THH, Chancelor's Gate, 12/30/22

 

Wally and I were out with THH this morning. Like yesterday at FHC the scenting was poor due to the ground conditions and how fast it got warm. When we started it was about 53 degrees and when we finished it was around 68 degrees. When we were on the north side of mountains and hills it was frozen. On the south side it was crumbly and deep.

Even with that we still had some accomplishments. I've been working with wally about getting his weight back on his hind end for climbing but more importantly for coming down hill. I think he's got it now. Early in the hunt we had some climbs that exceeded 25% grade. He just powered up off his back end.

Coming down, with no assistance from me, he sat back and worked down through the crumbly deep footing. It was that kind of footing that studs were of no help. Those slopes were in the 25-30% grade range and he just sat back and did it while I was on a loose rein. When he hit the spots that created a slide, he just let the slide happen then worked his way down.

He was 99.99% on a loose rein today. We covered 7.27 miles that included 2482 feet of elevation up and 2482 feet elevation down.

FHC, Yadkin December 29,2022

Munchkin and I got out hunting today with FHC. With the cold and rain we've had footing was pretty dicey. Anything from ice to frozen solid to greasy in the sun. Luckily, when I was getting Munchkin ready and was putting his studs in I pulled out 8 brand new studs. I figure every little bit helps.

The scenting conditions were pretty poor. I would call the conditions dry because all the moisture was locked in the frozen ground. Things were compounded by a quick rise in temperature. It went from 38 or so at the start to almost 60 at the end.

If nothing else it was good to get out. We had a pretty big group out. I think everyone, horses and riders, were glad to be out. For the day we covered 5.51 miles. The interesting thing was that out of the 94 minutes we were out we were moving for 87 of them. So that was long slow workout for the horses.

 

FHC, Red Gate, December 20,2022

 

When I got to the meet it was 29 degrees and never got warmer than 39. Perfect hunting temperatures. I was expecting the footing to be very slick but it was actually pretty decent. It probably helped to have some decent studs in the shows. We also had some big fields. we had 28 just between First and Second flight. I don't know how many were in third flight but I guess the total was over 40 for the day. Where had a pretty fair number of juniors out. I guess everyone looked at the forecast and decided this might be the one and only day to hunt for the next week.

We started out by crossing Millington Road into the open field. We weren't that far in when the hounds started speaking in the field. The sound of the hounds was a bit high and off. That usually indicate that they are not sure. Mathew gave them time and they kept working, They ended up working the line into the wood were they really caught on. (yellow line on map).

The run was one of those steady runs where the hounds are really having to work hard. Those are fun because you really get to see what their training is all about. And because things are not moving that fast you get to watch a lot. That's always a treat.

The hounds seemed to be following along the creek in the woods. We came to a crossing that was pretty treacherous. Bethany Wood had a bunch of her kids out and made the good decision to not have the kids try the sheer drop into the stream. That meant finding a work around. So half of second flight turned back and worked through the woods back to Millington road. We eventually met up down the road about two driveways down and into the woods.

The hounds continued along the creek and crossed Millington road near Wards Creek Bridge. Shortly after that the fox was lost. In the mean time another fox was spotted back on the other side of Millington Road. The fox had a 15-20 minute head start (orange line(. The hounds picked it up but the run only lasted about 15-20 minutes.

All in all a good day on a cold day .We covered a little of seven miles today. It wasn't fast but it was fun which is nice on a cold day.

FHC,Overstreets, December 17,2022

 

It was a gorgeous day, at least I thought it was. When I got to the meet the temperature was about 46. Then I stepped out of the truck into a stiff, cutting wind. I was hopeful that we could get out of the wind and find something.

So the hunt started slow. The hounds spoke a few times but nothing developed. We were about an hour and half in when we just had come down into the field. This is the string of fields along Quarter Creek one of which has the porta-potty in it. The hounds started speaking but it was a bit disorganized. Mathew then moved the hounds a bit and we were off and running. They initially started back up the hill but then started to circle toward the house along Morning Glory Lane.

The second flight viewed and it was a coyote.

The coyote and hounds kept circling and were coming around us between the field and Welsh Road. They kept going on that route in the direction of Still Pond Farm. They spent a bit of time in the loblolly pine woods before seeming to start back in the opposite direction. The hounds went quiet and I am thinking the coyote exited the territory. The hounds were gathered and the day was called.

