Neil Morris hunting a stakes-winning hurdle horse at Orange County / Douglas Lees photoNeil Morris is a new Master of the Orange County Hounds (VA). Morris joins current Masters John Coles and Malcolm Matheson in leading this, one of the most prominent hunts in the country.
“I’m so happy to have him,” said Coles. “Neil can do anything in this job that anyone could want. He’s a great guy, a great horseman…he’s made to order ”
Better known perhaps for his association with winning race horses he has trained for Kinross Farm, such as Grade I Stakes winner Sur La Tete; Virginia Gold Cup winner Miles Ahead; and Virginia-bred Researcher with winnings in the seven figures, Morris is at the same time an avid foxhunter. He hunts his steeplechase horses regularly and credits that time off in the field with providing the bottomless stamina his horses so often display on the race course.
Morris, English born, is a former three-day eventer and former amateur steeplechase jockey. In 1992, Kinross farm owner Zohar Ben Dov hired Morris to manage his stable. Ben Dov was an avid foxhunter, regularly spending five days of every week in the field with the Orange County and the neighboring Piedmont foxhounds. Since that time, in a close working relationship with Ben Dov that has been characterized by great mutual respect, Morris has catapulted Kinross Farm to the pinnacle of steeplechase racing with his training acumen. Through those years, Morris has been hunting regularly with both packs.
“About three years ago, I started to take the field occasionally,” said Morris. “It changed the dynamics of hunting for me. I certainly had a better view And I had to pay more attention. But I thoroughly enjoyed it.”
Morris hunting with wife Cricket at Piedmont / Douglas Lees photo
Morris might even get some good tips on Field Mastering from his wife Cricket. She’s the daughter of the late Erskine Bedford, MFH, who was a long-serving Field Master for the Piedmont Fox Hounds. Erskine was recognized by anyone who rode behind him as one of the finest Field Masters ever to lead a field.
Morris views his Mastership as the start of another chapter in his life. “I’ll consider my term successful if I can keep it smooth and keep the hunting fun. I understand that different people hunt for different reasons, and it has to be fun for all. I’m keen to take the challenge, and there’s surely no finer country to hunt over.”
Posted June 12, 2014