Fox Hunting News
Connemara Hoof Syndrome Cause Revealed
The tough and talented Connemara pony sometimes falls victim to a debilitating problem of hoof wall separation in which the hoof wall splits away from its underlying structure. Though some Connemara breeders have argued against the theory of a genetic cause, researchers at the University of California, Davis have recently proven a genetic link and are working to identifying the genes responsible. The researchers discovered a strong association between those ponies affected by the disease and a genetic variant appearing in at least one percent of the Connemara population. The work of sequencing genes in this region is currently underway. They believe that their work will ultimately lead to the development of a genetic test which could eliminate this ruinous syndrome from the breed over the long term. Connemara Hoof Wall Separation Syndrome is insidious because the mating of healthy parents can produce an affected pony. The research results have been welcomed by the Connemara Pony Research Group, an association formed to initiate the research and educate owners and breeders about the condition. The group is encouraging Connemara owners and breeders worldwide to provide samples from their ponies to the researchers (who require large numbers of samples) in order to hasten the day when a test for the disease will be available. More details may be seen in Horsetalk.co.nz. Posted August 5, 2012
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Foxhunter Crushed in Automobile by Fallen Tree
Albert Carl Roeth III, a longtime member of the Fairfax Hunt (VA), was killed Tuesday, July 17, in Great Falls, Virginia, when a massive oak tree by the side of the road fell on his car. The tree is estimated to be two hundred years old and to weigh forty tons. Arborists that have examined the tree claim it was obviously decayed in both the roots and canopy and was waiting to fall. Joseph Keusch, ex-MFH of Fairfax and proprietor of Paper Chase Farm in Middleburg and his wife, author Jan Neuharth, were deeply saddened by the tragedy. “Carl started riding later in life and got hooked on hunting,” said Keusch. “He had a real passion for the sport, worked tirelessly to improve his riding, and was always immaculately turned out. Carl was a friend to all and will be greatly missed.” For more details, click to read Justin Jouvenal’s article in the Washington Post. Posted July 22, 2012
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Aiken Huntsman Weds; Goes to Sea
Katherine Gunter and John Dunbar were married on June 9, 2012, at Tybee Island, Georgia. Katherine has been huntsman for the Aiken Hounds (SC) for the past four seasons. Prior to Aiken, she was professional staff at the Whiskey Road Foxhounds (SC) and the Bear Creek Hounds (GA). John laid the drag for Aiken Hounds for much of this past season, riding western! John’s family owns and operates a large cotton farm east of Aiken, and both share a love of fishing and hunting. Katherine and John met through foxhunting friends, Danielle Sertick and Todd Martineau, who will also be married later this summer. Katherine and John were married on the beach at Tybee with fifty family and friends in attendance. Katherine’s bridesmaids were foxhunting friends Mary Taylor Miller (whipper-in for Middleburg Hunt), Ria Burton (whipper-in for Aiken), Christine Raley (wife of Moore County huntsman David Raley), Danielle Sertick (whipper-in for Aiken) and Alison Brown (rider and trainer). The couple honeymooned in the Florida Keys where they went deep sea fishing for five days. Shortly thereafter they went on another fishing trip off the North Carolina coast with Tony Gammell, huntsman for the Keswick Hunt (VA), Jordan Hicks, huntsman for the Tryon Hounds (NC), and Adrian Smith, huntsman for the Metamora Hunt (MI). Pretty good summer for the newlyweds so far! Posted July 22, 2012 Linda Knox McLean is MFH of the Aiken Hounds.
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Maryland Foxhunter Is 2012 International Mounted Games Champion
Mackenzie Taylor, who hunts with the Goshen Hounds (MD), is the new Champion (under seventeen) of the International Mounted Games Association. Mackenzie and her pony Ink Spot (Inky) teamed up in Wales to compete for the championship against a field of nearly sixty competitors from around the world. The riding and required precision are nothing short of startling, as can be seen in just the one photo above captured from a YouTube slide show. Mackenzie traveled to the games with her mom and dad—Kathy Jones Taylor and Robert Taylor, MFH. Kathy is the daughter of Goshen Hounds whipper-in Karen Jones and ex-MFH Rick Jones. Robert is MFH and huntsman for the Goshen Hounds and huntsman for New Market-Middleton Valley Hounds (MD). Not only a superb rider, Mackenzie is a fifth generation foxhunter and the youngest member of the Goshen Hounds ever to be awarded the colors of the hunt. Inky’s story is special as well. He was rescued by Days End Farm in Lisbon, Maryland and adopted by Jeanne Leone and Rege Dvorsky. They turned the pony over to Mackenzie for training, and a phenomenal partnership developed. Posted July 16, 2012
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Feed/Tack Store Owners Honored for Conservation Initiative
Bill Jackson, president of Tri-County Feeds, Etc. accepts the 2012 Golden Goose AwardBill and Jeri Jackson, owners of Tri-County Feeds, Etc. in Marshall, Virginia, were honored recently by the Goose Creek Association for their efforts in protecting the environment. Chairman Katherine Strother presented the couple with the 2012 Golden Goose Award. Tri-County Feeds, Etc. (TCFE) is a full-service tack and feed store. In January, 2011 TCFE partnered with McCauley Feeds, a supplier, to manufacture their high quality horse feed in environmentally sound packaging. In addition, the Jacksons committed to donating a portion of proceeds from the sale of the feeds to the Goose Creek Association and the Piedmont Environmental Council. “Often people doubt that they can make a difference—dismissing any effort as just a drop in the bucket,” said Bill Jackson, TCFE president. “We saw the bigger picture—we saw all of those drops filling the bucket. In nine months we have sold 34,643 bags of our new feed in environmentally supportive packaging—that’s one big bucket—eliminating the same number of poly-woven bags that never bio-degrade from the landfills.” TCFE also sells reusable totes to their customers and returns a portion of those proceeds to the two conservation associations as well. Bill and Jeri Jackson have provided a shining example of what one family business can do to help preserve the environment. Just think how many more buckets can be filled by other independent businesses following their example. Foxhunting Life is proud to be associated with Tri-County Feeds, Etc. as a retailer of our products and as a sponsor of our website.
