VOLUME XXXIII / NUMBER 1 • THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE VIRGINIA STEEPLECHASE ASSOCIATION • WINTER 2021
IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • WINTER 2021
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FOXHUNTING
Ashley Hubbard and the Green Spring Valley Hounds hunting from Longmeadow Farm, Reisterstown, MD, January 14, 2021. Karen Kandra photo
Rosemarie Merle-Smith led first field to a coop at The Shade when Thornton Hill Hounds hunted there January 17, 2021. Following are Rosemarie’s daughter Nikki Merle-Smith, Karen Knapp, and Theresa Luckyj. Denny Bomar photo
An airborne fox gave the Green Spring Valley Hounds a flying chase at Mr. and Mrs. Jack Griswold’s Wit’s End, Cockeysville, MD, January 9, 2021. Karen Kandra photo
Christine Vitkus in fine form over a stone wall at Mount Pleasant when Middleburg Hunt met there, January 23, 2021. Liz Callar photo
Reynard crossing the road during Middleburg Hunt’s day at Mount Pleasant, January 23, 2021. Liz Callar photo
Middleburg Huntsman Richard Roberts discusses the day’s plans with his pack prior to moving off from Seven Springs on January 16, 2021. Liz Callar photo
Huntsman Richard Roberts in action on January 23, 2021, when Middleburg Hunt met at Mount Pleasant. Liz Callar photo
IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • WINTER 2021
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SPORTING LIFE HIGHLIGHTS
Jeff Woodall with the Rappahannock hounds at The Hill Feb. 6. Denny Bomar photo
Loudoun Fairfax Huntsman Neil Amatt was joined by his daughter Zara on her pony GP (Grandma Pepples) for Opening Meet at Overbrook, November 1, 2020. Middleburg Photo
Bull Run Huntsman Tim Michel at The Preserve, Feb. 6. Liz Callar photo
Ashland Bassets Julie McGuire Photos
For an unprecedented 4th straight year, the Ashland Bassets from Warrenton, VA, earned High Point Pack for the 2020 Fall Basset Trials (October 22-25). Ashland won both the 3 Couple and the 5 Couple hunts—they also earned high point hunt with the 5 couple—and were second in the 7 Couple.
Ashland’s Avatar was awarded Champion Basset for the Bench Trial.
PHOTOGRAPHERS: Jana.Bannan@gmail.com Denny Bomar Liz Callar www.lizcallar.com Coady Photography Adam Coglianese Wayne Dementi Douglas Lees douglaslees@comcast.net Karen Kandra Joanne Maisano www.joannemaisano.com Jim McCue Julie McGuire www.juliemcguire.com Middleburg Photo www.middleburgphoto.com Carol Pederson capturingmomentscp@gmail.com Genevieve Snyder www.genevievefineart.com Betsy Manierre captured this view of her newly renovated barn on a snowy winter day. See page 3 for her account of the amazing transformation.
is published 4 times a year. Editorial and Advertising Address: 60 Alexandria Pike, Warrenton, VA 20186 For information and advertising rates, please call (540) 347-3141, fax (540) 347-7141 Space Deadline for the Summer issue is, May 5, 2021. Payment in full due with copy. Publisher: Marion Maggiolo Managing Editor: J. Harris Anderson Advertising: Debbie Cutler (540) 347-3141, (800) 882-4868, Email: hcdebbiebtc@aol.com Contributors: J. Harris Anderson; John J. Carle II, ex-MFH; Lauren Giannini; Betsy Manierre; Osmun; Leonard Shapiro; Virginia Equine Alliance; Jenny Young LAYOUT & DESIGN: Kate Houchin Copyright © 2021 In & Around Horse Country®. All Rights Reserved. Volume XXXIII, No. 1 POSTMASTER: CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED Regular subscription 5 issues $25.00, U.S.A. First Class subscription $35.00, Europe, Canada, etc. $45.00
IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • WINTER 2021
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COUNTRY LIFE
New Life for an Old Barn By Betsy Manierre “In the vernacular vocabulary of America, the barn stands proud, a hulking icon in the agricultural landscape. Unlike a house…this is a place for work—a place rubbed by livestock, worn by labor, redolent with the pungent odors of hay, oil, harness…” Elric Endersby, Alexander Greenwood, and David Larkin, Barn: Preservation & Adaptation—The Evolution of a Vernacular Icon, 2003
I can’t remember precisely which straw finally broke the camel’s back: stall doors that no longer closed? Windows that refused to open, or, once pried apart, wouldn’t stay that way without elaborate webs of bungee cord? The dark, the damp? The doggone frost heaves that kicked up every threshold so I could stub a frozen toe? Or was it perhaps, in the end, that little lake forming inside the lean-to addition? Really? Who wants to lace up a pair of ice skates just to bring the horses in through the back gate? The barn on our place is a lovely building, and, in its way, very suitable—cool for the horses in summer, cozy-warm in winter, a nice example of vernacular 19th-century architecture of the American mid-Atlantic region. Lacking the services of a groom, I’ve spent many hours there enjoying what Elric Endersby endearingly calls “pungent odors”; they’re hardly the stuff of misty memories for me. As a working stable, though, my old bank barn clearly had seen better days and needed a facelift. Well, major surgery, really. When Cyrus and Nancy Manierre first took possession from the elderly Mrs. Field of Fieldmont at the end of the Landmark Road, soon after the Second World War, the farm hadn’t seen much attention since John Mosby rode past with his men eighty years before. Nancy and Cy’s drastic renovations made the four-room tenant farmhouse larger and livable, though, and saved the outbuildings from moldering right into the ground. They replaced the barn’s stone foundation with new walls of concrete block, serviceable and sound as a dollar. They nailed up new poplar board-and-batten siding. On the ground floor, they partitioned off seven stalls for their hunters and retired ’chasers with sturdy white oak, installed modern, steel-mullioned windows, and added a paneled tack room—where a photographer from Vogue inexplicably insisted they stash a horse for a photo shoot of mid-century hunt-country style. By the mid ’80s I lived on the farm: I’d married Redmond Manierre and happily joined his family of foxhunters, who not merely tolerated but actually
indulged my obsession for a sport that had enthralled me since I was eight. (Let your elementary-school child experience one breathtaking run behind a good pack of hounds, or just hand them some crack: it’s about the same.) I moved my horses in, subscribed to the Orange County Hunt, and started buying ponies for my son, also named Redmond (nicknamed Stony), the moment he turned two. My only change to the barn was the conversion of one stall to a wash rack, complete with a massive hot-water tank, and the removal of even larger wooden feed bins whose recesses were too deep for me to ever reach. It all worked pretty well. Continued
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IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • WINTER 2021
As the decades passed, however, I began to notice the signs of entropy to which all buildings are subject. My mother-in-law had long since stopped riding, hunting or breeding her couple of Thoroughbreds every year, so maintenance became understandably low-priority and strictly on a must-needs basis. I’d pick up fragments of trim that had blown off the buildings and save them for future repairs, and dream of fieldstone foundations, of dry, airy stalls filled with sunlight, and a lovely standing-seam metal roof to replace the one carried off by a small tornado in 2003. (The storm had blasted up Route 66, turned right at Avenel to rip over Turner’s Mountain, dumped our roofs in our pond, then veered left just shy of our house and headed up through Loudoun County to wreak havoc there. Wow. That was an exciting evening!) Nancy Manierre died in 2010, peacefully at home. Redmond and I began bringing the house up to date while largely ignoring the outbuildings. But eventually I had to take the plunge—I really think it was that lake out the back door that did it—and by late 2018 I decided to turn the barn back into the beautiful building it was meant to be. I hoped it would house my horses for many years to come, and be so much more: a place to gather friends, to relax, and to pursue my painting and sculpting. Endersby and his coauthors have noted; “Artists were perhaps the first to recognize the potential in barns for a more personal retreat. Sculptors and writers…have come to exercise their creative energies in the comfortable and compatible spaces once reserved for hay and livestock.” Finding the best team to help in this adventure wasn’t difficult. An easy choice for the architect was Andy Lewis, of Neumann Lewis Buchanan, in Middleburg. His understanding of traditional design and proportion were enough to easily qualify him for the job, hands down. That he’s a very nice man was a bonus. Plus he’d (usually) laugh at my jokes. A few local contractors came out to look the place over. Some were too busy (or disorganized?) to follow up; others were just on another wavelength. I knew I’d found the right folks after talking to a company based in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Amish builder Ben Esh and his partner, Daniel Glick, had constructed and restored many beautiful barns in the nearly two decades since they’d struck out on their own, and had undertaken much more elaborate projects than mine. B & D Builders LLC had moved a massive 1877 Gothic Revival structure, the Star Barn, in central Pennsylvania, and erected elaborate equestrian facilities in Maryland, on Long Island and in Florida. When Ben and one of his project managers, Steven Fisher, were driven down to discuss my job (cell phones are allowed; drivers’ licenses, no), they were undeterred by the leaning timbers or drainage problems they saw. They listened politely to my expositions on bank barns, American Carpenter Gothic style, and my idea about retaining the look of latticed ventilation openings along the roofline. They assured me that they could easily reproduce the wooden gingerbread decoration from the old bits off the cupola that I’d squirreled away, and would be happy to make any sort of steel strap hinges I wanted for my new Dutch doors. Because they could coordinate all the timber framing, cabinetwork and metal fabrication through their sister companies, I felt confident that they could deliver exactly what I wanted. And so I hired B & D Builders, of Paradise, Pennsylvania. Work began in early 2019. It’s often said that to make an omelet, you have to break some eggs. What’s usually overlooked is the effort needed to clear out the kitchen cupboards first, before the chef can even begin to cook. And baby, this barn was packed. The haymow was full of remnants of various grandmothers’ attics, deceased parents’ houses and godparents’ garages. The tack room was obviously a breeding ground for old bridles, boots and harness—there could be no other explanation for the quantity of leather unearthed there. The workshop was a horror of sundry boxes
