with Horse and Hound

Carla Hawkinson

carla hawkiinson.41

Hark! Old Horse

carla hawkiinson.41Carla Hawkinson, MFH with her soulmate, Forty-One, her inspiration for the poem / Joy Bragg photoThis wonderful poem recently appeared on  This poem recently appeared on FaceBook under the credit line, Author Unknown. We must correct that! The author is Carla Hawkinson, MFH of the Tennessee Valley Hunt.

"Hark! Old Horse" was published in the Summer, 2008 issue of Covertside when I was editor of that magazine. It surely deserves to be re-published, and Foxhunting Life is proud to do it...with appropriate credit.  -Ed.

Hark! Old horse.
Please meet me at the gate.
Hounds are leaving kennels soon,
And we will not be late.

Step up. Old horse.
Carry me to the meet.
Our years together count for much,
Though you're no longer fleet.

Trot on. Old horse.
I know you hear the horn.
The hounds are in the valley now,
The fox is in the corn!

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Sandy Beall Is New Joint-MFH at Tennessee Valley

The Masters and Hunt Committee of the Tennessee Valley Hunt (TN) have announced the appointment of Samuel “Sandy” Beall as Joint-Master of Foxhounds. Beall is founder and CEO of Ruby Tuesday, and his wife Kreis is founder of Blackberry Farm in Walland, Tennessee. A Relais and Cheateau Resort, Blackberry Farm hosts hunting at the Three Sisters fixture and offers superb hunt breakfasts at the estate. Sandy and Kreis’s son Sam is proprietor of Blackberry Farm. Sandy and Kreis started riding to hounds with the Tennessee Valley Hunt in 1998, and a love affair with foxhunting began. “I am more committed than ever to the sport and being part of something great!” said Sandy upon accepting the Mastership. “I am excited that Kreis is enthused about hunting, and we look forward to great times in the field. I hope my business and hospitality experience will add value to the hunt and the post hunt food and celebration. I believe camaraderie and fun, with happy hunt people, makes the experience whole.” Beall joins four other Joint-Masters of the hunt: Carla Hawkinson, Grosvenor Merle-Smith, Rosemary Merle-Smith, and Gretchen Pelham. Posted May 12, 2011
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