 505-553-2671 Web Address: www.ecovertside.net www.mfha.com
Soar
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Ask your equine veterinarian how competition can impact your horse’s joint health. She’ll probably tell you about Legend® (hyaluronate sodium) Injectable Solution for the treatment of equine non-infectious synovitis.
CAUTION: Federal law restricts this product to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian. WARNINGS: For use in horses only. Do not use in horses intended for human consumption.
E121239
MFHA news 4 More Educational
Hunt Staff Benefit Foundation
will be written assignments and a
program, please contact Andrew
Opportunities Coming
(HSBF) are pleased to announce
representative from the MFHA will
Barclay at andrew@mfha.com.
in 2015 Mark your calendars for education-
openings for their apprenticeship
visit on a regular basis to evalu-
program for the 2015-2016 season.
ate the student’s progress. The
4 Plan now for MFHA
al events in 2015. Although details
This is a wonderful opportunity for
huntsmen, Masters and staff with
are yet to be determined, MFHA is
one or two individuals who have
whom they work will be of the
New York Events The 2015 January events are ap-
planning another seminar on drag
a love of horses, hounds and the
highest caliber. In addition they will
proaching quickly and as in years
hunting, tentatively scheduled for
outdoors. A career in mounted
visit other hunts, hound shows and
past, it is sure to be an entertain-
April. Another educational oppor-
foxhunting can be a reward-
MFHA seminars being held during
ing and exciting event. Events
tunity will take place the Saturday
ing. This program is open to any
their apprenticeship. Every effort
begin on January 29th. Here is a
before the Virginia Hound Show.
interested persons, and is ideal for
will be made during their year to
schedule for early planning:
those looking for an exciting way
expose them to as much of the hunting world as possible.
4 New Director for
to make a living in the world of
Central District Arlene Taylor, MFH of Waterloo
mounted foxhunting. The person
Hunt, has taken the reins of the
Annual Members Meeting
Applications close on Decem-
(Union Club)
who will succeed should have
ber 31st. Candidates will be cho-
Jan 30: 9am
riding skills and an understand-
sen through extensive interviews
Jacket & tie required
Central District. Taylor replaces
ing of dogs and a feel for nature.
at a two-day get-together of all
Current subscribing members
Joe Kent, who has taken on the
The apprenticeship will last one
the applicants in March of 2015.
Keynote Speaker - Nigel Peel
role of secretary/treasurer on
year. The chosen applicants will
The place and date will be an-
the MFHA Board of Directors.
be placed with a foxhunt; housing,
nounced at a later date.
salary and insurance will be pro-
The MFHA will assist in placing
Masters’ Ball (The Pierre) Cost: $275/person
4 Professional
vided. In addition to the hands-on
graduates who have success-
Development Program
experience working with hounds
fully completed the course into
Dinner at 8 p.m.
Offers Career Training
and horses, the education will be
a position of employment with a
Current subscribing members
Apprenticeship The MFHA Foundation and the
supplemented with a curriculum of
recognized pack.
6 | Covertside
books, pamphlets and CDs. There
For more information on this
Jan 30: Cocktails at 7 p.m./
Room Block (The Pierre)
(800) 743-7734
of the TB and field horse. A fine
$360 standard/
jumper, polite in the field, well
$420 city view per night
mannered at the trailer. Must be
Reserve by Dec 27
a registered Thoroughbred, with proof of registration as provided
4 2014 Hunt Horse
at www.tjctip.com.
of the Year The submission deadline is Oc-
Award: $100 to member + prize.
tober 1 for the Staff Horse of the
Winner announced at MFHA An-
Year and Field Horse of the Year
nual Meeting, January 2015.
for 2013-2014 season.
For an application, visit www. mfha.org.
Equestrian Style...
Staff Horse of the Year: Nominated by a registered and recognized
4 Hunting Habitat Conser-
hunt’s MFH, the Staff Horse of the
vation Award Deadline is
Year exhibits the best qualities of the TB and the hunt horse: game,
Approaching The purpose of the Hunting
bold, fearless, fast and rideable.
Habitat Conservation Award is to
The staff hunt horse is truly a
recognize those foxhunting clubs,
special animal that everyone in
individuals and organizations that
the club admires for its qualities.
have made significant and endur-
Must be a registered Thorough-
ing contributions towards the
bred, with proof of registration as
preservation of rural countryside
provided at www.tjctip.com.
and its flora and fauna.
Award: $100 to the hunt club or
vided to the MFHA Conservation
owner and engraved or embroi-
Committee, care of the MFHA of-
dered prize (cooler, halter, etc).
fice, no later than September 29.
Nominee data must be pro-
Winner announced at the MFHA Annual Meeting, January 2015.
Winners of the award will receive a conservation trophy, recognition at the annual members
Field Member Horse of the Year: Field master nominated, this horse exhibits the best qualities
meeting and a $5,000 cash award. For application and submission information, visit www.mfha.org.
Vogel Showroom Moves to Manhattan Saddlery
M
anhattan Saddlery, New York City’s only tack shop, has announced it will now house the E. Vogel & Sons showroom at its 117 East 24th Street retail location. Vogel is a long-time Covertside supporter and iconic equestrian brand that has been handcrafting boots to measure on Howard Street in New York since 1879. The company has moved its production operations to Brooklyn, but is keeping a strong footprint at Manhattan Saddlery. The two companies have enjoyed a long and successful business and personal relationship. Nick Tsang, owner of Manhattan Saddlery, says, “We are proud to bring Vogel’s showroom into our shop. … And we’ve always had such a great relationship--it is like welcoming a family member into our store.” Jack Lynch, E. Vogel & Sons’ president and great-grandson of the company’s founder, comments, “For more than 130 years, equestrians in New York and from around the world have shopped for Vogel boots in Manhattan. It is important for us to maintain a strong presence here and Manhattan Saddlery is the ideal partner to keep us firmly connected to our clientele. We’re pleased to have found such a suitable new home.” For more information about Manhattan Saddlery, visit www.manhattansaddlery.com.
from subway to saddle.
fall 2014 | 7
The Fixture
Huntsman Ron Ausman, Okaw Valley Bassets, hunting rabbits in restored lands at The Institute in Aldie, Va.
Where Rabbits Rule Historic institute undergoes innovative habitat renovation program. By Betsy Burke Parker
F
Betsy Burke Parker
IELD NO. 3. THE INSTITUTE, ALDIE, VA.: David Vore urges his horse forward, edging toward a tangle of thorny bramble. Off to his right, a green-coated hunter stands motionless staring into a small copse near the top of a hill, silhouetted between steel-gray sky and emerald meadow. Vore stops, drops his reins, and waits. Suddenly, the bass cry of a hound resonates from Vore’s left, dry reeds quivering as a lowslung basset hound plunges into the woodland. The cry becomes insistent and certain, now highpitched soprano as a half-dozen tri-colored comrades race to honor the strike hound. Vore points, silently indicating ahead, to a game trail nearly
invisible to the human eye, but a well-worn throughway for animal foot traffic. “There,” Vore stage whispers, “Watch.” As if pulled from a hat, a big jackrabbit breaks covert, scurrying from his burrow. You can’t blame him; it’s now overrun by eight baying bassets. The brown flash darts past in six bounds, crossing a 50-foot-wide, clover-laced lane in front of Vore and ducks into a thicket beside a small, still pond. A temporarily inconvenienced bullfrog splashes with a huff into the sparkling water as hounds tumble this way and that on the bank, loudly intent on relocating the scent. Though game is afoot — tons of it — Vore says rising temperatures and high barometric pressure mean hunting conditions have
Working Farm was Region’s First Devoted to Agriculture The National Beagle Club, formed in the late 1800s, moved operations to a property known as “The Institute” north of Aldie, Virginia, after a group of NBC officers purchased the property for field trials and sport in 1916. The farm had originally been an active cattle and crop farm established following the Revolutionary War, carved out of the fertile uplands near the bold-flowing Little River. Original owner William Gulick purchased the bulk of the property from S.L. and Maria Grosvenor; Maria was formerly a Monroe, 8 | Covertside
daughter of President James Monroe, owner of the historic Oak Hill Plantation just south of Leesburg. In 1854, the Agricultural and Chemical Academy opened at the property, established as one of the nation’s earliest schools devoted strictly to agronomy. The school was open for only six years, failing in 1860 after a nationwide economic depression. Gulick put the property up for sale, but with the beginning of the Civil War in 1861, he was unable to sell. During the battle of Snickersville,
deteriorated as the morning has worn on. “It’s not just about providing the sport,” Vore adds without looking up as he scribbles madly on a pad balanced on his saddle-horn, “hunting is a science — part animal husbandry, part agronomy, part meteorology, part land management.” One of two field trial judges at the weekend event at the National Beagle Club (NBC), Vore is circumspect. “Any hunter should try to understand all of that, and more. It’s not just about your game, your sport. It’s about supporting all of [it] with good management practices. “Game population [at the NBC] is up, way up,” basset trial judge and The Institute Manager Vore says as he jots numerical scores in sportsman’s shorthand before reining in his horse to track the pack northeast to Field No. 2. “It’s a beautiful thing, this kind of renewal. I call it ‘rabbittat,’ but really, the habitat health we’re generating here supports all sorts of game.” Competitors coursed dozens of rabbits at the weekend’s National Basset Field Trials
and the prior week’s National Beagle Field Trials. Foxhunters — Middleburg Hunt meets here regularly — report tons of sport. Naturally, the two populations are directly linked. In addition, this carefully managed estate east of the village of Middleburg supports the largest native woodcock population in northern Virginia. It’s no accident. The Institute has undergone thorough renewal and habitat renovation recently, with Vore and others using the latest in conservation science along with ancient cultivation wisdom to keep the property wild, yet maintained. “Healthy habitat means healthy soil, healthy woods, good food sources, and plenty of open space along with covert,” says Jeep Cochran, Joint Master of the Glyndon Bassets in Maryland. “It’s more involved than people realize.” Vore agrees, “Nothing lives in a vacuum. It’s an entire system.” Members of the National Beagle Club bought the 500plus-acre Institute parcel, which then housed a school, in 1916. Since then, the club has hosted field trials and bench shows for
an intense cavalry clash took place on the property, resulting in 30 soldiers killed, 66 wounded and more than 100 taken prisoner. Gulick had joined the Confederate Army; he was killed in 1864 at the Battle of Upperville. The property was sold to The Institute Corporation in 1916, becoming headquarters for the National Beagle Club of America, which retains title to the property. The property was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 8, 1982.
