The Huntsman's Pocket

Details

George Meyers

Glenmore Hunt photo‘Tis not often one is blessed to hear the music of the hounds in full cry, in hot pursuit of the elusive quarry. However, this Tuesday past all who were fortunate to be present, were able to experience such a wonder.

It was my fortune to be tapped by the huntsman to ride in his pocket. To be given the pleasure of being up front, to watch the workings of the bond he has with the hounds. Seeing him dismount, trudge through the briars and underbrush, giving them the encouragement to carry on and to push them in pursuit of the quarry through such dense growth.

Western Packs Rendezvous in the Rockies

Details

Marc Patoile

Photo by Zina Balash

Arapahoe Hunt’s November 2012 Rendezvous Week featured five days of fast-paced hunting on the rolling hills of the high-desert plateau just outside of Denver, Colorado.  The Arapahoe’s country is wide-open except for two river bottoms which hold cottonwoods, and a plethora of ravines ranging from the mild to the mildly terrifying, if taken at speed.  Similarly, the quarry—coyote—enjoys putting in fast paced runs, which adds to the thrill of the chase, especially with the possibility of snow in the mid-November Mile High City.

Hunters and hounds from Juan Tomas (NM) and the Grand Canyon Hunt (AZ) gathered outside of Denver, Colorado to partake in the long and blistering runs for which this country is so famous. 

Scarteen Black and Tans' Chris Ryan Returns to Kentucky for Another Outstanding Clinic

Details

Mary Pierson

For the second year, Chris Ryan, MFH of the Scarteen Black and Tans in Ireland crossed the Atlantic to impart some of his knowledge to the participants of the Woodford Hounds-sponsored clinic held over the three days of the Labor Day weekend at the Woodford kennels in Harrodsburg, Kentucky. There were divisions for the open horse and rider as well as for green horses and for hilltoppers. Chris has been Master of the Black and Tans since 1987 and the hounds have been in the trusted care of the Ryan family for over 350 years.

Chris & Woodford member Justin Sautter

World Leaders in Mounted Hunting Enjoy Good Sport in America

Details

Brian Munn

A Day with the Golden’s Bridge Hounds (Part 1. Part 2 appears in the winter issue of Covertside)

Each year representatives from the hunting elite of America, Europe and Australasia meet up to discuss issues, problems and developments that affect our sport and to learn from each other what new legislation, disease or animal rights initiative threatens our freedom to hunt with hounds. Each country benefits from the sharing of knowledge. Where possible, we take a little time off from reporting and debating, to experience at first hand the cultural and other values that both define and unite us globally in mounted hunting. In September 2012, it was America’s turn to host meetings of the International Union of Hunting with Hounds (IUHH) and delegates from Belgium, Canada, England, France, Ireland and New Zealand congregated in Leesburg, VA to take part. Australia did not send a delegate this year, but did provide a report and several written submissions.

The New Zealand delegation, having furthest to travel and the most extreme jetlag to contend with, were first to arrive in America and having availed of the opportunity to spend a couple of days in the “Big Apple” were able to get an extra day's hunting at the invitation of The Golden’s Bridge Hunt in New York State.

The meet was at Windswept Farm, the home of Senior Master Gene Colley and his wife Lois. When we arrived at 6:15am on Tuesday September 25^th there was a nip in the air with the temperature hovering around 40 degrees, but our thoughtful host was standing by with hot coffee laced with Jameson Whiskey. The cold abated and the first shard of light broke in the eastern sky. Our Kiwi visitors were matched up with quality horses from the Colley stables.

Shakerag Makes All Things Possible for Disabled

Details

Autumn Clarke

“Oh it’s Mrs. Connie the horse lady! Mrs. Connie, Mrs. Connie, where’s Tag?” a student asked Mrs. Connie Washburn at Open House for her Special Education class.

“Look, he’s right here!” Mrs. Connie pointed to a photo she keeps in her classroom of her tried and true Appaloosa, Photo by Richard Washburn“And he’s right here by your desk so he’ll always be able to watch you!”  

For the past five years, Shakerag Hounds has been the sponsor for the riding program of Extra Special People Camp, a summer camp for people with special needs in the metro-Athens area. Mrs. Connie Washburn took on the task of organizing the program when she heard about it from the parents of her students.  

“It used to be held in a field, with no shade for the kids and no bathrooms. Then several of them weren’t even allowed to ride because they were told they were too heavy,” Mrs. Washburn said.  

Mrs. Washburn was quick to take the riding program under her wing. Now, every Wednesday from June through July, campers with the program take a bus to the location of Shakerag Hounds’ kennels and clubhouse. The air-conditioned clubhouse provides a full bathroom facility and the wide doorways make it all wheelchair accessible. Activities and games are set up near the clubhouse under the soaring oak trees that shade the area. Every rider has a side-walker on each side of the horse, in addition to a helper leading the horse on the ground. To say that the program has made a turn for the better would be an understatement.  

“It begins in the bus, before they even get off,” said Jean Carnet, member of Shakerag Hounds. “Their energy, their excitement, they just light up as soon as they pull into the driveway. It’s really incredible.”