of nails, screws and antediluvian tools; the back shed a graveyard of ancient farm machinery—and the manure spreader, which must have predated the Truman Administration, wasn’t even the oldest pile of rust in there. Undaunted, the cheerful young foreman of B & D’s crew, Jonas Stoltzfus, marshaled his men and merely carried it all away before buckling down to the business at hand—which began with sledge hammers. Sometimes it almost looked fun. Sometimes I couldn’t even watch. On the job from early each Monday morning, having been driven down from Lancaster County at the crack of dawn, the crew spent weeknights in Warrenton and worked till Friday afternoon, when they packed up for home. The demolition phase went quickly, dumpsters the size of railway cars filled rapidly and when Danny, plumber extraordinaire from Cooley’s in Marshall, began to install drainage pipes under the soon-to-be floor, the new reality of water that flowed only when and where it was truly welcome began to take shape. The general idea was to encase the old barn in insulated panels and new Western cedar boards, so that the walls visible in the upstairs interior were the old siding, and downstairs, local fieldstone would cover the exterior of the block foundation. In order for it to all fit together, the barn had to first be squared up, as it had in essence been lying down in slow motion for years, like a horse sinking down to have a good roll. Steel I-beams and giant jacks did the trick and massive new oak beams soon replaced the failing structures. “When we build, let us think that we build forever,” John Ruskin wrote in his Seven Lamps of Architecture— a sentiment as true today as it was in 1849! Most ideas, advice, and materials came from much closer to home, though. Friends and neighbors like Eleanor and Dulany Morison down the road at Stoke, and Annie and Sean Clancy, over the other side of Middleburg, and Natalie and Glenn Epstein offered me tours of their own impressive barn renovations. Speedy Smithwick agreed to sell me some old walls off of Sunnybank, so B & D’s masons could bring the concrete-block foundation back to its original appearance. Local designer Cathy Boswell introduced me to The Brass Knob and other treasure troves in town in my search for Gothic Revival lighting. Her Upperville atelier specializes in exquisite draperies and soft furnishings, but Cathy’s eye is keen and her stamina boundless, so together we scored among other plunder some enormous pendant fixtures out of an old church, which fit the cavernous space of the barn’s interior to perfection. I even braved a few trips east into darkest Chantilly on my own, to select tile and bathroom fixtures (there’d be no more need to dash to the house—or into a stall—when Nature called).
IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • WINTER 2021
Hardware, paneling, paint colors—the choices are nearly infinite. And if you can’t find exactly what you like, you can always have someone make it up. Wander into the Middleburg Millwork and ask for paint in “Mrs. Manierre’s Purple,” and they’ll sell you a particular color halfway between plum and grape. I blame my mother-in-law, and her mother: I’ve painted nearly everything in the stable that stands still their purple. Goblin, the barn cat, is terrified. Too much choice can be dangerous, especially when my contractor invariably nodded and cheerfully said, “Sure, we could put that together for you!” to every harebrained idea I uttered. Thankfully, Andy helped Ben and Steven keep me between guardrails, friends continued to offer good advice (you were so right about “Jasper Green,” Annie!), and my fiscal limitations helped eliminate the craziest custom alternatives. Still, I pondered questions about the cupola for weeks with Andy (who agreed that its size was crucial and the custom gingerbread was a given). I splurged on commercial-grade laundry appliances for the tack room; I designed and proportioned the hardware, drain grates, and doors according to the “golden mean”—Very Important, that Ratio: 1.618 to 1, should you be interested—and B & D made them all. I love my doors, and am particularly proud of my Gothic hinges. Mostly, the project ticked along smoothly. Subcontractors cycled through, some Amish, others local, in a delightful blend of technology and craft, old and new. My Amish electrician’s (!) logo may sport two Ls that resemble candlesticks with gently burning wicks, but JD from Ultra Glow led me through the intricacies of switches, plugs and lighting with questions such as, “would you like to be able to dim your overheads with your phone?” The concrete sub sometimes brought two of his little sons down from Lancaster County with him; in their flat-brimmed straw hats and suspenders, Manny and Vernon helped me weed my iris bed between sessions of entertaining our terriers, and, crucially, gave me an excuse to go out for ice cream while Amos poured my floor.
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Josh Winder, a carpenter from Orlean (and enthusiastic foxhunter), laid the main level’s flooring of oak from reclaimed fence boards, offset with some handsome black walnut snagged from Redmond’s stash of cabinetmaking lumber. Redmond finished those floors as beautifully as he does every piece of his furniture, though he suffered an occasional knock in the noggin from a certain low beam that took most of us out sooner or later. Ray Simpson installed a climate control system that puts our house—our home, as opposed to our horses’—to shame, and Danny would appear at regular stages to install the new plumbing. (I love old buildings and all, but still…) And no matter what, the B & D crew showed up when I expected them to, and sometimes even when I did not. One late-winter afternoon while I was in Leicestershire, visiting with the Duke of Rutland’s Hounds (the Belvoir Hunt), Redmond sent me this text: “Where did you find these guys?! It’s 10 degrees back here in Virginia, the wind’s terrible and they’re up on top of the barn, building your new roof!” During these many months when no one could go anywhere, I have been happy to stay home with the animals and take joy in life here on the farm as much as possible. As the New Year began, I flipped through the wall calendar B & D sends out annually, featuring Pennsylvania-based photographer Jana Bannan’s stunning pictures of Ben and Daniel’s most impressive projects of the recent past. There’s my barn, ready to brighten my tack room in September, 2021, just as next season’s autumn hunting kicks off. Photographer: Jana.Bannan@gmail.com Builders: BandDbuilders.com Architect: Andrew Lewis Neumann, Lewis, Buchanan Architects NLBArchitects.com
The condition of the barn when Nancy and Cyrus Manierre took possession of the property. Manierre family photo
The Manierres posed in the barn for a Vogue magazine photo shoot in the 1950s. Manierre family photo
The Manierres replaced the barn’s stone foundation with concrete walls and made other improvements to return the building to serviceable use. Manierre family photo
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IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • WINTER 2021
HOUND SHOWS
On Judging a Virtual Hound Show By John J. Carle II, ex-MFH Most people who know me accept that I am a ion, which was extremely gratifying, coming hide-bound traditionalist; others think that I am from one of the most consummate hound men in simply backward. Both are right. Tradition speaks the country. Donald breeds for hunting performfor itself; backward means that I’m computer ilance, which naturally, and unsurprisingly, seems literate and don’t own a so-called “smart phone.” to produce winners on the flags. And, best of all, My answer is: why own machines that are so as he proudly announced, “Hermit” is a firemuch smarter than me that I’d never master their cracker afield! use? Luckily I have a wife, Pat, and a daughter, Incidentally, the overall Grand Champion, Sarah, who are as smart as either device and— judged by Daphne Wood, MFH, The Live Oak, usually—will tend to the technical side of my life. was an English bitch, the Duke of Beaufort’s So, when Cameron Sadler called to ask me “Matchless,” ’19. to judge American Foxhounds at something called What I most missed was being in-ring, with a “Virtual Hound Show,” I was frankly appalled. the ability to truly see hounds move from all perThere are some huntsmen these days who have spectives, and to lay hands on hounds. “You can’t made a video game of hunting, to the ever-lasting properly judge a hound without putting a hand on disgust of those of us traditionalists left; so my him or her,” said my laser-eyed mentor, the late Millbrook Hermit ’15, Champion American Foxhound in the thought was, “Not hound shows, too?!” So I tried Bill Brainard. “Sometimes the Brit Huntsmen