In & Around Horse Country Holiday 2022

VOLUME XXXIV / NUMBER 4 • THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE VIRGINIA STEEPLECHASE ASSOCIATION • HOLIDAY 2022

OPENING MEETS

Old Dominion Hounds masters (l-r) Dawn Dugan Colgan, Debbie Welch, and Kimberly Poe. Douglas Lees photo

Piedmont Fox Hounds Opening Meet, Nov. 2, 2022, Oakley, Upperville, VA (l-r) Michelle St. Onge, Whipper-in; Jordan Hicks, Huntsman; John Dean, Whipper-in. Douglas Lees photo

Old Dominion Hounds Opening Meet, Oct. 29, 2022, High Meadow Manor, Flint Hill, VA, (l-r) Gus Forbush, ex-MFH, was honored at the opening meet. Matt Neiswanger, co-owner of High Meadow Manor, is a much-appreciated supporter of Old Dominion Hounds. Douglas Lees photo

Piedmont Fox Hounds Opening Meet (l-r) Gregg Ryan, JointMFH; Shelby Bonnie, Joint-MFH. Douglas Lees photo

Piedmont Fox Hounds Opening Meet Huntsman Jordan Hicks blows an Opening Day fox to ground. Douglas Lees photo

Orange County Hounds Opening Meet, November 5, 2022, Meredyth Farm, The Plains, Virginia. John Coles, MFH, and Jeb Hannum, MFH, led a large and well turned-out field against a vibrant background of fall colors.Joanne Maisano photo

Huntsman Reg Spreadborough and the distinctive Orange County Hounds await the start of the formal season at Meredyth Farm in The Plains, Virginia, November 5, 2022.Liz Caller photo

Whether dark bay or light gray, from New York’s Limestone Creek Hunt (left, Mark Jump photo) to Virginia’s Old Dominion Hounds (Scott Canard photo), there’s something about a hunt horse that says, “I’m ready. Let’s go!”

Limestone Creek Hunt Stefani Watson, riding Apollo, served as flag bearer for the Parade of Hounds down Albany Street aided by Whipper-in Tiffany Day on Okie.

Mark Jump photo

OPENING MEETS

Retired Huntsman Larry Pitts, MFH, has passed the torch to the next generation as Libby Gilbert takes up the horn at Virginia’s Bedford County Hunt. The pair are seen here on Opening Day, October 29, 2022 hunting from The Cedars. Kathy Craft-Furr. Southern Hound Photography photo

Sewickley Hunt (PA) celebrated their centennial anniversary on October 29, 2022, with Opening Meet and Blessing of the Hounds at Wilpen Hall. Built in the late 1800s for the William Penn Snyder family, part of the Pittsburgh steel industry, Wilpen Hall is still in the Snyder family. It has been a regular fixture for the Sewickley Hunt since the club’s founding in 1922. Thomas Reinsel photo

Huntsman Adam Townsend and followers display the distinctive green livery of Andrews Bridge Foxhounds (Lancaster, PA) as they move off from kennels with their equally distinctive black-and-tan Penn-Marydel hounds on Opening Day, November 5, 2022. Karen Kandra photo

Huntsman Matt van der Woude moves off with hounds from Elway on November 5, 2022, as Warrenton Hunt begins its 135th season. Aiding Matt is the legendary Melvin Johnson, long time Whipper-in at Casanova Hunt, now helping out at Warrenton. Mike Stevens photo

Brady Cully, professional Whipper-in, takes the lead as Huntsman Richard Roberts brings hounds to Groveton for Middleburg Hunt’s Opening Meet, November 5, 2022. Middleburg Photo

Blue Ridge Hunt Opening Meet, October 29, 2022, Carter Hall, Millwood, Virginia Huntsman Graham Buston moves off from historic Carter Hall (1792) for the start of Blue Ridge Hunt’s 134th season assisted by Whippers-In Micah Lisi (left) and Sheri Buston. Joanne Maisano photo

Professional Whipper-In Micah Lisi on the job during Blue Ridge Hunt’s Opening Meet. Joanne Maisano photo

A Blue Ridge fox provided some action for the Opening Meet hunt. Joanne Maisano photo

SPORTING LIFE HIGHLIGHTS

Ashland Bassets Dominate at Fall Trials

Mary Reed, MBH, Ashland Bassets, reports that hunting conditions were difficult for this year’s Fall Basset Trials, held at The Institute, Aldie, Virginia, October 2023.“It was dry and sunny,” Mary says. “Rabbits were sitting tight but there were many both in the Enclosure and on the outside; little to no scent; low humidity; south and east winds; there were blanks and a few nice runs.”

Despite these challenges, Ashland came away the big winner, taking home five pieces of silver: First place in both the 5 Couple and 7 Couple (Sandanona placed first in 3 Couple), first in 50%/50% Hunting Conformation, Total Highest Scored Pack in the Field (5 Couple), and Highest Total Scores in the Field (Cumulative).

The Bench Show Championship went to Tewksbury Rumpus. Tewksbury, which will celebrate its 70th anniversary next April, also took the trophy for Best Presentation (Overall 3 days). Alexis Bergsieker (Three Creek) and William Uziel (Hill and Hollow) were tapped as Best Whippers-In.

Judges Miki Crane, MB, and Mary O’Connell, who did three long days in the saddle, made the best of the less-than-favorable conditions. • • • • •

MFHA Field Hunter Championship Celebrating That

Special Horse

Among the activities sponsored by the Masters of Foxhounds Association to celebrate its Centennial Anniversary in 2007, the Field Hunter Championship proved to be especially popular. That spirit is being rekindled with a new series of competitions to be held across North America throughout the 2022-2023 hunting season.

As stated in the association’s press release, “The MFHA Field Hunter Championship is more than a celebration of the foxhunting horse; it’s a chance to earn regional and national field hunter titles that distinguish riders and their hunts. Additionally, it’s an opportunity for hunts to raise funds.”

Hunts will host qualifiers in each of the MFHA’s 15 Districts, with the top horses eligible to attend the finals to be held on Saturday, May 27, 2023, at Morven Park, Leesburg, VA, the venue of the Virginia Foxhound Show.

Jumping and non-jumping divisions will be offered. The qualifiers and finals will be open to Juniors, who will compete with adults, and a Best Junior Award will be presented.

The action has already begun with qualifiers held as of our press time at Rocky Fork Headley Hunt (OH) October 15, Deep Run Hunt (VA) November 6, and Old Dominion Hounds (VA) November 13.

For more information, foxhunters can contact their District Qualifier Chairman (visit www.MFHA.org, click on “Events,” then “Field Hunter Championship”), or call the MFHA office at 540-883-0883.

PHOTOGRAPHERS:

Back in Action

Photographer Richard Clay, whose excellent work has graced these pages many times, was severely injured this past April while shooting the action at the Old Dominion Hounds Point-to-Point. A loose horse made a split-second move into the area where Richard and other photographers were positioned to catch the action over the last fence. As he turned to get out of the way, the horse hit Richard from behind at full speed. Recovery from the resultant injuries took several months, but on October 22 he was back out on a racecourse, shooting the International Gold Cup. Welcome back, Richard! Valerie Durbon photo

Professional Huntsman Wanted

Kingsbury Harriers in southern California is seeking to hire a huntsman

As the only Harrier pack in the US, we are a private pack in the high desert NE of Los Angeles. An ideal opportunity for an experienced whip wanting to move up, or for a huntsman looking for a quieter, less stressful position. Must enjoy working with and training hounds. Besides a competitive salary (incl. 2 days off per week, + paid vacation), we offer a very nice fully furnished apartment, including all utilities except cell phone. We would like to hire as soon as possible. We hunt black-tailed jackrabbit, and our territory is 1000s of acres of BLM land adjacent to our ranch. We are located only 10 minutes from Ridgecrest, CA (pop. 30,000) and the Sierra Nevada Mountains overlook our home.

For more information, please contact: Donna Smiley, MH: 760-377-4758 cell/text kingsburyharriers@outlook.com

is published 4 times a year.

Editorial and Advertising Address: 60 Alexandria Pike, Warrenton, VA 20186

For information and advertising rates, please call (540) 347-3141, fax (540) 347-7141

Space Deadline for Winter/Spring issue is January 22, 2023. Payment in full due with copy.

Publisher: Marion MaggioloManaging Editor: J. Harris Anderson

Advertising: Debbie Cutler (540) 347-3141, (800) 882-4868, Email: hcdebbiebtc@aol.com

Contributors: J. Harris Anderson, Lauren Giannini, Will O’Keefe, Osmun, Virginia Equine Alliance, Jenny Young

LAYOUT & DESIGN: Kate Houchin

Copyright © 2022 In & Around Horse Country®. All Rights Reserved. Volume XXXIV, No. 4

POSTMASTER: CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED Regular subscription 5 issues $25.00, U.S.A. First Class subscription $35.00, Europe, Canada, etc. $45.00

On the cover: (l-r) Josh Bentley, Old Dominion Hounds Huntsman, and former Huntsman Gerald Keal moving off with hounds. Gerald Keal was honored for his service, both as Huntsman and now assisting as Whipper-in. Douglas Lees Photo

Scenting conditions were difficult for this year’s Fall Basset Trials, but Ashland Bassets, led by Mary Reed, MBH, managed to prevail. Bonnie Nichols photo

OPENING MEETS

Jay Dee Thomas, MFH/Huntsman, prepares to move off for Mecklenburg Hounds’ Opening Meet from Thrailkill Farm, Waxhaw, NC, November 6, 2022. Mark Jump photo

(l-r) Stacy Calvert and Tot Goodwin of Goodwin Hounds, Mill Spring, NC, followed along with friends at Mecklenburg Hounds’ Opening Meet on November 6, 2022 (a warm day, jackets were excused). Mark Jump photo

New Market – Middletown Valley Hounds Opening Meet, November 6, 2022

Windward Farm, Williamsport, Maryland Karen Kandra Photos

Huntsman Emily Melton leads hounds through the gates of Windward Farm, home of Joint-Master Katherine Byron, aided by Whippers-in (l-r) Michael Farber, Henry Nylen, and Benjamin Falls.

The tradition of an elegant shadbelly continues across the generations at New MarketMiddletown Valley. Opening Meet included Brylee Durso, 10 years old, third generation hunting with NM-MV, and Anna-Vaughn (Bonnie) Kepner, 76, long-time HonorarySecretary, both turned out in their finest formal attire.

Thornton Hill Hounds Opening Meet, November 6, 2022 High Thicket, Woodville, Virginia Denny Bomar Photos

The solemnity of the Blessing was no match for the fox that teased hounds and caused a ruckus. (Order was restored and the Blessing proceeded in respectful order.)

Despite the rising heat on Opening Day, Junior Amalie Kramer remained poised with jackets excused.

Erin Yanovich, Whipper-in Trainee, clearly enjoyed the day when two foxes obliged followers with spirited action.

LCH Leaders: (l-r) Barbara Anderson, MFH, on Piper; Renee Eddy, MFH, on Wolfie; John Anderson, MFH, on Montana; Nelson Eddy, MFH, on Grafton; and Whipper-in Bill Day on Raider.