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fall 2014 | 9
beagles and bassets, as well as granted permission for mounted packs to cross the land. Managed shoots control the deer population, which spun out of control a few decades ago. Keeping the wild in wilderness
To the untrained eye, bits of the estate appear weedy, almost forgotten and in grave need of a gardening makeover. The fringes have a derelict look, but Cochran, Vore and others who keep tabs on The Institute think it looks perfect. And to thousands of animals that call enclosed, and unenclosed, parcels of The Institute home, it’s heaven. “After all,” Middleburg Hunt Joint Master Penny Denegre
10 | Covertside
says, “there are all the creature comforts.” From tasty, nutritious forage — thoughtfully trimmed by maintenance staff on a regular schedule — to a varied selection of running and still water sources, The Institute offers foxes, rabbits, mice and more protective covert. Open fly-ways and by-ways provide escape routes from hungry predators. Here, the fragile game balance has righted itself, Vore explains, much to the delight of foothunters, mounted hunters, bird watchers, naturalists and conservationists alike. “When I first came here in the mid-1960s, it was still an [active] cattle farm, with barbed wire everywhere and lots of [invasive] briars,” which are not friendly to native animals,
nor to mounted hunters, says NBC Officer Liz Reeser. There weren’t many rabbits, she says, and the fox population, in turn, was low. By directing hundreds of man-hours to recreate habitat for ground-nesting turkeys and meadowlarks, Reeser explains, mouse and rabbit populations went up, as did populations of native gray and red foxes. “It’s a balance,” Vore says. “Fragile, but working well.” Key to maintaining productive habitat, Reeser adds, is recognizing conservation as a cornerstone of modern wildlife management. It’s more important today than ever, with animal populations fragmented by human development. Small family groups cannot safely reach others when development separates old, natural meadows and woodlands. Genetic diversity is depleted and game populations diminish. It is a problem long debated by foxhunters and foot-hunters seeking to conserve wild lands. A lifelong outdoorsman, hunter and conservationist who has helped manage The Institute since 2007, Vore has spent a lifetime studying wildlife behavior. When he first came here in the late ’80s, Vore notes, “It was all grown up, lots of (overly) mature trees, not as much good undergrowth for covert. Fields 1, 2 and 3 were full of invasives. We opened it up, (nurturing) better open space.” Selectively logged a few years ago, parts of the property are burned a few times a year, with Vore and crew planting clover to fix nitrogen and enrich the soil along with coal and ash from the fires. Vore selected warm season natives to renew wildlife meadows: big bluestem, little bluestem and Indian grass.
Game trails are over-seeded in fall, with cereal rye and crimson clover for winter fodder. Between burns, The Institute staff mow select meadows on a regular, rotational basis. “The old ‘science’ was to leave it alone, let it grow up in an untouched tangle,” Vore says. “But we learned that the [ancient Native American] way is healthier. They did clear, plant, burn. To [un-do] decades of our style of human ‘management’ has been an involved project.” Penny Denegre says Middleburg Hunt has always had good sport at The Institute. “It’s a great place for all kinds of wildlife,” she states. Not only does the hunt meet at the property, they often cross it when meeting at nearby Wind Fields, Dresden, Mt. Pleasant and Landfall. “It’s accessible from all those fixtures,” Denegre says. “The land in The Institute is easy to get around. They’ve done a great job, and that’s a huge job, [being] such a large piece of property.” Years ago, Middleburg Hunt would sponsor a night hunt from The Institute, with followers on foot. “It was a great way for riders and non-riders, say, spouses or kids, or some neighbors and friends, to get to enjoy ‘hunting’ without having to ride,” Denegre says. “It’s lots of fun, great hunting.What’s nice is to hunt over territory where you’re really wanted.” Betsy Burke Parker is a freelance writer, editor and photographer based near Warrenton, Virginia. Parker has colors with the Hillsboro Hounds (Tennessee) and Old Dominion Hounds (Virginia). Parker acts as field master for ODH and operates a hunt training and livery barn, Hunter’s Rest.
ELCR Can Help Foxhunters Preserve Their Countryside By John Strassburger
T
he MFHA’s Hunting Habitat Conservation Award, founded in 1996, has honored some of the sport’s most dedicated foxhunters and generous landowners. People like Nancy Hannum and Ginny Moss — the first two winners — have followed a simple strategy to protect their hunts’ territory: Buy all the land they could, convince their friends and neighbors to do the same, and then donate conservation easements on all that land to a local conservancy, often one the hunt’s followers helped to establish. Wisit MFHA.com for more information about the award. Foxhunters will be eternally grateful to such far-sighted and persuasive people, but this strategy isn’t universally workable. Other hunts, such as the Aiken Hunt (the award winner in 2012) and the Wayne-DuPage Hunt (a winner in 2014) have worked hard over the last 50 years to develop a symbiotic relationship with their communities, one in which the hunt is a valuable neighbor, an ally in preserving the area. The hunt and its members become a powerful force in protecting the views, the economy, the water and air quality, and the animals that live there, in protecting the resources that make the place truly special. “I think as you approach the time you know you’re no longer immortal, you realize that there are things that need to be preserved if your grandchildren are to have the same pleasures as you do. That is a feeling I have now,” said Larry Byers, who’s an Aiken Joint Master, a trustee of the Hitchcock Woods Foundation and a former president of the Equine Land Conservation Resource (ELCR). Founded in 1997 by a small group of horsemen that included foxhunter Anson Taylor, the ELCR’s mission is straightforward: to help horse owners all over the country work with land trusts, municipalities and other conservation organizations to preserve the countryside that’s dear to them. The good news for foxhunters is that you don’t have to create something new to preserve your territory. The Land Trust Alliance is the umbrella organization for more than 1,700 accredited land trusts located all over the country (go to www.landtrustalliance.org), and the ELCR works closely with many of them. (Rand Wentworth, president of the LTA, is a member of the ELCR Advisory Council.) These land trusts can help convert your preservation dreams into reality by holding perpetual conservation easements — including easements that require foxhunting to be allowed on the eased property — on a farms and other private property, show grounds, trail systems, wetlands or forests. ELCR can also help foxhunters work with groups like the Rails-ToTrails Conservancy to help you preserve trails (and there’s federal money for this). It’s time for foxhunters to act, not just moan, when a pine forest is gutted to build a gigantic shopping mall. ELCR can educate you about what you can do and help you form alliances to reach your preservation goals. To find out more about ELCR and its equine land conservation efforts, please visit elcr.org.
