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Fox and Terrier Are Best Friends
As in Disney’s movie, The Fox And The Hound, a Patterdale-Lakeland terrier cross and a fox cub have become the best of friends. The fox, called Rosie, was the lone survivor of her litter after the father killed the other cubs. She was rescued—eyes not yet open—hand reared, then taken in by Richard Bowler in North Wales at the age of fifteen weeks. Although he didn’t expect his terrier, Maddie—a type bred for foxhunting—to welcome the new addition, he was surprised to see them become playmates. Bowler has been impressed by the speed at which Rosie learns—faster than Maddie did—and, while their play is supervised because of her age, the results are “fun and games and destruction.” For more photos and copy, click on John Ingham’s article in the Express. Posted July 28, 2013
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RSPCA Makes Overture to English Countryside
Stung by criticism of the staggering amount of money—£326,000—spent to prosecute the Heythrop hunt for violations of the Hunting Act, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) is attempting to repair relations with the British countryside. (See earlier, related FHL article.) The Society has proposed the establishment of a new self-regulating hunting association—an independent trial and drag hunt association—that would open the country to riders and hounds following drag lines, or laid scents. Sir Barney White-Spunner, executive chairman of the Countryside Alliance, responded, “We are quite happy to talk to the RSPCA in the interests of animal welfare when they drop their increasingly radical and politicised animal rights agenda.” White-Spunner’s response was interesting in that it articulates a distinction which eludes many people: that animal welfare and animal rights are two very different philosophies. While animal welfare strives to care for all animals with compassion and enhance the well-being of all species, animal rights seeks to end man’s dominion over animals and endow them with the same rights as humans. Click to read Stuart Winter’s complete article in The Express. Posted July 22, 2013
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The Chronicle of the Horse Is Sold
The Chronicle of the Horse in Middleburg, Virginia and Mark Bellissimo of Wellington, Florida jointly announced today the sale of the magazine to Bellissimo. The purchase also includes The Chronicle‘s enormous vintage black and white photo library that has recorded most major equestrian sporting events since the late 1930s, as well as the digital publication, The Chronicle Connection. Bellissimo’s Wellington Equestrian Partners LLC owns and operates the Winter Equestrian Festival and the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Florida. Founded 76 years ago as The Middleburg Chronicle by the late Stacy Lloyd, The Chronicle of the Horse has long been one of the most respected magazines in the industry. For many years foxhunting was a major subject and remained so under the editorships of the late Alexander Mackay-Smith and the late Peter Winants. In 1952 The Chronicle was bought by the Ohrstrom Family who has owned the publication to this day. “I’m so proud to be part of the long tradition of The Chronicle,” said Bellissimo. “I am committed to keeping the organization’s core mission of being the most trusted resource for equestrian sport by offering independent journalism and the highest editorial integrity.” Plans are to introduce new products and services that will strengthen the information flow within the industry, including an enhanced website and state-of-the-art mobile applications, and for the current staff to remain in Virginia. Click for more details. Posted July 12, 2013
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Immigration Reform Is a Horse Industry Priority
The U.S. Senate has passed its Border Security, Economic opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act (S.744), but the bill is expected to face opposition in the House of Representatives. The American Horse Council has strongly supported the bill, saying that immigration reform has been a horse industry priority for many years. Despite substantial efforts to recruit and train U.S. workers, horse farms and others in the horse industry have been forced to rely on foreign workers and utilize both the H-2B (non-agricultural) and H-2A (agricultural) temporary worker programs to meet their labor needs. However, the current temporary worker system is not reliable and is extremely burdensome to use, says the AHC. According to the AHC, S.744 has the potential to strengthen border security and solve many of the immigration issues facing the horse industry. It would allow undocumented workers to legalize their status and replace the broken H-2A program with a new agricultural worker program administered by U.S. Department of Agriculture. It would also make improvements to the H-2B program and create a new W-visa low skilled program that would allow employers to hire foreign workers when no Americans can be found. It is not too early for horsemen and women to contact or email their Representatives in Congress to let them know that they are often unable to find Americans willing to work as farm hands, grooms, and stable attendants; that they are often forced to rely on foreign workers and the H-2B and H-2A temporary worker programs to meet their labor needs; and that the current immigration system is broken and the current temporary worker programs are costly, hard to use, and unreliable. Click for a list of your Representatives in Congress and their contact information. Posted July 1, 2013
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New Countryside Alliance Film Attempts Calm Discourse on Hunting Debate
The Countryside Alliance (UK) has produced a new film that attempts discourse on the hunting debate in a calm and measured way. Titled Foxhunting: Cruel Sport or Natural Chase, the film takes the position that the hunting issue in England was not resolved by the Hunting Act as passed.