The first flight covered a lot of ground, 11.6 miles for the day, but the hounds covered a lot more. When we were gathering them at the end, there were some tired hounds. It doesn't show on the map but it seemed like there was quite a bit of back and forth, and some circling around.

It was a really good run under some tough conditions. For the day we covered 11.6 miles and First Flight topped out at 21 MPH today.

THH, Clover Hill, December 11,2022

 

A good hunt today for Wally with THH. It was a real good step up for Wally as we were never on level ground and we were on a lot of very steep ground. For the day Wally had 3440 feet up and 3440 feet down over 8.3 miles. Needless to say he was a tired horse at the end.

 

It was a good hunt. It was a joint meet with Rappahannock Hunt and they brought hounds as well. We started the run 12 minutes in and part way up Slaughter Mountain and ran that fox up and down Slaughter and Fielding Mountain for at least 1:45. I was a lot of up and down. If you look at the altitude profile below you can see how many steep climbs and descents we had to do. 

 

Wally was really good. I did forget his flash so there were a couple of canter/gallops where he got his head down and rolled on the forehand. But overall I was pretty happy with him. He is learning to deal with the steeper terrain of Rappahannock County and the higher speeds that forces in order to keep up with the hounds. At some point today Wally got up to 19.1 MPH.

From Beth Opitz, MFH and huntsman:

THH hosted Rappahannock Hunt yesterday. Our fixture, the beautiful Eldon Farms- Clover Hill. A 1 hour 45 min run up down and all around Fielding and Slaughter Mountains entertained all. Our first draw produced a difficult line, hounds worked and worked towards the Southern side of Slaughter Mountain. Finally after about 20 minutes of slower work, hounds moved up on a big orange beauty, viewed by Erwin heading towards Fielding Mountain. Soon after, hounds were able to pick up speed, making the mountains ring with the big PMD voices. Around and around until finally our big orange pilot picked up enough of a lead for scent to fizzle. Fun day for all.

FHC, Chapel Springs, December 7,2022

 

Wally and I had a good day hunting with FHC at Chapel Springs. I wasn't sure what we were going to get. It rained/drizzled on us from home to about the airport and then it stopped. When we got to Chapel Springs the rain seemed to be gone. It was cool and damp, and half the field opted for rain gear and half not. It was anyones's guess who was going to be right.

 

The day started slow. We had worked our way all the way down the XC field and were just going into the woods when the hounds started speaking. It was a slow run with a lot of field reversals. I think Mathew came and went several times during the run. It did sound as if the hounds had come to a halt and treed or put something to ground. It turned they had kept moving slowly but had run into a kennel of other hounds. So not a blazing run but some good work by the hounds.

 

We moved on and out into the field by the log cabin. We looped around the cabin and went back into the woods. We weren't far into the woods when the hounds hit again. We ran past Maccie's house and kept going through the woods and above the lake. We were running hard into the open by the equipment sheds and came around the other end of the lake and continued back up to the cabin.

Mathew put the hounds back into the woods and the hounds caught on again and we basically ran the same route until the hounds lost back up by the equipment sheds.

 

We hunted back in but nothing else developed. it was a slow start but ended up a good day. Amazingly we stayed dry until we were all starting to leave and then the rain kicked in again. The second flight covered 8.5 miles and topped out around 18.2 MPH.

THH, Thornton Hay Field, December 2,2022

 

Munchkin and I had a great morning with THH today. It was a cold start but as the sun came up things got comfortable. It made for tricky scenting as in the shade was still very cold, frosty and frozen whereas in the sun was warm and thawed.

The hunt started slow. In fact it seemed the first flight horses were getting irritable with all the walking. We were about 40 minutes in when the hounds starting speaking. However, not much developed with that.

Then a call came it that a fox was spotted and the hounds were taken over in that direction. It took a bit for the hounds to grab hold of the line but eventually they did. In the mean time the fox was spotted by the fields crossing along the crest of the hill back behind the kennels. That fox must have really run a zig zag pattern because it took a while for the hounds to get to where the fox was last viewed.

As we looped around and were coming a hill to the paddocks where the evil mini lives, the fox was viewed again. He continued his run very similar to what we ran last week. All the horses got past eveil mini and we headed a long. We were just down the road when the hounds ran across the road and were heading to high top turkey.

That is where we broke off from the run and came in.

This is where I am glad not to be hunt staff as the hounds crested over the mountain and got down the back side. Over an hour after we came in they were still not back.

As we were coming back in we saw several bald eagles flying about. Initially the count was two but it may have been as many as four. It's pretty cool to be out and about getting to view the fox multiple times and to thrown in some bald eagles as well.