fall 2014 | 11
young entry
The Joy of Juniors Lowcountry Hunt works every angle to bring young people into the fold. By Nina Burke, MFH
E
xcitement ran high at Lowcountry Hunt’s closing meet breakfast as 18 Fairly Hunted awards were presented to deserving juniors. Parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles and cousins were in attendance to cheer for and congratulate each recipient. It was the culmination of a season of fun and foxhunting for the juniors and hard work and dedication for their accompanying adults. Beginning in spring, Lowcountry juniors are encouraged to come to the kennels to walk hounds, first on foot, then on horseback. They learn the hounds’ names and make some special canine friends. When hound shows are on the calendar, aspiring junior handlers receive special training with the hound of their choice and check out their white jackets and black caps (proper attire begins early). Summer months are filled with regular roading, followed by cubbing in early fall; both are great ways to get in shape and allow juniors and their mounts to feel comfortable riding out in hunt country. During this time, it’s generally hot in the Lowcountry, but dewy morning rides followed by tailgate picnics under the live oaks all make for a rewarding adventure. Trail rides and hunter pace events offer even more opportunities to prepare for the fall. October cubbing season wraps up with a special Halloween trail ride — a real favorite with juniors and adults, as well. Everyone comes in costume, including some horses. Last year, one horse came as a zebra, while a Master dressed as a member of Duck Dynasty, complete with camouflage and a long beard. In anticipation of opening meet, Lowcountry holds an annual hunt clinic, covering such subjects as the history of foxhunting, proper
12 | Covertside
hunt etiquette, turnout for horse and rider, huntsman’s horn calls, wildlife habitat and the importance of land conservation, and signs and tracking. Last fall, the juniors put on the presentation of proper and improper dress in two acts, choreographed and set to music; it was a real showstopper and made a lasting impression on everyone. As opening meet brings on our official season, juniors come out regularly, along with parents, either in the field or following along in vehicles. Lowcountry has three flights for riders of various skill levels and juniors are encouraged to ride where they are comfortable. Of course, third flight is always available for beginners, either alone or on leadlines. This year, there was a three-generation group in attendance — a six-year-old who completed her five hunts on a leadline with her grandfather, while also accompanied by her father. Two special junior meets are also held during the season. The first is combined with Boxing Day and juniors are selected to ride with the huntsman, whippers-in and Masters. Even Santa comes along for the ride! The second junior hunt is held on the Presidents’ Day school holiday to commemorate President George Washington’s historical love of foxhunting. February also brings our annual hunt ball, where juniors are invited to join at their own special table. It is such fun to see them all dressed up, sometimes totally unrecognizable! Qualified juniors are
awarded their colors and this past year, two were nominated as “whippers-in in training.” Lowcountry has a hard-working adultjunior committee which helps to coordinate junior activities. This season, they held bake sales along with used tack and riding attire sales to raise money for their special project — the landscaping of our huntsman’s house. On a Saturday in late May, 18 juniors brought shovels, hoes and rakes to dig holes, set out plants, spread pine straw and water in the new front landscape. This was followed by a welcome picnic lunch for our new huntsman, Martyn Blackmore. All of this requires the dedication and support of numerous parents and subscribers who work cheerfully and tirelessly. The adult-junior committee has future plans to include a pony game day with a screening of educational hunt videos, foxhunting trivia games and trail rides at the kennels. Lowcountry is truly blessed to have such a dedicated group of adults and an enthusiastic group of juniors. With folks like these, the future of foxhunting looks very bright. Nina Burke is Joint Master of Lowcountry Hunt in Jacksonboro, South Carolina.
See more of Lowcountry on the hunt’s YouTube page, including a 7-minute video produced by eight-year-old Gerrit. Search “Foxhunting with Gerrit.”
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14 | Covertside
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art of Covertside’s mission is to help Masters and subscribing members understand how the MFHA functions. As such, in this Q&A we talk about one key member of the board of directors who is paramount to the workings of the association: the district director.
1) What is a district director? The MFHA is divided into 15 regions. A district director represents each region. The district director is an MFH and has a seat and a vote on the MFHA Board of Directors.
2) What does a district director do? A district director keeps track of and promotes subscribing membership in his or her district. The district director also performs kennel
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visits to all the facilities in the territory, making sure that hunts are adhering to the highest standards of hound care. A district director attends three MFHA Board of Directors meetings every year.
3) What responsibilities does a district director have? Besides kennel visits, the district director ensures that hunts are following the “Code of Hunting Practices,” published by MFHA. They do this by traveling their regions and participating in member hunts. They keep track of territory through the MFHA’s digital territory maps, and they will sometimes be called upon to help settle land disputes between hunts. A district director may also keep track of, or assign someone else to monitor state and local legislation that may have an impact on hunting in their territory.
4) What about new Masters and hunts? District directors will be called upon to inspect new hunt operations and report to the board when those hunts apply for registration and/ or recognition. They will recommend that the hunt be accepted into the membership or explain why the hunt still may have work to do before it can be recognized. When a hunt appoints a new Master, the district director will be called upon during board meetings to recommend or not recommend that individual into membership. The Board of Directors makes the final decision considering all the information. The board vote determines who is accepted into membership.
www.charlesowen.com 12/03/2014 12:17
5) How do the Masters fit into the picture? Masters can consider their district director the first line of communication for any issues or conflicts. Those situations can range from hunt territory disputes to “anti” activity to accusations of misconduct on the part of any hunt or Master. For example, territory disputes that can’t be solved easily between the hunts themselves should seek guidance from their district director before contacting the MFHA. The same is true with media, legislative and other issues. District directors can then determine whether the issue needs additional expertise or attention and can work with the MFHA office and Executive Director Dennis Foster.
6) What about the fun part? District directors can organize events that bring the region together. Such camaraderie greatly decreases inter-hunt strife and encourages communication. Some hold quarterly or annual meetings. Some have organized educational events and joint meets.
7) What if I want to become a district director? How do I apply? Masters interested in taking on this leadership role should contact the current district director. He or she will pass on your name and experience to the nominating committee. As a district director leaves office, he or she is asked to make recommendations for his or her replacement. The nominating committee of the board makes the final decision, and then presents those candidates to the full board for a vote. The final step is membership approval at the annual membership meeting in New York in January. Fall 2014 | 15
16 | Covertside
The Penn-Marydel Superhound
Phoenix Rising This is a story line that seems to happen only in the movies, but this tale of triumph over tragedy is true. A PennMaryDel (PMD) who almost died in a hunt field mishap not only lived to hunt again, but became the first PMD to win multiple championships at both the Virginia and Bryn Mawr hound shows in 2013 and 2014; he was shown off-lead, to boot! Golden’s Bridge Phoenix (center) is a once-ina-lifetime hound, whether he’s competing in the show ring or hunting in the field. BY SUSAN HOFFMAN Photos by Bill Atherton and Harper Meek
fall 2014 | 17
A Standout and a Survivor
“GBH Phoenix 2012 was the result of great breeding,” says Ciaran Murphy, former huntsman at Golden’s Bridge Hounds, New York. He explains, “Andrews Bridge Foxhounds was always competing with us in the show ring, so we thought it would be a good idea to produce a litter together. Steve and Betsy Harris, Masters at Andrews Bridge, suggested we breed one of our best stallion hounds, GBH Voltare, to their AB Powder. We did, and Golden’s Bridge kept three of the puppies.” All the littermates were standouts from the start, especially Phoenix. Murphy says the large black and tan was very outgoing and forward, almost 18 | Covertside
to a fault, and perhaps a little too keen his first entered year. “After his first really hard run on a coyote, he realized there was more hunting and to run only as fast as his nose would let him. We ran that coyote for three hours! That day was the making of him and his siblings.” Murphy adds, “He is now a good, steady hunting hound with a great voice and lots of drive, yet still very biddable. He’s the ideal hound for our terrain.” Fate sometimes deals a bad hand to a hunt’s best hounds, and so it was for Golden’s Bridge Phoenix. At the end of the 2013 hunt season, the young hound suffered a lifethreatening injury when a green horse kicked him into a wall,
resulting in several broken ribs and a collapsed lung. Murphy convinced the Masters that Phoenix was worth saving. Yolanda Knowlton, Golden’s Bridge MFH and honorary secretary, remarks, “It was a severe kick, but being the stoic hound he is, he kept on hunting for quite a while. Ciaran noticed he was in distress at a check, and he was barely breathing by the time we got him to the emergency care clinic. The vet drained two liters of fluid from his lungs and he spent the next two days in an oxygen chamber. I brought him back to the house and nursed him for a few days. Then, he was returned to the kennels, and miraculously, within a few weeks, he was hunting again!”
Knowlton has nothing but praise for the hound’s amazing character. “The fact that he continued to hunt while gravely injured speaks to his drive and determination. Never in the course of his injury or treatment did he whimper or complain. So, while he is a magnificent example of everything we look for in conformation in an outstanding foxhound, his personality is exceptional, as well. He truly is a once-in-a lifetime hound.” The Look of Eagles
Phoenix not only made a full recovery, he competed at the nation’s toughest hound shows later that spring. Murphy says that when Phoenix goes into the show ring, his presence alone is
Hound Show Superstar 2013 Virginia Hound Show • Single Registered PMD Dog, Entered • Champion Registered PMD Dog • Champion Registered PMD Foxhound
Bryn Mawr Hound Show • Champion PMD Dog • Champion PMD
2014 Virginia Hound Show • Single PMD Stallion Hound • Champion Registered PMD Dog • Champion Registered PMD Foxhound • Grand Champion of Show
Bryn Mawr Hound Show • Champion PMD Dog • Grand Champion Foxhound • Best in Show Golden’s Bridge Phoenix has had an extraordinary life so far. A hunter with drive and determination, Phoenix is also very biddable. He has a presence in the show ring that makes him a standout no matter the competition.
outstanding. “When it comes to his conformation, there is really nothing to fault. He has great bone, great muscle tone and moves like the ground is made of springs.” He boasts, “Phoenix also has a really special disposition and is an absolute pleasure to show. Having a hound like him do what he has done in the show ring is an absolute honor that I wish all huntsmen could experience.” John J. “Jake” Carle II, ex-MFH Keswick Hunt, Virfall 2014 | 19
ginia, judged this year’s Virginia Hound Show classes. He says although this is the first year he judged Phoenix, the big black and tan caught his eye last year, too. “He’s a good looking PMD. The best I’ve ever seen. He’s outstanding, because every part of him fits together perfectly. As the late Bill Brainard, MFH Old Dominion, said, a large hound has to be perfect, because all the faults stand out more. Phoenix is balanced, with a tremendous shoulder, a stride from here to next week, with an elegance about him and the look of eagles.” Carle says Andrews Bridge’s outstanding breeding program deserves a lot of credit, as does Murphy. He explains, “I credit Ciaran for recognizing and developing this hound’s enormous potential and giving him the confidence in the ring to show off-lead; only off-lead
20 | Covertside
can you really appreciate his stride and grace.” Bryn Mawr judge Patrick A. “Tony” Leahy, MFH Fox River Valley Hunt and MFHA first vice president, agrees: “Phoenix exudes quality. He’s a very balanced and naturally correct mover — powerful and fluid.” The off-lead aspect deserves further comment. MFHA Executive Director and ex-MFH Dennis Foster remarks, “It’s been argued that PMDs can’t be shown off-lead, although all the other breeds are shown on- and off-lead. There is no question a hound on-lead cannot compete fairly with a hound off-lead for natural movement. Phoenix is one of the most beautiful movers I’ve ever seen, with a huge stride and very correct. Watching the hound move takes your breath away. But, it isn’t just appearance and breeding that gave
him the win, it was the expert handling by Murphy.” Phoenix’s feats at Virginia and Bryn Mawr are remarkable. Foster notes, “Although Rose Tree Needy was the first PMD to win the Virginia show overall champion foxhound in 2000, Phoenix was the first to win champion foxhound in two prestigious shows, and the first to win champion dog against other breeds at Bryn Mawr. At both shows, he won best in his class, entered dog hound, then best dog hound, then best in breed, then (with a different judge) best in show against all breeds, without question, beating the best hounds in foxhunting. Then, to take it up another notch when he won best foxhound at Bryn Mawr, he went up against the best beagle and basset champions, and won that, too. Remarkable.”