House Committee Approves Protections for Hunting on Public Lands
Legislation ensuring sportsmen’s access to federal lands cleared its first hurdle this week as the House Natural Resources Committee voted 28-15 in favor of H.R. 1825. Known as the Recreational Fishing and Hunting Heritage and Opportunities Act, H.R. 1825 is the most significant legislation protecting sportsmen’s access in 16 years, according to the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA). The bill shuts the door on lawsuits brought by anti-hunting groups aimed at pushing sportsmen and women off federal lands. H.R. 1825 spells out in plain language that fishing, hunting and recreational shooting are legitimate and important activities on National Forests and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands. The key provision of the bill is the “Open Until Closed” language, which mandates that U.S. Forest Service and BLM lands are open to hunting, fishing and recreational shooting unless specific steps are taken to close those lands for necessary and demonstrable reasons. According to the USSA, the “Open Until Closed” provision is a “game changer” for the future of hunting, fishing and recreational shooting on public land. The USSA led the charge for similar 1997 legislation that protects sportsmen’s access to National Wildlife Refuge land that has resulted in new refuges open to hunting all across America. “We urge Congress to move this critical legislation quickly,” said Bill Horn, director of federal affairs for the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance. Click for more details. Posted June 14, 2013
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New Regs for Training Preserves in Virginia
Tighter regulations governing wildlife training preserves, also known as fox pens, were approved by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Animal welfare groups urged that such facilities be closed, but sportsmen working with wildlife officials agreed on new rules to improve the safety of penned foxes. Among the new regulations: one hundred acres minimum for a preserve; no training for one week after restocking; a limit of one hound per ten acres from eight to fourteen days after restocking; a limit of one hound per acre after that; one man-made dog-proof escape structure for every twenty acres; all fence corners to be rounded to prevent a fox from being trapped in a corner by hounds; all hounds to be vaccinated for rabies; no monetary prizes during special events. The changes will affect the less than forty foxhound training preserves that operate in Virginia. Posted June 14, 2013
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English Judge Deviates from Politically-Correct Line; Is Criticized
An English judge who questioned the “staggering” amount of money spent by the RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) to prosecute a case against the Heythrop Hunt was criticized by his superiors. Although Justice Secretary Chris Grayling ruled out disciplinary action against District Judge Tim Pattinson, he recommended that the judge be given “informal advice” about expressing his “personal opinions” in court. As reported in Foxhunting Life last December, the Heythrop Hunt, its former Master, and its former huntsman all pleaded guilty to charges of unlawful hunting after the court was shown film taken by anti-hunt monitors during the 2011/2012 season. The hunt was fined £4,000, Barnsfield £1,000, and Sumner £1,800. The court also ordered the hunt to pay £15,000 towards the RSPCA’s legal costs. Considering that the RSPCA expended £330,000 to prosecute the case and that their funds are derived from public contributions, Judge Pattinson told the court he thought the charity’s resources might have been more “usefully employed.” Many believed the case to have been politically motivated to embarrass Prime Minister David Cameron who hunted with the Heythrop hunt before the ban. After the hearing, Tory MPs accused the RSPCA of using prosecutions for “political campaigns.” But the judge’s comments infuriated animal rights protesters. RSCPA chief executive Gavin Grant defended the hunt’s prosecution and suggested that foxhunters should be jailed for up to five years, a sentence equivalent to killing a person by driving dangerously. A spokeswoman for the judiciary said that, while the judge was entitled to make observations about the level of costs involved in the prosecution, comments about how RSPCA funds should or should not be used were personal and should not have been expressed. Click to read John Bingham’s complete article in The Telegraph. Posted June 12, 2013