Out & About Scenes of Hunt Country

Limestone Hunt, New York. Mark Jump photo

Blue Ridge Hunt, Virginia. Joanne Maisano photo

Old Dominion Hounds, Virginia. Douglas Lees photo

Deep Run Hunt, Virginia. Bill Sigafoos photo

Limestone Creek Hunt Opening Meet, September 11, 2022

Lorenzo State Historic Site, Cazenovia, New York Mark Jump Photos

Huntsman Douglas Russell, hounds, and assembled riders gathered in front of the Lorenzo State Historic Site (1807) for the Blessing of the Hounds.

LCH Fritz, named after long-time member and local veterinarian Fritz Koenneke, having a flapping good time on Opening Day.

OPENING MEETS

International Military Students Are Active Members of Fort Leavenworth Hunt

Allison Howell Photos

Fort Leavenworth Hunt boasts an impressive history of both military training and mounted sport. Founded in 1926 by the 10th Cavalry Regiment, the Fort Leavenworth Hunt disbanded during World War II but was reconstituted in 1964 and recognized by the MFHA in 1966. Membership is open to military members and their families as well as civilian subscribers.

Currently, three of those subscribing members are participating in the Partner Nation Army Officer program. They are each in a second year of cooperative graduate degree level study for which they were competitively selected from a class of more than 1100 first year students, of which 114 were internationals, from 88 countries.

MFH Jim Fain (LTC, USA, Ret) explains that, “The International Military Student (IMS) program at the US Army Command and General Staff College dates to 1894, and is considered the world’s most prestigious cooperative Professional Military Education (PME) program. As part of my program introduction to the newly arriving IMS each summer, I invite any who might be interested in the sport of mounted foxhunting to let me know—and then we work to create opportunities for those interested officers to join and participate.”

The three who rode on Opening Day, October 22, from McGuire’s Farm in Easton, Kansas, in full uniform were MAJ McLeod Wood, Australian Army; LTC Filip Scheynius, Swedish Army; and MAJ Sam Patterson, UK Army.

Jim Fain, MFH, led an Opening Day field that included juniors, civilian members, and international officers sporting their home country uniforms.

MAJ McLeod Wood, Australian Army, demonstrates military form over a coop.

(l-r) Callison Ames, Lexi Trickett, and LTC Filip Scheynius were clearly having a good time on Ft. Leavenworth Hunt’s Opening Day, 2022.

MAJ Sam Patterson, UK Army.

FIELD HUNTERS

Forever Bernardini and Mary Crane Take Both Top Spots at

2022 TAR North American Field Hunter Championship

the

Forever Bernardini, owned and ridden by Mary Crane representing the Norfolk Hunt (MA),  added another impressive win to his glowing résumé with a double blue ribbon performance at this year’s Theodora A. Randolph North American Field Hunter Championship.  Last year, “Bernie” and Mary were also awarded the Dr. Matthew Mackay-Smith Trophy for the Top Thoroughbred as well as the TAR North American Field Hunter Reserve Championship.

This year, when the judges’ tally was announced at the finals held at Middleburg’s Glenwood Park on October 8 just prior to the start of the Middleburg Races, the pair from up north made it a two-fer: Grand Champion and another nod as Top Thoroughbred.

Forever Bernardini is a 9-year-old son of Eclipse-Award winner Bernardini. “When I bought him,” Mary says, “almost a year and a half ago, he had been racing and foxhunting at Elkridge-Harford in Maryland for four years and had just won the Foxhall Team Chase. From flat racing to hurdles to timber to foxhunting, Bernie does it all! He’s the ultimate ladies’ foxhunter—quiet, careful, and the best jumper! Owning and hunting this horse is such a privilege!” An ex-MFH of Norfolk Hunt, Mary began hunting at age nine and started whipping-in at 19. “I’ve been riding since I was five years old,” she recalls, “and have shown, evented, and hunted ever since. Growing up our ponies lived at home. We hunted the same pony we showed. We rode bareback and took our ponies swimming. I was a Pony Clubber in the Norfolk Hunt Pony Club, receiving my B rating and then became the District Commissioner years later.”

While Mary lives and works in Massachusetts, she has a hunt box in Upperville and Bernie is stabled in Virginia with Sara Katz at Jimmy Day’s farm in White Post. She’s effusive about the NAFHC, founded in 1984 and named in honor of Mrs. Randolph, the long-serving, legendary master of Piedmont Fox Hounds. “The NAFHC is a really incredible experience bringing foxhunters from far and near together for a great week of sport and camaraderie. I’m so appreciative to everyone who makes this event happen! Thank you to all of the organizers, land owners, judges, hunt staff, competitors, horses, hounds, and everyone else who contributed to this wonderful event. Special thanks to Karyn Treble Wilson for making it all happen and to Sara Katz Foley for bringing this amazing horse into my life! And most of all, thank you Bernie!”

Rae Stone and Lancelot, Orange County Hounds (VA), were chosen Reserve Champion in the 2022 North American Field Hunter Championship. Douglas Lees photo

Mary Crane, ex-MFH, Norfolk Hunt (MA), rode her Forever Bernardini to claim both the Grand Championship and Top Thoroughbred Award at this year’s Theodora A. Randolph North American Field Hunter Championship. Douglas Lees photo

TAR NAFHC Champ Forever Bernardini showed his racing form in the 2019 Pennsylvania Hunt Cup. Todd Marks photo

FIELD HUNTERS

Dawn Colgan’s “Bay” Takes the 2022 Virginia Field Hunter Championship

Liz Callar Photos

Dawn Colgan, Joint-MFH of Old Dominion Hounds, piloted her hunter Bay to victory across the fields of the Foxcroft School, her alma mater, in this year’s Virginia Field Hunter Championship. A field of 24 horse-and-rider pairs, representing 13 Virginia hunt clubs, met for the competition on October 23. The three-phase program began with a hack class on the school lawn, followed by an energetic mock hunt led by George Kingsley and Stalypso Dream, last year’s winner, owned by Anne McDowell. Participants were then whittled down to 12 finalists for the handy hunter test. When the judges tallied the results, the winning nod went to Bay.

Dixie’s Boy Adam, aka “Bay,” is an 18-year-old West Virginia Thoroughbred whose performance on the track at Charles Town suggested he was suitable for a discipline other than racing. “He’s probably the slowest, [most] unmotivated Thoroughbred ever,” Colgan quips. His post track career focused on the show ring, but his success there was little better, lacking the caliber to make the rated level shows. Dawn took him on when he was 12, introduced him to fox hunting, and he immediately found his true niche.

“Bay has been a family favorite from the start,” Dawn says, “because he will do anything you ask of him and does it well. He is the only horse I’ve ever owned that you could literally put anyone on in the hunt field. He goes just as amazingly leading the field as he does in the very back, hilltopping, or whipping-in, even outriding at the races.”

While hunting has proved to be what Bay does best, and what he always comes back to every season, it isn’t his only talent. Dawn’s son rode him on the winning 2018 USPC National Championship 3’ Show Jumping team and her daughter Ainsley won the Junior North American Field Hunter Championship Under-12 First Flight Division with him in 2017. He was the third place finisher in last year’s Virginia Field Hunter Championship, just behind Stalypso Dream and Reserve Champ Go Quick Go ridden by Annie Sikorski of Bull Run Hunt. Dawn and Bay were tapped for Best Turned Out that year. This year’s first place finish at Dawn’s high school alma mater made the victory especially sweet.

Colgan has ample praise for Middleburg Hunt’s hosting efforts. “The VFHC this year was lovely. Middleburg did a great job hosting and Foxcroft was a perfect venue.  They had lots of different terrain, conditions, and obstacles on the mock hunt that allowed Bay to really show off. Things like trotting fences, galloping fences, extended checks, long walks on a loose rein, and being able to pull up quietly between two jumps to safely cross a blacktop road while everyone ran onward were probably some of the traits that allowed him to be noticed by the judges.”

The 2022 Best Turned Out pick was Devon Zebrovious and Mapleleaf Celeste, an Irish Draft Sport Horse owned by Brianne Sells and Brandy Sells Greenwell of Bridon Irish Draughts. Devon, a veteran of many field hunter championships, said Middleburg Hunt’s efforts were “Absolutely top notch, superbly well run, challenging mock hunt and outstandingly designed individual test.”

Kingsley gets high marks for his work on the handy hunter course and leading the mock hunt. He, in turn, is effusive in praising his mount and Stalypso Dreams owner Anne McDowell. “She’s the type of owner that sends you a wonderful horse and then tells you you’re the reason it’s so wonderful!”

This year’s Reserve Championship went to Chloe Hannum and Catch the Echo, representing Orange County Hounds. Chloe carries on the family name, elevated to legendary status in the foxhunting world by her great-grandmother Nancy Penn Smith Hannum as well as by her father Jeb Hannum, jointmaster of Orange County Hounds and Executive Director of the Virginia Equine Alliance.

Old Dominion Hounds will host next year’s competition. That promises to be another stellar event, given their history of hosting multiple field hunter trials and their claim to some of the most coveted hunting country in Virginia.

2022 Virginia Field Hunter Champions “Bay” and Dawn Colgan, MFH, Old Dominion Hounds with George Kingsley (holding the trophy) and Neil Morris.

Dixie’s Boy Adam, aka “Bay,” found his true niche as a field hunter.

Chloe Hannum and Catch the Echo were tapped as this year’s Reserve Champion pair.

Foxhounds of the Future Need Judges in the Present

The object of any hound show should be to encourage the breeding of hounds best suited to show sport… The judges should never lose sight of that object in making their awards, for on their decisions may rest the responsibility of many foxhounds of the future.

Higginson’s words capture the important role hound shows, as well as performance trials, play in the continued health and vitality of mounted hunting. Without “hounds best suited to show sport,” the practice might devolve into little more than trail riding behind a pack of canines poorly suited to the challenges of hunting. Assuring that doesn’t happen requires knowledgeable devotees of the sport capable of judging good conformation in the ring and keen performance in the field.

That task has been admirably filled over many years by a host of men and women. But as time takes its toll, the number of experienced judges still available to work in the ring or ride in the field has declined. The challenge now, then, is to focus on aficionados of foxhounds willing to apply their time and talent, while deepening their knowledge of ars venatica, in order to assure that kennels across North America are home to “hounds best suited to show sport.”

To that end, efforts are underway to recruit and train a new generation of judges for the show ring and performance field. Dr. Steven Thomas, MFH, Fort Leavenworth Hunt (KS) and Fred Berry, MFH, Sedgefield Hunt (NC) are organizing this project: Steve on the show ring side and Fred for performance trials.

We asked Steve to explain what someone would need to know about the program to determine if this was something he or she wanted to do.

“For anyone interested, we are planning a oneday didactic program, that may be virtual or live, on a regional basis,” Steve says, “to go over what is involved in judging, both hound shows and performance trials. The MFHA rules and regulations for both will be reviewed and provided. Marty Wood is going to share his wonderful series of articles about judging and conformation for the hound show people. I’m hopeful to have Chris Moll [who developed the scoring system] and a knowledgeable veteran of performance trials such as Fred, Epp Wilson, or Lincoln Sadler go over the scoring system and the updated MFHA software for the PT people.”

Who would he like to see sign up for this?

“I’d like to see masters or future masters more involved in both these programs. If they are going to be the kind of master the sport needs and deserves, they need to know hounds. That being said, it’s open to any MFHA member as well as to professional hunt staff. Obviously, judging performance trials requires the apprentice to be a superb rider, well mounted, and willing to travel as they will need to attend several trials in order to get the necessary experience.”

