June 17, 2009
Filed under: General — goneaway2 @ 8:17 am
This is beautiful Solitaire (sponsored by Kate) with her 8 healthy and very colorful puppies born on Thursday June 11, 2009. There are four boys and four girls. Four are tri-color and four are red and white. Their sire is Potomac Tennyson who we now call Tenson (sponsored by Michael and Brooks Arrington). You can still see the number “31″ painted on her side from the performance trial we went to in North Carolina last March.
- Jackie
Little Jackie (sponsored by Judy) had 7 pups by Drummer (who is by Potomac Bishop) on Saturday June 13, 2009. Six are boys and one girl. Three are lemon and white like her, 3 are red and white and one is a tri-color. Her pups will start with the letter “J” and Solitaire’s with the letter “T”.
March 24, 2009
Filed under: 2008-2009, Hunt Reports — Cheryl @ 7:31 am
I know this report is late in coming, but now I have some photo links to share with you all. Six of us from Stonewall attended the Sedgefield Cup Performance Hound Trials, March 7&8 in Hoffman, NC.
Riders attending: Lili & Jubilee, Kate & Lacy, Judy & Anne, Susan & Cash, Cheryl & Uzi, Jenner & Mulligan.
Hounds: Jazz, Kaptain, Jeremiah, Solitaire, Amber, Allison
Photo Links:
http://www.facebook.com/p.php?i=801898631&k=5VAU33P5WYZM5G1HUC4ZV4
taken by Erin Esposito, the kitchen queen
http://www.wowgraphicdesigns.com/sedgefield.html
various photos - these were sent to Covertside
We had an absolute blast. The people were super, and the riding was wild and wooly. It seemed like the big sandy trails would make for really nice riding, with room to gallop. Who knew we would gallop forEVER. The hounds were all numbered and put together (42 in all, 6 or so from each of 7 participating hunts). Then the huntsman from Moore County (Jody Murtagh) hunted them all as one big pack.
The hounds ran coyote both days, which made for some hair-raising galloping through the 60,000 acre Sandhills Gamelands area. The sandy roads were great, although deep at times, but we had to cut through the Longleaf Pine Forests to be able to get to the hounds, and there were holes and staubs, which made it a little tricky! You had to watch carefully and give enough room to the horse in front of you. Anyway, we all survived, but I know my pony was TIRED with a capital T after 2 days of Hour-plus runs with barely any checks!
Jenner viewed the first day and Kate and I the second, so that was fun, and the hounds sounded great and never let up. It was amazing to watch how well they hunted as a whole pack, and the sound echoing through the Longleaf pines was incredible.
Judges were outriding like whips to get in a position to record their scores on the hounds, in different categories. We all heard our hounds voices at times within the pack, and got to see them working up front many times. They did great! I don’t have all the results, but Kaptain, Solitaire and Jeremiah got ribbons the first day, with Jeremiah winning the blue for first place overall for day one.
The second day Jazz and Jeremiah both won ribbons again, I believe Jazz was 3rd overall for the second day (Jazz is Jeremiah’s mother, and a couple of the hunts there knew her - Lili can explain the breeding - but she was affectionately referred to as the “old lady”.)
They had a little hound show too, and Solitaire won a red ribbon in the bitch class and Jeremiah was third in the doghound class.
Kate & Solitaire
Cheryl & Jeremiah
So as you can imagine, we were all more than thrilled with the hounds’ performances both days, and the fact that our pack fit in and hunted like champs. It is noteworthy to mention that our friends at Rockbridge had the #1 hound over the two day totals, Rockbridge Clay, and their pack won the overall pack award. Congratulations to Rockbridge! We enjoyed seeing them and watching their hounds do so well, too!
We all had a really fun time. Next year… Full body clip for the Brown Beast, and some additional fitness work before the event!!
Hopefully more of you can attend next year, as it was really a weekend to remember. As Marcia Brody from New Market-Middletown Valley Hounds said, “Bring your fastest horse, fasten your seatbelts and hang on!!”
Cheryl Microutsicos
December 16, 2008
Filed under: 2008-2009, Hunt Reports — Cheryl @ 10:29 am
Reported by: Lili
Fixture: Quail Hollow, 10 a.m.
