March 26, 2013
Aiken Hounds Will Celebrate Centennial in 2014
The Aiken Hounds, founded in 1914, are making plans for their centennial celebration next year. In the late nineteenth century, the South Carolina town was becoming a favorite wintering place for wealthy families from the northeast. Thomas Hitchcock, Sr. and William C. Whitney established the Aiken Winter Colony there and were joined by Astors, Bostwicks, Harrimans, Vanderbilts, other notable families, many of whom had equestrian interests in racing, polo, and hunting. To this day the Aiken Hounds continue to hunt the drag through the Hitchcock Woods, the largest privately-owned urban forest in the nation. Situated at the very edge of the old village, the Hitchcock Woods Foundation maintains the tract, now encompassing more than two thousand acres, for the enjoyment of all. Foxhunting as an institution is ingrained in the fabric of the community to this day, and the Aiken Hounds has played a central role in the city’s history and culture for the last hundred years. The hunt’s annual Opening Meet, Blessing of the Hounds, and Stirrup Cup in the Hitchcock Woods at Memorial Gate was selected by the Huffington Post as one of the country’s Ten Terrific Thanksgiving Traditions. A book commemorating the hunt’s one-hundredth anniversary is planned for release in 2016 to coincide with the one-hundredth anniversary of the Aiken Horse Show in the Woods. Photographs and stories are currently being collected. Posted March 26, 2013
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Introducing James Barclay, ex-MFH
A young James Barclay while Master of the Fitzwilliam Foxhounds (UK)Allow me to introduce James Barclay, a retired Master of Foxhounds in England and descendant of a distinguished foxhunting family. I am pleased and honored to announce that Foxhunting Life will be publishing James’s informative and thoughtful essays in future issues.
James’s family roots are with the Puckeridge Foxhounds, a hunt in Hertfordshire dating back to 1725. His sister has served as Master since 1987. Two brothers, his mother, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather also served as Masters of the Puckeridge, that dynasty starting in 1896.
James’s first day of hunting was with the Puckeridge back in the 1960s. He was astride a donkey, and, by tradition, he wore a small version of the family scarlet coat which each family member going back at least three generations had worn on their first hunt!
‘Ware Flitters!
Just had to republish Andy's story as the cubhunting season draws to a close!
Huntsman Andy Bozdan at the Tennessee Valley Hunt
When I was learning to whip-in I would watch the huntsman and the way he effortlessly walked his pack out in the spring and summer. This particular spring the swallows had arrived early and would flit low across the fields in front of hounds. To my surprise he let his hounds chase them.
Keen to learn, I asked why he did not want me to turn hounds back. He said that this was their time off, and he wanted them to relax and unwind.
‘Ware Flitters!
Huntsman Andy Bozdan at the Tennessee Valley HuntWhen I was learning to whip-in I would watch the huntsman and the way he effortlessly walked his pack out in the spring and summer. This particular spring the swallows had arrived early and would flit low across the fields in front of hounds. To my surprise he let his hounds chase them.
Keen to learn, I asked why he did not want me to turn hounds back. He said that this was their time off, and he wanted them to relax and unwind.
A few months later we were out for our first early morning cubhunting. Hounds were held up for a few minutes at the meet and then we move off across a huge stubble field toward our first draw. Huntsman and hounds were halfway across the field when out of nowhere came several swallows flitting down and in front of hounds!
