Huntsman Eleanor Hartwell and the foxhounds of the Bridlespur Hunt
This year, 2017, marks the ninetieth season for the Bridlespur Hunt Club (MO). The Club has survived two World Wars, loss of land, uprooting of hounds and clubhouse, and hopefully will endure for another ninety years at least. Over the years, the Hunt has been honored by the patronship and Mastership of wonderfully dedicated individuals.
Bridlespur was founded in 1927 with the support and assistance of the late Mr. August A. Busch, Sr., president of Anheuser-Busch and brewer of what is still the most popular beer in the U.S. Mr. Busch obtained his original draft of hounds from the well-known Joseph B. Thomas1-Percy Rockefeller pack at Overhills, North Carolina. The pack consisted entirely of American hounds or, as better known, Virginia Hounds. By careful breeding and observation the two guiding spirits of the hunt, Mr. August A. Busch, Jr.2 and Mr. Adelbert von Gontard, Sr., developed a pack with most excellent nose and voice. Today, the pack consists mainly of Crossbred hounds.
To honor all involved, past and present, and to celebrate the wonderful community of riders, hunters and members, the Club is planning a gala weekend of hunting and dancing. The Bridlespur Hunt Ball on October 21, 2017 in St. Louis will be the social centerpiece of the weekend, bringing together foxhunters from all over the world.
The hunt still welcomes anyone interested in riding horses across beautiful land who has a grand appreciation for wildlife. Located about an hour north of St. Louis, Missouri, Bridlespur is the oldest hunt club west of the Mississippi, and club members are proud of their heritage and tradition.
After the growth and development of the West St. Louis County began making it impossible to foxhunt in that area, new kennels, clubhouse and skeet shooting range were completed in St. Charles County under the leadership of MFHs Andrew Shinkle and James B. Orthwein. The Benne Road location was the Club’s home starting in 1957.
In 2001 the Bridlespur Hunt and the Meramec Valley Hunt joined together. The merging of fixtures and members from both clubs has solidified and strengthened foxhunting in the St. Louis Metropolitan area. Once again, however, urban development forced the club to search for a new location in 2006. Through the tireless effort of Werner Kugler, MFH, Bridlespur found its new home in Lincoln County. A new kennel and lovely clubhouse were built to complete the Hunt’s new home. Fourteen hundred acres of beautiful rolling hills and wooded conservation land provide wonderful hunting and incredible trail riding. This should secure the future of The Bridlespur Hunt and the sport of foxhunting for years to come.
The Bridlespur Hunt has hosted an annual horse show since the 1930s when it was a common sight to have saddle horses and hackneys competing with the hunters and jumpers. Over the years, like most shows, the breeds separated and Bridlespur became an exclusively hunter/jumper show. For years it remained the premier event of the St. Louis horsey set, and as late as the 1980s, the August Busch stable competed with its multi-titled champion hunter, Stocking Stuffer.
In 2011, because of a board member who also has Saddlebreds, it was proposed that the Bridlespur Horse Show again include classes for saddle horses, much like Devon or Germantown (and the National Horse Show). Instead, the entire show was turned over to Saddlebreds and Hackneys and joined forces with the Missouri Horse Shows Association to launch the show season. The show is now known as the new Bridlespur MHSA Kick-Off Show.
Bridlespur remains an active club in its community, with events held throughout the year encouraging the local community and other horse clubs to get involved. The club takes great pride in promoting hunting in the area by welcoming riders to trail rides, roading outings, hunter paces, and dressage shows. One quick look at their Facebook page or website and you can see that there is great pride for what they do, a great love and enthusiasm for the traditions and sport of hunting.
The hunt has gone out twice a week since its founding, even during the war years of 1941 to 1946. Hunt members are men, women, children, and seniors with wide varieties of backgrounds and who love riding to hounds. The hunt territory consists of 1,400 acres in Lincoln County, Missouri; hounds hunt the country through the hospitality of their wonderful neighbors. In addition to riding to hounds, Bridlespur hunt members are stewards of the land and supporters of conservation. A large part of the hunt’s focus is working towards having a healthy, happy ecosystem from the bees that help pollinate the wild flowers and nearby crops to the predators that fly above it or go to ground.
Bridlespur invites you to join them for their anniversary celebration! Hounds will go out on Friday, October 20th, at 9:00 am with a cocktail party at 6:30 pm. Hounds meet again on Saturday, October 21 with a Blessing of the Hounds at 10:00 am and the Hunt Ball at 7:00 pm. Visitors from Tennessee, Arkansas, Chicago, Kansas, Boston, Rhode Island, and even Ireland will be arriving starting October 19. Get in touch by visiting the Bridlespur Facebook page, or by contacting the Club through its website.
Posted September 5, 2017
Author Ciara Walsh is International Hunt Coordinator and Marketing Manager for Coopers Hill Livery, County Galway, Ireland. Coopers Hill has hosted Bridlespur members hunting in Ireland, and recently visited the hunt in Missouri.
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Endnotes:
1. Joseph B. Thomas was an ex-Master of the Middleburg Hunt and the Piedmont Fox Hounds (VA). He designed and built the magnificent Huntlands estate in Middleburg, Virginia, where hounds of the Middleburg Hunt still meet on special occasions.
2. August A. “Gussie” Busch, Jr. succeeded his father as president of Anheuser-Busch. He helped establish the American Grand Prix Association, the annual Budweiser American Invitational, and made the Budweiser Clydesdales world-famous. He was also the owner, until his death, of the St. Louis Cardinals Major League Baseball franchise, winner of six National League pennants and three World Series under his ownership.