Members: Lili, Kate, Cheryl, Michael, Jenner, Earl
Guests: Kelsey, Brooks and Anne
Weather: cloudy and cool
Hounds: 10 1/2 couple
I.D. Awards: Michael - whose horse saw the wire but he didn’t!
Tailgate/Breakfast: Misc cheese & crackers and delicious pork roast brought by Jenner!
The Hunt: Our third and final Sunday morning hunt was begun with a brief devotional by me about the Lord’s first and second coming with a few verses from the books of Luke( the first Christmas story), the end of Revelations and Matthew( when Jesus says he’s coming back). Eight riders mounted up. Earl ( with cracked and stitched hand) let out the very eager hounds as it has been almost 2 weeks since some have hunted. We held up for a while discussing who the hounds were. This is the time of year to cull some and it is never easy but there are too many in the kennel. Any takers? There are about 5-8 that need new homes for various reasons. Please contact me if you are interested.
Ten and a half couple struck immeditately in the first field of the Fewell Farm, Quail Hollow. How we all love to be right on top of speaking hounds! When you are that close you can learn which hound owns a particular voice. You all know that I like for the field to be as close to the action as possible. I believe that when our hounds are use to the horses being near that we are not a distraction when they are working a line.
After giving them ample time to straighten out the line, Kate radioed that some hounds had crossed the farm road in the back where I had heard the crows squawking some minutes ago. I brought hounds up and what looked like a great run with strong voices in the large pines dwindled down to a few hounds speaking before Clark ran out on a viewed deer with two others following. How disappointing! He must have switched. But over a period of 5-10 minutes other hounds came out and were very eager to run and speak in a slightly different place. Looking back on it, as I always do after a hunt, I think a fox had come out, too. And I know for sure they had started on a fox with Dawson, Winsome, Jazz, Sally, Kaptain, Tidy and others confirming it.
Kate radioed that front running hounds had crossed Tweedy Rd. and gone into the pines. I brought on the rest and they all joined together in speaking on a beautiful red-sided gray that I viewed twice weaving in and out of the small pines. Around and around they went. I love the excitment of waiting to see where the fox will pop out. Our pilot was clearly seen by Kate as he exited the pines and ran up the wooded hill side and toward the field beyond. Roo Roo was first out. She is developing into a great hound with a loud, strong voice.
Only about half the pack was following. The rest stayed in the pines and I think they were on another fox. After quite a while of trying to get all front running hounds together, we brought them back to the original pines where Dawson, Sally, Jazz and Pepper were still opening in a small area. Fox gone to ground? The small pines and thick briars were to dense to go in. I completely circled the cover, waiting patiently for another solid run. It never happened. So we called them all in and that was a job. Some did not want to leave it. And the sun had gone in and the wind was picking up. Earl got out of his truck and had to go over to the edge and, along with Kate, the remaining ones were strongly encouraged to “Leave It”. Riders and hounds made it safely back to the trailers for another good tailgate.
Reported by Lili
November 30, 2008
Filed under: 2008-2009, Hunt Reports, Member Posts — Cheryl @ 9:25 am
(posted by Lili)
Good Morning,
Since the cold temperature and constant rain has forced me to cancell the hunt today and I’m up early, I thought I’d write about last Sundays hunt at Motrosa Farm especially since it is worth writing about. So consider this today’s hunt adventure while you’re sitting in your warm, dry home and go give your horse an extra pad of hay.
Motrosa Farm Hunt on Sunday November 23:
Seventeen hounds and twelve riders gathered at Bruce and Barbi Wagner’s beautiful home for our first Sunday morning hunt with our hosts giving the devotional. (more…)
November 4, 2008
Filed under: General — Cheryl @ 6:56 am
Well everyone, the time is drawing near for the 2008-2009 Blessing of the Hounds. This marks the opening of our formal foxhunting season, and is always a fun event. Thanks to Carol C. and her Cedar Ridge Farm for hosting the event and welcoming us to her farm, as always.
This is also a day when we invite all our landowners and specially thank them for all their support. Some have already RSVP’ed and will be in attendance, so please welcome and thank them personally for allowing us to ride across their land. Without them, we would have no hunting!
