Alastair Strachan, MFH, hunting hounds this day, invites Epp Wilson to accompany him. / Barbara Smith photo
Who do you call twelve hours in advance for overnight accommodations for ten horses and five people when original plans fall through? In this case we were blessed to land on the doorstep of Christine Gracey, MFH of the Eglinton and Caledon Hounds (ON). Completely nonplused at the last-minute plans, Christy and Master Alastair Strachan made arrangements for our caravan of horses and people. We pulled into Sleepy Fox Farm, the lovely hunter barn of Al Borrett and daughter Jennifer at midnight, after a fifteen-hour drive from Illinois.
Stretching the horse’s legs after a long drive are (l-r) Nancy Smith, Judith Craw, the author, Jean Derrick, and Epp Wilson. / Barbara Smith photo
This was the first Friendship stop on the MFHA Hark Forward season tour. We had just left Massbach Hounds-Fox River Valley Hunt in western Illinois, where the first Hound Performance Trial had successfully concluded. Swinging wide into Canada, crossing the border just north of Detroit, we drove east to Caledon Ontario, about two hours northwest of Toronto. Beautiful hay fields and wooded coverts are bordered to the west by the Niagara Escarpment, a geological wonder left by the retreating glaciers of the last ice age. The day after arriving, we wanted to stretch our horses’ legs a bit after the long haul, so Christy took us for a trail ride at Mono Cliffs. Hikers, Mennonite picnickers, and riders all enjoy this provincial park that climbs the Escarpment.
That night Adam Gracey grilled a delicious salmon with dill, and we had the chance to meet several other members who brought sides to share. Dessert was Canadian butter tarts and they made my trip. (Twice as tasty as pecan pie!)
After dinner, 2017 Hound Trial Chairman Epp Wilson MFH, Belle Meade Hunt (GA), explained to our northern hunt brethren about the MFHA’s Hark Forward initiative. The MFHA is excited about the new headquarters in Middleburg, Virginia and, in addition to fund raising for the improvements before moving in, is reaching out to foxhunters to share resources and help with issues we are all facing: shrinking hunt membership, landowner relations, as well as educating the public about foxhunting’s support for land conservation. These are but a few of the concerns of every hunt. Epp Wilson was asked by MFHA President Tony Leahy to urge all foxhunters along the tour to become involved and participate in the season’s celebration: hound performance trials, joint meets, hunter trials, and these Friendship Meets along the way. By sharing stories and hunting experiences, we renew friendships and learn about ways to capture the interest of the next generation and increase the positive perceptions of a sport that we love and cherish.
Wednesday morning, September 20th, hounds met at a two-thousand-acre dairy farm, Henria Holsteins. Alastair greeted us warmly and introduced us to the landowner, Henrik. We had already met Joint-Master Sue Rasmussen; Tina Walker, Honorary Secretary and Field Master; and Hugh Robertson, first whipper-in the previous evening at dinner. Riders were in formal attire, including a gentleman in top hat and tails and a lady in sidesaddle and veil. With the prospect of rising temperatures, we moved off quickly into the cool of the wooded coverts, skirting hayfields and tall corn. In Canada they say, “Headlands, please,” which we quickly understood to mean single-file around the edges of the crops.
Alastair Strachan, who was hunting hounds this day, invited Epp Wilson to ride forward with him. At day’s end, Epp was so impressed with the quiet, relaxed way of Alistair’s hunting that he urged him to come with us to the next Performance Trial and help judge. We are hoping he will! Hounds hunted hard for about two hours before a coyote was viewed streaking west across open fields. We reversed course, jumped back over a ditch that horses had calmly dealt with earlier, and galloped around the corn. Breaking into open fields we moved off quickly in pursuit. The coyote ran for the next hour, and we covered about ten miles northward. It was awesome and fun and answered any questions why we come to foxhunt! Happy grins and pats to the neck of fit horses were the finishing touch as we waited with Alastair and the whippers-in to collect hounds.
Our group joined members for a delicious hunt breakfast of shepherd’s pie, after which the landowner graciously took us on a tour of his ultra-modern dairy–impressive for its efficiency and cleanliness. Epp Wilson had asked huntsman Colin Brown and his wife Victoria for a tour of the kennels, and he left in the hunt truck. Later at dinner, Epp reported on the lovely establishment and explained how they put boards up between runs in the winter for warmth. Sometimes the cold is so extreme outside in the runs they can have frost-bitten hounds within fifteen minutes. Hopefully we left behind some Georgia heat for them!
Next stop: Genesee Valley Hunt (NY).
Posted October 6, 2017