I will say munchkin earned his keep. We had two mountain climbs going up that were steep, loose and scattered with broken tree limbs. Munch got pissy on the second climb of that trail because I wouldn't let him run. My saddle had slipped and when we got to get a gate, I got off to adjust the saddle and get the gate. As we moved off he picked up a lovely canter/gallop and never offered to blast past everyone. Later in the hunt when we were on the run, we came down another mountain trail that was steep and loose on a trot. He's done this so long that I just make sure I stay out of his way and let him handle it.

For the day we covered 7.3 miles and Munchkin topped out around 21 MPH.

FHC, Mount Fair, November 29, 2022

Wally and I had a really great morning today at FHC at Mount Fair. The weather was beautiful and we seem to keep getting just enough rain to keep scenting decent.

We were about 20 minutes into the hunt when the hounds got onto a line in the woods not far from the trailers. The fox cut up from the woods back into the field where it was viewed by third flight. It continued on past the old house and exited across the road. It was a short run but a good start to the day. Yellow line

Mathew then took the hounds back and went back into the woods just below the trailers. We weren't long in the woods when the hounds started to speak and head up the hill toward the barns. It seemed like the had lost but were actually running heal. They figure it out and got back in the right direction. They did a big loop and this time went up by the barns where the fox was viewed by the third field I believe. We dove back down the hill and into the woods. We came back out into the field to see Matthew sprint up the hill to stop the hounds as the fox had again ran out of the territory. Apparently there was a meeting of foxes and the outlined all of the territory boundaries. Orange line

After we went across Browns Mill to Deep Rock farm. We were about halfway up the new farm road when the hounds headed right and took off through the woods parallel to Browns Mill and along Doyles River. It wasn't long before the fox high tailed it down the road and out of the territory. He also must have attended the pre-hunt strategy meeting. Red Line

After that we called it a day. We covered about 7 miles on a brisk moving day.

 

THH, Kennels, November 24,2022

 

 

Munchkin and I had a good morning at THH this morning. 

 

We got off to pretty fast start. The hounds opened all as one about twenty minutes into the hunt. It was only a 12 minute run but it was fast. It covered about 1.5 miles.

 

It was quiet for quite a while then a fox was spotted going through a stable. This was the same area where the killer mini lives that Wally encountered the other day. Munchkin never gave it a second look. It took a bit for the hounds to find the line but when they got it, they ran pretty hot. It ended up being about a 40 minute run.

 

So a pretty good start to Thanksgiving Day. We covered 11.25 miles in about 2:50.

 

THH, Thornton Hay Fields, November 22

 

Wally and i had fun this morning at THH. It was a nice change in weather.

I'm not sure if it was two three foxes that got run. Wally was pretty good except for about five minutes when he decided he didn't input for me. We got on a down hill canter and he decided to just roll on down the hill. It took two pulley rein circles to get his brain back. After that he was good.

The funny thing was when we had to go down a lane between two paddocks. There were horses in both paddocks. Wally was going along when a mini trotted over and stuck its head through the fence. Wally's reaction was "holy shit! What is that?" He got past it though. The next time back he didnt look twice at the mini.

It was a good day. We covered about 7.25 miles.

FHC, RedGate, NOvember 17,2022

Today we were at Redgate.  When we got to the meet the temperature was around 37 which is great. The wind that was whipping across the field was not great.  The best hope was to catch something on the leeward side of the hills to stay our of the wind.

We started out by looping around the field at the meet but didn't draw anything.  We crossed the road and went into field over the barway just off the road.  We went across the dam by the pond and headed up the hill.  We had just crested the hill when the hounds got started.  They were in the woods just below us.  They sounded good but as soon as they got high on the hill the voices dropped off.

Once they got over the top and dropped out of the wind they got going again.  This was going to be the theme of the entire run.  It was an awesome run as the hound kept battling through the wind and staying on that fox.  They ran north paralleling Millington Rd and eventually crossed the road near Carters Bridge.  We followed them and ran to the clear cut where we crossed paths with them.

We then backtracked around and caught up with them in the woods in BunkHouse.  The hounds then started back toward Millington and put the fox to ground.

It was an awesome run because it really showed off the hound work.  They kept battling through the wind to re-acquire the sent and eventually won the battle.  The run lasted for 50 minutes and the first flight covered 3 miles with a top speed of around 21.2 MPH. 