Hopefully we will start the season off with a bang and some great sport, as well as enjoy the company of our members, friends, family and landowners. Til then, tally ho!
September 22, 2008
Filed under: 2008-2009 — Cheryl @ 6:32 am
Fixture: Wallis Farm, 8:30 a.m.
Members: Lili, Kate, Tom, Judy, Mary K, Cheryl, Janice, Earl, & Howard
Guests: Wendy and Paula
Weather: mild and fairly sunny
Hounds: 7 couple
I.D. Awards: None
Tailgate/Breakfast: Everyone brought a little something!
The Hunt: Started off back behind parking area, and hounds found in the woods where they hunted a viewed gray fox last time. They spoke here and there and ran between the cedar stump field and Mr. Robinson’s silos back and forth and back and forth. I was riding with Mary K far out of it all, so I don’t have much to report, but to tell you the hounds are doing great and we hope to see more of you out soon!
Cheryl M.
September 4, 2008
Filed under: General — Cheryl @ 11:40 am
Thank you to all of our Stonewall members and friends who attended this meeting. You all can add comments, so please feel free to add your two cents here by clicking “comments” and posting yours!
Here is my rendition of the central VA meeting in Appomattox.
MANY hunters were present and many spoke. The majority spoke of how they were in favor of hunting with hounds and did not want to see laws changed, but do support better enforcement of laws on the books. Right to Retrieve was especially stressed as important, for safety of hounds. Also, a good point was brought out that having this survey just gives fuel to the antis fire that there is SOMETHING to study or worry about in the first place.We had mounted foxhunt members from Stonewall Hounds, Farmington Hunt, Bedford County Hunt, Caroline Hunt, Deep Run Hunt… Good support by the foxhunters, both mounted and unmounted.Out of the few dozen people who spoke, 3 had concerns against hunting with hounds. One was a still hunter who said he gave permission to all still hunters to hunt his property but did not want hound hunters on his property (I do think some of the still hunters worry that the hounds mess up their hunting, but not sure if that was his deal or not).
Another was a woman who said she was NOT against hunting, or hunting hounds, but she wanted someone to pay more attention to the “starved and neglected” hounds. She repeated that many of the hounds were in good shape and obviously well cared for, but she wanted to see more action against those that weren’t. The other guy… I can’t really figure out what he was saying. Something like everything changes with the times and hunting will too. I think his was a property issue as well, but it was hard to understand him.
Many of our foxhunters from the above hunts did speak, as well as deer, bear, coon, rabbit, and unmounted foxhunters. Most got their point across concisely, and ALL passionately, that’s for sure. I tell you the deer hound hunters, and really all the other types of hound hunters, are just as passionate than us foxhunters about their sport.
Hope others will fill in what they got out of it. I will say it sure was a thrill to have so many hound hunters in one place, all diverse but coming together for one joint purpose and sharing their passion for the sport we love…hunting with hounds. Keep the sport alive by keeping active in voicing your opinions and voting for those who will preserve hunting with hounds in Virginia.
Cheryl Microutsicos
Stonewall Hounds
Central Virginia
www.stonewallhounds.com
August 21, 2008
Filed under: General — Cheryl @ 4:42 pm
This is a letter from Lili to our member list regarding the VDGIF survey on hunting with hounds.
Dear Stonewall Hounds Members and Friends,
Hunting with hounds has come under attack by the animal RIGHTS groups. They want to stop all hunting. They are capitalizing on the recent study by the Va. Dept. of Game and Island Fisheries (VDGIF) and Va. Tech to examine hunting with hounds. There is a difference between animal RIGHTS and animal WELFARE groups. Animals do not have rights like people but, of course, we are responsible for their welfare. You must understand the difference.
Please respond ( email or letter) as soon as possible to this request that I have received from Joyce Fendley, MFH of Casonova Hunt and member of the SAC. The email that I sent today is copied at the end. Also, please come to the public meeting on Sept.3 at the Appomattox High School. I will be there and probably will be speaking. We need every one of you present.