Phoenix’s Plans
Phoenix is now officially retired from the show ring, although in a few years, he may make an appearance in the Veteran Hound class at Bryn Mawr. On Tuesdays, Saturdays and holidays, you’ll now find him enjoying hunting in Golden’s Bridge’s hill and dale country. Everyone hopes his conformation and personality are being passed on to his get. So far, so good — a son, GBH Kodiak, won Best Unentered Hound at Bryn Mawr this year. All well and good, but, as Murphy says, “So, he sires good-looking hounds. Let’s just make sure they can perform where it counts: in the hunt field.” Susan Hoffman is a frequent contributor to Covertside. She is president of Susan Hoffman Associates, a marketing communications company.
Leave a Legacy of Love. Never before has it been so important for foxhunters to look toward the horizon. By including the MfHa foundation in your will, trust or beneficiary designation, you can pass on your love of foxhunting and conservation to future generations.
I have included the MFHA Foundation in my will, trust, or by beneficiary designation.
Name: Address:
Please send me information about ways to leave a legacy. Phone: I would like to speak to someone about making a gift. Please call me.
Email: Mail to: MFHA Foundation, Attn: Legacy Program PO Box 363, Millwood, VA 22646
MFHA Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) organization. Our federal tax ID number is 54-1999844
The
Coyote Conundrum Coyotes are flourishing throughout the United States and are changing the modern foxhunt. By Joanne Meszoly
Coyotes have become more prevalent in almost all U.S. hunt territories.
M
y husband and I
hear them at night— a chorus of long, baleful howls that carry across the neighboring hayfield, tapering off into a series of yips and yelps — coyotes. Their eerie calls are still new to us and the sound raises the hairs on the back of my neck. Coyotes aren’t new to Maryland. They were first documented here in the 1970s and in recent years the local foxhunting community has certainly encountered them. Spotting one was relatively rare until a few years ago. On the small farm where I live — though we frequently observe foxes — we had never seen, or even heard a coyote, until two winters ago. Initially, we assumed the coyotes called in passing, or kept to the river a few miles away, but lately their voices are closer and the neighbors report that the coyotes den in the woods beside their barn. This tale is not unusual. Coyotes are occupying new territories or regions they rarely populated in the past — especially in the Mid-Atlantic — and they’ve proven to be highly adaptive, even in urban settings. Some states, once sparsely populated by coyotes, are seeing a huge spike in number, while fox and other species’ populations decline. It’s an issue that many hunt clubs have been forced to address and which leaves others wondering: Will burgeoning coyote populations snuff out the quarry that defines this sport? Newer Coyote Country
Adrian Jennings
“It’s a bit of a misconception that, until recently, coyotes were only found in prairie states,” says Ben Sacks, director of the Mammalian Ecology and Conservation Unit at UC Davis. “There’s evidence of coyotes from thousands of years ago in the La Brea Tar Pits [in Los Angeles]. Essentially, they’ve been present everywhere west of the Eastern Forest. And in the last 100 years, they’ve been moving eastward, coming down through Canada or from the West.” Several factors have helped the coyote thrive and migrate during the 20th century. One crucial change: the virtual demise of the wolf. Though these larger canids once roamed the entire country, a nationwide policy for wolf control drove the species to near extinction by 1960. The wolf’s disappearance, as well as forest clearing for agriculture and development, has helped expand the coyote’s habitat. Statistics are hard to come by, but conservation groups and state agencies confirm that coyotes are on the rise; in some states, they are at an all-time high. And in many regions, they share the same habitat as fox.
“Historically, gray fox and coyote rangeland overlapped, but there was some habitat partitioning,” says Sacks. “The gray fox could go for the heavy scrubland and thick forests and [climb] trees, away from coyotes. Red fox species prefer open rangeland also shared by coyotes.” Stanley Gehrt, associate professor and wildlife extension specialist at The Ohio State University, has studied coyotes in urban settings for years and has authored the book, “Urban Carnivores.” Gehrt’s research in the Chicago area confirms a thriving coyote population in and around the city — likely at the cost of the fox population. “Coyotes are difficult to tag and monitor, but we know that their numbers continue to rise and they thrive in urban areas where they are less likely to be hunted,” he says. What is the impact of coyote on foxes? Says Gehrt, “Prior to the late 1990s, both red and gray fox were common around Chicago, but as the coyotes increased in number, both fox species declined, to the point that gray foxes are [currently] very difficult to find. Essentially, the gray population crashed. Red fox are still around, but they persist at lower levels.” In Hunt Country
Hunt clubs in western states have relied on coyote as quarry since inception and their hounds have hunted them exclusively. East of the Mississippi, it’s a different story. Donald Philhower, huntsman for New York’s Millbrook Hunt, remembers when coyotes populated the territory in the late ’70s. Initially, Philhower wanted to avoid the interlopers and only pursue the sport’s natural quarry. “In the beginning, when the coyotes first got here, I was damned if I’d run them,” he says. “But then, after a few seasons, I’d see the field waiting behind me, and mange decimated the fox population. That’s when we started with coyote.” Despite illness and coyote pervasion, foxes eventually rebounded in Millbrook’s country and established home territory. In some places, fox and coyote coexist in the same coverts. Today, Millbrook pursues coyote, fox or bobcat; Philhower says the populations of each species ebb and flow from year to year. “Of course, my first choice is a good old red fox,” he says. “But there are some sections where we just hunt coyotes and then, some years, the bobcat have been plentiful.” Staff and members of Alabama’s Mooreland Hunt expressed similar reticence when coyotes appeared in the late ’80s. Ten years later, however, it was clear that coyotes were there to stay and had run out the once-predominate red fox population. The hunt had to change. “The red fox tried to hang on, but they wouldn’t share country with the coyote,” says Leslie Crosby, MFH (Mooreland). “We have very few gray foxes and they stay in densely wooded areas — the same as before. But the red foxes migrated closer to town. They live near buildings and run through people’s backyards. It’s a definite shift in the ecology and I don’t see it changing.” Crosby estimates that 90 percent of their quarry is coyote, along with the occasional fox or bobcat. As a result, Mooreland has modified hunting practices by riding wider to accommodate the coyote’s speed, lengthy runs and broad-circling style. The whippers-in also use radios to communicate over larger swaths of land. In the late ’90s, the hunt began modifying its breeding program to develop a rangy hound with more speed. Mooreland consulted huntsmen with Live Oak Hounds in Florida and Midland Fox Hounds in Georgia, both of whom were familiar with coyotes. fall 2014 | 23
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“Coyotes changed the ball game entirely, because they run faster, longer and cover a much larger territory,” says C. Martin Wood, III, MFH, for Live Oak Hounds. Wood started the pack 41 years ago and, at that time, primarily hunted red fox. In the mid-eighties, Wood reshaped the breeding program when coyotes arrived and displaced the foxes. “We found that the best combination to catch coyotes was to cross good English hounds with a good Midlandcross hound,” he says. “We also got onto the old Bywaters line of American foxhounds from Farmington [in Virginia]. That’s worked well and we have tenacious hounds with extremely good endurance and great cry.” Wood adds that this breeding program leans heavily on the English lines. Out of 60 couple, 16 ½ are English and the remainder are mostly English-heavy crossbreds. “The English foxhound runs with one thought in mind: to catch his game,” says Wood. “He doesn’t look over his shoulder to see who’s following; he drives forward on the line. And that’s important, because it puts pressure on the quarry and pressure allows the pack to account for its game.” Wood recalls at least one chase that stretched for 33 miles. That particular coyote got away, but Wood says that the hunt accounts for some coyotes each year. “It is a service to our landowners who want the coyote population controlled — not to eliminate, but to manage their growing number.” So do coyotes represent the death knell for the fox and the sport that takes its name? Not likely, say experts. “Where the coyotes are making in-roads — especially along the East Coast — you could see a decline in the number of red fox,” says Sacks. “Their numbers could go down, but they may acclimate to their competitor. Coyotes rarely den near people, but foxes will. In a sense, humans are their enemy and their refuge.” In areas where coyotes have found a stronger foothold, hunt clubs must adapt to ever-changing quarry. “We saw coyotes move in, the fox population decline and rebound, and now we’re facing another quarry change with feral hogs,” says Wood. “I don’t deliberately hunt wild hogs, but they are prolific and destructive, and the landowners want them gone.” Crosby says that Mooreland has embraced the coyote for what it provides: a fabulous, fast hunt. “The coyotes are very confident when they break from the covert,” she says. “Our sport has wonderful hound work and a great chase. We love it.” Jo Meszoly is a freelance writer based in Maryland.
