Kill Rate at PETA’s VA Shelter Is Eighty-One Percent
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has reportedly threatened to close its animal shelter in Hampton Roads if the Virginia General Assembly passes Senate Bill 1381. The bill, which asks shelters to make a sincere effort to find adoptive homes before euthanizing animals, passed the House 95-2. It returns to the Senate for […]
The Backyard Fox
Cathy Summers captured this photo and the others in our Gallery from her own house in Falls Church, Virginia. “For the last four years,” she says, “a vixen has made her home under a shed in my backyard, and I have been able to use my house as a blind from which to photograph the […]
Virginia Horses Confirmed Positive for EHM
A horse in Albemarle County, northwest of Charlottesville, Virginia, that displayed neurologic abnormality was confirmed positive for Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy (EHM) on February 5, 2015. The boarding stable at which the affected horse is located, along with fourteen other horses, has been placed under quarantine. No horses may leave or enter the premises until the […]
Cuban Exports: Rum, Cigars, and…Fancy Show Jumpers
The Associated Press reports that Cuba has added another luxury product to its traditional export list of fine rum and fancy cigars—Dutch Warmblood show jumpers. Colts and fillies are purchased as yearlings from the Netherlands, trained at government-sponsored equine enterprises, and auctioned off to buyers mostly from Latin-America. Fidel Castro’s communist government banned horse racing, […]
Huntsmen on the Move: 2015
Huntsman Jordan Hicks moves from the Tryon Hounds to the Piedmont Fox Hounds / Erik Olsen photoAs we approach the close of the 2014/2015 foxhunting season, here’s our report on thirteen hunts that have either hired or will require a new huntsman for next season. We have already featured personal close-ups of three of the migrating huntsmen—Guy Allman, Brian Kiely, and Graham Buston—and we plan to bring you more.
We invite readers to fill us in on any moves that we’ve missed. We also invite you to send us a personal profile on any of these huntsmen that we can publish as a feature article. Or, just send us the information, and we’ll write the story. Use the “Contact Us” link that appears at the bottom of every screen to communicate directly with me, and be sure to include your phone number.
What follows is foxhunting’s version of musical chairs.
Sporting Dog Art Exhibit Coincides with Westminster
Oil painting by Percival Rosseau
The William Secord Gallery will present an exhibit—”Canine Masters, The Nineteenth Century”—featuring works by English artists such as Maud Earl (1864–1943), Thomas Earl (fl. 1836–1885, John Emms (1843–1912), and Arthur Wardle (1864–1949), as well as as American artists such as Percival Rosseau (1859-1937) and Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait (1819-1905).
Timed to coincide with the Westminster Kennel Club’s 139th annual dog show in New York City, the Gallery will be open from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm on February 15, 16, and 17.
A Piedmont Fox
This flying fox was captured in mid-flight by the lens of photographer Douglas Lees. Click for a Photo Gallery of the Piedmont Fox Hound’s meet at Blue Ridge Farm with first whipper-in Neil Amatt temporarily carrying the horn for injured huntsman Spencer Allen. Posted February 9, 2015
Rare Red Fox Sighted at Yosemite
Sierra Nevada red fox / National Park Service photo
It’s been one hundred years since a sighting of the Sierra Nevada red fox has been confirmed in Yosemite National Park. Also known as the High Sierra fox, it is a subspecies (vulpes vulpes necator) of the red fox (vulpes vulpes) and was captured on camera in Yosemite in mid-December, 2014. The California Fish and Game Commission declared this exceedingly rare subspecies threatened in 1980, and it could receive federal protection under the Endangered Species Act this year.
The Sierra Nevada red fox is slightly smaller and darker than the more common red fox, which is non-native to California. It’s range is limited to alpine and subalpine meadows above 4,500 feet.
Brian Kiely Is New Huntsman at Potomac
Brian Kiely and the Myopia foxhounds / Ashley Hill photo
Brian Kiely knows he will have big boots to fill when Larry Pitts, huntsman for the Potomac Hunt (MD), retires after thirty-five seasons there. Brian spent a weekend recently with the Potomac Masters, had a chance to hunt with Larry, and accepted the position of huntsman starting next season.
“The way Larry conducted himself, the way the hounds related to him, was poetry,” said Brian. “It was a fabulous experience just to watch him.”
“I remember seeing Larry some years ago at the Virginia Foxhound Show,” Brian continued. “Hounds from hunts all over were arriving at the kennels…nervous…running off…and there was Larry, calmly walking his pack through all the confusion, without a care.”
What Foxhunters Can Learn from Eventers
In the last issue of FHL WEEK, Kate Samuels wrote about what eventing horses can learn by going foxhunting. Your editor was reminded of an article we published back in 2010 that turned that question on its head somewhat. We had asked Olympic three-day medalist James Wofford what foxhunters can learn from eventers. As we are now in that part of the hunting season when a traveling fox may take us for the longest and most arduous run of the season, we thought it would be worthwhile republishing Wofford’s advice.
James Wofford on Carawich, 1978 / Gamecock photo
For most of us field members, perhaps one of the greatest single factors influencing the joy we experience in a day’s hunting is our riding ability. The more competently we are able to cross the country on our horse, the closer we come to a totally fulfilling experience.
Since eventers know just a bit about crossing the country, we asked instructor, team coach, author, and Olympic medalist James Wofford to discuss some of the principles of his particular discipline and how they might be applied to the hunting field.