For the day we covered 6.84 miles.  The hounds ran a lot more than that.

THH, Mountain View, November 13,2022

 

Wally and I had a fun morning today with THH. It was also a joint meet with Rapp Hunt. I love joint meets when both hunts bring hounds. Today there 16.5 couple 33 hounds) of THH hounds and 7.5 couple (15 hounds) of RH hounds. It is always cool to have the two packs come together and work really well. It was also fun to see quite a few people from RH that I had not seen in a few years.

It was a cold morning as well. The temps were in the mid 40's and the wind was blowing. I wasn't expecting much with that much wind but it seemed we were constantly on the run. One run went about 2.3 miles and we covered it in about 20 minutes. There seemed to be several shorter runs but I lost track.

 

Later in the meet a coyote crossed in front of the second flight. Beth got the hounds around and got them on the line. The hounds took off pretty quickly. That lead us down a trail that would be politely called a slide. With the recent rain there wasn't a lot of footing to found and slide was all that was left to do.

 

So it was a good day.

 

Wally was pretty good although the first hour he was quite strong and fussy with his head. As soon as someone trotted he wanted to canter. This was his first cold day of hunting in two years. So I think he was a bit up from that cold wind blowing up his butt. Overall it was good experience for him to put in the bank. Lots of hills, good running and a cold wind. For the day we covered about 9.25 miles. At one point going up Schoolhouse Mountain he hit 17.8 MPH. His top end was 18.1 MPH today.

THH, High Thicket, November 6,2022

 

I hunted Wally on Friday. These days I rarely ever do back to back hunts because of my back. I really wasn't planning on hunting but kept thinking about it and then at 8 this morning decided to go. It was a great decision.

I was out with THH and we had two really great fox runs. The first was about 25 minutes and the hounds put the fox to ground. The second was about a 35 minute run. It doesn't sound like much except for how fast those runs were. Munchkin was up over 20 MPH many times. On the first run he went over 24 and on the second he was over 25.

His athletic ability is still amazing. On the second run, we got behind a little bit due to some people going in. By the time we got straightened out we could see the rest of the flight heading down the road. So Munchkin was cruising along. We had to jump a bar way which wasn't that big. There was a utility box a couple of strides past the jump. So it required an immediate turn to the left and then a turn to right to get down the road. I knew what was going to happen and committed to it. Munchkin came over the barway and turned in the air to the left. He landed, took one stride and then made the turn to right going down the road. All of this was done at a pretty good speed.

On the first run we had an interesting moment. We were coming up to a coop and were about a stride out. Just then a hound came alongside of us and Munchkin shifted to the left and jumped. My boot whacked the gate post pretty hard. Thank god for steel toed boots.

So a really fun day. We covered 8.7 miles for the day.

 

FHC, Chapel Springs, November 1,2022

 

Munchkin and I had a nice morning with FHC at Chapel Springs. It was beautiful out. Sunny, warm and a little breezy. Beautiful but not ideal for foxhunting. We basically worked Chapel Springs from top to bottom. The hounds spoke early but it didn't lead anywhere. 

 

 On the way back up just by the pond Mathew took the hounds and cut through the woods. The hounds started speaking quickly.  The fields meanwhile had to loop around the end. We came around at a good run and shot the gap between the sheds and the house. Then we continued on across the field to almost the fence line. When we got there the hounds had put the fox to ground.

 

So a slow day capped off with a short but fast run. It was kind of like getting a birdie on the last hole of golf - leaving you the feeling that you need to come back for more. Somewhere on that run Munchkin and I popped up to about 22MPH for about five seconds. For the day we covered about 6.5 miles.

FHC, Locust Grove, october 25,2022

 

Things remain crunchy here in Virginia due to the drought.  It is extremely dry, the ground is rock hard and it is warm.  This morning we caught a break.  It started out foggy with clouds.  That kind of held for us and included a fine mist on occasion.  Despite it being a Tuesday, I think we had over forty riders out today.

We started with a loop around the meet and not much was happening there.  As we got back by the trailers we could hear the hounds speaking somewhat down along the Rivanna River.  We were staying up top and could hear the hounds speaking below.  It was not quite ever a constant, confident voice.

As we came around Horseshoe Farm the hounds caught on.  We crossed the river and went for a short run that brought us up by Whiskey Ridge.  It was a short run but fun.