Adrian Jennings
The coyote ranges in wider, faster circles than the fox.
24 | Covertside
Fox and Coyote by the Numbers These species share common habitats and similar diets, but there are distinct physical and behavioral differences between them. From a foxhunting standpoint, coyote tend to run longer, straighter and faster than fox. And, says Live Oak MFH C. Martin Wood, III, coyotes, when fatigued, rarely go to ground, as red fox commonly do. Both coyote and fox may dig their own dens or repurpose a burrow made by a groundhog, badger or similar mammals. However, coyotes may also den in steep banks and rock crevices and often they use several dens, frequently moving litters to avoid detection.
Red Fox
Coyote
Weight: Ranging from 7.7 to 15.4 pounds.
Weight: From 25 to 45 pounds. Larger, heavier coyotes are typically found in Eastern states.
Height: 35 to 50 cm at the
shoulder.
Speed: Up to 30 miles per
hour.
Lifestyle: In general, they
are solitary animals and will move around during the day, but are most active at twilight and during the early morning hours. Breeding: Mating normally occurs from mid-January to early February and kits are born from March to April. Litter size typically ranges from four to nine kits, though litters have been recorded as high as 13. Lifespan: On average, five years in the wild, but potentially up to 10 years.
Height: 58 to 66 cm at the
shoulder.
Speed: Up to 40 miles per
hour.
Lifestyle: Coyotes will run in packs of two to eight. However, they do not always hunt in packs. They are most active at night and in the early morning hours. Breeding: Mating occurs in February and March and they produce litters in April and May. Litter size varies widely from one pup to numbers in the high teens (many pups die in their first year). Lifespan: On average, four years in the wild, with a maximum longevity of 14 years.
*Some statistics are not well documented and are provided as estimates.
fall 2014 | 25
Cathy Riccio
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Nutrition for Adult Horses Overview Part 2: Performance Horses and Seniors.
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nce your horses are two years old and older, feeding becomes a bit less complicated. If you have selected your ration and have all of the elements balanced and chosen supplements added, your biggest concern will be maintaining a proper condition score for your horse’s level of activity. This score ranges from 1 to 10, with 10 being obese and 1 being emaciated. A score for a typical equine athlete is a 5+. This would mean that the horse has an even weight distribution over the skeletal frame with proper, even muscular development, with necessary cover over the ribcage, back and over the head 26 | Covertside
of the tail. If this level can be maintained and adjustments in your feeding made to maintain this body score throughout your horse’s training and performance, you have probably achieved a fairly comprehensive feeding program. However, if this score tends to fluctuate 1 point in either direction (especially after stressful performances) then an adjustment needs to be made to maintain stability in the condition of your horse. This adjustment may be adding higher protein level or possibly increased carbohydrate levels in your horse’s diet. If and when your performance stock is selected to move on to breeding stock, the
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elements of good, balanced nutrition still remain. Activity levels change as does the level of metabolism. Mares that will carry foals have an enormous caloric requirement. This starts when first breeding them and continues through carrying a fetus in utero and through lactation. It tends to change as the foal grows, placing enormous caloric demands on the mare, typically until weaning and usually maintaining the next pregnancy. It appears simple to the outsider but can be disastrous if simple elements are missing, especially micro-mineral requirements in certain geographic? regions. Stallions, on the other hand, are relatively simple and the
Get Sound. Stay Sound.
rules of maintaining their condition score still apply. Exercise is a necessary component that helps maintain the body score and is often overlooked. Stallions tend to need more calories as the season progresses and the number of covers or collections increases in order to maintain a proper body score. Retirees are the last category. Once your equine athlete graduates to this status his/ her diet will still have to be managed to maintain a certain body score. Monitoring this is key to staying ahead of the possible onset of metabolic disorders that tend to plague older equines. Attention to body
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fall 2014 | 27
Liz Callar
“A successful whipper-in is at the right place, at the right time and knows what to do when they get there.” —Dennis Foster
Here, There and Everywhere By Marcia Brody
As long as there has been foxhunting, there have been whippersin. A day of successful sport can depend as much on the skill — and luck — of the whippers-in as it does on nearly any other factor, as they assist the huntsman in keeping track of the pack, and holding hounds together on the proper quarry and within the hunted country.
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28 | Covertside
Lisa Eifler and Heather Heider have years of experience whipping-in.
spring 2014 | 29
A
dam Townsend, huntsman of the Andrews Bridge Hounds in Lancaster County, Penn., understands keenly the importance of a good staff. “Whips are vitally important to how things evolve. You really need a couple of capable people around you to help out,” Townsend says. The effectiveness of a whipper-in is tied to his or her knowledge of the pack, and it’s the day-to-day interaction with the hounds that develops the pack’s quality, responsiveness and biddability. As Townsend points out, “There is no off-season; it is a year-round commitment.” There is no substitute for actual time in the kennel. At Andrews Bridge, Townsend has the support of a strong club and an enthusiastic staff. “I have four to five whips on any given hunting day; and then my wife, Lori; and two other ladies, Barb Strang and Tracy Keller, who come every day. ... They come rain, shine, snow. ... I have been surprised and grateful that they have been so committed,” Townsend comments.
Nancy Kleck
Getting Promoted
“Whippers-in assist the huntsman in hunting the hounds. They’re an extension of the huntsman, usually far out on the flanks. They help assure that the hounds do the huntsman’s bidding. They act as safety valves to prevent hounds from running onto roads or onto land not open to hunting and to assist the huntsman with myriad tasks related to the hunt. Whippers-in must be bold riders, able to stay up with hounds, and if necessary, get ahead of them. They must know each hound by name and personality and must know the country they cross.“ —“Whipper-in” by Lt. Col. Dennis J. Foster
30 | Covertside
Learning the personalities of the individual hounds by spending as much time as possible in the kennel is a theme echoed by nearly all hunt staff. “That’s where you learn and grasp the concepts that carry you over to hunting — walking hounds, who can you leave alone, who is jumpier,” according to Townsend. From the huntsman’s perspective, the negative is equally important and he adds, “One of the most annoying situations is when the shyer hound goes five feet away and some whipper-in goes after him because he doesn’t know the hound.” Holding your tongue and your whip in many cases may be more important than using them. Mark Challberg, MFH and honorary whipper-in with the Goshen Hounds, echoes a similar point: “A whipper-in needs to develop a rapport with the hounds, know their names, know what they are likely to do — which ones to trust and which ones you can’t. If a whipper-in can’t figure out who is who, then they are kind of clueless.” Challberg places hound skills ahead of horse skills as attributes required to be a successful whipper-in. “Some of the more effective whippers-in in our hunt don’t go blasting around, but always seem to be in the right place.” Adequate riding skills to be able to go off at speed alone, and a mount that will cooperate in all circumstances are also prerequisites for the position. No matter the breed, the whipper-in’s horse needs to be fast and agile, and sufficiently quiet to stand unobtrusively at the boundaries of the covert and not interfere with the hounds and their quarry. The relationship between the huntsman and the whipper-in is of key importance. Humility, lack of ego and a thick skin are traits listed as necessary ingredients for the prospective whipper-in. According to Lisa Heider Eifler, an honorary whipper-in with the Long Run Hounds in Kentucky, “You have to put your ego aside and do what your boss tells you to do.” Eifler and her identical twin sister, Heather Heider, who whips-in with the newly merged Loudoun Fairfax Hunt, grew up hunting and whipping-in with recognized packs in Northern Virginia, and also with their father’s farmer’s pack. Both took time out for raising young children, then returned to the hunt field and whipping-in when their children entered school. Eifler, who has been whipping-in for the past four seasons, recounts, “For me, it was a fairly easy transi-
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Getting Promoted Our hunt is a little unique in that our huntsman Lili Wykle, MFH, wants everyone right up behind her. She lives and breathes hounds and hunting, and wants everyone to enjoy the sport and be able to see our fabulous pack at work up close. When I first started hunting regularly, back in 2006, I led first flight, so I was right there behind her. Lili was very generous — sharing her knowledge of what was going on — so I learned a lot faster
I don’t really remember when it changed, but when there was nobody in first flight (usually weekdays), I would ask if she wanted me to help whip-in. She always took me up on it, because, at the time, we didn’t have many whippers-in (often just two of us as staff). Lili and our first whipperin, Kate Fairfield, are very approachable and happy to discuss hunts afterwards. With these after-hunt meetings (either on the phone or at our
than I would have in some other hunts. When I was field master, Lili would send me out on little jobs, close in to her (I would often tell the field, “Stay behind Lili, I’ll be right back!”). Following are jobs I started doing:
breakfasts), I was able to gain more insight into what went on during a hunting day, as well as learn what I did wrong and right, and what I could do better next time — there is always something! Once I transitioned to more of a full-time whipperin, I did start trying to go to the kennels more. Spending time at the kennels is great, but a bit of a drive for me, so I don’t do it nearly as much as I would like. For me, a big part of learning has been just being there. I have hunted almost every single time our hunt has gone out ever since the day I first