International Virtual Hound Show. Carol Pedersen photo to beg off, pleading computer ignorance; but don’t like it,” he added, “but I’m the judge!” Cameron is persistent, and she suggested that Pat In the end, I was glad I did it for the unique and/or Sarah could help. experience that it was, although I still think such “judging” is a farce; and I hope “Well, I’ll think about it,” says I. And I did. I thought, “Hell, no, this is this “video game” dies aborning. Yet, if Covid-19 hangs around, I’d do it again, ridiculous”; “Well, it looks sort of interesting”; to, finally, “This might be fun if asked. But only with Marion electronically on board and fully hooked up; and after all.” I was thoroughly hooked when I learned that one of my co-judges was if Frank was unwilling, maybe with Andy Osborne, Nigel Peel, Barry Todhunter, to be Genesee Valley Joint Master and Huntsman Marion Thorne, whose eye for or even grumbly Martin Letts! a hound, in my opinion, is second to none. Later, equally so, when I learned that And these days, I’m eying those infernal electronic devices a bit differently. the English judge was to be the gifted and much-in-demand Frank Houghton Maybe… Brown, ex-MFH. I’ve long enjoyed his articles in Horse and Hound, where his and my opinions seemed to mesh like a perfect “Couple of Entered Doghounds.” We’d met, first at the Virginia Hound Show, then later at Bryn Mawr, where he adjudicated in the English ring, and I in the American. We’d gotten along then, and I felt we’d do so again. Certain English judges and I would have been at loggerheads from the “leu-in.” I had never heard of the computer process by which the show was to be transmitted, and neither had Pat’s computer, evidently; so it was off to Sarah’s computer in Orange, Virginia. Then disaster struck: Marion couldn’t link up from Geneseo, NY, so Frank and I had the “ring” to ourselves. Then Frank popped up on the screen—as handsome as ever, ladies, just with a more pronounced widow’s peak—casually attired but looking decidedly apprehensive. I think Marion could have put him instantly at ease, being very easy to talk to. Ours was, basically, a simple task, with only four hounds to judge, which I found disappointing. The other divisions that feature in American shows had more entries, but quality had gone on walkabout. Our four quickly sorted themselves out, one dog and bitch being instantly dominant. We looked at them stood-up, then moving, and even given the imperfection of a video presentation, our decision seemed to me to make itself. I wish that Frank and I could have developed a working dialogue, but I felt that he found the whole process ridiculous, and was regretting his decision to judge. So instead of dialogue, we had lapses into silence; and when these became unbearable, I just blurted out my opinion, to which Frank agreed, but with no great enthusiasm. At least Sarah was enthusiastic, crowing, “I know whose hounds these are, I recognize the stable!” I had, too, and it made me very happy for an old and cherished friend. So Frank and I agreed to agree, and we closed the judging and began chatting. After about ten minutes of hunting craic, he suddenly blurted, “I’d have chosen the bitch!” I was shocked, and thought, but didn’t say it, “Why in hell didn’t you say so? Maybe you’re right!” But in the videos, the doghound, Millbrook “Hermit” ’15, showed himself off better than the bitch, Millbrook “Whistle” ’13, whose film clip didn’t do her justice. “Hermit” looked to be of medium size, a “handy” hound, with balance to burn. Light and agile, he is the picture of an athlete, and he covers the ground with an elegant stride. “Whistle” is lovely, and appeared happy in her performance, but she couldn’t match the balance nor the elegance of movement of her kennelmate. How I’d love to judge them in the flesh! Later, Marion and I agreed, as, coincidentally, did Sarah! When I talked to Donald Philhower, Millbrook Huntsman, he agreed with Marion’s and my opin-
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IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • WINTER 2021
FOXHUNTING
Joanne Maisano Photos
Anticipation! Waiting to start a day of sport when Middleburg Hunt met at Foxcroft, December 28, 2020.
Blue Ridge Topic and Needle figured there had to be some scent somewhere under this white stuff.
“Hello? Yes, I’d like to place a lunch order. Can I do curbside pickup on horseback?” Middleburg Hunt’s Richard Roberts (possibly) making post-hunting plans after wrapping up the day’s sport from Foxcroft, December 28, 2020.
Making tracks in the snow at Weldon House, in Blue Ridge Hunt’s country, on December 22, 2020.
Blue Ridge Bitter paused for a moment of reflection during a walking out session from kennels on December 18, 2020.
IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • WINTER 2021
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OSMUN’S OBSERVATIONS
Meet Osmun: On the Trail to Horse Country The newest member of the Horse Country team shared some thoughts on his recent move from Montana to Warrenton and how he envisions his new role as Marion’s marketing assistant.
Osmun: Only one, really. Gary Cooper. IAHC: Why him? Osmun: He had a long leg and sat a horse well.
In & Around Horse Country: “Osmun” is an unusual name for a Scottish terrier. How did that come about? Osmun: Marion chose it. From what I gather, she chooses a name well before she finds a companion. She decided on “Aga” when she was in England and met a woman drying her husband’s jeans on top of the Aga-brand cooker in their kitchen. “Bunsen” came from the Bunsen Burner, used for heating materials in a laboratory. It seems Marion had a heatingdevice thing going. I was supposed to be Claudia Coleman illustration Coleman, like the camp stoves. But she watched a Turkish TV show during lockdown and one character, a small boy destined to unite the nomadic tribes into the Ottoman Empire, was named “Osmun.” I guess that struck a chord with her, so “Osmun” I am. By the way, the Ottoman Empire lasted from the 1200s until just before WWII. Of course, that longevity was before all this time altering technology. IAHC: You were a show dog. How was life on, shall we say, the catwalk? Osmun: No, let’s not say “catwalk.” IAHC: Okay, sorry. How about life in the fast lane? Osmun: It wasn’t really fast. The West is big. Long drives around the country, sitting for hours at shows, gawkers. I was a professional, always on my best behavior. No biting and definitely no licking. I learned to “hold my water,” as they say. I did get my CH. designation, but that was a while ago. I don’t use it much. Someone said on the East Coast, near Washington, I should use it all the time, at dinner parties and the like. Levels the playing field here. Ch. Osmun? IAHC: You arrived in Virginia in the middle of the night. Osmun: Yes, it was late and Marion was waiting in the kitchen. At the very moment the doorbell rang, I became a Virginian. IAHC: What are your thoughts on Virginia, so far?
IAHC: No famous canines? Rin Tin Tin? Lassie? Osmun: Are you serious? Lassie? Next question. IAHC: Any place you want to visit in the East? Osmun: Only one place. Graceland.
IAHC: Are you making friends here? Osmun: A few. At work there’s Kalee in the Saddlery, and my walking pardners, and at a holiday dinner party I met Saint and Flower, Shar Peis, not too talkative…sniffers really but nice, nonetheless. I passed the test. I’ve been hosted by Vanna, a Bulldog, several times. We social distance together, and she’s an impressive gal. I play with her toys, sit in her bed, cuddle next to her parents. They’ve been very welcoming. I have a dog walker, Kathy. I walk with Roscoe, a Lab mix; Tramp, a Greyhound/terrier; and Kokopelli, a Cairn, early in the morning. Marion sleeps late, I’ve heard. IAHC: How did she recruit you? I understand you weren’t easy to find, much less get. She actively headhunted for a marketing assistant for several years and snatched you from under the noses of some pretty big CEOs in the business world. How did she do it? Osmun: Well, as in fly-fishing, something we know a lot about in Montana, just the right cast at just the right time. Minding the wind. Good presentation and delivery. Perhaps the deciding factor was Warrenton’s rolling countryside and fresh air. It’s an ideal climate for horsemen and for me. IAHC: In your new role here, what will you bring to Horse Country, especially with three pairs of big boots to fill? Osmun: Big boots? Yes, I’ve heard. 20 years of big boots. I’ve been brought in to look at economies. Something unusual at Horse Country. That’s all I’m going to say now, except it seems I’ve landed in the Mall of America for foxhunters. Or, the horseman’s Les Quatre Temps.
Osmun: The accents will take some getting used to. More of a drawl, as opposed to Montana’s twang. Awful deer ticks and an unpronounceable county name. Do you say “Faw-keer” or “Fawk-yeer”? Depends on the day, I guess. I never wore a flea and tick collar in Montana, so that’s a new addition. I did think I’d be eating better. Fox meat, right? I mean, I hear everyone around here is a foxhunter. Sadly, the menu is the same here. No better, no worse.
IAHC: What are your vital statistics?
IAHC: Do you bring Western sensibilities to your new home?
Osmun: Okay. Here goes: 7 years old. 21.5 lbs. 10” tall at the shoulder. Here to do a job and I love the perks: I have two meals a day and my own office where a nap is mandatory. I have to say the girls at Horse Country are nice and thoughtful. Sue brought me Greenies as soon as we were introduced. I like how Martha tickles me and then asks for expense vouchers. Debbie wants to play dress up every day. Jenny reads me book reviews and Roni told Marion what I had done in a corner of the Saddlery early on. It’s a family here. Ultimately, of course, I’m looking forward to occupying the Zebra stripe chair…if you get my meaning.