After that we crossed Branch Creek and then headed up to the ridge.  We were just off of Buck Mountain Rd when the hounds got going below us and picked up momentum.  They came up the hill and crossed over. This had a familiar feel as we have a run a fox on the line in the past.  The hounds took the round down the side of the hill before reversing course and coming back at us.  When they got the top of the ridge the run kind of died out.  

We were heading in the direction of Whiskey Ridge and were about to cross Branch Creek when the hounds took off again.  They got along the creek where there was not a lot of good access.  We got above them, could hear well but not really see anything.  After a short run they were gathered and we moved on. 

We were hunting our way back in and had just crossed the river when the hounds hit and got running to the north.  Radio reports called in that the hounds had gotten as far north as Catterton Rd.  So basically back to where we had just come from.  

Hounds were gathered and the day was called.  Give the terrible hunting conditions we have these days, that the hounds run anything is really gate.  A busy day like today is phenomenal.  for the day we covered 8.68 miles.

THH, Chancelors Gate, October 21, 2022

 

This morning is evidence of why fox hunting is so interesting and why a fox is rarely ever caught. Munchkin and I were out with THH this morning. It started off in the thirties and was in the sixties when we came in.

At this fixture there is a fox that has a den at the end of a drainage just off the main road. So when we have been working from the trailer parking out, he tends to get to his den fairly quickly. Beth, our huntsman, had a plan. She was going to head out along the edge of the road and then hunt from the road towards the drainage. The idea was to get between the fox and his den.

At least, that was the plan.

She got the hounds in the drainage and they worked along the length of it. No sign of the fox. So we cut though the trees and cross the next field and on into another field. There was a dugout area that the hounds were milling around but they weren't really going anywhere. After a bit some hounds broke off and headed back into the tree line. That must have forced the fox out and it was viewed by the second flight.

The fox crossed the field we had just across and went back to his hole alongside the drainage. So it sounds good that we had run a fox to ground but in reality I think you'd have to call this a win for the fox.

After that it was warm and quiet. The only thing you can smell in the woods are dry leaves. At some point Munchkin and I went threw a briar patch. So when another member headed in, so did we.

For the day we covered about 5 miles.

ETA: After we went in early, hounds went on an hour+ run on a coyote despite the bad scenting conditions.

FHC, Overstreets, October 16,2022

 

 

Wally and I had a nice morning with FHC at Overstreets today. From a hunt perspective it was fairly quiet. The hounds got on a brief run when we were out by Amicus road but it ultimately really take off. They had some nice work later but again the line didn't really develop.

On days like this it is more about Wally's development and he keeps getting better. At one point we had 3/4 mile trot through the woods. If we were doing dressage test, it might have been a 9/10 trot. He was going along a woods trail like a metronome. He was perfectly balanced, lightly on the bit and just covering ground. I think it is the best trot work I have ever had him do and he held it together for ten minutes. His canter work was excellent too.

He earned his nick name the Wally dude when there was a horse that was being fractious in front of him. He kept himself back and you could almost hear him thinking "I don't know what his problem is but I'm staying out of the way."

It was junior day today and there quite a few out. Those kids can all ride really well.

A good outing for Wally. We covered 5.75 miles today.

THH, High Thicket, October 9,2022

Munchkin and I had fun but abbreviated hunt this morning. We were out with THH. It was a Junior North American Field Hunter qualifier. So some kids out with us today. The kids can really ride. One was 14 year old who I remember her mom pushing around in a carriage. Mom was at the back of the first flight with me.

 

Some of Bethany Wood's littles were in second flight. The two girls were pretty small and on their ponies.

 

The hunt started a bit slow with hounds speaking sporadically. But then they hit and ran good. Went silent again. Then really opened up with a roar that went for the whole run. since my GPS got crushed on Thursday I don't have a map or data from today. Once that run got going we made three big circles in the woods. They were really fast circles at that! The only time we weren't cantering or galloping was on the steeps down pitches and there we had a pretty forward trot.

 

It seemed like we were never far off from the hounds and they were always to our left. The hounds were very loud and being in the hilly terrain really accentuates. I figure Beth will post a recording but the recordings really never quite do justice to the sound.

 

I was watching the juniors while were on the run. They handled the speed, terrain and jumps really great. Second flight was always right behind us and Bethany's littles were right with the field master. So I figure those pony legs were really turning some high RPM to keep but the kids looked like they were having a great time.

 

Munchkin and I came in early because when we were near the end of the run, Munchkin had lost a shoe. It was the same one he twisted a few weeks ago. We'll get it back on during the week and I might give him a week off to let the foot grow a bit.

