Flower’s First Hunt…..

     Sunday, November 23, 2014, hounds met at Cherry Hill at  9 AM.

     Overcast, chilly but not cold, the ground was dry but a hint of moisture played in the air. You could feel a front coming in. The question for hounds and I, would it come soon enough?

     Ten couple rolled down the farm road, poked around in the tobacco sheds, kept going. Allie veered into the pasture behind the second tobacco barn and a few hounds accompanied her. Others stayed to the left of the road. Lots of feathering but no opening.

     Down at the creek, the black coop to one’s right, the pack bounded across the creek and worked with more interest. Piper opened, then Allie opened and Orchid jumped in but remained quiet. Within minutes the pack crossed through the creek to the south side and kept working. The bank rises, is steep, there’s but one path up. Becky Birnbaum rode up to the crest and moved along while Maria Johnson pushed ahead of the creek path. Hounds worked up, came back and kept on for a half hour, moving ever eastwards. Allie almost ran out of the territory but she returned to the horn. There’s thick mountain laurel at the tight end of the creek before climbing the hill and everyone nosed around in there. A den, at the base of a tree, attracted attention but no action.

     Finally, we rode to the top of the hill, could see Variety Mills Road. Pack together again, although Allie was lagging. We rode along the woods’ path at the edge of the big meadow, down we returned to the creek.

     A light wind presented no problem but the dried leaves and hard ground made scenting difficult. I hunted back the way I came, I rarely do that, but I thought hounds and I might pick up a fox in the pasture where Allie nosed about. Tried the edge of that, by the creek. Nothing, up we went to the lovely top of that chunk of land, made a circle, came down by the coop, steep, and drew the feeder creek. There’s a den there and I hoped that nice red had taken a stroll. Hounds raced ahead. Well, this went on and on with the same result, a bit of boo hoo but no real music or run. And we did pick up some of the red’s scent in the woods behind Miss Henderson’s sheds.

     Trolling the pasture, all at once the pack exploded. Joyous music. My back was turned as hounds circled behind me, came in front of me, ran back and the music filled the air. People started yelling. Priscilla Friedberg led First Flight. Just as I trotted up, hounds coming straight for me, I spied a large black animal. We have black foxes at Cherry Hill, a moment of hope surged. “Was a black fox visiting our red fox a bit early?” Hounds bellowed then shut up. Not a peep.

     The quarry, a skunk, large enough to be a cocker spaniel, fired. The lead hounds rolled on the ground, eyes stinging and a wall of fragrance wafted over the pasture. The skunk, not at all worried, ambled to the red fox den and popped in. If the fox minded, he or she had sense enough to be a genial host.

     The tail hounds came up and backed off. However, Mocha, a first year entry, knew her job was to dig. In she went, butt up in the air, tail wagging. Not a good place to be. Had I gotten off to grab her stern and pull her out, we’d both receive another blast and worse, the pack would come to me.

     So, I did the sensible thing, I blew the four distinct notes and sure enough, the first whipper-in to appear was Maria. I made her do it while I led off the pack. Fortunately, she didn’t have to dismount as Mocha listened to her and did notice, once she stuck her head out of the den, that the long end of a thong dangled near, too near.

     Had Maria wished to take revenge, she could have hugged me once were back at the trailers. She restrained herself but both of us wore a light dash of eau de peu.

     Kept hunting, but the poor hounds could only smell those skunked the worst.

     While this was not our best hunt, it certainly will go down as an unforgettable one.

     At the tailgate, Miss Henderson on her ATV, we all toasted the skunk which Amy Burke dubbed Flower, for the skunk in “Bambi”. Let’s hope that was Flower’s first and last hunt.

AN EARLY CALL…..

     The Weather Channel, using the American model and the European, gives two different forecasts for Wednesday, Nov. 26. The European model predicts snow for Wednesday.

     Given that this is Thanksgiving Eve, so many of you have big plans, lots of people under roof, let me make an early call.

     If it does snow, I will cancel Friday’s hunt and move our High Holy Day to next Sunday.

     As you must braid, see to guests, this will be more difficult if the weather is bad. Even if it clears for Friday, braiding wondering if you can trailer out for Friday morning seems an unnecessary stress.

     If the weather holds and the American model is correct, of course, we will hunt.

     Look for an early call Wednesday evening. 540-456-8787 Huntline

     The bad weather, if it comes, should not affect Saturday’s foot hunt. That call will also be on the Huntline by early Friday evening.

THE CHILDREN’S HUNT…..please park at The Run-In Shed

      Thanksgiving, the second High Holy Day, is our children’s hunt. A brief review of our modus operandi is in order.

     Thanksgiving Hunt begins with awarding of the hunt button and colors.

     After this happy occasion, Huntsman and staff take a handful of steady Eddies, the children follow. As some are on lead line, this isn’t a long walk, usually down to the polo field. After the kids have walked behind hounds, perhaps seen a fox, they return to the trailers.

     Then the adults walk, trot down to the Arena where the rest of the hounds await us and off we go.

     Should a fox appear when you are with the children, here’s the drill. Stand still. The Huntsman will stand still. The whippers-in will stay with the hounds. Parents, friends will turn the children back to the trailers. Once the Huntsman and the Field Master determine that moving off will not frighten the kids or set off their ponies, adults will go toward the hounds.

NOVEMBER 29, Waldingfield Beagles, 3 pm

     Eat too much? Run it off with the beagles at Tea Time Farm, meeting at the Upper Barn. If you have visitors, children, too, this is an excellent way to introduce them to hunting with hounds. People are on foot, can get close to the beagles, see the action.