Lili Wykle, MFH
tion. When we were children, Albert and Jackie Poe took me out and let me ride with them when they took hounds out. My dad also had a pack and we took some hounds that didn’t fit where they were and made them work for us. My dad, Heather and I would go out our back door and hunt whenever we wanted to. We got great experience from Albert and Jackie taking us under their wings and taking their hounds out, learning and seeing what they did, and simply hanging out with them.” Both Lisa and Heather also offered that getting yelled at by their father when hunting his hounds was good preparation for the thick skin necessary to whipping-in. Heider was asked to begin whipping-in after huntsman Andy Bozdan took the helm at Loudoun Fairfax. “We were transitioning to a new huntsman. I had retired from a career as a publisher and I was raising a small child, also running a full-time riding operation at my place and introducing children and adults to hunting. I started walking hounds to be healthy, not to start whipping-in. It reminded me of how much I missed the hounds.” When the offer was extended, Heider welcomed the challenge — 45 couple of hounds in two kennels, a second hunt country to learn, and merging the pack together. Stonewall Hounds’ “I love the chess game in foxhunting,” Cheryl Microutsicos Heider says. “My most important job is to be at watching hounds work from her position as the right place at the right time.” She elabowhipper-in. rates, “I have the kind of brain that really likes to play a game, and hunting is very much a game. I am enthralled by the intellectual aspect of how the day is going to go. How can I support my huntsman and give the field the best show? ... I really try to strategize where the fox is going to go and how that fox is going to run that day due to conditions, the placement of the field, and the sport of the day.” Challberg, a research scientist by day, finds similar satisfaction from the thinking aspect of whipping-in: “The hard part is to be able to figure out what is going on. You need to be able to figure out what is going on without much data, without really knowing. To me, that is the most interesting part — being able to put things together with very limited information. And then you need to be able to make a decision and to act on it quickly. It doesn’t always necessarily have to be the right one. If you dither out there, you are not doing anyone any good.” Teamwork and the Benevolent Dictator
Communication outside of hunting is an important part of team building. Heider and Eifler take great satisfaction in sharing their whipping-in experiences with fellow staff and each other following each day’s hunt, sharing what each thought happened, what may have actually happened, and then perhaps what should have happened and any missed opportunities or mistakes the staff members may have made. The Andrews Bridge crew meets often over wine and cheese to discuss strategies and to better learn the expectations of their huntsman. Townsend’s staff works as a team. There is no first, second or third whip; everyone is on an equal level. “With an amateur staff, we are just a team working toward the same goals,” he explains. 32 | Covertside
• Pushing hounds on. • Going off to find a missing hound. • Going to other side of a covert to watch. • Getting out to the road or in front of the hounds to stop them if need be. • Helping to keep hounds packed up on the way out or in, or moving to another covert.
Continued on page 35
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34 | Covertside
Getting Promoted, continued from page 32
Piedmont whipper-in Neil Amatt (also on previous page) spots the quarry and calls Halloa! The whipper-in is often the one to sight quarry because he travels alone and is sometimes quite distant from the huntsman and hounds.
capped (8 years ago). That, along with a good memory, maintaining the website hound list, and the kennel visits, has enabled me to know the hounds, and they have gotten to know me. Those early days of riding right behind the huntsman, and just learning by doing, were a great introduction to whipping-in. I know I have tons more to learn and look forward to whipping-in until I get too old and decrepit to do so! Then, I’ll become a wheel whip and drive around in my truck instead.” — Cheryl Microutsicos, Hon. Whipper-in, Stonewall Hounds, Va.
Nancy Kleck
I just finished my first season as honorary whipperin at Myopia Hunt in Hamilton, Massachusetts. I first foxhunted about ten years ago, and got my horse Tre’ seven years ago. We have been hunting regularly for the past four years, and enjoyed riding first flight for the past three years; up front was the best viewing I could get to watch the hounds work. Myopia has had staff changes in the past few years. As our huntsman, Brian Kiely, got settled two seasons ago, I offered my assistance; I am small animal veterinarian and enjoy working with the hounds. I started to work with the hounds more, spending some time at the kennels and walking out when I could. This past year, I had a change in work schedule, so I was able to walk out a fair amount and learn the hounds. On my nightstand, reading material is all horse- and hound-related, including foxhunting volumes by Hugh Robards, Andrew Barclay and Dennis Foster. Early in the season, the huntsman asked if I would
be interested in whipping-in; he felt my horse and I would be up for the task should the need arise. I gladly accepted the challenge when it presented itself.” — David J Rousseau, DVM
I came to foxhunting much later than I would have liked — in high school as something to do with my eventer. I got lucky enough to find a job in Aiken, SC during my gap year before college, and had a groom’s membership with one of the local packs. I was hooked on the hunting, but miserable in the field, where I found the emphasis was less on the hounds and more on socializing. It being Aiken — hunt clubs abound — my employers went out with several [packs]. After just a few days out with another pack, the Why Worry, I was asked if I wanted to ride with one of their regular whippersin — and the rest is history! I remember being handed someone’s spare hunt whip that day, having no clue what to do with it, but being told that if I broke it or dropped it, I was buying! I left my position in April, found myself with the Thomases for the summer, working in the kennels every day, walking puppies, exercising the horses that weren’t let down for the season, going to hound shows, and absolutely desperate for anything hunting-related. I read Isaac Bell’s “A Huntsman’s Logbook” like it was Nicholas Sparks’ latest novel. I’ve found that there’s nothing like being “game” and happy to get dirty and do the hard work to reap the rewards in hunting. I’ve been very lucky to whip-in to several huntsmen, simply because I always did my best to say yes, show up, and stay to the end, and I am infinitely grateful for their time and tutelage.” — Emma Biederman
spring 2014 | 35
Sometimes, lines of authority blur in the hunt field. Although the Masters guide the day’s sport and strategy, the huntsman is the commander of his staff in the execution of the plan. Challberg came to riding when he was in his forties and followed his instructor, huntsman and now-Goshen Master, Robert Taylor, to the hunt field. About fifteen years ago, he began whipping-in to Taylor, mostly because Taylor needed the help. Recounts Challberg, “I had gotten involved with walking out hounds and it seemed like a lot of fun.” When Challberg was appointed Joint Master several years later, he told Taylor that they would continue their relationship as the huntsman and whipper-in, “and the only way I would get mad at him would be if he stopped yelling at me.” He continues, “I don’t get any additional deference because I am a Master. He tells me what he wants and it is my job to do it.” Challberg points out that it is a “good thing for a hunt to have at least one Master who really knows the hounds and is out there. … Robert and I have been at it for so long together that I think we have a good relationship. He relies on me to tell him what hounds are doing and he knows I am not making it up, that I actually know.” In some sense, the role of a whipper-in is a mosaic of contradictions. Ask a huntsman where you need to be, and the answer most likely is something along the lines of, “Here, there and everywhere — wherever I need you.” The whipper-in needs to be aggressive and competitive, but also “quiet and ghostlike,” in Heider’s words. According to Townsend, “Whipping-in is about thinking on the spot, but not overthinking. Don’t overanalyze. Go with your gut instinct.” Of course, there is a corollary. As Eifler points out, “You need to be able to do what you are told, but sometimes you need to use your own judgment. If you think you are right, follow your own instincts [even if it contradicts the instructions]. Of course, if you find you are often wrong, then you better stop listening to yourself! Lots of people follow their own instincts and they just don’t have them. We all know people like that.” Heider likens her thought process to that of a sponge, learning from every situation, “trying not to screw up.” “You can’t read the pack if you are not there,” reminds Townsend. The nature of the role of the whipper-in will vary with each huntsman, as well as from pack to pack, and also with the territory. Open country, like Andrews Bridge, might require less assistance than country that is crossed by many roads. Some huntsmen like their whippers-in relatively close, while others prefer them out of the way. The quarry will also have an influence; gray fox that run in tighter circles will be more amenable to smaller staffs than coyotes running large, speedy loops. Opportunities to whip-in also vary according to the culture and governance of the club. In some, the staff may be made up exclusively of professionals and there may be very limited opportunities to get involved. Others will have more welcoming climates for volunteers and offer off-season participation in hound-walking, puppy training and preparation for hound shows. Staff turnover also provides opportunities for new recruits. Getting in on the ground floor with a new huntsman can provide an ideal situation for collective learning. One thing is certain: the thrill and addiction of whipping-in is a powerful drug. “Once you try it, you will never go back.” Marcia Brody is a freelance writer based in Maryland.
36 | Covertside
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spring 2014 | 37
Stacey P. Morgan
hounds & Horses
John Ike, MFH, and Frank De Paulo, AKC judge, found common ground at Bryn Mawr last year despite different backgrounds and judging perspectives.