 

McNeeley's Shed, OCtober 6,2022

 

Wally and i had fun this morning at Mcneely's shed. Kind of a hit or miss day. Wally was very good. He was on a loose rein about 90% of the time.

The only casualty was my GPS. I forgot i had left it on the trailer fender. When iveent back and found it it was smooshed and dead.

FHC, Chapel Springs, September 29,2022

 

Really a surprising and fun morning. It has been exceedingly fry here in Virginia the last couple of weeks. That is not good for scenting for fox hunting. This morning it was also very windy. Really bad for hunting. All in all it would be called a crappy scenting day. So I was not expecting it to be much more than some exercise for Wally.

 

I was wrong and we had three runs on foxes. Three more runs then I expected. The first was just a few minutes into the hunt and carried on for about 20 minutes. Wally was good although a bit strong when we were off and cantering early.

 

Near the end of the run the hounds broke out into a newly plowed field and into the wind. It seems the scent had blown away. Mathew gathered the hounds and we were around the other side of the tree line of the aforementioned field when the hounds hit. Unfortunately I forgot my GPS but I am pretty sure that it was probably the same fox. We gave chase on that for a while before it was lost.

 

With the wind it was hard to hear and we spent some time trying to regain contact with Mathew and the hounds. We regained contact and came out onto a nice hay field. The hounds hit again in the woods and we picked up a canter/hand gallop up the field (great leadership Jenn Jennifer Daly).

 

I'm used to speed on Munchkin and I fully trust him and his balance,etc. at any speed. With Wally I think the governor is in place but I haven't tested it enough to know for certain. On this run up the field he went into the most gorgeous and comfortable hand gallop you could ask for. He never surged or tried to run past anyone.

 

The hounds then changed direction and came back down the field but in the woods. Off we went, Wally picked up a nice balanced canter and was quite nice cantering down the slope. The rider should have been paying more attention because there was another change in slope to a more steeper slope. A more attentive rider would have given Wally a little half halt to get him on his butt some more. Unfortunately I let him tip onto his forehand.

 

It wasn't horrible but I wanted to get him back. My first idea was to drop him and let him figure out. In retrospect an interesting choice to drop a 1300 lb horse cantering downhill. It didn't work and I want to option B - 3 hard half halts. That did the trick.

 

Shortly after that the hounds went silent and the decision was made to call it a day. I think we covered about 6.5 miles but I don't have any speed numbers since I left the GPS at home.

Wally just keeps getting better and better. After we blew off the early energy, he was quite easy to ride.

THH, Hands Mill, September 27, 2022

 

Munchkin and I had a great morning at Thornton Hill Hounds. It was gorgeous out but it was very dry and breezy. Not the best scent conditions.

We were about 30 minutes into the hunt when the hounds hit. We had to follow along on the road and then they headed up Schoolhouse Mountain. The hounds were sounding great! Pretty amazing given how dry the conditions are.

We followed. We followed very fast! Twice Munchkin hit 21 MPH going up the mountain. Not only was it up the mountain but with a lot of twists and turns and terrain changes. We crested up near the top and then the hounds swung around and were headed back down. It looked like they were heading back to the start but instead crossed the road. It got quiet for a little while but then the hounds picked up again and started back up the mountain. The fox was lost about halfway up.

At one point we were galloping the road when Munchkin hit 23.5 MPH. He just amazes me. At 19 years old and 16 hunt seasons he can still run with the best of them. He has been over 20MPH on every hunt out this season. His flying changes are also amazingly smooth. You don't realize he has changed unless you look down to see what lead he is on.

We covered 6.5 miles today.

 

THH, High Thicket, Joint Meet, September 18,2022

 

It was a great meet this morning.  First off it was a gorgeous morning. Second this was a joint meet as part of the Pen-Mary-Del hound show. Joint meets are fun because you get to meet new people and you get to watch a pack of hounds made up of hounds from three different packs hunt together. Today there were hounds from Thornton Hill, Farmington and Tennessee Valley. All told there were 27 couple (54 hounds) out today. 

 

We had a great run that covered 2.5 miles. It went for 40 minutes and it was over hill and dale, through streams, looped around on itself. All done at some very high speeds. According to the GPS we hit 23.5 MPH but I think that was one brief instant when we crested a hill onto a flat area. There were quite a few stretches were we were consistently running between 15-18 MPH. Since this was pretty much all done on trails in the woods, it feels really fast! Also, 54 hounds screaming along after a fox in the hills is an amazing sound.

