Iroquois Steeplechase Announces Unique International Jump Racing Partnership
Iroquois Steeplechase 2025 Featured Race Winner Will Be Invited to Compete at The Cheltenham Festival in 2026 – Thanks to The Jockey Club U.K. in Partnership with TVV Capital.
Fire Destroys Part Of The Historic Old Dominion Hounds Kennel Complex
Two buildings at the Old Dominion Hounds’ kennel complex at historic Henchman’s Lea just north of Orlean, Virginia were destroyed by fire in the early morning hours of Friday, February 7. No horses, humans or hounds were injured in the blaze, but two of the 125-year-old barns are a complete loss.
Virginia Steeplechase’s Race to the Gold Cup Kicked Off Saturday, March 1st
Press Release of Rappahannock Hunt’s Annual Point-to-Point Race was held in Boston, VA on Saturday, March 1st, 2025.
Worst Timing for a Foxhunting Conviction in England
Ex-Cheshire huntsman John ‘Ollie’ Finnegan was found guilty of one count of hunting a wild mammal with dogs this September and was fined £468. The charge related to an incident that took place on a trail hunt on November 26, 2022, with the Cheshire Hunt. This marks the first time someone has been convicted of foxhunting in Cheshire (a county in northwest England).
New Threats to Riding to Hounds in the UK
Now that Scotland has successfully banned trail hunting, the Labour Party has promised to follow suit in England and Wales. The fallout from this promise, laid out in its “manifesto” released this summer, has already affected several hunt clubs that hunt on Ministry of Defence land despite there not being any new legislation enacted from the newly elected party. In response, the British Hound Sports Association held a National Trail Hunting Day this month to try to sway public opinion away from supporting a total ban.
Virginia’s Right to Retrieve Law is Challenged
This September a challenge to Virginia’s Right to Retrieve law* was sent to the state’s Supreme Court for consideration.
2024 JNAFHC Finals Change Locations
The Junior North American Field Hunter Championships (the “JNAFHC”) changed their location this year due to unforeseen circumstances in Pennsylvania.
Independence Foxhounds Announce The End of Their Hunt Club
On February 10, the Masters of Independence Foxhounds announced that they were closing the hunt club. The three Masters are John Dorrier, Jr., Candida Scott, and David Rowe. Candida Scott, also the huntsman, released the following statement.
New Website Platform
Thank you for your continued support of Foxhunting Life. As of today (Feb. 3, 2024) we have updated our website to a new platform. As part of this update, we are consolidating our membership options to make things simpler and provide more value to all.
Subscription Changes:
“Thoughts on Foxhunting” Film 50th Anniversary
Melvin Poe – image from the film, “Thoughts on Foxhunting”.
The Friends of Emmanuel Episcopal Church Delaplane and Folkstreams.net will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the film “Thoughts on Foxhunting” with a special showing on Saturday, February 4, 2023, at 7 PM at the Middleburg Community Center in Middleburg, Virginia.
The event will premiere a new 4K high-definition scan of the original 16mm film.