The AKC Judge Reflecting on Bryn Mawr and judging the Penn-MaryDels. By John Ike, MFH
I
t is generally considered an honor to be asked to judge at a hound show. However, when you hear that you were not the first choice and the other candidates had all said “no thank you,” one tends to become somewhat leery. Such was the case for me when I got the call from Steve Harris, MFH (Andrews Bridge) asking me to do the honors in the PennMaryDel ring at the Bryn Mawr Hound show last year. Steve is an old friend and I, like many others, have become a fan of the PMD. I’ve watched with admiration the progress that’s been made from the old Eastern Shore type to the current “bred-up” version. All of this upgrading has been accomplished, I’m happy to say, 38 | Covertside
without any loss of nose, cry, or tenacity. The fact that so many packs are currently dipping into PMD blood is testament to their outstanding hunting qualities. So, with sincere appreciation for the breed and the progress they’re making, I felt inclined to contribute in any way I could and I told Steve I’d consider it. Then, he began to fill in some details and I thought I could sense a bit of concern in his voice. At Bryn Mawr, the PennMaryDel Foxhounds Inc. (founded in 1934) has traditionally selected an AKC licensed judge to “sort ’em out.” I’ve heard many reasons for this preference (some not very flattering to the MFH clan). One of the prime reasons given is to simply “avoid politics”
although I’m not convinced that has always worked. Anyway that’s the way it had been done for years and would have continued except that this year the MFHA had requested that the PMD ring have at least one judge from the MFHA approved list. As the show is run under MFHA auspices it didn’t leave much wiggle room for the PMD committee. However, this somewhat independent group had always done things a little differently. They had maintained their own stud book, had their own shows, and in general had a system that worked for them. They liked it that way, and they were not eager to change anything. This was all happening in the aftermath of the MFHA beginning a PMD section in its studbook which had exposed some significant differences of opinion. One major disagreement concerned the degree of out-cross which would render a hound either “registered” (pure bred) or “listed” (basically cross-bred). At that time, failure to reach agreement on this and other issues had left some raw nerves on all sides. Even though they were in a distinct minority, two influential packs held tenaciously to their beliefs and were disinclined to comply with this judging change. They let the show management know their feelings and there was even some talk of them withdrawing from the show. Show Chairman George Hundt was concerned: the PMD ring with its listed and registered classes is by far the biggest foxhound ring at the show with a long-standing
history. Hundt called and made a persuasive case for finding a way to resolve the conflict, keep them coming to the show, and preserve this time honored association. An AKC judge had already been engaged by the PMD committee so the only politic way to accommodate both sides was to simply add a second judge. Evidently I was an acceptable choice to fill the MFHA slot. However, having two judges in the ring can be pleasant or painful and even though both would be guided by the same standard, that would leave plenty of room for interpretation. Standards are usually the creation of a committee and are very general and nonspecific. This is understandable and probably wise for the long term. Given this latitude and the variety of type in the current PMD world, there would be ample opportunity for judges to disagree. Assuming that our judging would be approached from quite different perspectives and hoping to avoid a kerfuffle in the show ring, Chairman Hundt and I both felt a good set of ground rules would be prudent. To that end, I suggested a system that worked for the Basset ring 40 years ago when it was operating under two judges. At that time the English Basset was becoming popular and the AKC packs still insisted on a licensed AKC judge. The compromise then was to use an AKC type and a “hunting person.” Conflict was inevitable so we stipulated that the judges would be equal (no senior or junior) and any stale-
he’d be happy to stick to our normal format. To my pleasant surprise he never mentioned the AKC point system. I expected him to be an expert on conformation and he was. He had gone over the standard and beyond. He was aware of some of the PMD idiosyncratic preferences such as the emphasis on the shape of the head. I worried a little in the first class when
Stacey P. Morgan
mate or tie would be decided by a referee (in that case the senior judge in the Beagle ring). For the PMD case I proposed the senior judge in the American ring as the most suitable to settle any disputes. I’m told that all parties agreed to this proposal, which is testimony to the good will of all involved. And as it happened, on the day of the show the need for a referee never came into play.
Hounds, when “set up” by a skillful handler, can sometimes camouflage conformation faults, consequently assessing movement is an essential part of the judging process.
The PMD committee had selected for their AKC judge Mr. Frank DePaulo, an English Pointer breeder from Germansville, Pennsylvania. When Betsy Harris introduced us at breakfast she evidenced the pressure she’d been feeling with a parting plea, “Please,” she said, “make this work.” I assured her that I thought we all hoped it would. Mr. DePaulo, a tall, self-confident man, allowed that as he’d never judged a hound show,
we put them on the boards and he commented on some hounds being “closer to type.” I thought he might value conformation at the expense of movement, but as the day went on it became apparent he was just as interested in fluid movement as in how they looked. About mid-morning, after watching some unentered hounds being dragged around, he agreed that showing on a lead did have its limitations.
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fall 2014 | 39 VerticalHuntUSJan14.indd 1
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Consequently we offered the option to show loose, something the PMD was, historically, not asked to do. The old guard often refer to this exercise as “chasin’ the biscuit” and they claim that the PMD personality isn’t suited to it. Practicing with hounds to show loose is time consuming and packs do have varying degrees of time and personnel available so I understand the reluctance. However, my personal feeling is that it’s essential to truly assess agility and balance and a necessary compliment to simply assessing gait. In fact I think my co-judge found it quite helpful in determining which hounds had best overall movement. Those of us of a certain age will remember the days when
showing “off lead” was never done in the American ring and now, of course, it’s the rule, not the exception. I would hope that some day this will also be the case in the PMD ring. Judges are human and each of us is drawn to our favorite type. Individual preferences will always come into play and we all accept that. A benefit of using two judges is that it tends to mitigate any bias as to type. The type we settled on that day was one that appealed to both of us and the hound we made champion was Golden’s Bridge Phoenix 2012, who has since gone on to be Grand Champion at both Bryn Mawr and Virginia under some of the country’s most experienced judges from both AKC and hunting backgrounds (see related story, page 16).
In retrospect I think everyone overestimated any differences in judging based on background; I don’t know why anyone thought that we would not have been looking for the same qualities. A well-balanced attractive hound will stand out no matter what his type or by whom he’s judged. Perhaps I was just lucky to draw a capable and agreeable co-judge but my experience with an AKC counterpart was completely positive. I would hope that we, in the hound world, will make further use of this resource. True, AKC judges don’t approach judging with a hunting person’s perspective but, after all, it is a “show” and nothing more. No serious breeder of hounds alters his or her breeding program based
on what is seen at a show “on the flags” but it can be helpful in determining the general direction of a breeding program. I think most would agree that hound shows do serve an important role in the grand scheme and good judges are essential to make them worthwhile. The folks who put in the effort to prepare hounds for a show deserve a review by wellqualified judges. If an exhibitor goes home feeling that his hounds have been looked over by a fair and competent judge, whether or not he gets a ribbon or two, it’s likely he’ll come back the following year. John Ike, MFH, Millbrook, has hunted and judged foxhounds; he feels that judges who give voice to their opinions are the most helpful to exhibitors.
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40 | Covertside
hounds & horses Last year’s Mongol Derby competitors, ride down to Ogii Nuur on leg 9, Aug. 7, 2013.
Richard Dunwoody
horses’ heart rates and respiration will be evaluated, as well as their general condition. Riders who bring in horses that are not in top-notch condition will accumulate time penalties. The Horses
To the Edge of the World Three foxhunters take on the longest horse race in the world. By Laura Mullane
B
efore embarking on the longest horse race in the world (more than 600 miles) across the steppes of Mongolia, some fears might creep into the corners of a rider’s mind. For instance, Barbara Smith, a 60-year-old horse breeder from Lothian, Maryland, who is the oldest competitor in this year’s race, worries about not being fit enough. Rose Sandler of Culpeper, Virginia, a 32-year-old aeronautical engineer, worries about chafing after the long hours in the saddle. Stephanie “Stevie” Murray, a 27-yearold baker and bartender from Cleveland, Ohio, is anxious about thunder-storms (well, lightning) and wolves.
42 | Covertside
Their fears give a glimpse into the long, wild adventure into which these three foxhunters are about to plunge. In early August, they will be among 41 riders from all over the world and 14 Americans to take part in this epic race — called the Mongol Derby — that recreates Genghis Khan’s famous postal system that helped build the massive Mongolian Empire. It was the Pony Express centuries before the American West ever existed — spreading news throughout the vast kingdom via messengers riding for 25 miles from one relay station to the next. At each station, they would exchange their horses for fresh ones and keep riding, usually covering 125 miles in a single day. When Genghis Khan
died in 1227, the news of his death reached the Mongol forces in Central Europe — a distance of about 5,000 miles — within six weeks, lightning speed during a time when communications took months, if not years. It’s a grueling ride, made all the more so by the fact that competitors are riding semi-wild Mongolian horses, used about two months out of the year by the nomadic herders who call the steppes home. The remaining 10 months, the horses are turned out in the wild. So although they’re broke to ride, it would be a stretch to say they’re trained. Just like during Genghis Khan’s time, the riders will ride each horse for 25 miles and then switch out for a fresh mount. At each relay station, the
Descendants of those used during Genghis Khan’s reign, the horses stand at just 12 to 14 hands, but don’t call them ponies — and don’t let their small size fool you. To say they’re tough is an understatement. They live outdoors year-round in a climate where temperatures dip to forty degrees below zero. The terrain they must navigate varies greatly and is replete with hazards — including deep river crossings, stretches of desert and muddy bogs, not to mention the roaming wolves and packs of wild dogs. The upside of this is that they’re quite bold — at least when it comes to natural obstacles. “I’ve heard that they’ll jump into a raging river and not think twice,” says Murray, “but then they’ll spook at your raincoat.” Because the horses live out in the wild most of the year, their fitness level is impressive. “You get on these horses and they just go,” says Murray. “They trot or canter the entire 25 miles. They don’t get tired.” It’s what she’s most looking forward to on the trip — getting to ride these horses that are known for their grit and are unlike anything she’s ridden at home.