Osmun: I’m not sure what you mean by “Western sensibilities.” I don’t talk much, keep my own counsel. I will roll my eyes when the conversation turns to water rights. Eight hours of sensible sleep. Sensible eating. Moderate sensible exercise. If all that constitutes “Western sensibilities,” then I guess I’m guilty as charged. IAHC: Who are your heroes?
Osmun: I hate this part of an interview. This personal information won’t go in Cowboys and Indians, will it? IAHC: Of course not.
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Style That Defines Your Life
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A TOTE FOR ALL REASONS Our sturdy canvas tote will organize the day. Natural cotton canvas with an all-over classic hunting scene toile. Even the bottom hosts a surprise. 16”x 13”x 5”. In #1890-tote1A Brown; #1890-tote1B Green; #1890-tote1C Blue; #1890-tote1D Black. (HC1E) $45.00 DOES THE FOX CARE WHAT THE HOUND THINKS? Our own cotton bandana, 22” square. Lots of color choices. Navy, Yellow, Lt. Blue, Black, Deep Blue, Tan, Red, Green, Pink, Purple, White, Brown and Orange. (HC1D) $12.00
MORNING VIEW HORSE SHOW BAGS Made of waxed cotton. One zipper pocket inside. Different design on front and back. Three sizes available. Item # 3363-MVHS-SM Small 13"x 8"x 4" (HC1F) $169.00 Item # 3363-MVHS-MD Medium 15"x 10"x 6" (HC1G) $189.00 Item # 3363-MVHS-LG Large 24"x 14"x 7" (HC1H) $225.00
MORNING VIEW FOXHUNT BAGS Made of waxed cotton. One zipper pocket inside. Different design on front and back. Three sizes available. Item # 3363-MVFH-SM Small 13"x 8"x 4" (HC1J) $169.00 Item # 3363-MVFH-MD Medium 15"x 10"x 6"(HC1K) $189.00 Item # 3363-MVFH-LG Large 24"x 14"x 7" (HC1L) $225.00
(540) 347-3141 • 800-88-2-HUNT (4868) 60 Alexandria Pike, Warrenton, Virginia 20186 Store Hours: Monday–Friday 10AM - 5PM, Saturday 10AM - 5PM (ET)
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Where Form and Function Blend to Perfection
ABBEY BREECH TAN Made of 4-way stretch silkysoft fabric Embroidery at the hip and back pocket flaps Knee patch, euro-seat, sock ck bottom Sizes XS - XL, 3272-A635SS (HC2A) $159.00
IR4G BY IRH Superior comfort Snap-in liner provides a custom fit Rear and side ventilation Moisture wicking removable liner Quick release chin strap with Velcro stay tab Black Matte, Sizes SM - XL, 40-3312 (HC2C) $199.95 Navy Matte, Sizes SM - XL, 40-3311 (HC2D) $199.95 Also available in the XLT Black or Navy (HC2E) $279.95 ROECKL CHESTER GLOVE BLACK Very fine synthetic leather Breathable and durable Superior grip, touchscreen compatible Machine washable Sizes 6.5 - 10, 2036-208 (HC2F) $49.95
HARMONY NAVY MESH SHOW JACKET Lightweight and breathable mesh fabric Hidden interior zipper Italian jersey front panel Vertical zipper pockets Machine washable Long sizes available by special order Sizes 4-6 Short, 6-16 Regular 1149-H2012 (HC2B) $239.00 Also available in Children's sizes
37.55 SHOW SHIRT BY RJ FREESTYLE 37 Long sleeve pullover shirt Zipper placket with snap collar closure Breathable textured panels Proven to help manage core temperature & stamina Sizes XS - XL, 1149-FR500W (HC2G) $99.00
We have a variety of children's show coats, shirts and breeches available. Call or visit the store with your particular requirements. We also are offering a children's Camp Package for this season, inquire at the store.
CROSSOVER BREECH TAN BY KERRITS GripSoft™ knee patches Summer-weight, sheds dirt and light rain Durable, stain and water-resistant 2” comfort waistband with belt loops Tailored front fly and two-snap closure Sock bottom, washable Sizes SM - XL, 1773-50405SD (HC2H) $109.00
Spring Preview HEADS UP RABBIT BOOKENDS Hand-cast, poly resin 6" tall, 3026-0212-B (HC2J) $110.00
SPODE MEADOW LANEE RABBIT MUGS Gold accents and trimmed with soft pastel el colors. Set of 4, 12oz., 3161-MLM010 (HC2K) $40 $40.00 00
ORSE COUNTRY® 800-882-HUNT HC2 H All prices subject to change without notice. All items subject to availability. IAHC 02-2021
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BARBOUR® FREYA QUILTED JACKET Button fastening Welted side pockets with button fasten 100% polyamide outer with tartan lining Soft Pink, US Sizes 8 - 16 4-LQ1165PI (HC3A) $230.00
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SPODE MEADOW LANE RABBIT FLATWARE Drawn bunny design on each porcelain handle. Gold accents on each piece Set of 4, gold plated steel Pastry Fork, 3161-MLPF10 (HC3H) $25.00 Spoons, 3161-MLSS10 (HC3J) $25.00
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BARBOUR® SIMONSIDE WATERPROOF JACKET Flyweight, unlined, fixed hood Slanted side pockets Concealed waist drawcord 100% polyester outer Elasticated cuff, packs into its own pocket Olive, US Sizes 6 - 12 4-LWB0622OL (HC3C) $250.00 4-L
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WATERCOLOR SNOW RABBIT TEA TOWEL 100% cotton, Machine Washable 18"x 27", 1923-TT0001 (HC3K) $10.00
RACEHORSE IN PADDOCK TIE Woven silk tie. Available in Navy, Burgundy, Purple, or Orange (HC3G) $145.00
BLACK FOREST RABBIT PLANTER R Indoor / Outdoor or use Resin, handpainted oak finish sh 18" x 12", 4036-G00600 (HC3L) $126.50
HORSE COUNTRY® 800-882-HUNT HC3 Not responsible for typographical errors. IAHC 02-2021
Shop online! www.HorseCountryCarrot.com rot.com The drudgery of winter work fades as warmth grows stronger. But your list of stable fix-up chores has gotten so much longer. For all those tack and horse care needs your list says you must get, Just come to us and we’ll be sure that all your needs are met! LAINIE LEATHER HALTER Fine, soft supple English leather Triple stitched, detailed workmanship Solid brass hardware Australian nut with white stitching Sizes Cob, Horse or Oversize 327-RBLH (HC4A) $156.00
WELCOME FOX GARDEN FLAG 13" wide x 18" long #1922-GF0002 (HC4E) $19.95 Adjustable flag pole sold separately THREE PIECE POLE Adjustable up to 40" #1922-GF3PCP (HC4F) $14.95 GARDEN FLAGS FLA LAGS 13" x 18" (HC4 (HC4G) 4G) $19.95 The Derby #1922-GF0004 #1922-GF0 0004 THEY'RE AND THEY' Y'RE OFF! #1922#192 22GF0005
LAUREL BRIDLE Padded, square raised Fancy stitched noseband and browband Padded uni-crown headstall 5/8" fancy laced reins Sizes Cob, Horse or Oversize 327-OBLH 327 OBLH (HC4B) $150.00
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WOODEN JOCKEY FIGURES Sold separately (HC4H) $65.00 each #1899-FOLK1A - Red; #1899-FOLK1B - Yellow #1899-FOLK1C - Green; #1899-FOLK1D - Brown HERRING JOCKEY PILLOWS 18"x18". Poly blend that feels like silk. Same image on both sides. Pale Blue Silks #1602-EQU0032020 (HC4J) $135.00 Pink and Navy Silks #1602-EQU0022020 (HC4K) $135.00
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IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • WINTER 2021
9
BOOK REVIEW Out Of Hounds Reviewed by Jenny Young Rita Mae Brown’s newest Sister Jane mystery should be a delight to our foxhunting readers—there’s plenty of action in the field! As always, characters from past novels pop up to remind us they’re still alive, thank you—or thank RMB for not killing them off. Weevil, that charming fellow from Crazy Like a Fox, is acting huntsman while the regular huntsman, Shaker, recuperates from an accident; he and young Tootie seem to be getting very chummy. Crawford, who figured significantly in several of the previous novels, reappears as the first victim— of a theft. His cherished painting of A.E. Munnings’ wife Violet dressed in sidesaddle attire and standing beside her grey hunter was taken off the wall of his home despite a security system, with not a clue. Very soon after that, another Munnings sidesaddle painting was stolen, and then more. If you know anything about the works of the British artist, you know that’s a bundle of money missing, and it’s pretty obvious
that one person must be master-minding the thefts. As often happens in Sister Jane novels, real people blend with the fictional characters to lend authenticity to the action. In this we get cameos of staff from museums in Kentucky and Virginia, Jane Winegardner, MFH of Long Run Woodford Hunt, and our Marion here at Horse Country. Additionally, mention is made of the paintings by local artist Dorothy Chhuy, whose artwork is featured on some of our stationery here in the store. (I happen to own several of her paintings myself!) The Munnings paintings featured in the novel are all actual works by Munnings that have been “transferred” to the characters using artistic license. (Read the author’s Afterword.) You can look them up in books showing the artist’s work, or probably some on the Internet. If you don’t know Munnings’ work, you should try to see some. It’s wonderful. There’s a lovely surprise at the end of this book—but don’t peek! Available at Horse Country, hardbound, 286pp. $28.00.
