For the first time in more than two decades, an army of Belle Meade Hunt members invaded Northern Virginia. The invaders flocked to the peaceful hamlet of Hume equipped with trucks and trailers, horses and hounds, whips, flasks, and stylish hats. Not since the sweet-16 birthday celebration of then junior member, Erin Samuels, in 1994, have so many Belle Meade members been on Virginia soil.
Perhaps in pursuit of repeat glory, this invasion was commanded by the now mature and fearsome, Erin Samuels Dozier, accompanied by her husband, Dick Dozier, and two of their four children, Neilly and Sam. The company totaled 25, including the Aiken brigade of Wendell and Allison Williams; the Valley Hill battalion of Barbara Lee, Claudia Latch, Catherine Arensman, Taylor Franke, Cheryl Tyson, and Allison Kennedy; the Thomson regiment of Judith and Epp Wilson, MFH, Stephanie Presley and the Doziers; the Outskirts brigade of Nathaniel St. John and Megan Gillenwater; the North battalion of Ericka Rose and Karen Sargent; the Don’t-Leave-Without-Us regiment of Win and Martha Scott, Charla Liford and Louisa Fisher; and the company’s own photojournalists, Brad and Allison Howell. A dozen hounds and about 30 horses also made the trip north with the Belle Meade army.
As the result of a key, strategic alliance formed in recent years, Virginia’s Old Dominion Hunt aided the Belle Meade invasion by coordinating a schedule of 8 hunts in 8 days from March 1st to March 8th. Four of the hunts were joint meets, providing opportunities for Belle Meade hounds to showcase their skills in the region.
On Saturday, March 1, Old Dominion Joint Masters Kim Poe and Les Moeller hosted the meet at their Running Fields farm in nearby Orlean. ODH huntsman, Josh Bentley, and BMH huntsman, Epp Wilson, MFH, hunted the combined pack of more than 20 couple. After only 10 minutes, the pack found a beautiful red fox that led everyone on a scorching run that lasted almost an hour. After the hunt, participants enjoyed a lovely breakfast in the host’s home. There, Belle Meade MFH, Epp Wilson, and Belle Meade Foundation Chair, Cheryl Tyson, presented the Old Dominion Masters with a $3,000 check from the Foundation for the replacement of GPS collars lost in the fire of Old Dominion’s historic barn in February. Saturday night, ODH Masters Kim and Les joined the Belle Meade army for a celebratory meal at O’Brien’s Irish Pub in Warrenton.
On Sunday, March 2, members of the Thomson regiment and the Outskirts brigade drove 90 minutes south to Sunny View Plantation in Louisa, where they met up with photojournalists Brad and Allison Howell. Sunny View Plantation is owned by Grosvenor and Rosemarie Merle-Smith, beloved members of the extended Belle Meade family. Sunny View is also home to Merle-Smith Sporthorses and Joel and Nicolette Merle-Smith who, along with Rosie, breed and train horses for eventing and foxhunting. While Sunny View is a Keswick Hunt fixture, Master Beth Opitz and her Thornton Hill Hounds provided the sport this day. After an exhilarating 4 ½ hours across the gorgeous country, everyone enjoyed a delicious lunch in Rosie and Grosvenor’s historic home.
Belle Meade Hounds were back on the scene on Monday, March 3, when they joined up with Bull Run Hounds to hunt their Quiet Shade fixture in Rapidan. A red fox led the combined pack on a fabulous run through the hilly country that presented riders with lots of fun coops and rock walls to jump. Photojournalist Allison Howell snapped a picture of the fox giving chase before it was ultimately marked to ground by Huntsman Tim Michel on a rocky cliff overlooking the Robinson River. During the tailgate lunch that followed the hunt, MFH Epp Wilson presented Belle Meade’s Friendship Award to ODH Masters Kim Poe and Les Moeller.
Old Dominion and Belle Meade joined forces again on Tuesday, March 4 to hunt Betsy Parker’s Hunters’ Rest Farm in Flint Hill. It was another fun day with good sport that ultimately took the hounds out of the country. Afterward, Betsy graciously opened her home to all of the riders for more food, drink, and fellowship.
Wednesday’s planned hunt was rained out, as were any other hunts that may have been going on in the region that day. Horses and hounds enjoyed well-deserved rest, but the company did not. There were retail establishments to invade! The Belle Meade army executed “divide and conquer” tactics to raid Middleburg Tack Exchange, Horse Country Saddlery, Another Turn Tack, and Tri-County Feeds.
Blue Ridge Hunt hosted Belle Meade at their Woodley fixture in Berryville on Thursday, March 6. It was a cold and windy day – conditions not generally conducive to good sport – but that didn’t deter Huntsman Graham Buston or his crack hounds! They found a coyote in the first covert and ran like hell for 7 miles without a check. Stiff coops and stone walls barely slowed the chase as Blue Ridge Master Jeff LeHew expertly led the field of riders who quickly forgot about the cold. When hounds lost the coyote, Graham cast them towards home and they soon found a fox and were off again! Afterward, happy hunters crowded into Jeff’s trailer for a celebratory tailgate and respite from the wind.
Belle Meade Hounds, originally scheduled to return home on Friday, March 7, extended their stay to hunt with Thornton Hill Hounds at the Marriott Ranch in Hume, an Old Dominion fixture. It was another cold and windy day that really challenged the Belle Meade hounds and Beth Optiz’s talented Penn-Marydel hounds. Despite their best efforts, hounds were unable to find in the blustery openness of the 4,200-acre Marriott Ranch. A wonderful breakfast took place after the hunt in the historic James Marshall Manor House (circa 1814) at the ranch.
By Saturday, the hounds and most of the Belle Meade army had returned home. Some of the remaining soldiers hunted with Loudon and Old Dominion at ODH’s Houyhnmn (pronounced “wynhan”) fixture. Another small contingent invaded Orange County Hounds, hunting from Master John Coles’ farm in The Plains. There, Huntsman Reg Spreadborough and his impressive pack of red American hounds with white ring necks provided exceptional sport through gorgeous country. They found quickly but, as they were sorting out the line, the pack split with some running heel. Without missing a beat, Reg gently called for the main pack to wait while the heel-runners were brought forward. With very little time lost, the entire pack was running together in full cry! Epp Wilson described it as “a sight to behold.” He and Nathaniel St. John had an especially good time riding right up behind Masters John Coles and Neil Morris. Nathaniel’s new-to-him and often excitable mount, Big Kahlua, surprisingly had a calming effect on Epp’s mount, Sam, who is unaccustomed to riding in the field. The spectacular day was a fit ending to a very successful campaign.
One of the many great things about hunting in Virginia in March is that there is never the need for goodbyes. Rather, parting ways with friends can be expressed as, “See you in May!” Taking place every Memorial Day weekend at Morven Park, the atmosphere at the annual Virginia Hound Show is always abuzz with many cheerful reunions of faithful foxhunting friends. Until then, the Belle Meade army will be busy preparing for their next invasion!
