Hunt Club & Other News

Former Hunt Horse Stars as Park Service Mount

Details: Martha Drum

Tonto on the job last weekend. Photo courtesy of Marcia Brody.

When new Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke arrived for his first day of work in Washington, D.C. on horseback, the unusual mode of transport attracted national media attention. The commentators and reporters overlooked the special background of the striking bay roan horse selected for Zinke to ride. The even-tempered sport horse previously carried Jessica R. Swan, ex-MBH, and Clay Smith in the hunt field for several seasons after being imported from Ireland. Swan donated him to the National Park Service's Park Police when he retired from hunting in 2014.

Foxhunters Participate in Inaugural Parade

Details: Submitted by Sally Stommen, MFH, Waterloo Hunt

Diane Brady of Waterloo Hunt. Photo by Kallie Meyers.

Two of the many equestrian participants in last month's Inaugural Parade are active foxhunters. Bennett Opitz, a fourth-generation foxhunter whose parents are Masters at Thornton Hill-Fort Valley (VA), rode with the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry. Diane Brady, of Waterloo Hunt Club (MI), traveled all the way to Washington, DC, with her hunt horse as an invitee of the Michigan Multi-jurisdictional Mounted Police Drill Team and Color Guard. Both riders enjoyed the honor and excitement of taking part in this historic tradition.

Foxhunter Earns Charles Owen Technical Merit Award at USEA Annual Meeting

Details: Martha Drum

Last weekend at the United States Eventing Association's (USEA) Annual Meeting and Convention in Florida, Norfolk Hunt Club (MA) member Julie Wheeler received the Charles Owen Technical Merit Award. Results from ten horse trials around the country are analyzed to identify the adult and junior riders with the overall best scores. The award was created to reward safe, consistent riding at Training level. Wheeler and junior Zoe Schroeder of Illinois each received a voucher towards a new helmet.

Will Coleman Wins Virginia Field Hunter Championships for Keswick

Details: Martha Drum

Farmington Hunt Club hosted the Virginia Field Hunter Championships on Sunday, November 6, in western Albemarle County. This prestigious competition, founded at Farmington in 1950, follows a unique format. The Masters of each Virginia hunt are invited to select two of their members to compete, and the winning rider's hunt hosts the competition the next year. Will Coleman, representing Keswick Hunt, won the championship on his handsome chestnut, Flying Ace.

Tryon Warms up for WEG with Festival of the Hunt

Details: Deborah Bundy, MFH

Anita Crouse's Rickie impressed the judges at Tryon. Danielle Lamb photo.

Tryon International Equestrian Center, recently named as host facility for the 2018 World Equestrian Games, offered area equestrians a special series of events with its inaugural Festival of the Hunt. Taking place November 9-11, and featuring a $5,000 prize donated by Adequan, the Festival's schedule included several hunt meets with different packs, social activities, and finally the championship competition on TIEC's Derby Field.

Fort Leavenworth Hunt Celebrates 90th Anniversary

Details: Sarah Schwennesen, Major, U.S. Air Force, FLH member

It was 90 years ago that the Fort Leavenworth Hunt (FLH) started as a military foxhunt, and with only two periods of a few years' inactivity due to war and changes in leadership, it has weathered many seasons of major U.S. Army transitions. In celebration of this accomplishment, FLH held several special observances on October 7-9. There were nearly 200 current and past members of the FLH and neighboring hunts from Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Missouri, Kentucky, Arkansas, Illinois and Great Britain who spent the weekend commemorating the legacy and history of the last remaining military hunt in North America.

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