What’s required to become a qualified judge?

“In general, the candidate should attend the seminar and serve as an apprentice at three shows or trials. Obviously, some people will pick it up very quickly and others may decide that they don’t want

H. Higginson, MFH

to continue. The HSPT committee will work with the individual event secretaries to help them secure approved judges but we keep our intervention to a minimum and serve a consulting role so that they can make regulations that are appropriate to their regional needs.”

What comes after the seminar phase?

“Following the didactic seminar, candidates will serve as apprentices with experienced judges. They will learn the nuances of judging from those who have done it for years. Hopefully, during the apprentice phase, candidates will bond with judges who will serve as a mentor. Becoming a seasoned and competent judge is a journey that happens over many years and even more events. The learning is continuous.”

How are travel and lodging details handled?

“Each show/trial sets its own guidelines. PTs are, of course, more complicated as a mount or two is required. I personally favor the hosting organization providing lodging for the judges, preferably with a member when possible so that bonds can be built. Travel costs may or may not be reimbursed, based on the event. Typically, masters are not compensated for travel and apprentice judges should not expect to be compensated regardless of their status.”

Are there any written standards to follow?

“Yes, the MFHA has guidelines for both hound shows and performance trials that are well written and current.”

How do the different hound breeds affect the apprentice and judging process?

“Obviously the hound shows have different classes for the different breeds. And the online studbook is a great source of information. Judges who don’t have experience with certain breeds should not judge in those rings. If an apprentice wants to get exposure to breeds other than what they are familiar with through their hunt, they should visit as many kennels, talk with huntsmen, and attend as many shows as possible. As for the PTs, the makeup of the entries is up to the organizer. Most allow any hounds in the studbook to enter and it makes for an interesting day of hunting, but also challenges for the trial huntsman, judges, and the escorts for the judges. Hounds can’t be scored if they are not seen by the judges and, unless the judge is familiar with the fixture, they are reliant on the escort to get them where they need to be to score hounds.”

While Higginson’s quote cites hound shows, the man was no stranger to performance trials. In fact, it could be said that he was party to the most famous performance trial ever held: The Great Hound Match of 1905. While not a contest to rank individual hounds, it was a test of breed against breed—Higginson’s English hounds vs. Harry Worcester Smith’s American Hounds—that rose to the 1905 equivalent of Super Bowl status. The results undoubtedly influ-

enced breeding lines in ways still seen today.

After participating in multiple performance trials, Fred Berry noticed two things. One, many people spoke of how much they had learned from participating in such an event, even if they were only riding as a member of the field. Two, that interest, combined with the need for many in the foxhunting community to deepen their understanding of the nuances of good hound work, could be channeled into a program to develop more judges for future trials.

“Judging a performance trial is like being a referee,” he says. “You need to know the rules, the sport, and the game. And that requires a solid knowledge of the fine points of how hounds perform in the field, how to tell when a strike hound is working hard, if a hound is babbling or dwelling, and so forth.”

You’re never too young to start building show ring expertise, from handling hounds to judging them. Gavin Snowhite, Palm Beach Hounds, 10 & Under class, proudly displayed his trophy and hound companion at the Virginia Foxhound Show in 2014.

Lauren R. Giannini photo

Mark Murphy, Kennel Huntsman for Fox River Valley/Massbach Hounds (IL), focused on the action in his role as the lead judge for the Andrews Bridge performance trial. In addition to knowledge of hound work, a judge must be a superb rider, well mounted, and willing to travel. Karen Kandra photo

Fred put out a feeler on Facebook to see what kind of interest might exist and he received a substantial response. So now it’s on to the next step—developing a structure to make the concept a reality.

“The vision is to have a two day event,” he explains, “where folks come together, watch videos, discuss the rules and how they’re applied.”

As with a judge’s role for any subject, the qualifications start with a working knowledge of the particular discipline. A desire to serve the broader interests of that subject and to deepen one’s own knowledge of it can serve as a good foundation to consider taking on the role of judge in either the show ring or performance field.

In addition to solid experience as a foxhunter—whether as master, staff, field leader, or avid follower—a keen eye for detail helps. A good ring judge must be part veterinary anatomist, part sports physiologist. How does the hound’s conformation and movement translate to performance and endurance in the field? Judging in a performance trial requires the skills of a cavalry scout with those of an NFL recruiter. In fact, the NFL’s advice on the recruiting process sounds a lot

Rocky Fork Headley Hunt Hosts Central District Qualifier

20 Participants from four hunts met at Crosswind Farm, the home of RFHH JointMaster Dave Straub, in Johnstown, Ohio, on October 15, 2022, to vie for the privilege of competing in next year’s finals of the MFHA’s Field Hunter Championship. The Central District horse-and-rider combinations who will compete in the national finals next year were led by two young riders with Rocky Fork Headley Hunt: in the Hunter division, Grace Robertson, 19, on her spirited OTTB, Indy Afternoon; and in the Hilltopper division, Anna Sterling, 13, on her grandmother’s bay pony, Pistol. Reserve Champions in each division were Kellyn Burtka on Harmony For Holls, riding for Waterloo Hunt (Hunter division); and Cari Miller from Rocky Fork on Willow (Hilltopper).

like what to expect when riding as a judge in a performance trial.

Developing an eye for talent is crucial…Developing an understanding about how the game is played and what each position does is essential to becoming a good NFL scout. You should know what qualities (body types, mentalities, and abilities) a good player must have, and also what qualities are important for each position on the team. You should be able to get an idea if a player possesses such qualities by watching him play. The time you spend practicing and the reports you generate will become the basis for your professional portfolio.

Or in the case of the show ring or performance trials, the results could have a bearing on the future “breeding of hounds best suited to show sport.”

If you think it’s time to expand your foxhunting portfolio and would like to participate in a judging seminar, contact Steve Thomas (flhdoc@gmail.com) or Fred Berry (fredberry654@gmail.com).

Hounds hot on a line during the performance trial hosted by Andrews Bridge Foxhounds, Kirkwood, PA, October 6-7, 2022. Karen Kandra photo

Mulling over their assessments and

placements were (l-r) Kate Rigg (Event Committee Chair), Andrew Barclay, MFHA Director of Hunting, and Dave Straub (RFHH Master and owner of Crosswind Farm). Anne Claire photo

Grace Robertson and Indy Afternoon took the blue ribbon in the Hunter division at the MFHA Field Hunter Championship qualifier hosted by Rocky Fork Headley Hunt (OH) on October 15, 2022.Jennifer Robertson photo

Opening Meet is a Day of Blessings

We were off to Opening Meet, a high holy day of foxhunting. Marion was driving.  So, pedal to the metal, we zoomed down Leeds Manor Road, the left front tire precisely centered on the new yellow rumble strips the whole 20 miles. She’d been chattering on about the Old Dominion Hounds Opening Meet for weeks. As the formal opening of the hunting season, she explained, this day is highly anticipated. I was all excited too; even the noisy rumbling did not ruin my own anticipation. I couldn’t help but wonder if the left side tires were going to be bald by the time we arrived at the destination.

For this 11:00 am celebratory event, hounds would parade in front of High Meadow Manor in the heart of the ODH territory. Riders wear navy coats with red collars and rust breeches, the official habit of the ODH going back to WWII; along with the riders, the horses are spotlessly turned out.  “You can’t be disrespectful at opening meet.” Marion told me horses are clipped and braided because this high holy day, the first of the season, is the day riders, horses, and hounds are blessed by a local Episcopal priest.,

As usual, we arrived late. There was grumbling by the aforementioned driver since she missed the blessing by the priest, the presenting of hounds, and the first and second fields moving off. We did see the juniors cross the road in the distance. Marion came to a complete stop as a large Tally Ho wagon pulled by four gray horses crossed right in front of us with a top hatted whip handling the horses, two grooms, and six well turned out passengers in the back. The whip was driving passengers to a high vantage point on a nearby hill. With leaves in peak October color, the hunt watchers were turned out in the colors we offer at the store. “See how smart everyone looks today.” She never misses spotting a Horse Country tweed or piece of country clothing mingling in the crowd.

All the guest cars were neatly parked in the huge indoor arena. No unsightly visuals this day. We parked and walked to the manor house. I thought I would smell horses and hounds but instead found myself puzzled. No horse nor hound smelled this good. No coyote nor bear either. This was a new smell for me. We mingled at the front portico where the social members, families, landowners, and invited guests gazed across the hills looking for any sighting of action. With my keen Scotty eye, I saw several horses and riders, mere specks, way off in the distance. While Marion was chatting with some people, I started a conversation with a foxhound pacing nearby, having been separated from the pack by some chance. I’m told these hounds are special athletes. Looking at this one, I would be hard pressed to guess its purpose if one had never seen its kind in action. I’ve heard foxhounds can run all day without tiring. I wondered how they were fed to keep their energy stoked for the relentless all day pursuit. Such keen eyes and a wonderful sense of scent, even among dogs. He answered my questions but was plainly focusing on rejoining the pack and was soon off at a run in an extremely vocal journey. No surprise attack there!

Suddenly, Marion saw the priest was still on the grounds and darted across the lawn, dragging me on my leash until I could get my feet under me and catch up.  He was dressed in black with a white collar as one would expect, and though his duties were finished, he seemed to be enjoying the wonderful day and the excitement of the hunt as much as everyone else gathered there. Marion hailed the priest as she approached and he broke his serene gaze off the rolling Virginia hills and turned his attention to us. “Is it time for lunch?” he asked. She explained we had missed the blessing and would he be so kind as to bless me, Osmun, with some words. She seemed anxious to have me blessed and he was only too happy to oblige. With a twinkle in his eye and a reverence in his tone, he said a few solemn words, passed his hand this way and that and made a sign over my head, similar to the way I have seen tribal leaders do in Montana. Suddenly, he leaned into my ear and said something very special and private. Meaningful to a Scotty

in a strange land and viewing a strange ritual for the first time.  Marion thanked him and we walked back to the manor at a more reasonable gait.

Dogs weren’t allowed in the house but Marion wrapped me in her black coat and carried me through the doors to the front hall, gently pushed me under the banquet table and sternly said “Stay!” Everyone looked the other way. There I gulped in the scent again, only much stronger. “OMG! Marion exclaimed. “Look at the pig!”

The intoxicating smell was concentrated just above my head. Before she had set me down, I had had a glimpse of the spread—truly a work of culinary art. A whole pig, which I had never seen in that position, sat in the place of honor. The sparkling silver crystal caught every light and a good bit of the gleaming cutlery, china, and goblets started the line.

I listened to the chatty musings as people milled around waiting for breakfast to start. The conversations were friendly, familiar, and personal. Good to see you, it’s been a year My daughter is out with the juniors today. I’ve taken up riding again. Gus is out today, it’s been five years! Who takes care of the marble floors? And most telling, I’m just out of PT rehab but hope to be in the field in two weeks.

Everyone there was as hungry as I was. Odd, I thought, no one was mentioning the food right above my head. I could smell the menu; the autumn veggies, various plates of fruit (I would have gone with something else), iced shrimp scattered here and there. Rolls and gravy! It occurred to me I needed to have my energy supplies stoked, too, to keep up with all the fresh air. What a beautiful day! As members of the field started to drift into the hall, the gong finally sounded and the feast truly began to the bright sounds of laughter and good cheer. The priest had moved to the front of the line.