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Is Britain’s House of Lords Doomed?
Prime Minister David Cameron wants to replace Britain’s House of Lord’s with a smaller, elected body of legislators, according to an Associated Press report. Cameron’s plan calls for the gradual introduction of elected members to a new chamber which would replace the House of Lords—that body of hereditary peers—that has been a branch of government for seven hundred years. Admittedly, the House of Lords no longer wields great power. In fact, by resorting to a seldom-used tactic, the House of Commons can pass legislation without the Lords’ consent. The last time this tactic was employed was for the 2005 passage of the ban on foxhunting. The House of Lords was the one branch of the British government most sympathetic to foxhunting, and without it, one has to wonder if the repeal of the Hunting Act becomes yet more remote to those who yearn for that day. Posted July 3, 2012
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Lyme Disease Inversely Proportional to Fox Population, Research Shows
Research data has revealed that decreases in fox population correspond with increases in the occurrence of Lyme disease. “Increases in Lyme disease in the Northeastern and Midwestern United States over the past three decades are frequently uncorrelated with deer abundance and instead coincide with a range-wide decline of a key small mammal predator, the red fox, likely due to expansion of coyote populations,” write University of California researchers in the June 18 Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The belief has long been that large populations of deer—hosts to the disease-causing bacteria—cause increased incidents of Lyme disease, but mathematic models of data from five states show that loss of red foxes coincide with an increase in Lyme disease even with deer populations remaining steady. They theorize that foxes, by eating small rodents—also hosts to the disease-carrying ticks—help to reduce the spread of the disease. When fox population declines, often due to increased coyote population, the research shows that small rodent population—disease hosts—increases. The report of these findings may signal a new chapter in game management and greater protection of foxes! For more details, see Amanda Alvarez’s article in The Republic. Posted June 24, 2012
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California Bill Will Ban Dogs from Hunting Bear, Bobcat
A California bill (SB 1221) that will ban the hunting of bear and bobcat with dogs has passed the California Senate and is expected to pass the Democratically-controlled Assembly. California lawmakers rejected such bills in 1993 and 2003, but this one is expected to land on Governor Jerry Brown’s desk for signature. Fourteen states already ban the hunting of bear with dogs, and thirteen states ban the hunting of bobcat with dogs. Dan Tichenor, a retired engineer who hunts black bear with Plott hounds in California, says that the plan of anti-hunting groups is to ban hunting species by species and state by state. MFHA Executive Director Dennis Foster makes the same argument, which he calls the “Domino Effect.” If we foxhunters want to preserve our sport, we cannot be selective in which game we support. Both figuratively and literally, we have “a dog in every fight” to ban hunting. More details on the California bill may be read in Paul Rogers’ article in the San Jose Mercury News. Posted June 19, 2012
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All Foxhound Puppies to Be Microchipped in England
Starting next year, all foxhound puppies whelped by hunts in England will be microchipped. With more than twenty-five hundred foxhound pups born each year, that will be a daunting task, but hunts want to be ahead of the curve on expected legislation. Laws aimed at puppy mills are expected to be passed in Great Britain making microchipping compulsory for all puppies born in there. Read more details in Flora Watkins’ article in Horse & Hound. Posted June 19, 2012
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British MFHA to Hunts: Document Your Hunting Day
The British MFHA has recommended that all hunts record evidence of their hunting activities to document that they are hunting within the law. The MFHA’s message comes as the result of recent successful prosecutions by authorities and stepped up efforts against hunting by the League Against Cruel Sports (LACS). Three members of the Crawley and Horsham were convicted of offenses contrary to the Hunting Act, and LACS now has ten “investigation officers” tasked to work in pairs around the country seeking actionable offenses. Recently, fifty-two summonses have been levied against the Heythrop by the RSPCA. MFHA Chairman Stephen Lambert warned hunts that the RSPCA has “adopted a scattergun approach…that could snowball unless hunts diligently keep daily records to demonstrate their legal activity with hounds.” Lambert also warned that covert cameramen are at work in most of the hunting countries, and that photographic surveillance is expected to increase in the coming season. Putting a positive spin on the situation during his remarks at the recent AGM, Lambert said that the all-out effort mounted by the opposition gives foxhunters the opportunity to demonstrate that the Hunting Ban is a ridiculous law. Read further details in Flora Watkins’ article in Horse and Hound. Posted June 19,2012
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