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
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
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…)
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.
Filed under: 2008-2009 — Cheryl @ 6:57 am
We plan to start our 2008-2009 hunt season with cubbing on August 30, 2008. The first half of dues (or pay in full if you prefer) are due on August 1, then the second December 1. If you are interested in joining, please make your desire known and an invitation will be sent.
We look forward to a great season of sport and fellowship.
Cheryl
