Huntsman Andy Bozdan at his first TVH Opening MeetArriving to take up your post as huntsman three days before your first meet is probably not the traditional way to begin the season. However, after months of tussling with the U.S. Immigration Department I finally arrived at the Tennessee Valley Hunt on 13 September 2011.
Through September and October the hounds and I were finding our way. The meets were still very new to me, and the hounds were quite wayward in terms of running riot and biddability. We were walking out every day, and hounds slowly but surely began to respond to my voice and my horn.
Through November, December, and January we had some very good days hunting both red fox, gray fox, and coyote. In February hounds moved up a gear or two, and we had some good long runs where we covered all the available country and then some. With many puppies to enter and a very late start with their training due to my late arrival, we made every effort to ease them into the pack as soon as I felt that they were confident enough to handle a full day’s hunting and meet the horses of the field.
By the middle of February we had entered all but two couple, and by the end of the season all the pups had been entered and were comfortable with their new roles. For those of you who do not know about entering puppies, it is something you would normally do in September and October after having had all spring and summer to prepare them for the challenges ahead. So with the help of my whippers-in and Kelly Masengill, we managed to get all puppies entered in spite of the late start.
There have been many good days at all the meets this season, but some are particularly memorable. There was a fox hunt at the Knobs which lasted for well over one-and-a-half hours with hounds finally marking him to ground just as my horse threw a shoe. What timing! On a day at Bakers Creek with only Master Grosvenor Merle-Smith whipping-in to me, we hunted first a red fox, then a coyote, and then a wild boar! Hounds, huntsman, and Master were all exhausted but very happy. Another cracking good day was at Berry Hill where hounds pushed their golden coyote all around the available country for over two hours before losing this very tired fellow back in the woods near to Big Valley. I hope to make his acquaintance again later this year.
Memorable, of course, is my first proper coyote hunt at River Plains on September 17. After hounds had hunted for over two-and-a-half hours, they caught their coyote down in the Holston River. It was an epic hunt full of all the drama you would expect.
I would like to thank Carrine, Erin, Lorin, Laurie and Kelly for all their help, both on hunting days and back at kennels. Without their help and support the job would have been much harder, so thank you. In particular I want to thank Lorin who covered me when I was away at Poole’s Pen and other times as well. She did a fantastic job. I would also like to thank all our landowners and farmers who allow us to hunt over their land. We must always remember we hunt by permission of the landowners and we must respect their wishes at all times. And I would like to thank the Joint-Masters who work tirelessly for the hunt and the future of the Tennessee Valley Hunt.
Finally, I would like to thank all the hunt members for making me so welcome and for all their kind words and support throughout the season. I look forward to many more seasons with the Tennessee Valley Hunt, and I am proud to be your huntsman.
Posted June 18, 2012
London-born Andy Bozdan arrived at the Tennessee Valley Hunt directly from Australia, where he was hunting the Barwon foxhounds.
Andy Bozdan and the Tennessee Valley hounds