Caza Ladron and friends explore Navajo and Anasazi territory

By Emily Esterson

Photos by Emily Esterson and Nancy Ambrosiano

Red rocks. Blue skies. Sandy footing. Ancient, mystical history. Unmatched company. As I begin to write my account of the Caza Ladron Hunt Club’s 2nd Annual Canyon de Chelly trail ride and hunt, I find it difficult to describe the beauty of the environment, the easy going companionship, and the phenomenal riding. Here’s my attempt at a report:

Foxhunters are lucky to ride in places others only dream about—whether the forests and fields of …

Perfect Turnout for the 2011 North American Field Hunter Championships

By Susan Monticelli

Photo by Liz Callar

This year’s selected finalists for the 2011 North American Field Hunter Championships met at Glenwood Park on Sunday, October 1 in Middleburg, VA.  At noon, fifteen riders rode into the paddock under the scrutiny of the admiring bystanders. From the beautifully colored dark grey to the two smart paints, the turnout was both proper and immaculate. Top hats and shadbellies, gleaming boot tops and …

Listening with Your Heart

By Adrian Jennings

I have a somewhat different perspective of foxhunting than many, my viewpoint being from the driver’s seat of my truck as I dash haphazardly about helping to whip on the roads. Amongst my traffic-stopping, coyote-spotting, hound-collecting, tack-adjusting, flask-refilling, gate-opening, leg-upping duties, I am often called upon to entertain many a visiting guest. It’s through these guests that I am constantly reminded of the moment I was first stunned into immobility by the sound of hounds at full cry.

I …

Chris Ryan Brings a Bit of Irish Foxhunting to Kentucky

By Jane Winegardner, MFH

Fifty riders from four states converged on the Woodford Hounds Kennels September 3-5 for a Foxhunting Clinic featuring Chris Ryan, MFH and Huntsman of the Scarteen Black and Tans, County Limerick, Ireland. For those of you who haven’t had the honor of riding with Chris, it is a life-altering experience centering on safety, preparation and FUN.

Chris taught three levels of riders: those already riding first flight, green but gutsy riders ready …

The Chace

A Tribute to Melvin Poe

By Bud Stuart, DVM

Photo by Liz Callar

The chace, the chace, such fond embrace,
How sweet the siren’s call.
The pounding of those hooves bellows music to us all.
The field and meadow, rock and rill,
The stream and forest, plain and hill,
Go swiftly streaming by our sight.
No time for worry or for fright.
Somewhere …

The View From Down Here: Jet Lag is for Wimps

By Ziggy Pelham

What a day the Tennessee Valley Hunt had on September 17th! Our second hunt of the season, the first hunt opened to members, was EPIC!  We started at Riverplains Farm, one of our favorite fixtures, with Andy Bozdan, our new huntsman. Yes, the Brit finally arrived! He flew in to DC on Tuesday, drove to Tennessee on Wednesday, had a staff hunt on Thursday, walked the hounds out on Friday, and hunted again on Saturday. “Jet lag is …

Foxhunting and Eventing Go Hand-in-Hand for Performance Success

By Jane Landridge

Photo by Debra Huett

Trainer Erin Kellerhouse won the Preliminary division Championships at Copper Meadows in Ramona, CA on Roxabelle, an 8-year American Sport Horse mare. Owned by Cheryl Reynolds, “Roxy” began her career as a foxhunter at the age of three. As member of the Santa Fe Hunt based in Temecula, CA, Cheryl has hunted and evented the bay mare for the past five years.

“Roxy took to hunting at …