HORSE COUNTRY BOOKSELLERS
this collection of houses designed by the company of WRJ Design of JackAs the COVID pandemic continues to son Hole, Wyoming. Sample: for a indicate hugging the home as much as family of ski-lovers they designed a possible, books can help pass the time Specialists in New, Old & Rare Books on Horses, Foxhunting, home featuring rough-hewn wood cabonce you’ve been through all the TV inets, beams, even ceilings that just Eventing, Polo, Racing, Steeplechasing & Sporting Art reruns several times. We have plenty to seem natural in the wide-open spaces offer! Besides the short synopses listed 60 Alexandria Pike, Warrenton, VA 20186 of the West. The “natural” elegance here, be sure to check out the lengthier 800-882-HUNT • 540-347-3141 extends beyond basic building materireviews of the newest books that folals to accents of antler chandeliers, erly.” This handy and informative book has low (see pages 9-12). proven very popular with our customers in the hand-thrown pottery, tarnished copper, and lots Pellegatta, T. C. Jr. Virginia’s Blue Ridge. After store, as it contains not only information on for- of views through windows at glorious open several years of unavailability, we just got more mal place settings and behavior, but also prac- space. Here and there touches of color enliven copies of Ted Pellegatta’s beautiful photogra- tical everyday information such as how to clean the white walls and neutrals of most furnishphy book depicting areas around the Blue silver and other items that don’t just get heaved ings. Hardcover, 256pp. $60.00 Ridge Mountains, which run south to north sep- into the washing machine or dishwasher, and TeNues, pub. – multiple editors. Best Unique arating the Shenandoah Valley from the Pied- it’s easy reading. We’re often sold out, so get Hotels and Retreats. Ah, if I were a multi-milmont. Don’t expect to see mountain after yours while we have a few in stock! Hardcover, lionaire… I’d love just to see some of these mountain, though; Ted has captured the flavor 264pp. $27.95 places, let alone sleep there. Eighty-four rooms of the countryside, from roadside apple stands from around the world will whet your travel apto a foxhound peering from the hound truck; a The following are some “one-ofs” that are left petite as soon as you open this book. I love the page of autumn leaves to a weathered barn or over from our Christmas season; once we’re place in Fiji over the water…the Naturhotel in shed wall displaying a multitude of fading paint out of them, I probably will not restock, looking Austria…the Dolder Grand, a former castle datcolors right down to bare silvered wood; an for other new books next fall. They’re lovely ing from 1899 and expanded into a truly grand aged pickup truck to a trio of horses walking coffee-table books that merit frequent enjoy- establishment…or there’s the Grand Hotel Fuacross a snowy field. Farmsteads, rainbows, ment. sano on the edge of Lake Garda in Italy, an lurid sunsets, lush spring pastures and more all Hicks, India. A Slice of England. Enjoy views artist’s delight. Take a trip around the world in blend to make a reminiscence of days gone by of family homes, indoor and out, of this descen- these pages! Hardcover, 272pp. $95.00 that still linger in rural Virginia. Makes a great dent of Earl Mountbatten and relative of British gift, or save it for yourself when you need to royalty, mostly full pages in full color. Truly a Rizzoli, pub. John Richardson at Home. Photography by Francois Haland and others bring wind down after a hectic day. Hardcover, luscious slice! Hardcover, $50.00 to you images of rooms occupied over the years 104pp. $45.00 O’Brien, Thomas. Library House. Visit this de- by art historian and Picasso biographer John MacPherson, Charles. The Butler Speaks. With signer’s new but historically detailed residence Richardson. Because the text is partly Richardover 28 years’ experience as major-domo to a that he designed and constructed when an ad- son’s reminiscences, some of the older photoprominent Canadian family, followed by open- jacent property that once was part of his origi- graphs are black and white, but there are plenty ing North America’s only school for butlers and nal home became available. It looks as if it of full-color images, many of which contain household managers in 2009, Charles could be 200 years old. Beautiful decorating artwork you won’t find in a museum. His taste MacPherson is the perfect author for this mod- ideas! Hardcover, 271pp. $60.00 in décor is reminiscent of late Victorian—lush, ern book on etiquette, entertaining and house- Jenkins, Rush; and William Abranowicz. Nat- ornate, with no fear of colored walls and a mulkeeping. Few of us nowadays have household ural Elegance/Luxurious Mountain Living. titude of gewgaws. Hardcover, unpaginated. staff, but entertaining is always popular, and it Stone, glass, and wood meet mountain vistas in $65.00 makes a great impression when done “prop-
JENNY’S PICKS
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IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • WINTER 2021
BOOK REVIEWS Paving Paradise Reviewed by Jenny Young In the imagined opening scene, asphalt pours over the landscape like lava, lapping up all before it. Houses, trees, farms and fields all melt away as the steamrollers come charging over the hill. “Thumper” Billington, the protagonist of the third book by J. Harris Anderson, watches helplessly as the flow approaches his house, the stench and heat searing his nostrils. If you read the first book, The Prophet of Paradise, you’ve met Thumper and his friends of Paradise Gap, a small community in the heart of Virginia’s Piedmont. Thumper is the Joint Master of the Montfair Hunt, named for his ancestral estate. His fellow Master is Ryman McKendrick, who felt a call to make foxhunting a religion. In that book, his misadventures often took a humorous turn as he tried to convince others he was St. Hubert’s modern-day apostle. He’s still at it in this book, Paving Paradise, with the added impetus of Thumper’s book (actually Anderson’s second book, The Foxhunter’s Guide to Life and Love), which Ryman believes was inspired by St. Hubert himself. Unlike the humorous tone of the first book, though, this one takes a more serious tack, and Ryman takes a back seat to Thumper and his relatives for much of the story. Thumper has a younger sister who, in headstrong youth and ardor and with a certain amount of familial resentment, fled to California to try her luck acting. Failing to land any major parts and in need of funds, she borrows money from an “alternative finance source” for a start-up project. The project fails, the loan shark’s sending an enforcer to threaten her, and she’s desperate for money. At the same time, Thumper’s ex-wife is working for a big-time developer in the same area who just happens to be considering building one of his huge conference center complexes in the mid-Atlantic, with Virginia being his first choice. Thumper’s sister is one-third owner of Montfair, but she can’t sell her portion without approval of her older sister and Thumper. Suffice it to say, there’s a lot of action and cross-action as the forces of conservation and development clash amidst family strife. It’s a well-woven plot with multiple twists and characters that ultimately and neatly come together for the denouement. Not nearly as hefty as Prophet of Paradise, Paving Paradise will be a quicker read, and I can just see it as a movie or a TV mini-series, with lots of cuts from one set of characters to another. I stayed up till midnight reading the last half of the book, instead of doling it out in gentle portions as I had the first half. That’s usually the sign of a good book when you can’t put it down! Available at Horse Country Feb. 22, soft cover, 294 pages, $17.95.
CENTURY 21 New Millennium
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Author Has a Way to Tell Fascinating Stories Reviewed by Leonard Shapiro It was a chance meeting at a hamburger outlet in Marshall, Virginia, several years ago. That’s where writer Vicky Moon was chatting with an African American man standing in line in front of her. He just happened to mention in passing that he was in the horse business and that his Aunt Sylvia trained racehorses at the Charles Town, West Virginia, racetrack. Ms. Moon was immediately intrigued. She asked for his aunt’s phone number, raced home, called Sylvia Bishop, and arranged to meet her a few days later. It was the first of many conversations they had before Mrs. Bishop passed away at Christmas in 2004 at age 84. Those early chats, not to mention years of meticulous research and over 100 interviews, eventually led to the completion of Ms. Moon’s 10th book. It’s called Sylvia Rideoutt Bishop Had a Way With Horses and chronicles the life and times of a pioneering woman who has since been honored as the first African American female trainer in the country. Sylvia Bishop was one of 17 children. Sent to live with a nearby childless couple as a toddler, she was indulged with fancy dresses and one pony ride that changed her life. Her love of horses took her to the Charles Town track at age 14 to work as a groom, hot walker and then trainer, all the time fighting sexism and racial bigotry against a backdrop of the swirling Civil Rights movement. Sylvia Rideoutt Bishop Had a Way With Horses is available at Horse Country. Hardcover, 198pp. $28.00.
IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • WINTER 2021
BOOKS
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The Hunting Horn By Grosvenor Merle-Smith
Two years ago, our Spring 2019 issue featured the article “Hunting Horns in Classical Music” by Audra Bielke. At the time Grosvenor Merle-Smith was closing in on the culmination of more than a decade’s work of research into the English hunting horn. Those many years of painstaking research have now resulted in a stunningly beautiful and informative book detailing the history of this instrument, familiar to many but intimately known by few—until now. An entire book—288 pages, in fact, representing over 200 different horns from 80 different companies—just about the hunting horn? Ah, but this seemingly simple instrument, emblematic of hunting sports, boasts an ancestry far more detailed than one might think. And Merle-Smith has captured that complexity in a compendium of historical intricacies that make for an engaging read whether or not one carries a horn, rides behind one who does, or has never even heard one blown in the heat of the chase. Merle-Smith, ex-MFH, and his hounds were known for the quality of sport they produced when he served as huntsman. More significantly perhaps, within the tightly knit community of huntsmen, Grosvenor is highly respected as a knowledgeable and successful professional. We asked for his insights into how the book came to be and in what ways he hopes the reader will benefit from time spent with its pages. In & Around Horse Country: What sparked you to take on this project? Grosvenor Merle-Smith: Many years ago I had a couple of horns with which I hunted hounds. They were older horns and I was curious about their history. I found there to be surprisingly little information available, and, consequently, the inspiration for this project evolved when conversations with other huntsmen demonstrated that a number of us had this similar interest. IAHC: Did you expect that inspiration to result in a book of such depth and dimensions? GMS: First of all, I was aware of only a few brands of horns, and every time I expected to bring closure to the body of what information I had, a new horn would show up representative of yet another company. Initially there wasn’t a plan to create a book. I expected to investigate half-dozen or so companies. There wasn’t any timeline to be adhered to, and so the project carried on for years, slowly but ever growing. Well over a decade later, the resulting work examines over eighty companies! IAHC: The book’s description cites English horns specifically. Why is that? GMS: Early on I became aware of a few 19th century catalogs from American instrument manufacturers, which listed hunting horns, and for a long time I expected to turn up examples. That has yet to happen. I was surprised to find that, with only a handful of exceptions, all of the companies have been English. IAHC: Given the comparatively limited market for hunting horns, it stands to reason that this specific device might be a sideline item to a manufacturer’s line of products. Did you find that to be the case? GMS: The raisin d’être of an instrument manufacturer was generally something like the keyed bugle or military brass instruments and rarely the lowly hunting horn. Consequently, many of the company histories in this book will be of interest to a much wider audience than hunting folk. IAHC: The word “painstaking” seems an apt term for what it obviously took to make this happen. Can you cite an example of a typical difficulty you encountered along the way and how that was overcome? GMS: I discovered that a number of the companies lost their records and their own histories through extensive bombing during WWII. Because so much searchable primary information, such as newspapers, church and census records, has only recently become available through new computer programs and the Internet, I’ve been able to recreate historical timelines for some of these companies for the first time in many years. So much seemingly lost information was gathered using primary sources that an official record of my research was the logical endgame. IAHC: There’s an existing body of published work on many aspects of mounted hunting. How does this new book add another dimension to that body? GMS: Through the hunting horn and the huntsmen who used them, this book illuminates the sport and history of foxhunting from a unique perspective. A unique perspective indeed. And one with impressive eye-appeal. This book will make a perfect complement to your coffee table collection of other classics: entertaining and informative to read, and pleasurable just to peruse. Available at Horse Country, hardbound, 288 pages, $75.00
Grosvenor Merle-Smith with a few of the 200+ horns cataloged in his new book. Wayne Dementi photo
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IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • WINTER 2021
FOXHUNTING
Douglas Lees Photos
Piedmont Fox Hounds Huntsman Jordan Hicks leads the pack off from Oakley on Opening Day, November 5, 2020
(l-r) Walter Kansteiner, ex-MFH, and Tad Zimmerman, MFH, hunting with Piedmont Fox Hounds, January 9, 2021.
Piedmont Fox Hounds Huntsman Jordan Hicks, during a run on Opening Day, November 5, 2020. Piedmont Fox Hounds Joint-Masters (l-r) Tad Zimmerman, Shelby Bonnie, and Gregg Ryan on Opening Day from Oakley, November 5, 2020.
BOOK REVIEW
Prava’s Steeplechase Adventure Reviewed by Lauren R. Giannini
Being crazy about horses, even after all these years, and always a voracious reader, it’s only natural that I enjoyed this charming children’s tale based on a day in the life of a real Thoroughbred. Prava’s Steeplechase Adventure provides a unique window into racing over jumps suitable for children of all ages because the target audience is very young children, post-toddler or just starting school. It’s perfect for reading out loud as a pre-nap or bedtime story or in a classroom. Plus, elderly “kids” will enjoy the excuse of reading to kids. It’s win-win all the way from start to finish. The story itself is told from the horse’s perspective and Prava, fortunately, loves her life and has fun running and jumping with her jockey, Michael. When she is awoken early in her bedroom stall, Michael tells her that they’re going on an adventure. Prava loves adventures! She’s cheerful when led to a huge “spaceship” where friends from other bedroom stalls greet her. You get the picture… At 36 pages, we can’t gallop any further into this tale without unsporting spoilers. Author Michael Mitchell is a top jump jockey, English-born, and well known on the National Steeplechase circuit here and across the Atlantic. Most recently, he earned kudos for piloting Moscato, owned by Bruton Street US, trained by Hall of Famer Jack Fisher, in 2020, earning Eclipse Award for champion jumper.
Sir Charles paused for a moment of reflection as the Piedmont Fox Hounds sorted out the line near their kennels during a break in the action on January 9, 2021.
Best of all, in terms of sportsmanship, Mitchell is a genuine champion. In 2019, Mitchell and Jack Doyle were neck and neck for top jockey honors at the end of the NSA season. At the penultimate meet, a fall at the final fence of the last carded race ended Doyle’s season with a fractured jaw, which had to be wired shut. Mitchell could have tried to break their tie of 20 victories each at the season’s finale, Steeplechase of Charleston (SC), but decided it was only fair to share first place with Doyle. Races Won is the standing that matters most among jockeys. Mitchell knows all about the risks of his profession, having made his way back to the top after some major injuries. The sporting gesture to share top honors with Doyle in 2019 makes Mitchell’s involvement with the Prava Series even more special. T.C. Williams Youth Sport Camps International is the creator and publisher of the Prava books. Founder T.C. (Reggie) Williams lives in Flint Hill, Rappahannock County (VA). He was working for trainer Jack Fisher when he got the idea for the children’s story. One fateful day at the races, while leading a racehorse around the paddock, Williams was talking and singing to keep the young gelding calm for his hurdle race. When “Mikey” Mitchell arrived and was legged up into the saddle, the jockey told the horse a story. Williams listened to the calming voice and later approached the jockey about turning his story into a children’s book. Best of all, Prava’s Steeplechase Adventure is illustrated with drawings by kids who have attended TCW Youth Sport Camps. They represent the USA and 10 countries around the world; some have disabilities, some do not. All royalties benefit the TCW Youth Sport Camps and the Injured Jockeys Fund. Prava’s Steeplechase Adventure is just the start. Available at Horse Country, soft cover, 36 pages, $12.99.
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IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • WINTER 2021
FOXHUNTING
Douglas Lees Photos
Old Dominion Hounds Huntsman Stephen Farrin on the way in following a day of sport from the Hunter Trials Field, December 6, 2020.
Dana Bolles takes a fence on Old Dominion Hounds’ Junior Day, December 12, 2020.
Old Dominion Hounds hosted a Juniors Day on December 12, 2020, from Rolling Fields, Orlean, Virginia, home of Mr. L. Moeller. (l-r) Caroline Kuhnert, ODHPC; Ashby Hunt, BRPC; Belle Cook, ODHPC; and Sherry Hamil Huff, ODH second field leader.
IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • WINTER 2021
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FOXHUNTING
“Hunting Around” Two Texas Ladies’ Annual Trip to Virginia By J. Harris Anderson, Managing Editor
In the Mid-Atlantic area, and especially in Virginia’s prime hunt country, the phrase “hunting around” is a fairly common part of the vernacular. One friend might ask another, “Who do you plan to hunt with this season?” And the response could be, “Well, mostly my home hunt, but I think I’ll also hunt around some.” This might mean driving an extra forty-minutes or an hour farther than usual. For the more adventurous, it could mean as much as two hours, perhaps even a bit more. But when the trip takes three days and covers 1350 miles (one way), the concept of “hunting around” takes on a new meaning. That’s exactly what Suzanne Gwyn and Audry Giles-Gates have been doing annually for the past fifteen years.
