Members and guests of Virginia's Princess Anne Hunt stepped back in time on March 18th at the annual Hunt Ball. Celebrating the club's 90th anniversary, the organizers selected "the Great Gatsby" and attendant 1927-era glamor as the theme, and decor, dress and music followed suit.
On January 20th, the Inaugural Parade in Washington, D.C. featured numerous military and mounted organizations. Bennett Opitz, a fourth-generation foxhunter, rode as part of the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry. This historic unit, now part of the Pennsylvania National Guard, has ties to sporting clubs and reflects the centuries-old connection between members of the military and riding to hounds. Opitz said, "To be able to represent the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry in the Inaugural Parade was an incredible honor and validation for all the hard work that the men of this unit commit to."
As part of our community outreach, Green Mountain Hounds provide a foxhunting demonstration every fall at Fort Ticonderoga, on the New York/Vermont border. Built during the French and Indian War (circa 1757), the fort sits just across Lake Champlain from our home territories. Eighteenth-century military history buffs will know it as a key linchpin in the struggle for North America, first between the British and the French, and then between the British and Americans.
In what has become an annual tradition, hounds, horses and riders from River Hills Foxhounds participated in seasonal celebrations in Quarryville, Pennsylvania. A quintessential small town, Quarryville's holiday observances include a Christmas parade and tree lighting. River Hills regularly takes part in the parade, so subscriber Trina Hatfield inquired about joining the tree lighting, too, and the hunt was invited to lead the crowd in carols from horseback.
The Retired Racehorse Project kicked off their second annual Thoroughbred Makeover competition on October 27, 2016, in Lexington, Kentucky. Three hundred off the track thoroughbreds competed in 11 disciplines: show jumping, show hunters/jumpers, polo, dressage, barrel racing, eventing, competitive trail, working ranch, freestyle and field hunters. The overall winner of America’s Most Wanted Thoroughbred was chosen by audience applause from each discipline’s winner.
Subscribing Membership to the MFHA is open to anyone who cares about the future of country lifestyles and wants their voice and vote to make a difference. You will also receive Covertside magazine 4x a year!