Please take the time to email or write your support for hunting with hounds to the following address:
HoundHuntingSAC@vt.edu
or mail to Hound Hunting SAC c/o Sarah Kozlowski, 111
Cheatham Hall, Department of Fisheries & Wildlife, Virginia Tech,
Blacksburg, VA 24060-0321
FRIENDS OF HOUNDS AND HUNTING
Animal rights groups have been active during the Hunting with Hounds: A Way Forward study process being conducted by the Department of Game & Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) in Virginia. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) asked its members to inundate the Strategic Advisory Committee (SAC) with emails
& letters demanding that hunting with hounds (this includes foxhunting) be restricted or eliminated.
· Now is the time for foxhunters to express support for our sport, our hounds, & our wonderful landowners. Voice your opinion today.
· We have fair & reasonable laws already in place; encourage VDGIF to enforce these laws & prosecute those that do not abide by the law.
Virginia’s Right to Retrieve Law is important for the safety and welfare of hounds. This law provides a huntsman & whipper-in the legal right to go onto posted land in order to retrieve the hounds. If hounds chase a fox onto posted land & put it to ground hounds will stay there until someone they know retrieves them. The huntsman and whipper-in need to be able to legally go onto posted land in order to retrieve the hounds. This is currently in the law, & needs to stay there. Mounted foxhunters as well as many other legitimate hound hunters have worked diligently to demonstrate respect & appreciation for landowners & their property. Unfortunately, some unethical hunters have misused this law to deliberately hunt hounds on posted land.
Rather than lose the Right to retrieve our Hounds, we need to work with VDGIF to ensure that all hunters understand & comply with the existing law & show their respect for Virginia’s landowners.
Improve law enforcement by increasing the number of VDGIF Conservation Police Officers (CPO’s) & coordinate with local Sherriff’s Department to providing better training for all enforcement personnel. Again, we have the existing laws and regulations to control illegal hunting we need better enforcement. Consideration and compensation should also be provided to local Sherriff’s Departments for their participation in enforcing game laws and these funds should be allotted from the VDGIF budget.
Increase penalties and fines for game law and regulation violations to increase compliance with existing laws and regulations, especially those related to high priority issues like trespassing, violations of the right-to-retrieve law, road hunting, and hunting out of season. Repeat offenders should be dealt with harshly. These fines should go directly to VDGIF. With increased penalties & fines, those that break the law will suffer the consequences, not those that are hunting with hounds responsibly.
Improve record keeping on violations and complaints received by VDGIF their (CPOs), VDGIF staff, dispatchers, local law enforcement agencies, & local animal control. The SAC recommends that more comprehensive, consistent, & standardized records be kept in order to better understand where & why there are conflicts between hunters and landowners. With better record keeping VDGIF in corporation with local Sheriff’s Departments can effectively apply additional law enforcement to areas where hunters are not complying with the law & where landowners are experiencing problems. This could be much more effective
than passing more state laws that punish responsible hound hunters & will not correct problems with hunters who violate the law.
Email your support to: HoundHuntingSAC@vt.edu. today. If you choose, you may also send a letter in writing to: Hound Hunting SAC, co/Sarah Kozlowski, 111 Cheatham Hall, Department of Fisheries & Wildlife, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24060-0321. Make sure to include your name and address.
More information available on the DGIF website: http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/hunting/hounds/
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD WILL END ON SEPTEMBER 12th
HUNTING WITH HOUNDS IN VIRGINIA: A WAY FORWARD PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
All comments, whether written, spoken, or sent via email, shall be considered part of the public record. The comment period closes on Friday, September 12, 2008.