Audry Giles-Gates, shown here with a member of the Kenada Fox Hounds pack, served as a whipper-in for many seasons.
Their home hunt is Kenada Fox Hounds, based in Waller, Texas, about two hours north of Houston, where they’ve been members since Amy Adams Hunt, Master and Huntsman, founded the club in 1984. For many seasons Suzanne served as field master and Audry whipped-in. They have since passed those duties along to others, at least as full time responsibilities, but their taste for adventure hasn’t dimmed so much as a speck. The inspiration for this yearly trek came from their friend Marvin K. Gordy, of Beaumont, Texas. An acquaintance of then-masters Jim Kinchloe of Bull Run Hunt and Janet O’Keefe of Rappahannock Hunt, Marvin spun enticing tales of the fun he had hunting in the hills for Central Virginia versus the flatlands of Southeast Texas. Their fellow Texans thought the two ladies were crazy, but at Marvin’s urging, Suzanne and Audry decided to find out for themselves. What began a decade and a half ago as a long weekend diversion has grown to a yearly twomonth decampment, running from September to midNovember, to the Old Dominion. The undertaking does not come without its logistical challenges, for both the ladies and their horses. Rather than jetting to their destination and hiring mounts, they prefer to bring their own horses. The humans and equines alike find the change in climate from the brutal heat and humidity of the Gulf Coast to the cooler temps of Virginia’s Piedmont a plus. But this also requires some physical adaptations, especially for the horses. The summer heat
back home limits opportunities to get horses legged up for a hunt season that in Virginia begins in early September. Kenada’s season doesn’t begin until October, and even then the lingering heat may limit the pace and duration of a day’s sport. Working the horses at a swimming facility helps to some extent. But ultimately the earlier part of the two-month Virginia holiday is given over to shorter days afield and steadily increases as the horses become fitter. Then there are the hills. Kenada’s entry in the MFHA roster describes their country as “slightly rolling.” Some Virginia hunt country might be considered only somewhat steeper than Kenada’s Milam County territory. But that’s not where Suzanne and Audry go. No, they head straight for the steepest of the steep—Fauquier, Culpeper, and Rappahannock Counties. Regardless of their level of fitness, it takes some time for their horses to adapt from the river bottom flatland back home to the mountainous terrain hunted by clubs such as Bull Run, Warrenton, Old Dominion, Thornton Hill, and “Rapp-A-Hang-On”. While adapting to the more rigorous country may be less daunting for the riders, getting to the targeted area requires some stamina and detailed planning. Suzanne and Audry now have a smooth system for making the trek, and they’ve scaled back on some of the details. In the earlier years they hauled four horses, which required each lady to drive her own truck with a two-horse trailer the entire way. Over time they dropped down to just one horse each, which allowed them to trade off on driving duties. More recently, they’ve opted to have the horses shipped, which lightens the traveling burden considerably. Whatever challenges this undertaking poses are more than offset by the pleasures enjoyed while in Virginia. Hunting days, of course, top the list. One of the highlights is when a fox is viewed, a sight not possible in Texas where the quarry is solely coyote. But there are ample diversions between the times afield. Shopping ranks high among those activities. Suzanne managed a tack store in Houston for 25 years so, after a day or two of rest from the trip, the first item on the agenda is a visit to Horse Country in Warrenton. Before it’s time to head home, there will have been multiple shopping days and several lunch and dinner sessions with owner Marion Maggiolo and other friends. As Audry puts it with a wink, “We like to help support the local economy.” The friends they’ve made over these past years include both those who reside in Virginia and others they’ve met along the way. “One of our regular stops,” Suzanne says, “is in Bulls Gap, Tennessee. A lovely couple—she’s German, he’s a military veteran—put us up and always ask us to stay over longer. We’ve also stayed at Silver Linings Farm in Mobile, where Mimi Peters runs a riding school. We’ve met so many wonderful, welcoming people on these trips.” Their local base is Reva Ridge Farm just west of the town of Culpeper. Formerly Samantha Pullen’s Funny Farm, it’s now owned and operated by Sharon and Chip Molster. A sprawling 75-acre facility, it serves as a handy base for the Texans to “hunt around” Virginia-style. When asked how they became involved in foxhunting, both cite Amy Adams Hunt. “I was boarding my Canadian Thoroughbred at a show barn,” Suzanne says, “and decided to move
Suzanne Gwyn (left) and Audry Giles-Gates selfie infuses a bit of Texas-style flair to their annual Virginia hunting trip.
to Amy’s place. This was 1984 and Amy was just starting up Kenada Fox Hounds. I found foxhunting to be much more to my liking and have stuck with it ever since.” Audry describes a similar path. “I grew up on a working cattle ranch, so riding was in my blood. I got into showing, working with an English trainer. When Amy was starting up her hunt club, she invited people from boarding and training barns in the area to come out for an introduction to foxhunting. It looked like fun and for a couple of years I did both hunting and showing. But then I decided showing was too boring and went full time into foxhunting.” Both ladies admit that they miss serving as field master and whipper-in but value their time in those roles and the deep appreciation it gave them for the joys and challenges of mounted hunting. When asked how long they intend to continue this annual tradition, Suzanne grins and says, “As long as we can still throw a leg over.” Their travels haven’t been limited to Virginia. Over the years they’ve hunted with Elkridge-Harford (MD), Misty River (AR), Hillsboro (TN), Live Oak (FL), and Mooreland (AL), to name just a few. Even a short haul on a hunting day can pose challenges. But Audry recounts an especially memorable visit to hunt with Lynn Lloyd’s Red Rock Hounds in Nevada. “I flew into San Francisco and the plan was to catch a shuttle flight to Reno. Then a snowstorm struck and all flights were canceled. So I hired a driver to get me to Lynn’s place, but my luggage didn’t make it. All I had were my boots and helmet, nothing else for hunting. I assumed I wouldn’t be able to ride, but Lynn, with her can-do attitude, said, ‘You came to hunt, didn’t you?’ She loaned me a coat—wasn’t hunt-correct but that didn’t matter— and we went hunting anyway.” The cadre of friends Suzanne and Audry have made, both in Virginia and at stops along the way, hope that same can-do attitude keeps them making their annual visit for many years to come.
(l-r) Suzanne and Audry enjoyed a day of sport with Bull Run Hunt at their Blessing of the Hounds in 2019.
IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • WINTER 2021
FOXHUNTING
Douglas Lees Photos
Orange County Hounds Field Master MaryAlice Larkin Matheson Thomas on a run heading back to Kinross Farm, November 21, 2020.
Warrenton Huntsman Matt van der Woude at Hillsborough, Thanksgiving Day, 2020.
Orange County Hounds Huntsman Reg Spreadborough, with hounds, staff, and followers on Thanksgiving Day, 2020, hunting from Chilly Bleak.