One of the many stories I had heard since joining the HC firm was of the legendary duo of Aga and Bunsen, Marion’s previous mascots. At a meal like this, Aga would alert Bunsen to a guest who had placed an overly large morsel on his fork and was raising it to his mouth for its destined purpose. At just the right moment, Bunsen would jar the guest’s leg and the morsel would go tumbling down to the floor, where Aga would be waiting for a snatch and run. The guest would look down and see Bunsen looking forlorn but empty mouthed and think nothing of it, assuming the morsel had fallen under the table. The two terriers would divvy up the booty behind the bar. They were eventually found out. Hence, the “No dogs in the house” rule.

Since it was my first hunt breakfast, and with the blessing and all, I decided to be on my best behavior. Even without any rude leg jarring, enough food hit the floor to make me happy and sated. I knew I would be sleeping on a full stomach on the way home.

Eventually Marion came and claimed me. “Since you’ve been so good, next week I’ll take you to Warrenton’s 135th opening meet at Elway Hall. We’ll get you doubly blessed.” Back in the car, full of roasted pork and the odd iced shrimp, I nodded off to the quiet hum of the engine and the now pleasant roar of the rumble strip as we headed back home with our day’s blessings. “By the way, what did the priest whisper in your ear?”

Bull Run Hunt

Claudia Coleman illustration

Opening Meet, October 29, 2022, Locust Hill, Locust Dale, Virginia Karen Kandra Photos

Adrianna Waddy, MFH, Bull Run Hunt.

Bull Run Huntsman Tim Michel gives a last minute word to daughter Samantha as they prepare to move off for Bull Run Hunt’s 2022 Opening Meet.

Keeping with the father/daughter theme, Bull Run Hunt Whipper-In David Clore was accompanied by his daughter Camryn on Opening Day.

CREME FUDGE 7 OZ. A whimsical gift. Attractively illustrated embossed tin. Approximately 30 individually wrapped pieces. Ponies Dairy #1929-CT0020 (HC2N) $15.50 Garden Dairy #1929-CT0030 (HC2P) $15.50

JENNY’S PICKS

Here are some new ones just in time for Christmas purchases. The first two are adult level, the next two are for younger readers, and the Thelwell’s are for everybody!

Berglie, Laurie. All On. The protagonist previously introduced in Berglie’s Where the Bluegrass Grows, Cassidy Winters, returns again—in Pennsylvania, where as an equine veterinarian she has taken a job at the famous New Bolton Center in Chester County. Desiring to leave her old, frivolous “spoiled rich girl” persona behind in Kentucky, she eagerly awaits the chance to become a better and different new Cassidy. She finds new friends, adopts a cat, impresses Dr. Richardson at New Bolton enough to be asked to be on a laminitis research team with him, and meets the attractive and charming son of her landlady. But both Garrett and Cassidy have ghosts in their past that try to come between advancing that relationship into a commitment. The book does have the apparently-mandatory-for-romance-novels explicit sex scene in it, so it’s not for your young children, but let’s face it, in this day and age your teenager has probably already been reading similar material. Paperback, 229pp. $11.99 McKelvy, Margaret Rizzo. Grid Pro Quo. Time to quit setting up your jumps in the same old 1-2-3-4 equally spaced around the rail! Spice up your life and your horse’s with these patterns offered by some of the world’s top riders to sharpen your eyes and skill. Diagrams illustrate patterns and distances. Each exercise lists materials needed, setup, the reason for choosing this particular pattern, and how to use it. Though my jumping days are long behind me, these look like some appealing as well as useful exercises to set up. Maybe I’ll get some ground poles and try them with the Thoroughbred… Paperback, 208pp. $29.95

OPENING MEETS

HORSE COUNTRY BOOKSELLERS

Specialists in New, Old & Rare Books on Horses, Foxhunting, Eventing, Polo, Racing, Steeplechasing & Sporting Art 60 Alexandria Pike, Warrenton, VA 20186 800-882-HUNT • 540-347-3141

Bowles, Melanie Sue. Liberty Biscuit. Thirteenyear-old Kip Baker has always wanted a pet, but her father will not permit it under any circumstances— until a mistreated, starving white donkey appears before her one day. Instantly charmed by the biscuits she fed him, he follows her home. She doesn’t want him to go back to the abusive home he came from, but can she persuade her father to let him stay? There’s more to this novel than just “girl finds donkey,” as plot twists reveal long-hidden relationships that have soured, and the evil owner of the donkey and two horses appears. I’d say the age range for this charming book is between eight and twelve years, and most likely enjoyed more by girls, but this adult enjoyed reading sections of it to review! With its good-intentioned, honest characters and clean language, it reminds me of books I loved to read as a child. Recommended! Paperback, 213pp. $12.95 Hill, Cat; and Emma Ford. The Kid’s Guide to Horsemanship and Grooming. Wish I’d had this to read when I was a youngster! This guide is packed with color photographs and great advice about everything you need to know about horsekeeping from catching a horse to going to a show—what you’ll need, how to use it, what to be careful of, what your horse’s reactions indicate—is he annoyed, happy, about to kick the stuffing out of you because you’re pulling his leg out to the side so far it hurts? It even includes tack cleaning advice and what to pack for overnights away from home. This is not a riding manual, it’s strictly horse care advice. A great

Christmas gift for the budding young horseman/horsewoman. And hey, if you’re an adult who has decided to take up horses, you can benefit from this as well! Hardcover, 176pp. $26.95

Thelwell, Norman. Penelope Rides Again. Laugh again with young Penelope and her friend Fiona as they ride—or come off—naughty ponies and make snide remarks about other riders. Paperback, 92pp. $12.95

2023 Calendars: Call early if you want one!

Foxes Wall Calendar. Has an adorable photo of a vixen and cubs on the cover.

Bassets: 2 wall calendars and 2 box calendars. Corgi wall and box calendars. Box calendars run $16.99 this year.

Various equine calendars are available in-store in very limited amounts.

Wall calendars @$15.99; box calendars @16.99; engagement calendars @ $16.99; horse mini-calendars @$8.99.

Books I have reviewed this year that are being well received and make good Christmas gifts:

Brooks, Geraldine. Horse – a Novel. $28.00

Brown, Rita Mae. Thrill of the Hunt. $28.00 (autographed!)

Noyes, Brian. Red Truck Bakery Farmhouse Cookbook. $28.00

Palacio, R. J. Pony. $17.99 Russell, Jack. Fox World. $35.99 (autographed!)

Winkel, Julie; and Tricia Booker. Judging Hunters and Equitation – WTF? (Want the Facts?). $45.00 Wofford, Jimmy. Still Horse Crazy After All These Years. $27.95

Deep Run Hunt Opening Meet, October 29, 2022 Full Stream Farm, Mankin Sabat, Virginia Bill Sigafoos Photos

Deep Run Hunt Opening Meet, October 29, 2022, Full Stream Farm, Manakin Sabot, VA. E. B. Struts nicely turned out, riding Hampton.

Mary Ellen Murray gets some lovin’ from Deep Run Kindle

Professional Whipper-In Kasandra Wohlschelgel and Tommy (OTTB Divine Oathe) hot on the chase.

Reverend Emily Dunevant gave the Blessing of the Hounds, with a special word to Deep Run Fiddle. She then switched from clerical garb to riding attire and rode with the hunt.

EQUESTRIAN ART

Whether beholder or beheld, beauty is in the eyes—that particular part of anatomy is where every oil painting by Claudia Coleman begins. She sees eyes as expressive gateways to soul and spirit, offering inspiration for her artistic visions, whether her subjects happen to be champion or pet dogs and horses. Her human portraits are also very impressive.

“I don’t feel you can get the soul into a painting unless everything is right—the foundation has to be there and it starts with the eyes,” Claudia said. This stance helps to explain her refusal to cut even tiny corners in her painting process because inevitably that carelessness will detract from the portrait. She is extremely skilled in technique and meticulous when it comes to detail.

Beauty Is In The Eyes

By Lauren R. Giannini

Claudia’s passion for painting began in early childhood and her professional life as an artist took off in her late teens. For more than 50 years, her paintings on canvas have graced private collections around the world, including the Museum of Hounds and Hunting North America at Morven Park in Leesburg, VA, and the Master of Foxhounds Association headquartered in Middleburg, VA. Her paintings have also found their way into banks and hospitals.

Claudia painted the official presidential portrait of Dick Webb, Master of Moore County, which hangs in the MFHA office in Middleburg. “Marty and I liked it so we commissioned her to do our presidential portraits also,” recalled Daphne Wood. “In addition to those two paintings, we have three others by Claudia.”

The subjects showcase Claudia’s diverse talents: Coaching elegance in Newport, riders on a clay road in Georgia, sentimental memories for Daphne. The Woods’ third Claudia original is actually the second version of her portrait as the first lady president of the MFHA which is “my greatest honor and I enjoy a constant reminder of it,” Daphne said. You can hear the grin, and why not? The paintings are that good.

Her medium is oil paint, utilized by artists as early as the 7th century even though oils didn’t become a popular medium in Europe until the 15th century. That’s when Jan van Eyck, a Flemish artist, created his revolutionary oil paint formula, which dried slowly, vibrant colors retaining their brilliance, as well as allowing artists to paint fine details. It was totally unlike the more unforgiving egg tempera. Layers of van Eyck’s oil paint created depth and texture as well as allowing artists to correct their oeuvre as they worked on it. The rest, as they say, is art history.

“What I love about oil paintings is that they are memories with longevity— they are not subject to being lost in a computer crash like digital pictures,” Claudia said. “The portraits are a legacy of memories to be enjoyed and handed down to the next generation.”

Her website and Facebook page are a visual feast. With decades of paintings to her credit, Claudia proved that you can teach an old dog—or artist—new tricks when she added mastery of old world classic portraits to her repertoire. Her life has been guided by her passion for horses, foxhunting, and breeding Australian terriers, which have earned many titles.

Claudia credits her mother, a watercolor specialist, who “put all the tools in [her] hand” while serving as in-home art critic for the enthusiastic youngster. At the tender age of four, fascinated by cowboys, Claudia drew a gaucho. Even then, she had an eye for detail.

Claudia recalled: “Every drawing, every painting I completed, I asked my mom ‘Can we frame it?’ Her answer was either ‘We’ll see, dear’ or ‘It’s not good enough.’ I was 14 when my first oil painting got framed. My clever mom took cardboard and made an origami-like frame of what looked like 18th century molding. I thought I was the bee’s knees.”

Born in 1947 to Madeline and Arch F. Coleman in Southern Pines, North Carolina, Claudia’s father was from Minneapolis, graduated from West Point but decided not to stay in the military. After managing a banana plantation in Guatemala, he ended up being recruited by Wallace Phillips under then President Franklin D. Roosevelt and placed into the new intelligence operation that evolved into the OSS during WWII. Claudia, who was born after the war, spent a lot of time with her mother, originally from Prince William County in Virginia, while her father traveled the USA on speaking tours for the Executive Club. She also has very fond memories of visiting her grandmother, who lived in Manassas.