     The beagles run much like foxhounds but the circles are smaller, the range of the game, rabbit, being smaller. The biggest difference between beagling and foxhunting is when beagling, you are hunting a prey animal. When foxhunting, you are hunting a predator.

     Actually, when beagling, you hunt what the fox hunts. It is instructive for those fox hunters who wish to learn more about their quarry, but most of all, it’s great fun. Better yet, no one will part company with their horse.

     Following the run, we celebrate with a tea.

     Hope to see you Saturday.

OPENING HUNT….

     Oak Ridge, vast and beautiful, always delights us as well as our guests. November 9 proved no exception. True to form the day became warm. When hounds were picked up we had various temperature readings from 68*F to 73*F.

     Sixty five to seventy five riders went out. The number is a bit shaky because some returned early. There were thirty car followers. Hard to believe but yes, thirty, and the breakfast hosted over two hundred and twenty people including Oak Ridge’s wonderful Hollands and other landowners, without whom we would enjoy no sport.

     We picked up two foxes but scent didn’t hold. We ended on a coyote and there again, scent didn’t hold. Dee Phillips, whipper-in viewed and the field saw some lovely hound work. Not much of a run though. Then again, would it be Opening Hunt without unseasonable warmth and spotty scent?

     Mark and Karen Catron won the Jean Beegle Award amidst much cheering. Their name, engraved on the silver platter, now follows eight or is it nine others? At any rate, it is a high honor and much deserved.

     Wayne Dawson won the Guess-the-Temperature-at-Noon award and promptly donated the monies to the hounds.

     I was thrilled because the hounds did the best they could in the circumstances and also for the very first time I was able to sample some of the over-the-top hunt breakfast. I actually managed to eat half a plate, a victory of sorts.

     The formal season is now upon us.

     Good Hunting,

     Always and Ever,

     Rita Mae

     Cubbing started Friday, September 12th. Hounds opened in five minutes and never stopped until I picked them up two hours later. Each successive cub hunt was essentially the same story. All with multiple views until Friday, September 26 and Sunday, September 28. The heat came back on us, humidity so-so, but it slowed us down. For all that, hounds tried and tried, doing what was asked of them, even the first year entry.

     I am pleased with the hounds and await cooler weather. The people have been good, too. Everyone is hauling themselves out of bed in the darkness, tacking up, mounting up and riding full throttle until the last two hunts. Somehow it all works out and I am looking forward to a brilliant fall, foliage and hunting.

     We took a small draft from Warrenton Hun and another one and a half couple from Radnor Hunt. They’ve worked into the pack and are good citizens.

     We had many old hounds who pushed through the hard winter, but earned their retirement. Hence these two small drafts. Keswick and Deep Run have also offered a few hounds which will be a big help as our numbers plummeted. This is a testimony to our hound practices in that we can keep hounds hunting to a good old age, at least once a week if nothing else. What an assist that has been for our youngsters.

     Now with a young to middle aged pack, a few seniors out there, you have enjoyed the summer training which the older hounds put into them, as well as John, Toot, Maria, Sonia, Stuart and myself. Occasionally Mary Shriver could make it, but the core group was out there at 8 am every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Given our cubbing season so far, this has really paid off.

     The revitalization of the kennels, outfitting a stand alone wooden kennel with a gambrel roof up at the house, makes a big difference, too. Still need to insulate the gambrel kennel which was originally a basset kennel. For years I’ve tried to get that nice extra run fenced down at the Main kennel (we even have a donated trailer) but I haven’t been successful in the fund raising. So this will help us somewhat. The most important thing is it’s warm and tight.

     The goal has been to lower the electric costs, combat winter’s freezing of the water, as well as to provide plenty of recreation space. Bill Johnson will install our waterers and that, too, is a savings. As you know labor costs are a killer and Bill keeps coming through for us.

   The extra condo built by Wayne Dawson, Dave Pritchard, Bob Satterfield, Gib Stevenson, and Bill Johnson has proven to be a big favorite with the hounds in the large youngster run. If I forgot anyone on the building group, forgive me, tell me and I will correct my error.

     As we ramp up to another season, I think everyone has seen the improvements. Doesn’t mean there isn’t more to do. There always is but this summer has been a summer of progress.

     Thank you all.

     Up and Over,

     Rita Mae

COOKIES….we need more cookies…..

NELSON WATERERS…….

     Long lasting, no freeze waterers are modestly priced. Bill Johnson, as I said, will install them. They average about $250/waterer with one a double. We need eight. If anyone would like to donate one for the hounds, send a check to David.

WASHING MACHINE…..

     Lots of hound kisses to LIz Taylor, as they now have their own washing machine. The horses have their own washing machine, too, thanks to Mark and Karen Catron. Hounds have laundry, as do the horses, and this is a godsend.

CUBBING FIXTURES…..

     These demand a call usually two days before a hunt day due to harvesting, plowing for winter wheat, etc. And now deer season is upon us. This means we lose Carter’s land until January, 2015.

     This will be the first year that landowners may allow deer hunters to hunt on Sunday. Some will and some won’t. Right now, we don’t know what our various landowners will do. We know Miss Henderson will not allow any deer hunting at ant time, nor will Jim and Joan Klemic. Oak Ridge has a paying deer hunting club. We do not yet know if the Hollands will allow Sundaydeer hunting. We will tell you when we know. It may be possible, if Sundays are permitted, to hunt one quadrant of Oak Ridge while the deer hunters have the rest.

     This also holds for Gene Dixon’s lands. Some of those acres have paying hunt clubs.

     The new law has all of us scratching our heads, not just Oak Ridge.

     As always, we will hope for the best and support our landowners with whatever their decision. Always bear in mind, the deer hunters pay. We do not.

     Busy as Cat’s Hair,

     RMB