The Derby Riders
Three foxhunters will compete in this year’s Mongol Derby www.theadventurists.com
The Foxhunting Factor
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courtesy Stephanie Murray
It goes without saying that, given that all of these riders are foxhunters, the “go” in these Mongolian horses isn’t an issue. Smith has been foxhunting for the last quarter century, currently whipping-in for the Marlborough Hunt in Maryland. She’s also hunted with the Howard County and Bull Run Hunts, among others. She found out about the Derby from Sandler after they met — where else? — in the hunt field. “On a lark, I came home and Googled it. Then I sent in my application,” says Smith. As soon as she knew she was going, she began to look at foxhunting a little differently. “We don’t think about the miles when we’re hunting, but what I realized is that we routinely do 20 or 25 miles on a hunt,” Smith said. “It’s not uncommon to be in the saddle for five or six hours at a time.” She did a 25-mile endurance ride to help prepare her for the Derby and ended it feeling “a little bored.” Still, she admits that there’s a difference between doing one 25-mile ride and doing four of them in a row in a single day — every day — for a week. She sees foxhunting as great preparation for the long hours in the saddle. “I think endurance riders and foxhunters will have an advantage. If you’re a hunter-jumper trainer, you might ride 10 hours a day, but you’re on and off different horses. You don’t learn how to pace your horse over long
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distances. You don’t learn how to recognize when they’re tired and when you need to push and when to back off.” For Sandler, foxhunting has made her an “exponentially better rider.” She started hunting two years ago, after moving to Virginia for work. She went to an event for the Bull Run Hunt, walked up to a woman and said, “I just moved here and I need a horse to ride.” That woman turned out to be Rosie Campbell, a Master at Bull Run. Campbell and Sandler quickly formed a friendship and Sandler now rides “anything and everything” that Campbell gives her. “Competing and taking lessons is one thing,” says Sandler, whose riding background is in eventing,
44 | Covertside
“but being out in the field, being in the saddle for four or five hours, and negotiating the different terrain at a gallop —that’s a whole different story. It’s improved every aspect of my riding.” Murray agrees. She began foxhunting a year and a half ago with Chagrin Valley Hunt, specifically to prepare for the Derby. “I knew I had to do something comparable,” she says, “and foxhunting seemed like the closest I could get.” She cut her teeth on the Quarter Horse and hunter circuits. “The riding isn’t as functional as foxhunting. Out in the field, you have to stay on and just go. It’s not always pretty, but pretty riding isn’t going to cut it. It’s about getting the job done.”
The Adventure of a Lifetime
So what makes three seemingly sane people decide to travel thousands of miles to ride semi-wild horses in all types of weather, with few of the comforts of civilization, and pay for the privilege? For all of the riders, the appeal of traveling to a faraway place and immersing themselves in the culture (riders often stay with the nomadic families that live on the steppes) was a big draw. All of them attest to having the travel bug and the desire to test their limits. There’s also the fact that participating in this race builds an instant community, of sorts. “What I’m most excited about
is actually already happening,” says Sandler. “I’m connecting with people from all over the world. How often do you get to do that? It’s already an amazing experience and I’m not even there yet.” Laura Mullane is a freelance writer in northern New Mexico and a frequent contributor to Covertside. Researching this article has made her want to ride in the Mongol Derby. She’s busy trying to convince her family that this is a good idea.
For updates on how the riders did, be sure to check out eCovertside’s August issue.
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Looking for a Barn Manager and Rider for the Myopia Hunt
Genesee Huntsman, Marion Thorne
Seeking an experienced individual to assist with the care of 4–6 foxhunters. Must be comfortable riding cross country and be able to turn out horses to a high standard for hunting days. Experience with daily barn care is also essential. Compensation negotiable based on experience. Housing and board for one horse negotiable as part of compensation package.
Contact Brian 978-836-6209
Myopia Hunt, PO Box 265, Hamilton, MA 01936
covertside_summer14_Layout 1 30/05/2014 10:01 Page 1
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Quarry Clues Marion Thorne, MFH and huntsman, Genesee Valley Hunt, Genesee, NY
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arion Thorne grew up with the hounds of Genesee Valley, hunting behind her stepfather, W. Austin Wadsworth, who served as Master of Foxhounds and huntsman for the pack based in Geneseo, New York. She hunted, walked puppies, and whipped-in for years before assuming her role as huntsman (2001) and later as MFH (2006). Genesee Valley has enjoyed 137 seasons in its territory, known for its varied terrain that includes woodlands and open country as well as tremendously steep gullies. 46 | Covertside
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What are some strategies you employ to start puppies? Marion: We start about eight to 12 couple of puppies each year. After getting them packbroke and hound exercising for about a month on horseback we start cubbing. I split the pack into two groups and start hunting, so that half the puppies go out each time. I try to keep the ratio of experienced hounds to puppies as high as possible. We have some very foxy country with smaller coverts that we start them in so we can get around and see what is going on. I like to enter the puppies all at once rather than one or two at a time because it’s just faster. They are all there for the good runs and the bad. If there are deer they are all rated. I try to have my whippers-in let them all get going on it and shut them down hard so that all are there for the punishment. I don’t usually try to set up any special deer training; just be ready to train when it happens. For me, cubbing is a race to get the puppies really experienced and fairly steady on deer before the rut starts in late October. If I don’t have them broke by then, I will have trouble. How can you tell what quarry hounds are hunting? marion: If I hear older hounds that I am confident in, I trust their judgment, but if I am only hearing young voices I am more concerned. This is what I consider the difference in the cry — the age of the hounds that are speaking — because they are more seasoned and trustworthy. Also, if the older hounds come back to me with worried expressions, I suspect we are on deer. Between coyote and fox, you can usually tell by the pattern that they run and the speed of the hounds once they pick up the scent. Certain hounds tend to be specialists on one or the other, so I can sometimes predict what the run will be like. Coyotes run much bigger loops than the tricky small loops of the fox.
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Beyond cheese and chocolate with the North Hills Hunt By Marc C. Patoile
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he north hills hunt (NHH) maintains land, kennels, a clubhouse and a pack of crossbred hounds near Missouri Valley, Iowa. While they generally hunt farmland near the kennels in Iowa, they occasionally venture to their other fixtures of rolling farm and timberland in southeast Nebraska, as well as the open, rolling range of central Nebraska’s sandhills. The North Hills pack hunts red fox, coyote and bobcat. We arrived in Burwell, Nebraska, to unload horses at the beautiful ranch of Calamus Outfitters, run by the Switzers, just adjacent to the hunt country. The Switzer family took wonderful care of our horses and rented us quaint cabins for our stay,
50 | Covertside
which was to include three days of hunting and socializing for the NHH Burwell Weekend. Once the horses settled in, we headed over to the fairgrounds where we mingled with both foxhunters and local cowboys. Some of the cowboys were gathered around a horse trailer right in the center of the lawn, from which smoke was gently puffing. This didn’t look good, but kids were playing and no one seemed to be alarmed. I wondered if they just hadn’t noticed the trailer was on fire, so I walked over to look inside. Inside the trailer were Adam Switzer and a couple of other guys with pitchforks, seasonings and steaks. There was a huge cauldron of bubbling lard in the center of the trailer, into which the
pitchforks went with three to four steaks on each one. I wasn’t sure if the trailer kept the cauldron out of the wind, or if the cauldron was too heavy to unload and was permanently affixed to the trailer; these guys were too busy cooking up a storm to ask. Whatever the reason, there was no denying that it was an impressive setup. I later learned that this is actually an old-school cooking technique known as “pitchfork fondue” and the practice dates back to the 1800s. This isn’t your fancy French fondue Bourguignon with tiny cubes of filet mignon; this is half a cow on pitchforks, rolling around in a big old cauldron of lard. Adding to the experience of the pitchfork fondue was great
• 2 TBSP paprika • 3 TBSP salt (recipe adapted from food.com) Preparation: Preferably, use lard or peanut oil to cook the meat, though any cooking oil will suffice. Both lard and peanut oil tend to hold heat well and get to a higher temperature without scorching. Unfortunately, lard is getting hard to come by these days, hence the use of cooking oils. Heat the lard or oil to 350 to 375 degrees. Keep it under 400 degrees, or you will scorch the oil, which will lead to an off-taste. Load up several steaks on pitchforks and cook in the lard for about 2 minutes for medium-well steaks. The rest is trial and error. Good luck!
hunting. The rolling hills of this fixture were fantastic, with inviting coops and a good mix of wide-open runs and slower draws where hounds lingered finding the lines. Burwell was a wonderful place to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the North Hills Hunt.
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last run of the day Photograph by Mainline Photography
Gone to Ground
Huntsman John Tabachka of the Sewickly Hunt Club in Pennsylvania blows gone to ground the end of a November 2013 hunt. The photo was taken by Ramon Cordero, who also shot the cover photo for the MFHA North American Foxhunting Calendar, 2014
Editor’s Note: Do you have a photo, story or essay to share with Covertside? Send high-resolution, 300 dpi photographs or essays to editor@covertside.net, or snail mail to Covertside, 2329 Lakeview Rd. SW, Albuquerque, NM 87105 52 | Covertside
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