 

The run is everything inside the yellow line.

 

Overall we covered 6.78 Miles.

FHC, Barracks, September 15, 2022

 

We had a beautiful morning for hunting at The Barracks today.  The weather was perfect with damp ground, cool air and little to no breeze as evidenced by the hot balloons that launched from Woodlands Road to our east.

The day really started off with a bang as the hounds pretty much went full cry at 3 minutes into the hunt.  We had just crossed the driveway when the hounds opened.  Their start was echoed by a loud cry as the fox was spotted.  It was a short run but fun.  It ended when the fox crossed the road and left the territory.

After that we moved on crossing over Chestnut Ridge Farm Road and heading into Springhaven.  We were about where we park at Springhaven when the hounds hit again.  They took off into the woods and were heading toward Chestnut Ridge Farm.  Then they changed direction and came back on themselves.  They continued on the loop and popped out of the woods and crossed the open fields of Springhaven.  They got into the tree line and started working their way back towards Chestnut Ridge Farm road but then double back on themselves again.  They stayed in that treeline for a long time before the fox went to ground.

So two good runs on a beautiful morning.  For the day we covered 6.5 miles.

THH, THornton Hay Field, September 13, 2022

 

FHC Schelford, September 10,2022

 

Today we were at Schelford.  Schelford is one of my favorite fixtures because we always seem to get some good runs in there.  Today was kind of a quirky day.  I didn't have the hound tracker running so this is like the old days where it is a best guess from listening where the hounds actually ran.

The meet was scheduled to start at 8 and at 8 the hounds were running.  They picked up a fox in the woods just off the training track.  It sounded like they looped down by the river and then came back around and eventually made there way into the Wind River development.  Unfortunately we can't go there.  So for good, bad or indifferent the hounds and staff provided some early morning entertainment for the residents.

Once the hounds were into the development it took a while to get them back and we ended up standing for about an hour.  For the horses it was an opportunity to chow down at the vegetable aisle. After gathering the hounds we set off again.  The hounds ended up crossing the river and hit pretty quickly.  However, it sounds like either the pack split or a few of the hounds got a jump on the rest of them.  The  second flight was along the river when a big red fox was viewed and it was being trailed by two or three hounds.  It sounded like the rest of the pack was chasing something else.  A command decision was made and 2nd flight followed the fox that we saw.

 That took us across the river and headed up towards Ridge Road.  I'll admit that after the end of last season, there is quite a bit of territory I had forgotten.  I was sure we were at the other end of ridge road.  We had actually come up by Fox Ridge Farm.  We set off at a steady trot pace right down Ridge roads.  It seemed like the hounds were steadily to our right and eventually they ended up almost to Laurel Ridge Farm. The hounds had lost the fox and we headed in from there. 

For the day, we covered 5.64 miles.  

THH Chancelors Gate, September 2,2022

 Munchkin and I were out with THH this morning at Chancelors Gate.  We actually only hunted for an hour but 45 minutes of that were chasing one fox.  We seemed to run back and forth along a tree line that followed a creek.  If you look at the map in Google earth you can see we went up and won those tree lines three times.

It was also a fast run as we covered 4 miles in about 45 minutes.  It doesn't sound like a lot but that is always moving.  We did have run up one hill at 19.2 MPH and one run on the flat at around 25MPH.  

The hounds really worked weel and stayed on that line.  Ultimately the fox went to ground along the creek by route 231.

THH Chancelors Gate, August 21, 2022

 

Today Munchkin and I were out with Thornton Hill Hounds at Chancelors Gate.  I have not hunted on that fixture in fifteen years or so.  That means I am not really familiar with the landmarks and trails, so today is a fair amount of guesswork and where the hounds were actually running.  Also we were in the woods a lot, so it was hard to see any mountain landmarks or other things like that.

As in life, timing is everything.  We started out with a warm humid morning but got two good runs in.  The first (yellow line on map) we picked up about a half an hour into the meet.  We were crossing a fallow field with really tall weeds.  The hounds were speaking but it wasn't organized but given time it built and we were off and running.  It was about a fifteen minute run where the hounds kind of twisted and turned while re ran a loop keeping the hounds to our right.  Eventually the hounds lost and were gathered.

It was about five minutes later when the hounds hit again.  This turned into about a 40 minute run. There was a lot of back and forth in the woods trying to stay with them.  Eventually the hounds made a run up and over Chancelor Mountain.  It was big push by the horses to finish with a fast climb up the mountain where we checked at the top.  The hounds lost somewhere on the backside of the mountain.

