Aiken Hounds Will Celebrate Centennial in 2014
The Aiken Hounds, founded in 1914, are making plans for their centennial celebration next year. In the late nineteenth century, the South Carolina town was becoming a favorite wintering place for wealthy families from the northeast. Thomas Hitchcock, Sr. and William C. Whitney established the Aiken Winter Colony there and were joined by Astors, Bostwicks, […]
New Regulations for Fox Pens Endorsed by Virginia Game Regulators
Virginia state game regulators recommended new regulations for the operation of foxhound training preserves. The proposed new regulations satisfied pen owners and disappointed animal rights activists. After a period of public comment, a final vote will be held by the Board of Game and Inland Fisheries in June. The recommendations apply to nearly forty preserves […]
Dr. Ian Harrison Honored in Virginia
Dr. Ian Harrison of Berryville, Virginia was named Veterinarian of the Year by the Virginia Horse Council. Dr. Harrison was honored at a luncheon on Saturday, March 16, 2013 during the VHC Annual Meeting and Educational Seminar held at Wyers Cave, Virginia on the campus of the Blue Ridge Community College. Australian-born Dr. Harrison graduated […]
Unmanned Drones to Spy on Foxhunters in England
The League Against Cruel Sports (LAS) has announced its intention to use unmanned drones with video cameras to bolster their prosecutions in court against illegal hunting in England. A spokesman said they would provide the evidence to police. The LAS claims that the airspace above private property is free and open to their surveillance. They […]
Horse Slaughter Likely to Resume in U.S.
Horse processing is likely to resume in the U.S. after six years without the availability of domestic slaughtering facilities. The last horse slaughtering plant in the U.S. closed in 2007 when Congress forbad the USDA from inspecting horse meat for human consumption. Since then, horses destined for European and other foreign food markets have been […]
Blue Ridge Hunt Point-to-Point Postponed
The Blue Ridge Hunt point-to-point races scheduled for Saturday, March 9 have been postponed until Sunday, April 21 due to the heavy snowfall in the Shenandoah Valley. Posted March 6, 2013
University Students Promote Foxhunting
A group of students—foxhunting enthusiasts—at Greater Exeter University in the UK decided to introduce their non-hunting friends to the sport. They elected an MFH, appointed one of their members to be the fox, and fixed the time and place of the meet at one side of the campus. Any student with a bicycle was encouraged […]
American Foxhound Highly Regarded at Westminster
The smart money had the American foxhound and the affenpinscher dueling for top dog at Westminster last week. Jewel, the foxhound, won best of breed in the hound category, but, as everyone knows by now, it was the affenpinscher that was judged Best in Show. It’s often scary to see what AKC shows have done […]
Melanie Mathewes Named Exec Director at National Sporting Library
Culminating an extensive nationwide search, the National Sporting Library and Museum (NSLM) in Middleburg, Virginia has announced the appointment of Melanie Mathewes as its new Executive Director. For the last eight years, Mathewes has served as Executive Director of the Hermitage Museum and Gardens in Norfolk, Virginia. During her tenure, she oversaw the first strategic […]
Virginia Senate Passes Ban on Competition in Fox Pens
Yetserday the Virginia Senate passed Senate Bill 1280 which prohibits competitions in fox or coyote pens. This will affect foxhound field trials that use such enclosures for their sport. The bill also limits the number of dogs allowed in an enclosure to no more than five per acre. The bill does not curtail the use […]