Foxhunting 101 starts with a skull session in the Essex kennels tackroom. / Tiffany Evitts photo
Some hunts seeking to attract new members are pro-actively educating prospects. The venerable (1912) Essex Fox Hounds (NJ) offered a presentation this summer at their kennels in Peapack called “Foxhunting 101.”
Huntsman Bart Poole and whipper-in Sam Andrews gave a presentation in the afternoon at the hunt stables in Peapack, after which questions were invited. After the presentation, participants mounted up, introduced their horses to hounds, and rode practice turns around the field. Fifteen participants then joined the Essex subscribers and local landowners for a roading exercise. The course which ended with refreshments was priced at $50.00 a person.
In addition to the participants and some moms, Essex Masters Jazz Merton and Karen Murphy, Treasurer Jim Gordon, former Honorary Whipper-in Grier Filley, and Honorary Secretary Constance Silverman were also on hand.
Peyton Brienza, one of fifteen participants, is the granddaughter of Mrs. Jacque Juntilla, long time Essex subscriber. / Tiffany Evitts photo
“Despite a fierce thunder storm which ripped through our territory twenty minutes before start time, all went well,” writes Silverman. “The first thirty minutes, starting at 4:00 pm, were spent in our tack room, blissfully cool due to the one air conditioner on site. The scene was relaxed and happy—all perched on the counters, surrounded by decades of Essex history in the framed photos that cover the walls.
“Bart and Sam took us through it and ended with horn calls and a video of a fox hunt in Virginia. Questions were invited. They had proper attire on hand as well as tack. Almost all present had been exposed to foxhunting at some point, or at least had been on cross country hacks.
“Due to severe storm warnings that had been issued all afternoon, a few of the participants had left their horses safely in their barns just in case storms hit during the clinic. They dashed home to get them and planned to hook up with the group as it roaded past their stables. This made for a rather festive “progressive” roading, the group growing as it went along our hunt country’s dirt road system.
“The rest of the riders, who had trailered to the clinic, saddled up and followed Miss Filley, Bart, and Sam to the upper fields above the Essex kennels to try their hand at riding behind the hounds. For some, this was their horses’ first introduction to hounds. Two flights were formed, and around they went.
A field of twenty riders follow hounds for roading exercise through a nice piece of the Essex hunting country. / Tiffany Evitts photo
“By 5:30 the group was ready to go roading and was joined at this point by several regular Essex subscribers. Huntsman and whipper-in led 26-1/2 couple of hounds and a “field” of about sixteen, which increased to about twenty total. All went smoothly. Hounds got to swim in two different ponds, and horses and riders got to enjoy a nice little slice of Essex hunt territory. A tent with refreshments welcomed the riders back at the end of the hack.”
Posted July 26, 2016