“Everyone was creative on both sides of the family, and everyone played music for fun,” Claudia said. “My grandmother started me on the piano at my request when I was five. Dad played the tenor banjo and had a huge collection of old 78 RPM records, jazz and classical. I got all kinds of little musical things before I was five, including a banjo ukulele. I still play with a band and the 5-string banjo is my primary instrument. Mom was a trained graphic/fine artist. She studied here [in Southern Pines] and then graduated from Parsons of NY. Paris and Rome in 1929. She put paints and brushes in my hands before I could walk. I was seven when she made me do a color wheel to learn to mix colors. I thought it was perfect, but she didn’t and made me do it over. I was exceedingly torqued and still remember my mood! It was that rotten purple that got me! But I learned!”

Claudia, an only child, was a prodigious talent-in-the-making. “My mother loved water colors. We lived in North Carolina and she often painted en plein air [outdoors],” she recalled.

“She really influenced my landscapes.”

It is rather surprising that Claudia had no formal education in art. “I was offered scholarships from Kindergarten to 12th grade, but my mom refused because she felt she had been over-trained and she wanted to leave me alone,” Claudia explained. “I am still learning and developing. I might have cut a few corners if I had gone to schools, but I was easily intimidated and the school scene would have done me in. I went to public schools until grade 5, then Norfolk Academy, The American School in Switzerland, and two years at Elmira College. I studied biology, not art. That and my insatiable curiosity about what makes life tick have made me the artist I am today. My greatest influences are my mom, Andrew Wyeth, Alfred Munnings, and Gilbert Stuart, one of America’s foremost portraitists.”

In her early twenties, Claudia applied to art schools and was turned down. “Talk about an ego crusher,” she said. “And then my wise mother told me it was because I could not be molded into ‘their’ product. My career has been as a professional artist to earn my living since I was 19. The road has been mostly fine art with side shoots into related fields.”

Claudia admits she has been horse and dog crazy all her life. She didn’t get to hunt much as a kid, but has made up for it. She got back into riding in the mid-1970s while living in New Hampshire when she became involved in forming Wentworth Hunt, a drag pack, which is still going today.

Claudia with Yo Yo—“so much fun and a real character”—hunted a record 23 seasons with Moore County Hounds. Ginny Moss and Dick Webb are seen coming up the lane in the background.

Clive Rose, former huntsman for Hamilton Hunt, hunted hounds for 18 years with Moore County. This is his official portrait with hounds and his Thoroughbred “Tarry,” found at a regional auction: “Very smart horse with a gorgeous eye.”

“I procured us four couple of hounds from Moore County and a free horse for one of our joint masters—a great Thoroughbred mare but she wouldn’t stay sound in the sandhills of North Carolina—I thought ‘Really?’—but she trotted sound for me,” Claudia recalled. “She was free to a good home so Kay Williams, MFH, paid to ship the horse to NH. The trip was long and when the exhausted mare walked off the van, she looked around and promptly flopped to the ground, which shocked Kay. The mare refused to move, but started eating grass while resting and, 30 minutes later, she got up and was just fine. She was never lame and lived to be 34.”

Betty Oare hunted in Southern Pines with the artist whose horsemanship was influenced by the legendary equestrian’s equally legendary father, J. Arthur Reynolds, and summed her up thusly: “I like Claudia’s art, in particular some of her paintings that are somewhat humorous, and she is always upbeat!”

Claudia has kept the two self-portraits she painted with her trail and hunt horses. She purchased Yo Yo as a four-year-old, shipped him to Wentworth, whipping-in off him that first season. “Yo Yo was so much fun and a real character,” she enthused. “He set a record hunting with Moore County for 23 seasons. I had him for 24 years.”

When her father’s health declined, she went south to take care of her parents. Her father passed in 1980; a few years later, with the Virginia Beach place sold, daughter and mother moved back to Southern Pines. Madeline died in 1987 just before the house was completed in which Claudia still lives and paints.

“I don’t ride to compete—not my thing. I just trail ride and hunt,” Claudia stated. “I would describe myself as a person who rides to hunt, not one who hunts to ride. I started the driving club here around 1990 and did a lot of that for a while. I gave up driving after a bit because it takes other people to do it. It is not safe to drive alone. Yo Yo was pretty good in harness, but he liked hunting better. Me too! My horse now, Billy, is one of Cameron Sadler’s retirees (since he was 18). I love him and we get along so well. He is my BFF—sweet like Yo Yo and a bit smarter. Cameron can’t believe he’s still going and looking smashing at 25. He lives with me and, like a dog, his command of language is pretty good. Most artists do self-portraits, but not on their horses. I have done two—one on Yo Yo and then 20 years later on Billy. I was surprised how much I look like my Dad!”

In 1970, Claudia acquired her first Australian Terrier, which became another passion. Acquiring her second one in 1982 from Samabel Kennels turned into a loose partnership that is still going. “I have whelped out 16 litters of many champion Australian Terriers,” Claudia said. “Alexa (co-owner of Samabel) and I have been seriously working to preserve and improve the breed for many years. It makes me proud we have had many top dogs, especially in recent times.”

She added: “I can’t imagine life now without the Aussies and a critter in the pasture. I love foxhunting and all things hounds, and that is my ‘sport.’ I am a stickler on correct turnout et cetera because that is how I was trained. After I moved back to Southern Pines in the mid ‘70s, Ginny Moss let me have a studio in the barn at Mileaway Farm where I got my real education on horses and hounds. It was far better than brainwashing in some institution. I painted there for over 10 years.”

Claudia’s paintings must tell a story. She prefers to work from photos she has taken. Due to her reluctance to travel because her “critters” need her at home, she started accepting digital pix, which allow more people access to her work.

Studying eyes from every aspect and angle improved her mastery and it shows. Claudia continues to hone her art and craft, learning something new every day, enhancing her intuitive visual interpretation of her subjects to the ultimate degree. Her integrity is admirable. She loves creating memories by capturing her subject sensitively and honestly.

What do you see when you look into the eyes of your dog or horse? Wise old soul or adorable youngster, aloofly regal or cuddly or besotted? Their essence speaks to Coleman and portraits come alive under her talented and fastidious brush-strokes.

“I know I have nailed a painting when the recipient gets all teary-eyed,” Claudia

said, her tone upbeat and empathetic. “They will take their painting home and share with all their friends the story I have created. That is the real gift to the recipient and also my reward.”

To view some of Claudia’s artworks, visit www.ClaudiaColeman.com

For the past several years, Claudia has provided the illustrations for, first, the Aga’s Sagas columns in this paper and currently Osmun’s Observations. Her sketches have also appeared in several books and other publications. This cartoon, “Garden Tortoise,” ran in the Summer 2019 issue of In & Around Horse Country

Claudia painted the official portraits of both Live Oak Masters who served as MFHA presidents: Marty Wood and Daphne Flowers Wood (shown here)— the first lady Master President of the MFHA.

Claudia’s portrait of the Garrett family has “everything you ever wanted in a painting, except water.” They’re riding on their farm’s airstrip where Granddad is revving up to take a spin in his Cessna.

Lt. Col. Randy Carlson: Regular Army and volunteer in mounted detail in Washington, DC. His horse was a beloved Shire mare; the dog a retired service dog from Iraq.

OPENING MEETS

Whipper-In Jennie Seaman mounted on Bojanlés.

Sometimes a huntsman needs to improvise. A glove is off but the coop needs to be jumped to keep hounds moving? Tennessee Valley Huntsman Ryan Johnsey, MFH, riding Tizmo, found the solution.

Debbie Dobbs, owner of Blackberry Ridge Farm and much-appreciated supporter of Tennessee Valley Hunt.

Fort Leavenworth Hunt, Kansas. Allison Howell photo

Thornton Hill Hounds, Virginia. Denny Bomar photo

Tennessee Valley Hunt Opening Meet, October 22, 2022 Blackberry Ridge Farm, Greeneville, Tennessee Rachel Woods, Smoke Signal Media Photos

RACING

Fall Races

By Will O’Keefe • Douglas Lees Photos

Foxfield Fall Races, Sunday, October 4, 2022

The Foxfield Fall Races near Charlottesville, VA, were run on Sunday, October 4. In spite of the heavy rain and cool temperatures, a big crowd weathered the storm and stayed through the six races. The fields were big, which is a testimony to Race Chairmen Jack Sanford, Jr. and Reynolds Cowles, who have done a great job with the race course.

The racing was dominated by female trainers. They saddled the winners of all six races and when they weren’t winning they trained many of the horses who placed. Kathy Neilson started the ladies’ day when Hard Game LLC’s Hard Game (Gerard Galligan) beat Hey Teacher Partners’ Hey Teacher (Barry Foley) by a neck in the maiden claiming hurdle race. Both horses were rated slightly off the pace but rallied to come to the last fence together. They battled to the finish with Hard Game narrowly best. Hey Teacher was also trained by Katherine Neilson. Michael Annechino’s Thomond Park (Jamie Bargary) was third.

Keri Brion and Leslie Young are battling for the NSA leading trainer award, and both had winners on the card. Keri Brion won three races, and Leslie Young won one race. Leading rider, Parker Hendriks, rode all of Keri Brion’s winners. They started their triple with the training flat race, which they won with Paul Willis’ Agitare, who crossed the finish line by 1¼ lengths over Mrs. S. K. Johnston, Jr.’s Eagerly (Tom Gardner), trained by Elizabeth Voss. Hardgame LLC’s High Deff (Gerard Galligan), the third-place finisher, was trained by Katherine Neilson.

The Brion/Hendriks team won the featured race on the card, a ratings handicap for horses rated 110 or lower. Sanna Neilson and John Huganir’s He’ll Do was far back in the field the first time around but mounted a rally that carried him to victory in the stretch. He won by ¾ length over Uplands Flat’s Pleasecallmeback (Barry Foley). The runnerup (also trained by Keri Brion) rallied to the lead briefly but had to settle for second. Mason Hardaway Lampton’s Three O One was third, ridden by Mell Boucher, the daughter of trainer Lilith Boucher.

Earlier on the card Madaket Stables LLC, Molly and Paul Willis’ Jimmy P (Hendriks/Brion) broke his maiden over hurdles.

Jimmy P was rated off the pace, rallied to take the lead after the last fence and drew away from Patrick Boyle’s Cool Jet (Graham Watters) in the stretch to win by 3 lengths. Hall of Fame trainer Janet Elliot saddled the third-place finisher, Gregory D. Hawkins’ Webb (Bernard Dalton).

Janet Elliot and Gregory Hawkins won the filly and mare maiden hurdle race with Saigon (Gerard Galligan). Saigon trailed the ten-horse field the first time

around but started to advance with a half mile to run.

As the field turned for home Saigon had gone to the lead and held off Ashwell Stable, LLC’s Eponine (Freddie Procter), whose late rally fell 1½ lengths short. Jordan V. Wycoff’s Ocean Air (Teddy Davies) was third. Leslie Young trained Eponine and Keri Brion trained Ocean Air.

Leslie Young won the apprentice/amateur hurdle race with Leipers Fork Steeplechasers’ Fast Vision with leading apprentice rider Freddie Procter up. Fast Vision was never far off the pace, took the lead from Belle Meade Jockey Club and The International Venture’s Ljay (Theodore Sushko) in the stretch and won by 2¾ lengths. The runner-up was trained by Keri Brion and the third-place finisher, Jeffrey Morris’ Shaka (Mell Boucher),was trained by Kate Dalton.

What a day for the ladies!