OPEN PUBLIC MEETING SCHEDULE
FAR SOUTHWEST August 26, 7:00-9:00PM: Wytheville Meeting Center
I-81/77 Exit 73 or I-77 Exit 41, 333 Community Boulevard Wytheville, Virginia 24382
SHENANDOAH RIVER VALLEY, HARRISONBURG August 27, 7:00-9:00PM: Spotswood High School
368 Blazer Drive, Penn Laird, VA 22846
NORTHEAST, CAROLINE COUNTY August 28, 7:00-9:00PM: Caroline Community Center
17202 Richmond Turnpike Bowling Green, VA 22427
NOVA September 2, 7:00-9:00PM: Fauquier High School
705 Waterloo Drive, Warrenton, VA 20186
MID-PIEDMONT September 3, 7:00-9:00PM: Appomattox High School
198 Evergreen Ave, Appomattox, VA
SOUTHEAST September 4, 7:00-9:00PM: King’s Fork High School
351 Kings Fork Rd, Suffolk, VA
SOUTHSIDE September 9, 7:00-9:00PM: Gretna High School
100 Gretna Hawk Circle, Gretna, VA 24577
Written comments can be emailed to HoundHuntingSAC@vt.edu or sent to: Hound Hunting SAC c/o Sarah Kozlowski, 111 Cheatham Hall, Department of Fisheries & Wildlife, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24060-0321
Copy of Lili’s email:
Dear Sarah Kozlowski,
I am in favor of hunting and hunting with hounds! I am master and huntsman of the Stonewall Hounds in Forest, Va. I started the hunt nine years ago from a desire to hunt my own hounds. We are recognized by the MFHA. Our club is a responsible organization with great relations with our landowners. I do all the work here on my farm and love it. The hounds are very
well maintained. To think that there are people who want to take away my right to continue makes me very upset and angry. The animal rights groups should not even be considered in this study. I think that this study has grown out of it’s original intent to work out a way to continue to hunt DEER with hounds. Please stay within the VDGIF’s initial request and ignore the idiodic pleas to stop all hunting with hounds.
Passionately,
Lili Wykle, MFH
Stonewall Hounds
PO Box 367
Forest,Va. 24551
July 20, 2008
Filed under: 2007-2008, General — Cheryl @ 11:47 am
Graciously, in the shade of the banks of the James River, Tom & Rhoda hosted our annual hunt club picnic. The river was lovely, and the barbequed chicken delicious, as well as all the varied side dishes and desserts. Some enjoyed canoeing, some fishing, and wading in the river. It was a peaceful and lovely setting for the meeting and we all had a great time. Thanks Tom & Rhoda!
Lili passed out the financials of the club. While we are bringing in more money the cost of hound food has gone up drastically. We discussed the possibility of a fundraiser. We all agreed it would be great to do, and talks of a hunter pace or other event may be forthcoming.
Meanwhile, Lili recognized Earl for all his help with the hounds and road whipping in “Silver” his Ford Pickup :-) She also awarded the “Jubliee Award” to Tom and Kate this year for their service and participation. Judy and Mary K were awarded their staff colors, and Lili thanked Kate, Mary K and Judy for all the time they help walk out hounds every 
week. Lili also gave all the members Stonewall Hounds mugs. We talked about what a good season we had last year, and how the hounds are going great already and we are looking forward to another great season.
One thing that was brought up was the time of our meets. Lili said that she plans to get to the meets early and would like to be on our horses ready to ride 15 minutes before the appointed time. This way she can say our blessing and we can be moving off at the time we are supposed to hunt. I suggest everyone plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before the hunt time. Sometimes Lili might need help with collars or hounds, and having everyone there early allows for more help with whatever comes up.
She also mentioned she would like to have 3 more work days before the season starts. One in Sherwill, one in Pamplin, and one at her house to put a fence around the paddock outside the kennels to make it easier to load hounds on hunt mornings. PLEASE plan to come to at least 2 of the 3, and email Lili anytime you can come help.
I think that was the extent of the meeting, but please add your comments if I missed something.
We plan to start hounds in the fox pen on Aug. 19, then hunt in the open the week after that, weather permitting. Know that when we start it will be early to avoid the heat, so everyone make sure your alarm clocks are working! I joked and said I would be happy to make wakeup calls to anyone who needs it 
Please add your comments or contact Lili with any questions or suggestions for the upcoming year. First half of dues are payable August 1, and let us know if you or anyone you know needs an invitation.
For more picnic photos, visit our photo gallery.
Cheryl M.
(30 days til cubbing season starts!!)
July 6, 2008
Filed under: General — Cheryl @ 1:07 pm
The current (Summer 2008) issue of Covertside mentions on page 6:
…the Stonewall Hounds (VA) were elevated from Registered to Recognized status.
Congratulations to Lili and the whole hunt for all the work in making SH worthy of recognition.
Covertside is “The magazine of mounted foxhunting” and is available to subscribing members of the MFHA. Subscribing members, through their membership dues, “support foxhunting and countryside values” by the efforts of the MFHA. www.mfha.com
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