At that point, horses were spent and the call was made to head in.  Just as we were heading in the first couple of drops of rain were coming down.  It was a steady rain by the time everyone was loaded up.  so the timing was perfect.

Two very good runs.  We covered about 5.7 miles.  We hit a top speed of about 18 MPH which occurred on the first run.  It was a pretty moving along hunt. Out of the 1:39 we were out we were on the move for 1:23.  Our moving average was 4.7 miles per hour.  That doesn't sound like a lot but that is a pretty good moving average for a hunt especially when moving along wooded trails as were doing today.

THH Kennels, August 12,2022

 It was a beautiful day to get out with the hounds this morning.  When we started out at 7:30, the temperatures were still in the 60's.  We spent a lot of time going through the woods and when we were finishing a light breeze had come along to refresh us at the end.

We started off heading parallel to 522, got onto Barret Ln and then headed up Little Mason.  We were about three quarters of the way up when the hounds hit. They were quickly over the top and heading towards 522 with the seeming intent to cross it.  However they ended up turning and running parallel to 522 until they lost back behind the pond.  Yellow line on map.

It was a nice start to the day.

After that we hooked around toward Rudasill Mill Rd before heading back onto Barret Ln.  We worked along the backside of Mason Mountain with not much happening.  The hounds did speak a few times but nothing developed.    We crossed the Thornton River and worked along the tree line.  

We had just turned to hunt back to the trailers when a few of the hounds that were trailing got on a fox and got running. (Orange line on map) They were pretty much making a beeline for Turkey Mountain.  They were across Fletchers Mill quickly and heading up the mountain.  I don't know if they got all the way to the top before they started turning to the west.  They came down the mountain and then seemed to be stock in a hollow on the side of the mountain.  Once things seemed to get static the hounds were gathered and we headed in.

On this beautiful fall day we had two good runs and covered about 10.6 miles.

THH Kennels, August 7,2023

 

Today was the start of hunting season for Munchkin and I.  Wally will start at the beginning of September as I want to get some more prep in with him. 

I started think about some things regarding how and where I hunted last fall after injuring my back.  Even before gas prices went through the roof,  I wanted to cut down on my travel distances.  First, with my back issues, I can get pretty stiff in the car on a long ride.  Second, Munchkin is now 19 and starting his 16th hunt season.  After a long trailer ride he can start off a bit stiff in his hind legs.  About half of the Farmington Hunt fixtures are south of Charlottesville and that can be a long drive.  So I wanted to find an option to cut down on the drive times.  To do that I have added a membership at Thornton Hill Hounds (THH).  All of their fixtures are actually relatively close for us.  Some are only ten minutes away.  So my plan is to primarily hunt Munchkin with THH  and Wally with FHC but on the FHC fixtures north of Charlottesville.

Hunting with different hunts is kind of interesting.  It's all foxhunting but how each hunt goes about it can very different.  Hunts have different mixtures of hounds.  Of course, the huntsman is different.

FHC has a pack that is a mixture of American Foxhounds and PennMaryDel Hounds whose number is growing.  THH is all PennMaryDel.  I've never hunted behind an all PMD pack, so this will be interesting and something new to learn as the voices of the hounds are different.  Also, PMD's tend to "talk" more which means I'll to pay attention to learn their language.

Today Munchkin and I were out with THH from the Kennels.  The kennels are only a 20 minute trip for us.  We started out heading west from the Kennels paralleling route 522.  We got up to the Thornton River and the hounds started to speak in a tree line along the river and actually got pretty loud but no run developed.  As  we turned the end of the tree line across the river, there was scent but it was already high in the air.  

From there we worked up the side of Mason Mountain and eventually getting to the top. Going up the mountain we had to deal with quite a bit of damager from some the recent strong storms.  Going around, climbing over and bushwacking were required.   As we got the near the top, the hounds were speaking sporadically but nothing really developing.  It was when we came down the side into the open field that the hounds opened with a roar.  We got a pretty decent run out of it as the fox kept coming down the mountain and eventually circled back to where he came from.

It's the first time I've ever hunted in August but the 7:30 AM start helped mitigate the heat.  The ground conditions helped by our afternoon rain storms where pretty good.  It didn't seem like August out there.  

For the day we had the one run, we covered 5.6 miles which included 1500 feet of elevation climb.  Some fun and a good workout was had today.