Virginia Fall Races October 8, 2022 Steeplechase action shifted to Middleburg for the Virginia Fall Races on October 9 at Glenwood Park. A record crowd was on hand to see the featured National Sporting Library & Museum Cup Timber Stakes and seven other races. If you like exciting stretch duels, Glenwood was the place to be. Six of the eight races were won by two and a half or fewer lengths. Stretch duels were the name of the game and none was more exciting than the timber stakes. Last year’s winner, Sheila J. Williams and Northwoods Stables’ Storm Team (Graham Watters), set the pace with Ballybristol Farm LLC’s Boutonniere (Tom Garner) in his shadow. They jumped the last together and both landed running. Boutonniere got the advantage in the stretch and appeared to be on his way to the winners’ circle, but The Hundred Acre Field’s Cracker Factory came flying. The hottest rider on the circuit the last two months, Jamie Bargary, had rated Cracker Factory in the rear of the field and was still well back in the final quarter mile. He found another gear and got up in the final strides. He virtually came out of nowhere. He won by ½ length with Storm Team third and Upland Partners’ Mystic Strike (Gerard Galligan) fourth. It doesn’t get any better than this. The first four were separated by 1½ lengths. This was trainer Mark Beecher’s second win on the card.

He had started the day saddling Straylight Racing LLC’s R S One with owner Alex Leventhal in the irons to break his maiden at first asking. R S One was rated off the pace but took the lead at the head of the stretch and was joined by Riverdee Stable’s Potus (Graham Watters), whose rally fell short by ½ length. Mason Lampton’s Thai Terrier (Barry Foley) was third.

Jamie Bargary won three races on the card. In the maiden timber race he reserved Irvin S. Naylor’s Stooshie well off the pace. The last time around Stooshie opened a clear lead and had enough left to hold Riverdee Stable’s rallying Lonely Weekend safe. The final margin was ½ length and the winning trainer was Cyril Murphy. Leipers Fork Steeplechasers’ Court Ruler (Tom Garner) came in third

Foxfield Fall Races, Maiden Claiming Hurdle (l-r) Hard Game (#5, Gerard Galligan, up) – 1st; Hey Teacher (#10, Barry Foley, up) – 2nd

Foxfield Fall Races, Filly & Mare Maiden Hurdle Saigon (Gerard Galligan, up) – 1st

Foxfield Fall Races, Amateur or Apprentice Rider Hurdle (l-r): Fast Vision (#5, Freddie Procter, up) – 1st; Ljay (Theodore Sushko, up) – 2nd; Sempre Medici (#2, Alex Leventhal, up) – 5th

Foxfield Fall Races, Ratings Hurdle Handicap (l-r): He’ll Do (#4, Parker Hendriks, up) – 1st; Pleasecallmeback (#9, Barry Foley, up) – 2nd

Foxfield Fall Races, Maiden Hurdle Jimmy P (Parker Hendriks, up) – 1st

Virginia Fall Races, National Sporting Library & Museum Cup Timber Stakes Cracker Factory (Jamie Bargary, up) – 1st

Virginia Fall Races, Kinross Steeplethon (l-r): Bodes Well (Thomas Garner, up) – 2nd; Duc de Meran (Jamie Bargary, up) – 1st

Virginia Fall Races

Presentation for the Kinross Steeplethon run in memory of D.M. “Speedy” Smithwick, Jr. (l-r) Eva Smithwick; Irv and Diane Naylor, owners of Duc de Meran; Lisa Ben-Dov of Kinross; trainer Cyril Murphy.

Cyril Murphy saddled a second winner for Irvin S. Naylor when Duc de Meran (Jamie Bargary) upset Silverton Hill LLC’s Bodes Well (Tom Garner) in the steeplethon. Bodes Well has dominated the steeplethon races the last few years and at the start he went to the front. Duc de Meran was breathing down his collar for much of the race. They jumped the last with Bodes Well on top but Duc de Meran was gaining. These two battled up the stretch and Du de Meran proved best by ½ length. Gaye Breeze (Sean McDermott) was a non-threatening third.

The only horse that was in command at the finish of a race was Harold A. Via Jr.’s Welshman (Graham Watters) in the ratings hurdle race. Welshman was kept off the pace until the final turn where he went past Clarke Ohrstrom’s Mr. Bridger (Tom Garner), who had led from the start. Welshman won going away by eight lengths. Hall of Fame trainer Jack Fisher had Welshman ready for a big effort. R and K Racing LLC’s Molly Fantasy (Parker Hendriks) finished third.

The maiden starter hurdle race was split into two races. Ashwell Stable, LLC’s Top Brass (Tom Garner) won the first in his debut effort over the National Fences. In the race he was reserved slightly off the pace but rallied to take the lead over the last fence. Raising Hull Racing’s Lowcountry (Richard Boucher) and Riverdee Stable’s Mission Brief (Ross Geraghty) finished strong but Top Brass withstood the challenge. Top Brass won by ½ length and it was another ½ length back to Mission Brief.

Sean McDermott trained and rode South Branch Equine LLC’s Robert’s Luxury to victory in the second division. With three furlongs to go, Robert’s Luxury went to the front with Ann Jackson’s Left Bank (Elizabeth Scully) gaining ground from off the pace. Robert’s Luxury held Left Bank safe and won by 2¼ lengths. The winning trainer was Leslie Young, who is in a battle for the NSA’s leading trainer award. Hey Teacher Partners’ Hey Teacher (Barry Foley) ran evenly to be third.

Keri Brion and Leslie Young have been dueling for the trainer title. Horses they train battled to the finish in the training flat race. Keri Brion trains Hudson River Farms LLC’s Modus Operandi (Parker Hendriks) and Leslie Young has Ashwell Stable LLC’s Lumberjack (Sean McDermott). Both horses came from off the pace to duel to the finish. Modus Operandi won by ¾ length. Ashwell Stable LLC’s He Be Da Bomb (Gerard Galligan), who finished third, is also trained by Leslie Young.

International Gold Cup Races October 22, 2022

The 83rd Running of the International Gold Cup Races took place on Saturday, October 22, at Great Meadow near The Plains, Virginia. Ballybristol Farm LLC’s Andi’Amu had won the Virginia Gold Cup in the spring by a huge margin of 49 lengths. He ran back at Great Meadow in the International Gold Cup and romped home alone by 9¾ lengths. He led every step of the way and the final margin did not indicate his superiority. He won the Virginia Gold Cup in 2019 and was the National Steeplechase Association Champion Timber Horse and will definitely wear that crown again. His trainer, Leslie Young, has a slim lead in the race for leading trainer. The Hundred Acre Field’s Cracker Factory (Jamie Bargary) had won the National Sporting Library & Museum Timber Stakes at the Virginia Fall Races two weeks earlier and ran another good race here but was no match for the winner. Fat Chance Farm’s Flaming Sword (Barry Foley) was a distant third. Leslie Young has now won back-to-back International

Cups having saddled Tomgarrow to win last year. Andi’Amu’s rider Freddie Proctor has

Gold

the highest win percentage on the circuit.

Virginia Fall Races, Theodora A. Randolph Cup Maiden Hurdle R S One (Alex Leventhal, up) – 1st

Outriders at the Virginia Fall Races (l-r): Lissa Green, Whipper-In, Piedmont Fox Hounds; Neil Amatt, Huntsman, Loudoun Fairfax Hunt.

Virginia Fall Races, Magalen O. Bryant Memorial

Ratings Handicap Hurdle (l-r): Molly Fantasy (#7, Parker Hendriks, up) –3rd; Welshman (#1, Graham Watters, up) – 1st

Virginia Fall Races, Daniel C. Sands Cup Maiden Starter Hurdle, 1st Division (l-r): Top Brass (Thomas Garner, up) – 1st; Mission Brief (Ross Geraghty, up) – 3rd; Lowcountry (#3, Richard Boucher, up) – 2nd

Virginia Fall Races, James P. McCormick Memorial Maiden Timber (l-r): Stooshie (Jamie Bargary, up) – 1st; Court Ruler (Thomas Garner, up) – 3rd

Virginia Fall Races, Daniel C. Sands Cup Maiden Starter Hurdle, 2nd Division (l-r): Catcher’s Mitt (Gerard Galligan, up); Robert’s Luxury (#1, Sean McDermott, up) – 1st; Hey Teacher (Barry Foley, up, vertical stripes) –3rd; Hero’s Return (Jamie Bargary, up, blue helmet) – 4th

Virginia Fall Races, Training Flat At the final turn into stretch, the winner, Modus Operandi (Parker Hendriks, up, white colors with black ball sash), is on the left. Lumberjack (Thomas Garner, up) – 2nd; Rewind (Barry Foley, up); He Be Da Bomb (Gerard Galligan, up)—3rd

International Gold Cup, Virginia Equine Alliance Maiden Hurdle, 1st Division Gold (Bernie Dalton, up) – 1st

International Gold Cup, Steeplethon Timber Stakes (l-r) Bodes Well (Thomas Garner, up) – 1st; Duc de Meran (Jamie Bargary, up) – 2nd

International Gold Cup, Timber Stakes Andi’amu (Freddie Procter, up) – 1st

Leslie Young also had a repeat winner in the steeplethon with Silverton Hill LLC’s Bodes Well (Tom Garner), who won at the Virginia Gold Cup Races in May. Two weeks ago, in the steeplethon at the Virginia Fall Races, Bodes Well led almost the whole race but lost in the stretch to Irvin S. Naylor’s Duc De Meran (Jamie Bargary). These two rivals faced off once again. This time, as before, Bodes Well led with Duc De Meran close behind. In a thrilling finish, Duc De Meran rallied but fell short by ½ length. Four Virginia Gents’ Nathanielhawthorn (Barry Foley) was third but no threat to the top two.

Joseph F. Fowler’s top race mare, Down Royal, is one of steeplechase racing’s best stories this year. Ridden by Bernie Dalton and trained by his wife Kate, Down Royal won the David L. Zeke Ferguson Memorial Hurdle Stakes. This was her third stakes win this year in four starts and her second against the boys. Rated slightly off the lead, she took command at the last fence and won going away by 3½ lengths. Blue Streak Racing LLC’s Going Country (Parker Hendriks) rallied but couldn’t match strides with the winner.

Riverdee Stable’s City Dreamer (Graham Watters) raced near the lead but faded in the last furlong and finished third.

Bernie Dalton had won the first division of the maiden hurdle race when he rode Rolling Tide LLC’s Gold to victory for local trainer Doug Fout. He went to the front immediately and was never challenged, winning by 5½ lengths. Ann Jackson’s Left Blank (Elizabeth Scully) rallied but was second best. Sheila Williams’ Tapwood (Graham Watters) was third.

Riverdee Stable’s Potus (Graham Watters) won the second half of the maiden race. Rated off the pace, he moved into contention on the turn for home and pulled away from the others to win by 6¼ lengths. Del Rio Racing LLC’s Riendo (Bernie Dalton) made a late move but was second best. Bruton Street-US’ South Mountain (Jamie Bargary) was third. The winner and the third-place finishers were both trained by Jack Fisher.

Fisher and Watters teamed up again to win the maiden claiming race with Mrs. S. K. Johnston, Jr.’s Ping Pong Champ. Watters reserved Ping Pong Champ off the pace, he joined David Lee Hain’s Hail to The Chief at the last fence and proved best in the stretch by 1¾ lengths. Celtic Venture’s Eye of Gunfighter (Bernie Dalton) ran evenly and finished third.

