Picture of the Week

During a joint meet with the Windy Hollow Hunt (NY), Codie Hayes of the Golden’s Bridge Hounds (NY) made the ultimate huntsman’s sacrifice to encourage reluctant hounds to cross the creek. Did it work? We don’t even want to ask. What more can a huntsman do? Posted February 4, 2016

Mark Houliston’s fine photo of a fox pouncing on a mouse becomes all the more interesting when the context is revealed. For a good half hour, this red fellow hunted confidently and unconcerned, all the while trucks and trailers carrying Blue Ridge Hunt members, horses, staff, and hounds were arriving and unloading at a popular Saturday meet directly across the road from his happy hunting ground. Bon appetit, Sir Charles. We admire your nonchalance. Posted December 22, 2015

Click photos for full size.  /   Cristy Grimsley/Hernandez photo

Seven-year-old Skyler Beauchene was the youngest member of the field out with the Tennessee Valley Hunt when hounds met at Riverplains, the family farm, in Strawberry Plains, Tennessee. The more senior generations of Skyler’s family in the photo are State Senator, Grandfather Frank Nicely (left) and international trainer and rider, Uncle Jose Hernandez (right).

Riverplains is one of the founding farms for the Tennessee Valley Hunt. They do organic growing, carriage driving, dressage, three-day eventing, and so much more. I also live there. Could not be anywhere else!

Skyler is mounted on his pony Cruisy; Riverplains owner Senator Frank is mounted on Farrah; and Jose is riding Roma, a carriage horse for his four-in-hand. All the horses are owned by Skyler’s mother Rachel Nicely, Frank’s daughter. Rachel also trains and has hunted since she was very little.

Photo by Karen Kandra Wenzel Larry Pitts, huntsman for thirty-five seasons at the Potomac Hunt (MD), passes the horn to huntsman Brian Kiely at Opening Meet, 2015. Pitts leaves behind a brilliant legacy of breeding American foxhound Champions and Grand Champions, including the impossibly handsome MFHA Centennial Grand Champion, Potomac Jefferson 2005. Posted November 20, 2015

Hugh Robards / Emily Robards photoHugh Robards, huntsman for the Middleburg Hunt (VA), was recently photographed by his daughter Emily before mounting up for a cubhunting morning. Robards has been hunting hounds for forty-five years. After whipping-in to some of the most notable huntsmen in England—including Captain Ronnie Wallace at the Heythrop—Robards began his long career as huntsman at the County Limerick (IRE) for Lord Daresbury, MFH in 1970. After twenty-seven years of showing brilliant sport over the ditches and banks to sportsmen and women from all over the world, he moved to the U.S. Robards is the author of an out-of-print memoir, Foxhunting in England, Ireland and North America and Foxhunting: How to Watch and Listen, now in its second printing. Posted October 11, 2015

Helen Houghton photo. Click photo for larger view. Paul Kraus sent us this photo by Helen Houghton of a recent meeting of the Golden’s Bridge Hounds (NY). Click for larger view. Helen arranged the shot in front of “Windswept,” home of Master Gene Colley and his wife Lois (standing), after a lovely hunt featuring an energetic run after a fine, young coyote. The field enjoyed an excellent view at the end as hounds pushed their quarry into a piece of country that could not be hunted that day. “A delicious hunt breakfast followed on the shaded back patio overlooking the farm, hunt country, and distant hills,” Paul writes. “The grand finale to a wonderful morning was to see two of the Colleys’ lovely polo pony mares with two-day-old foals being led to the barn.” Posted September 25, 2015

Jody Ciliberto photo Mounted staff were exercising the Red Oak Foxhounds, as photographer Jody Ciliberto followed in her car. She saw a sudden commotion—fingers pointing, hounds jumping, sterns waving. Jody jumped out of the car with her Canon 60D fitted with a 35mm to 200mm lens, managed to get within ten feet, and took her shots. “I was happy for days,” Jody writes. “It’s not often I get a chance to photograph a fox that isn’t running away!” Click for a full screen version! Posted August 24, 2015

Carolina Foster at the 2015 Carolinas Hound Show / Anne Shue photoWith a bit of instruction from Tot Goodwin, MFH and huntsman of the Green Creek Hounds (SC), two-year-old Carolina Foster showed Green Creek Rita 2007 in the Junior Handler class with confidence beyond her years. Carolina’s pal, Sophie Martin, an older woman of five, also showed in the class. Carolina’s mother Anne Shue and Sophie’s mother Shanna Mauldin both whip-in to Tot. The two wee ladies appear to be following in their mothers’ irons. We hope so!

Snow on the ground or falling from the sky, no matter. The Golden’s Bridge Hounds (NY) and huntsman Codie Hayes  are determined to keep coyotes on the move until the very last day in March. This coyote, writes photographer Jim Duggan, “kept circling as usual at this time of year with the mate and pups located somewhere on this fixture. Otherwise, I’m sure he would have taken the usual straight line away from the field. He got away with a zig and a zag, plus the help of snow falling and winds gusting to thirty-five mph. I sat at my spot overlooking an open field where I have had a few good shots in the past. Immobility and two hours of weather finally go to me, and I went back to the car. Found that my camera’s sun shade fell off, and had to drive back to my spot. Found the shade and then heard the hounds giving voice, coming in my direction. Ran back and got the camera just in time. Sometime you just have a little mazzol (luck), with a little experience.” Posted March 30, 2015