Maiden Voyage

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Leslie Threlkeld

Lenore Threlkeld photoIt all started at a glorious ball - a masquerade ball. As I sauntered up to the open bar in my sparkling vintage “Jessica Rabbit” dress and gold sequined mask, I noticed I was not the only one in red. A number of gentlemen donned their unmistakable scarlet coats, including the bartender.

“Just a couple beers, please,” I said.
“Do you ride?” the bartender asked. “You should come hunting!”

I was honored at the thought and thanked the gentleman, but it wasn’t until the evening concluded that I learned the bartender in red was a Master of Foxhounds. I was appropriately disappointed for being unable to accept the invitation, being without a horse trailer and possessing zero hunting knowledge. I needed a friend to guide me through everything.

Flying the Wire, part 2

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Brian Munn

Editor's Note: The first part of this story appeared in the Winter 2013 edition of Covertside. 

We traveled to the Eastern Bay of Plenty Kennels in New Zealand with Rick and Shirley-Ann Mannering for our second hunt. We were the same passengers they had transported to Rerewhakaaitu the day before, but we had aged considerably in twenty-four hours. Three stiff old warriors now filled the back seat. Oliver Russell, who had yesterday satisfied his need to familiarize himself with the techniques of jumping wire, had expunged some of the pain by the decision to follow today’s hunt in a car. Dennis Foster and I were making the most of our martyrdom by deciding to hunt despite the pain of aching limbs. At this point I eulogized on the restorative qualities of Pinot Noir and vowed to double last night’s dosage, after this hunt, in the certain knowledge that I would reap twice the benefit I had last night.

Christmas Gifts for Your Favorite Foxhunter

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Christopher Oakford

There’s no shortage of gifts you can give to foxhunters this holiday season. Whether they like books or art; need new kit or something warm to drink in the field; even if they’d prefer you make a donation to a good cause, here are some of our favorite ideas.

The Bookworm

If bad weather stops you hunting this winter, what better way to pass the time than in the company of some classic hunting literature? Top of the list must be Siegfried Sassoon’s wonderful ‘Memoirs of a Foxhunting Man’. Others include everything from Surtees and Somerville & Ross to Rita Mae Brown and old copies of Baily’s Sporting Magazine, not forgetting the excellent selection available from the MFHA at www.mfha.org.

IUHH Meets in Auckland, New Zealand

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Brian Munn

New Zealand was first represented at the International Union of Hunting with Hounds IUHH in 2007 and in August this year they hosted the annual meeting at Auckland Racing Club’s Ellerslie Racecourse on August 23, 2013, chaired by Andrew Morison, President of the New Zealand Hunting Association.

We visited a number of hunt kennels as well as the famous New Zealand Bloodstock Centre and the Veterinary Associates Equine Hospital. And of course two days were devoted to hunting. We enjoyed generous hospitality every day and also had a few seminars and discussions with various hunting groups. It is a remarkable fixation we share. All the informal gatherings were seen and used as an opportunity to compare hunting in our different countries. Prevalent in our conversations with hunt followers in the host country were questions about the threat of the animal rights agenda.

Enthusiastic Hunt Night at Pennsylvania National

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Marcia Brody

alcookphoto.comRiders from 11 recognized hunts in the Mid-Atlantic region converged on Harrisburg on Monday for the annual Hunt Night Competition. The crowd cheered the terriers as they raced over miniature coops, and oogled the adorable shaggy hunting Bassets as they paraded with their staff from the Skycastle French Hounds of Downingtown, Pennsylvania.

Keswick and Mr. Stewart's Cheshire Hounds battled to the end for the overall Hunt Night Championship title, with Keswick narrowly emerging on top. Keswick's Jill Wilson won the Under-35 Over Fences over 32 other riders with her Thoroughbred mount Apple, a son of top sire AP Indy, on her way to claiming the Leading Lady Rider title.