Trainer Keri Brion has been hot throughout this season and is the leading trainer by money won. She added another winner to her total with leading rider Parker Hendriks aboard R & K Racing LLC’s Molly Fantasy in the ratings handicap hurdle race. In the race Molly Fantasy was never too far off the pace, rallied from the last turn and won going away by 5 lengths. Mason Hardaway Lampton’s Three O One (Mell Boucher) was in contention for most of the race but was second best, and Sales’ Inc.’s Top Brass (Tom Garner) rallied but could not challenge the top

two finishers.

South Branch Equine LLC’s Robert’s Luxury broke his maiden at the Virginia Fall Races and added a second win in the non-winners of two hurdle races. Trainer/rider Sean McDermott has held a hot hand recently and won this race by always being within striking distance. He took the lead in the stretch and won driving by 3¾ lengths. Madaket Stables LLC’s Jimmy P (Parker Hendriks) got up for second, and Straylight Racing LLC’s R S One (Alex Leventhal), another Virginia Fall winner, could not hold off Jimmy P.

Montpelier Hunt Races

Saturday, November 7, 2022

The eighty-seventh running of the Montpelier Hunt Races on Saturday, November 7, attracted a huge crowd. They were on hand to enjoy a beautiful fall day at President James Madison’s Montpelier near Orange, Virginia. No venue can equal this as a backdrop for a day of racing. This year the purse for the

Noel Laing Hurdle Stakes was increased to $60,000 and the Montpelier Cup Hurdle Handicap Stakes for fillies and mares earned stakes status with a $50,000 purse.

The Noel Laing Memorial Hurdle Handicap was the featured race, and six top horses went to the post. Silverton Hill LLC’s Bodes Well (Tom Garner) and Duc de Meran (Harrison Beswick) had traded wins in the steeplethon races at Virginia Fall and the International Gold Cup Races and they were dueling again. Meanwhile, Mrs. S. K. Johnston Jr.’s Song for Someone (Nathan Brennan) and Riverdee Stable’s City Dreamer (Jamie Bargary), who had been rated slightly off the pace, were rallying. Bodes Well and Duc de Meran were helpless to hold them back. Song for Someone went to the front on the final turn and drew away to win by 10 lengths. City Dreamer ran well for second but was no match for the winner. Duc de Meran was third and Bodes Well was farther back in fourth place. Leslie Young was the winning trainer.

The Montpelier Cup for fillies and mares was run in similar manner. R & K Racing LLC’s Molly Fantasy (Parker Hendriks), who was coming off a winning effort at the International Gold Cup Races, was reserved off the pace and made her move around the final turn to collar Paul Willis’ New Appointment (Sean McDermott). Molly Fantasy won going away in the stretch by 3 lengths. Beverly Steinman’s Speed Alert (Harrison Beswick) closed well to finish third. Keri Brion

the winner and the runner-up.

trained

International Gold Cup, Virginia Equine Alliance Maiden Hurdle, 2nd Division Potus (Graham Watters, up) – 1st

International Gold Cup, Orlando Innovation Chase Allowance Hurdle (l-r): Saigon (Gerard Galligan, up) – 4th; Robert’s Luxury (Sean McDermott, up) – 1st; Connagh’s Quay (Barry Foley, up).

International Gold Cup, Maiden Claiming Hurdle (l-r): Hard Timer (Harrison Beswick, up); Eye of Gunfighter (Bernie Dalton, up) – 3rd; Ping Pong Champ (Graham Watters, up) – 1st

International Gold Cup, David L. “Zeke” Ferguson Memorial Hurdle Stakes (l-r): City Dreamer (Graham Watters, up) – 3rd; Down Royal (Bernie Dalton, up) – 1st

Parker Hendriks wins his first of three at the Montpelier Hunt Races on He’ll Do in the Madison Plate Ratings Hurdle Handicap.

Parker Hendriks wins second of three races at Montpelier on Modus Operandi in the Constitutional Hurdle race.

Keri Brion saddled Sanna Neilson and John L. Huganir’s He’ll Do (Parker Hendriks) to come from slightly off the pace to win the ratings handicap for horses rated at 115 or lower. When the field turned for home, He’ll Do shared the lead with Clarke Ohrstrom’s Mr. Bridger (Sean McDermott). He’ll Do put Mr. Bridger away in the final sixteenth and won by 3 lengths. Mr. Bridger held on for second and Riverdee Stable’s Senor Saville (Ross Geraghty) was third.

The Brion-Hendriks team collaborated to break Hudson River Farm’s Modus Operandi’s maiden over hurdles. Modus Operandi made the running from start to finish. Clarke Ohrstrom’s Lightning Rod stalked the leader throughout the race but was no match for the winner who won by 10¾ lengths. Gregory D. Hawkins’ Webb (Harrison Beswick) finished third.

Bruton Street-US’ South Mountain (Jamie Bargary) also broke his maiden but he was all out in the stretch to hold Bonnie Rye Stable’s Quid (Ross Geraghty) safe. These two battled to the finish line and only a head separated them at the wire. William Russell’s Seismic Wave (Gerard Galligan) ran within striking distance but couldn’t reach the top two in the stretch. Hall of Fame trainer Jack Fisher saddled the winner. This wasn’t his biggest win for the day. At Pine Mountain in Georgia he won the $75,000 novice hurdle stake with Harold A. Via’s Welshman. This was an impressive win against the best novice horses in training.

Charles C. Fenwick, Jr.’s Arrowheart (Thomas Garner) led all the way in the maiden claiming race. Hickory Made Stables and Celtic Venture Stables’ Eye of Gunfighter (Gerard Galligan) battled Arrowheart from the last fence to the finish. The final margin was 3 lengths. Andrew P. Russo’s Refi (Sean McDermott) rallied from well off the leaders, but was third best. Leslie Young added another victory in the win column in the race for leading trainer.

Montpelier Foundation Cup, Training Flat Coming into the stretch, (l-r) Bellarmine (Jamie Bargary, up) –2nd; Uncle Jerome (Gerard Galligan, up) – 1st Douglas Lees photo

Barclay Rives (Keswick Hunt Club Whipper-In), Head Outrider, Montpelier Hunt Races. Douglas Lees photo

Parker Hendriks won three races on the day at Montpelier. Douglas Lees photo

The Montpelier Cup, Run in Memory of Glenn Petty, Sport of Kings Filly & Mare Hurdle Stakes Stretch run, (l-r) Molly Fantasy (Parker Hendriks, up) – 1st; New Appointment (Sean McDermott, up) – 2nd; Speed Alert (Harrison Beswick, up) – 3rd

Arrowheart (Thomas Garner, up) – 1st, closing in at the finish. Douglas Lees photo

Montpelier Hunt Races, Marion duPont Scott Memorial Maiden Hurdle At the finish, (l-r) South Mountain (Jamie Bargary, up) – 1st; Quid (Ross Geraghty, up) – 2nd; Seismic Wave (Gerard Galligan, up) – 3rd

Theodore Sushko, who rode Ljay in the Apprentice or Amateur Hurdle Race at the Foxfield Races, shows the effects of having finished second on a rainy, muddy day. Douglas Lees photo

Interviewer Megan Connelly gets jockey Bernie Dalton’s insights on his two victories at the International Gold Cup. Liz Callar photo

Dr. William Russell, owner of Seismic Wave, confers with Dr. Willie McCormick at the International Gold Cup paddock. Dr. McCormick handles prerace vet checks and assesses the course conditions. Liz Callar photo

SPORTING LIFE HIGHLIGHTS

Orange County Hounds Team Chase

Orange County Hounds held their annual Team Chase on October 30th at Old Whitewood Farm, The Plains, VA, by kind permission of Mr. and Mrs. Mark Ohrstrom. The autumn weather provided spectacular color displays and the warm sunshine encouraged a multitude of participants to attend.

Judges for the day were Anne McIntosh, MFH, Blue Ridge Hunt; Joy Crompton, MFH, Farmington Hunt; Catherine Chandler, Blue Ridge Hunt; and K.T. Atkins, MFH, Warrenton Hunt. Their selections were based on style, smooth jumping, consistent spacing, and considerate riding. Hilltoppers rode first, competing over a shortened course with smaller fences. First Flight followed over a much longer course taking in some typical Orange County coops and walls with some hilly terrain that require horses to be hunting fit. This year, in addition to Teams, the Pairs had their own division riding to hit Optimum Time.

During the afternoon, the judges selected three Juniors and ten First Flight competitors who had shown good form to ride over a handy hunter course to choose the best hunter in each category.

The juniors were led home by Lexi van der Woude from Warrenton Hunt on Curious George and was awarded the Perpetual Challenge Trophy with a voucher from Journeymen Saddlers, a silver picture frame, and chocolates kindly

donated by Mars.

The First Flight Championship was closely fought and those who had done their homework and were able to open and close the smart new gate were rewarded for their efforts. Christen Ireland on the impressive Strattonstown Lewis from OCH won out in the end and received the monogrammed quarter sheet donated by Horse Country Saddlery.

First place finishers in the different categories were:

Champion First Flight: Christen Ireland on Strattonstown Lewis, Orange County Hounds

Champion Junior: Lexi van der Woude on Curious George, Warrenton Hunt

First Flight Optimum Time Team: Kelly Noland, Eliza van der Woude, Lexi van der Woude

First Flight Best Turned Out: Rae Stone Hilltopper Pairs Best Turned Out: Kathryn Dendigner, Rita Kaseman, Jean Reimers

Best Hilltopper Pair: Kriston Holloway and Leah Masters

Cyndy Hair Memorial Trophy for the Most Suitable Hunter: Cynthia Holz on Want to Be

HORSE SHOWS

Keswick Hunt Club Scores 10th Hunt Night Championship at Pennsylvania National

Virginia’s Keswick Hunt Club reached the realm of double-digit wins for Hunt Night at the 2022 Pennsylvania National Horse Show in Harrisburg, PA. The competition included 18 hunt team combinations from Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia with more than 100 riders participating in the Field Hunter, Hunter Under Saddle, and Hunt Team classes on Monday, October 17. When the points were tallied at evening’s end, the Keswick Hunt Club One team had achieved the highest score, taking the trophy for the tenth time. The win puts Keswick one up on the nine championships scored by Mr. Stewart’s Cheshire Foxhounds.

Representing the Keswick Hunt Club as two different teams on Monday evening were Sandy Rives, Joel Merle-Smith, Nicolette Merle-Smith, Catherine Wheeler, Jill Wilson Anderson, Shelly Payne, and Carly Mayer.

The evening events began with 36 horse-and-rider combinations in the Field Hunters, 35 Years of Age and Under, which was won by Trisha Eckard and Crown Royal, representing the Huntingdon Valley Hunt. The Field Hunters, 36 Years and Older, saw a winning score for Keswick when Jill Wilson Anderson and Jewell Hill took the top spot. Anderson was also handed the Chairman’s Perpetual Trophy, donated by James Green and Irvin Naylor.

The competition ramped up for the Hunt Night Leading Lady Rider Award. When the action over fences and under saddle was done, the points resulted in a three-way tie. Trisha Eckard, Jill Wilson Anderson, and Catherine Wheeler will all have the honor of seeing their names added to the “Polly” Gingrich Caswell Perpetual Trophy.

Catherine Wheeler and Something Special added to Keswick’s point total

with their top spot in Ladies’ Hunter Under Saddle.