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Betty Davis, ex-MFH, Dead at Ninety
Mrs. Putnam (Betty) Davis, ex-MFH of the Rombout Hunt and the Stone Valley Hunt (NY) for over thirty years, passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 2, 2013. She was ninety years old. A passionate foxhunter, she also served on the MFHA Board of Directors for her district. Betty was raised in New York City, spending her childhood summers in Lake Placid. She graduated Vassar College in 1945. She married Putnam Davis in 1968, the same year she became MFH of the Rombout Hunt. Betty owned and operated Talisman Farm in Clinton, NY, where her husband served for a time as Town Magistrate. She was an avid skier, favoring Aspen and Vail, Colorado, and traveled widely with film maker John Jay’s Ski Films. Betty rode both English and Western. She spent many years visiting the E/L Ranch in Greenough, Montana and the Elkhorn Ranch in Tucson, Arizona. She was former president of the Stone Valley Trail Riding Association, and she continued to ride until just three weeks before her death. Per Betty’s wishes she requested the following statement be issued: Betty is survived by her dear friend Norma Dolan and many valued and loved extended family members and innumerable very dedicated and close friends. Betty was predeceased by her dear lifelong friend, Betty “Brown Betty” DuPont of Missoula, Montana. There will be no calling hours. In keeping with her wishes, cremation has taken place. A memorial celebration of Betty’s life will take place at a future date. Her ashes will be interred alongside her husband in the family plot in Pleasant Plains Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley, Elizabeth C. Davis Memorial Fund, 80 Washington Street, Suite 201, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601. The funds for the Community Foundation will be used for activities and projects that Betty supported for the benefit of the Town of Clinton. Arrangements are under the direction of Sweet’s Funeral Home, Inc., Rte. 9, Hyde Park. Posted June 5, 2013 http://www.sweetsfuneralhome.com
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VA Hound Show Weekend Features NSL Book Fair, Hunt Country Stable Tour
Visitors in town for the Virginia Foxhound Show will be able to attend the third annual Book Fair at the National Sporting Library and Museum in Middleburg, Virginia on Saturday, May 25, 2013 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. A part of the annual Hunt Country Stable Tour, the Book Fair is open to the public, free of charge. Authors Rita Mae Brown, Charles de Kunffy, Jan Neuharth, and Dorothy Ours will speak and sign books. The Hunt Country Stable Tour centered in Upperville is another excellent diversion for out-of-town visitors. The stable tour runs on both Saturday and Sunday (May 25–26) and offers an inside view of many of the very best and most beautiful farms and training facilities in the region. This year’s tour features Ardarra Farm, Hickory House Farm, Salem Stable, Windsor Farm, and Peace & Plenty at Bollingbrook among more than a dozen stops. Many of the farms on the tour will provide demonstrations of equestrian activities ranging from show jumping to foxhunting to Civil War re-enactments. Visitors will be welcomed with coffee and donuts from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at the Middleburg Training Track on Saturday only, to watch local racehorses workout. Tickets for the tour at $30.00 for adults are available during tour hours from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day at the Trinity Episcopal Church in Upperville. Proceeds benefit the church’s charities and non-profit programs. Maps, directions, and descriptions for all the tour stops are provided for self-touring. For complete information, call 540-592-3711 or visit www.trinityupperville.org/hunt-country-stable-tour. Posted May 24, 2013
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