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HORSE RACING
IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • WINTER 2021
Horses and People to Watch Virginia Equine Alliance
Colonial Downs 2021 Thoroughbred Race Dates Approved by Virginia Racing Commission Colonial Downs received Virginia Racing Commission approval for a 21-day Thoroughbred race season this summer in New Kent that will extend over a seven-week period. The meet will begin July 19th and continue every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday through September 1st. The track is now in its third season under ownership of the Colonial Downs Group. The stable area and track will open for training on July 5th and will close on September 8th. “Purses are projected to average at least $500,000 per day absent any unforeseen events like an increase of the pandemic beyond its current intensity,” said Frank Petramalo, Virginia Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association Executive Director. “I think most horsemen by nature have to be optimists, otherwise they wouldn’t last very long in the Colonial Downs meet will be held from racing business. Let’s hope a suc- The 2021 th st cessful 2021 meet will erase the July 19 - September 1 . Coady Photography photo memory of last summer’s COVID-related cancellation after just 6 race days.” Colonial Downs will again offer a diverse stakes program in 2021 highlighted by the Grade 3 Virginia Derby on August 31st and a lucrative Virginia-bred stakes schedule. More details will be announced in the coming days at colonialdowns.com. In other Colonial Downs news, a fifth Rosie’s Gaming Emporium opened on January 8th and it marked the first one in Northern Virginia. Located in Dumfries, the site features 150 Historical Horse Racing (HHR) terminals, a simulcast OTB area, smoking & non-smoking sections, a high rollers room, a small restaurant and a The new Rosie’s Gaming Emporium in lounge. The Rosie’s is located in the TriDumfries opened January 8th. VEA photo angle Shopping Center on Route 1, two miles from the Quantico exit off I-95. Other Rosie’s locations are in Richmond, Hampton, New Kent, and Vinton. Virginia 2020 Online Betting Handle on Horse Racing Increases 56% Over Prior Year When the COVID-19 pandemic forced tracks and OTBs to close temporarily last spring, horseplayers gravitated toward online wagering en masse. Handle figures from Virginia racing’s four Advance Deposit Wagering (ADW) partner companies—TVG, Xpressbet, Twinspires, and NYRABets—which were healthy already—began to steadily grow in early spring. Come summer, fall, and early winter, online business surged. By year’s end, handle had grown by 56.4% over 2019. Virginia residents placed $135,486,989 in wagers in 2020 versus $86,629,347 the previous year. Top ADW handle producer was TVG, whose $70,827,157 handle represented a 70.80% gain over last year’s $41,468,459. TVG averaged $193,487 in bets per day. Twinspires was next with $39,771,460, a 32.69% increase. Xpressbet, third overall, experienced a 53.07% boost while handling $18,209,171 in wagers. And NYRABets, newest of the four, had a triple digit business increase over 2019. Their 2020 handle of $6,679,199 was 102.8% better. Virginia-Bred, Virginia-Sired, Virginia-Certified & Virginia-Owned Horses All Have Recent Shining Moments Virginia-bred Largent, who competed in the $1 Million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational January 23rd, scored a come-from-behind victory— his biggest to date—in the Fort Lauderdale Stakes (G2) De- Virginia-bred Largent, in the Laurel winners circle cember 12th. With Paco Lopez after capturing the Bert Allen Stakes. Jim McCue photo
aboard for the first time, Largent ($35.80) swept to the lead on the far outside approaching the stretch and outran fellow longshots Breaking the Rules and Doswell late to win by two lengths. The 5-year-old Into Mischief gelding, who was bred at Lazy Lane Farm in Upperville, had two Virginia-bred stakes wins in 2020. He won the Edward P. Evans at Colo- Virginia-sired Mr.th Buff wins the Empire Classic Handicap October 24 at Belmont. Adam Coglianese photo nial Downs July 29th over the New Kent track’s Secretariat Turf Course, and the Bert Allen at Laurel October 9th. The Todd Pletcher trainee has been great so far with six wins and three runner-up finishes in nine career starts. Million dollar earning Virginia-sired Mr. Buff won his 15th career race October 24th, taking the $175,000 Empire Classic Handicap in frontrunning fashion at Belmont for the second consecutive year. The New York-bred went off as second favorite in a 1 1/8 miles test, took the lead with 7½ furlongs to go and powered home to a 3¼ length win. Chester and Mary Broman’s impressive 6-year-old homebred is by Friend or Foe, who stands at Robin Mellen’s Smallwood Farm in Crozet. Mr. Buff started 2020 with dominant gate-to-wire stakes wins in the Haynesfield, by 20 lengths with a 106 Beyer speed figure, and in the Jazil, by five lengths. Overall, Mr. Buff has nine stakes wins—all at New York tracks—and earnings of $1,240,786. Virginia-certified Street Lute, cutting back to six furlongs for the first time in two months, ran her win streak to four races—all in stakes—with a dominant fivelength triumph in the $100,000 Xtra Heat Stakes January 16th at Laurel. A neck shy of being undefeated in seven career starts, Street Lute ran six furlongs in 1:10.31 over a fast main track under regular rider Xavier Perez in her 3-year-old Virginia-certified Street Lute wins the Xtra Heat Stakes at Laurel January 16th. Jim McCue photo season opener. Street Lute overcame an early career eye injury and subsequent surgery to win her debut, delayed to September, 2020, at Delaware Park. The Street Magician filly has since won the Small Wonder, Smart Halo, Maryland Juvenile Filly Championship, and Gin Talking Stakes. Her six-month Virginia residency was spent at Diana McClure’s DMC Carousel Racing Stable in Berryville. With the Xtra Heat win, Street Lute’s bankroll increased to $350,000. She is owned by the Lucky 7 Stables. Virginia-owned Extravagant Kid capped off a solid 2020 campaign, finishing fourth in a 14-horse Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint field November 7th at Keeneland. It marked the second “Cup” start for Extravagant Kid’s owner David Ross, a Virginia businessman, President of the Virginia HBPA, and Colonial Downs’ all-time leading owner. His Perfect Officer finished third in the same race in 2011. Heading into the “Cup” race, Ross’s sprinter had 14 Extravagant Kid won the Da Hoss Stakes at Colonial wins from 45 career starts and Downs in 2019. Coady Photography photo earnings of $902,210. The Florida-bred had won six stakes including the Sunshine Millions Sprint last January. The come from behind effort provided a $50,000 payday and pushed Extravagant Kid’s bankroll even closer to the $1 million mark ($952,210). A Pittsburgh area native, Ross was the leading owner at Colonial for seven straight years, from 2005-2011. He has won a total of 137 races at the New Kent track.
EVENT NOTICES Upcoming Events In and Around Horse Country The past year has been a difficult time for group activities. While many traditional events such as hound shows and race meets had to be canceled, some were allowed to go forward but under tightly restricted conditions. As this issue goes to press, we’ve listed here those events that are, at this point anyway, still scheduled to go forward as planned. It’s possible some might yet be canceled while others might be added if restrictions are loosened. Moreover, even those that are listed here may require participants to observe certain procedures (e.g., face coverings, social distancing, limits on the number of those participating at the same time, etc.). We encourage you to use the contact info listed for each event before attending to assure it is still going forward as planned and to confirm any specific instructions you’ll need to follow. Hunter Pace Events and Spring Races: The spring races and the hunter pace series begin in March. For contact information and more details, go to www.centralentryoffice.com. Spring Races, Virginia: Saturday, March 13: Warrenton Hunt Point-to-Point Saturday, March 20: Piedmont Fox Hounds Point-to-Point Sunday, March 28: Second Warrenton Hunt Point-to-Point Saturday, April 3: Old Dominion Hounds Point-to-Point Sunday, April 11: Blue Ridge Hunt Point-to-Point Sunday, April 18: Loudoun Hunt Point-to-Point Saturday, May 1: Middleburg Spring Races Sunday, May 9: Middleburg Hunt Point-to-Point Saturday, May 29: Virginia Gold Cup Races Spring Races, Maryland: Saturday, March 27: Green Spring Valley Point-to-Point Saturday, April 3: Elkridge-Harford Hunt Point-to-Point Saturday, April 10: My Lady’s Manor Races Saturday, April 17: Grand National Steeplechase Saturday, April 24: The Maryland Hunt Cup Saturday, May 1: Howard County Cup Races Sunday, May 16: Potomac Hunt Races Hunter Pace Events: Saturday, March 27: Orange County Hounds Sunday, April 4: Old Dominion Hounds Saturday, April 10: Rappahannock Hunt Saturday, April 17: Blue Ridge Hunt Sunday, April 18: Warrenton Hunt Saturday, April 24: Loudoun Fairfax Hunt Other Springtime Happenings: Bull Run Hunt March Madness Hunt Week Monday, March 22 – Saturday, March 27 www.bullrunhunt.com Museum of Hounds & Hunting North America To keep informed about MHHNA online events, visit www.MHHNA.org/news Hound Shows As of press time, most hound shows have been canceled. For the current status, go to www.mfha.org/hounds-showsched.html. Upperville Colt & Horse Show Monday, June 7 – Sunday, June 13 www.upperville.com
IN MEMORIAM Radnor Huntsman John Dean The hunting world lost a revered figure when Radnor Huntsman John Dean passed away on January 16, 2021, from COVID-related issues. He was 55 years old. The son and grandson of huntsmen, John left his native Pennsylvania to hunt coyotes in Missouri but returned to his home state in 2011 to whip-in to his father at Radnor. Two years later his father passed the horn to him and John hunted the Radnor pack with distinction for the next seven seasons. John Howard Dean III Radnor MFH Collin McNeil January 9, 1966 – January 16, 2021 described Dean as “a genius with Huntsman, Radnor Hunt, PA, 2013-2021 his hounds, always seeming to Genevieve Snyder photo know where to make the right cast and always picking the best attributes to breed into the pack.” Excerpts from the memorial tell the story well. “John lived his 55 years on this earth to the fullest. He was made with just the right twist of charisma, jokes and wisdom. As much as he was jovial and carefree he had an uncanny ability to stir the desire to learn in others. Whether he was in the stables or speaking to a large crowd, he could win you over with conversation. “John was an outdoorsman all his life. He could tell you six generations of any dog’s pedigree. John was the founder of Back Creek Beagles and Earleville Hounds…If it had fur or feathers he enjoyed the hunt…John was a loving man with a heart of gold, who enjoyed the simple things in life. He spent the last seven years continuing the family tradition of foxhunting…He will be missed by many and forgotten by none.”
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