Mr. Stewart’s Cheshire Foxhounds finished strong in the closing events, topping the leaderboard in Gentlemen’s Hunter Under Saddle with Conrad Somers and Right on Que, followed by their Team One besting all the others in the finale, the Hunt Team Challenge.

Christen Ireland on Strattonstown Lewis, First Flight Champion. Joanne Maisano photo

Kriston Holloway and Leah Masters, Best Hilltop Pair. Joanne Maisano photo

Mounted (l-r) Catherine Wheeler, Carly Mayer, Shelley Payne, Joel MerleSmith, Nicolette Merle-Smith, Jill Wilson Anderson. Sandy Rives (standing, in red cap) accepts the award. Photo courtesy Keswick Hunt Club

RACING

Horses and People to Watch

VirginiaEquineAlliance

Colonial Downs Completes Record Breaking Summer Racing Season

Buoyed by a record-breaking handle of more than $6.5 million on New Kent County Virginia Derby Day, Colonial Downs shattered all wagering marks this racing season, the fourth under the management of Colonial Downs Group (CDG) and ownership of Peninsula Pacific Entertainment.

Total handle for the 26-day live racing meet was $74,940,840 for a daily average of $2,882,340, up more than 29% from the 2021 average daily handle mark of $2,231,765. This race meet marked an all-time wagering high in the history of Colonial Downs.

“The revival of Virginia racing continues to grow as we once again set new all-time handle marks,” said John Marshall, CDG Executive VP, Operations. “It is gratifying to see Colonial Downs evolve into one of the nation’s elite meets, which is what our team set out to accomplish just four years ago.”

Purses for the season averaged a Virginia record of $612,000 up from 2021’s $521,000 per day in purse distribution.

A total of 1,382 individual horses representing 321 trainers made a combined 2,179 starts for the season. Field size averaged 8.35 runners per race compared to the 7.17 national per race average.

Mike Stidham took home leading trainer honors with 13 victories, two better than Mike Trombetta. The owners’ race ended in a dead-heat between two Virginians—David Ross’s DARRS, Inc., and Larry Johnson—each of whom visited the winner’s circle on six occasions.

Jevian Toledo won his first Colonial riding crown with 25 victories. Leonel Reyes and Horacio Karamanos tied for second with 18 wins apiece.

Hot Jockey Ortiz Wins Three of Five Stakes on Virginia Restricted Showcase Card

Fresh off Virginia Derby and Virginia Oaks wins the day prior, jockey Irad Ortiz continued his torrid riding in New Kent by collecting wins in the first two stakes on closing day’s Virginia-Restricted showcase day. A total of five turf stakes were contested.

Ortiz scored atop Woodslane Farm’s Wolfie’s Dynaghost in the Bert Allen Stakes and Harrell Ventures’ Sendero in the Jamestown, a Virginia-Bred/Sired stakes for 2-year-olds.

The former, a 4-year-old Ghostzapper gelding bred in Kentucky by Woodslane and trained by Thomas Albertrani, went gateto-wire in a field of six at 1 1/16th miles run in the memory of Speedy Smithwick. Todd Pletcher’s Largent, bred by Lazy Lane Farms, was second and Madison Meyers’ Kendama, owned and bred by Audley Farm Equine, took third.

The latter, a Pletcher trainee by City of Light, won by 2¼ lengths after being sent off as the 1-5 favorite in the stakes. Sendero hit the starting gate in a troubled start while leaving it, and had to rebound. He gained the lead at the 3/8ths mark and never looked back in the 5½-furlong sprint run in the memory of Glenn Petty. The winner was bred by Knockgriffin Farm. Bee Mountain, bred by Audley Farm Equine, was runner-up and Gettin’downonit, bred by Kingston Thoroughbreds, was third.

Matthew Schera’s Tass and O’Sullivan Farms’ Unruly Julie provided the best finish of the day, finishing a nose apart in the thrilling Nellie Mae Cox Stakes for fillies and mares at 1-1/16th miles. Tass, trained by Carlos Martin, was second until the top of the stretch when he took the lead from betting choice Mo Clare’s, then had to fend off trainer Karen Godsey’s pesky runner-up. Woodslane Farm’s Malibu Curl finished third.

Larry Johnson’s Spun Glass, winner of a 2021 allowance over Colonial’s turf, prevailed in the 5½-furlong Camptown Stakes for fillies and mares by threequarters of a length. Bred by Johnson and trained by Michael Trombetta, the 5year-old Hard Spun mare raced mid pack, launched her bid near the 1/8th pole and cleared past frontrunning Lambert late. The runner-up is owned by DARRS and trained by Michael Stidham. Susan Cooney trainee Island Philo took third.

Ortiz closed out the stakes portion of the meet finale with another trip to the winners circle, this time aboard Ed and Susie Orr’s 6-year-old Munnings gelding Boldor in the Meadow Stable Stakes. The winner was bred in Virginia by Carlos S.E. Moore and Jill GordonMoore and is trained by Steve Asmussen. Boldor, whose career bankroll rose to $551,846 with the win, last won a year ago in the Punch Line Stakes. Gordon Keys’ Grateful Bred was second and Lothbach Stables’ Elusive Mischief, bred by Jim Fitzgerald and Katie Fitzgerald, finished third.

Boldor, best in the Meadow Stable Stakes, pushed his career bankroll to $551,846. Coady Photography

Grand Champion Crowned in Virginia

Breeders Fund Yearling Futurity

The 21st annual Virginia Breeders Fund Yearling Futurity was held September 13 at the Warrenton Horse Show Grounds, which again saw solid participation from twenty different breeders who were competing for $40,000 in awards.

Prize money of $7,500 was distributed that day in each of four classes: VABred/Sired yearling colts/geldings, VA-Bred/Sired yearling fillies, VA-Certified colts/geldings, and VA-Certified fillies. Grooms were recognized as well with awards in each division and in the championship class.

A total of $5,000 in bonus monies will also be split among top earning VirginiaBred/Sired participants at the end of their three-year-old seasons, based on earnings at that time. An identical prize pool and deciding factors will apply to Virginia-Certified Yearling participants as well.

Event judge was Frank Shipp, who compared each entrant’s conformation, quality, substance, and suitability to become racehorses. The top two finishers in each of the four classes returned to compete for Futurity Grand Champion and Champion Reserve honors.

The Grand Champion, winner of the Virginia Certified Fillies class, was a 2021 unnamed bay by Copper Bullet out of Worth The Risk by Bodemeister. She is owned by Timbercreek Farm’s Sara Miller. Reserve Champion honors went to the winner of the VirginiaBred/Sired Colt/Gelding category, Pretty Jimmy. The chestnut by Jimmy Cred is owned by Quest Realty and was bred by Dan Wukich. Complete results can be found at vabred.org.

Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. after winning his fourth consecutive stakes race at Colonial Downs.

VEA photo

2022 Yearling Futurity Grand Champion is an unnamed bay by Copper Bullet, owned by Sara Miller of Timbercreek Farm (far left). Hannah Jones photo

2022 Yearling Futurity Reserve Champion is Pretty Jimmy, owned by Quest Realty and bred by Dan Wukich (in orange shirt). Hannah Jones photo

REMEMBRANCE

Wilma Hoovler, the Non-Horse Horse Person

So how does someone who did not ride nor claim any deep horse knowledge end up remembered in this magazine dedicated to horses and horse sports? Well, to be completely fair, Wilma Hoovler, who passed away in early September, did try riding when her two young girls, Cyndy and Karen, became pony obsessed (her youngest, Shelley, had no choice in the matter as she was on ponies while still learning to walk). However, after several riding lessons and one disastrous trail ride when the mare Wilma was riding tried to get “in the family way” with a stallion in the adjoining field, she decided to keep her feet on the ground rather than in the irons. So, to answer the above question, it was what she did out of the irons for the remaining decades of her life that had a profoundly positive impact on the lives of generations of local riders and their families.

In the beginning, Wilma was the typical horseshow mom, spending her weekends at local pony shows, washing saddle pads and riding clothes, and watching the endless circles of her girls in lesson after lesson. It was at these local shows in the mid-1960s that a group of local horse people and parents commiserated about how the local riders did not have any awards to compete for like the riders on the “Big Show Circuit.” Thus the idea of The Short Circuit was born. Soon after its founding in 1965, Wilma stepped forward as President, a role she held for many years.

Starting with a handful of local shows and points recorded on several poster boards taped together (and carried from show to show in the back of Wilma’s station wagon), it grew into the prototype of the now familiar local horse show association, complete with rules and divisions (for example, the Short Circuit introduced Pre-Short Stirrup), an end-of-year awards banquet, and, at its peak, 28 member shows. Wilma, along with many other leaders over the years, carefully designed the Short Circuit to provide local riders with showing opportunities that would develop them from Leadline all the way to Junior Hunters. Wilma remained active with the Short Circuit throughout its existence, keeping the checkbook and getting the trophies engraved among many other duties. Additionally, she brought her daughter Cyndy into the leadership committee as Cyndy’s children started showing, ensuring another generation would keep the Short Circuit vital until it celebrated its 50th year—an achievement accomplished with significant contributions over the years from many generations of local horse people.

However, it was around 1980 that Wilma’s most lasting contribution to the local horse show scene began when she became deeply involved with the Warrenton Pony Show. Wilma’s support of the Pony Show pre-dates this as she helped both of her older girls as members of the Warrenton Pony Show Junior Committee. When her youngest daughter, Shelley, got ready to start her service on the committee, Wilma was instrumental in bringing the Pony Show back to Warrenton after it had moved to Culpeper the previous year. After Shelley aged off the committee, Wilma became even more dedicated to the Pony Show; occupying the role of adviser to the Junior Committee until her failing health no longer permitted her to do so.

As an adviser, Wilma was adamant about “the kids” knowing the history of the Pony Show and keeping up its traditions. She taught them how to approach businesses for sponsorship, program ads, and silent auction donations. She then had them promptly write thank you notes (by hand!) to all the supporters. She was the “Keeper of the Keys” both literally and figuratively. On show days she made sure the junior committee members engaged in all aspects of the show and was adamant that anyone handing out ribbons had to be “dressed and polished.” That meant modest skirts or dresses for the girls, no shorts or jeans, and nice pants and collared shirts for the boys. The kids knew better than to cross her on this!

In addition to her adviser role, Wilma also kept track of the numerous perpetual trophies ensuring they were correctly engraved and ready for the next recipient. This devotion to service passed on to her granddaughters who all served on the Junior Committee and her great-grandsons will serve as well. Wilma’s legacy was cemented in 2019 with the Centennial Pony Show being held in her honor.

Wilma was part of a generation that is sadly disappearing as age takes its toll. But hopefully her example of volunteering will continue as the countless number of young people over the decades who rode in the shows and served on the Junior Committee decide to follow in her footsteps.

Surrounded by family and friends, Wilma was honored for her many years of service at the 2019 Centennial Warrenton Pony Show. (l-r) Cyndy Hair, Rick Shepherd, Collins Hughes, Avery Hughes, Wilma Hoovler, Michael Crane, Bill Hair, Charlie Hughes, Karen Crane, Tommy Lee Jones, Shelley Payne. Teresa Ramsay photo

Wilma Hoovler in a rare moment of relaxation along the sidelines. Photo courtesy of the family