Keswick Celebrates Its 125th
The Keswick Hunt Club is celebrating its 125th anniversary. Forces responsible for its longevity include the kindness of landowners, the hard work of professionals and volunteers, and the generosity of special angels. On December 10, 1896, nineteen foxhunting enthusiasts gathered at Cloverfields, the Keswick area home of Frank Randolph, to organize a club for […]
Rosie, Rosie, and Rosie
The author takes competing hounds, mostly strangers to each other, to the first draw on foot. / Joanne Maisano photo
There is something magical about Rosie. Two of my all-time favorite people and one of my all-time favorite hounds are named Rosie.
Being asked to carry the horn for the Bull Run/Blue Ridge Foxhound Performance Trial this fall in Virginia was a thrilling honor. Spencer Allen, huntsman for the Long Run Woodford Hounds (KY) had originally been invited to serve as trial huntsman but had to withdraw when his knee was injured. His horse fell while hunting.
The First Flight
An ode to the “gallant First Flight,” this is one Ogilvie poem that your editor has too often overlooked. No longer!
By John F. Herring
While there’s one on his feet with a tale to repeat
And another is sampling a drink,
The eager First Flight have a girth to pull tight
Or a chain to let out by a link;
While the boisterous laugh in that circle of chaff
The opening music has drowned,
You will hear the First Flight as they whisper “That’s right!’
To the note of a favorite hound.
Theodora Randolph Field Hunter Championship 2021
Field Hunter Champion Gabrina Von Schweez ridden by Lindsey Williamson. / Middleburg Photo
I watched for glimpses of red and gold in the forests along the highway as I headed North on Saturday, October 2, 2021. But, no, not a glimpse of any color but green. Virginia wasn’t far enough north of Georgia, where my horses and I foxhunt with Belle Meade Hunt, or South Carolina, where I live and work. Fall and cooler temperatures had yet to arrive in Virginia. It’s still hot.
My F250 and four-horse trailer were fully loaded, hauling three horses to Middleburg, where I would stay through the end of the coming week. Four days of foxhunting with four different hunts were in my plans as a judge in the Theodora A. Randolph Field Hunter Championships: hunting in the field every day with the competitors and then riding in the finals on Saturday, October 9, at Glenwood Park. The final tests and awards in the morning would lead up to the Virginia Fall Races in the afternoon.
An Historic Blazers’ Opening Meet
Huntsman Anthony Costello and hounds head to covert. Behind (l-r) are whipper-in Oisin Rigney, Senior Master Michael MacDonagh, and local landowner Martin Moran. / Noel Mullins photo
History
The County Galway Hunt (the Blazers) was founded by John Denis in 1829. Denis was Master and huntsman.
In Foxhunting LIfe, we have previously written about the late Lady Molly Cusack-Smith of Bermingham House and her ancestor, John Denis. Lady Molly was Master and hunted the Blazers’ pack from 1939 to 1943 during most of World War II when so many of the men were away in service. At that time, she was known as Miss Molly O’Rourke.
Deer Hunters, Foxhunters: Can We Share?
The author rides Merry on the family farm. / Cary McWhorter photo
Every year, fields, woods, copses, and little dells are turned into McMansions, strip malls, and highways. Occasionally, even some truly lovely or necessary structures are built. But the countryside is still gone in the process.
For hunters, this means that land available for shooting, riding, or chasing becomes increasingly rare and precious. Inevitably, there is competition for the wildlands that remain. This competition can be limiting for one group or another. But what if it were possible to share that land? Could different groups work it out to use the land, not perhaps simultaneously but at least during the same season? Wouldn’t that be better for everyone? Can it be done?
Puppy Shows in Ireland
A look at two foxhunting hound types we don’t see many of in North America―Kerry Beagles and Old (Traditionally-bred) English Foxhounds
Judging Hounds are Mr. Paul Brown and Mr. Tom Wallace with Scarteen huntsman Raymond O’Halloran. / Catherine Power photo
Scarteen Black and Tans
Friday, September 3, 2021 − There is no better way to catch up with old hunting friends than in the relaxed atmosphere of a late afternoon puppy show. Such was our experience at the recent Scarteen puppy show held, as usual, at the kennels with a bumper twelve couple to test the mettle of our two judges. Neither was found wanting, and both lowered their carbon footprint by traveling together from the Cork National Hunt Club. Mr Tommy Wallace and Mr Paul Brown have been regular visitors to Scarteen over the years and are more than familiar with Scarteen’s unique Black and Tan Kerry Beagles.
Keswick Hunt Club Marks its 125th
Carrie Randolph Joslin hunting with Keswick, circa 1905
The Keswick Hunt Club (VA) is celebrating its 125th anniversary. Responsible for the hunt’s longevity are its kind landowners, hard-working professionals and volunteers, and generous special angels.
Foxhunting was a feature of Keswick area life since colonial days. According to sporting historians and family tradition, Dr. Thomas Walker (1715-1794) kenneled four couple of English Foxhounds at his home, Castle Hill.
Willie Leahy: Horseman, Entrepreneur, Field Master
Willie Leahy, while Field Master of the Galway Blazers / Noel Mullins photo
Ireland and the horse world lost one of their best-known horsemen, Willie Leahy. He provided outstanding field hunters for visitors to Galway, served as Field Master of the Galway Blazers, was the first to offer pony trekking tours to Ireland, and developed the Connemara Trail. Willie was an uncle to Tony Leahy, MFH, past president of the Masters of Foxhounds Association of North America.
His home was Aille Cross in Loughrea, County Galway. In the nearly seventy years I have known Willie, he remained true to the Traditional Irish Horse, Connemara Pony, and the countryside where he was most content. He started from modest means on a small family farm with one horse, leaving school early, but his boundless imagination and vision saw Willie develop one of the largest equestrian enterprises in Ireland, with farms in Loughrea and Connemara.
Bridle: My North Star
Rose Tree-Blue Mountain Bridle 2015 sports her winning ribbons for Overall High Scoring Foxhound and for leading the hunt to first place among the competing packs at Millbrook. / Maryann Cully photo
I want to tell you about a foxhound in my pack, the Rose Tree-Blue Mountain Hunt (PA). She has proven herself to me for years and just finished the Millbrook Performance Trial as the overall high-scoring foxhound.
Selecting hounds to take to Millbrook, I was not at all sure I would bring her. Now, in her seventh season and having whelped two litters of puppies, I had reservations.