Stonewall Hounds Blog

Annual Picnic and Awards

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!!)

Season Recap

Filed under: 2007-2008,General — Cheryl @ 6:29 am

Well it is time to bid the 2007-08 season goodbye, and boy we had a great one! The hounds hunted great, and showed us great sport. Thanks to our fearless leader and her dedication, and for all she does to make this possible for us.

We enjoyed many joint meets with guests from Farmington, Reedy Creek, Glenmore, Rockbridge, Monmouth County Hunt, Bedford Hunt, Deep Run, and more. Thanks to all our guests… hope to see more of you again next season!

There are many puppies to be trained, and Lili could use help anytime you can offer it. Working with hounds in the kennel, and helping with the puppies is a welcome contribution to the hunt, and also helps you learn the hounds and become more involved. Please call Lili anytime to offer your help, it benefits the whole hunt.

There are also many trails and jumps to be maintained. We will have workdays throughout the summer, as much as we can, to work on these things and improve our hunting conditions for next season.

We will have trail rides over the summer too, and these are a great way to get you, your horses, and especially new or green horses used to our hunt country and other horses in a non-hunting environment. We tailor the trail rides to the people who come, meaning we will go at a pace that suits the level of horses out. Sometimes we can split into groups where one group can go a bit faster and/or jump, and others can go slower.

Speaking of jumping, our summer rides are the perfect time to school jumps. We can take our time and practice them in a schooling situation, and have the luxury of being able to spend some time at a jump if people need it. If anyone wants to take some lessons this summer, to improve their riding and jumping, I am all for it and would be happy to arrange some things. Just get in touch and let me know. The stronger rider you are and the more trained your horse, the safer hunting is for everyone.

I hope you all can participate and help with our summer activities. They are all designed to enhance our hunting season for the next year. The better the hounds, horses, and riders are kept fit and trained, and the trails kept clear, the better our hunting will be.

Hope to see you all around all summer! Don’t be a stranger!!

Cheryl

Hunt Report: Apr. 6, 2008

Filed under: 2007-2008 — Cheryl @ 7:00 am

Fixture:  Bonnydale Farm, 2 p.m.

Members:  Lili, Kate, Cheryl, Tom, Judy and Earl. Guests from Reedy Creek include Jim (MFH), Tom (Huntsman), Betty & James, Harry and Theresa, Amy, Susan, Gary, Kathy & Marian, Gretel, Rachel and Phil rode with Earl.

Weather:  WET and threatening rain, but ended up misting only during the breakfast

Hounds: 8 1/2 couple

I.D. Awards: None

Misc. Notations:  With the short chases, we got to see a lot of close-up hound work and view many of the hounds speaking and hear their individual voices. That made the day really fun and fit in perfectly with the conditions. Gary gets the award for best turned out with his Diva mare, Phoebe, whose white coat positively glistened against the dreary backdrop.

Tailgate/Breakfast:  Lots of food, brought by Reedy Creek and SH members – Country Ham, baked pencil points, brunswick stew, trifle, banana pudding, brownies, and more!

The Hunt:  Lili drew first covert down at the woods edge of the cow pasture where we parked. We moved back and crossed the creek, up thru woods out to Helen Wise haybale field. Hounds worked in those woods speaking on and off. Moved through the farm road over to the yellow flag trail, and up to the 4wheeler trails behind the Pugh trailer. They worked hard over there and found again, and spoke. We had a short chase and got to gallop a bit on the firmer parts of the 4wheeler trails. Hounds took it up to the power line by Plum Branch sounding great, working something in the pines on both sides of Plum Branch.

We then moved over to the fields behind Katie’s, where they found again, and we were treated to watching all the hounds striking a line and streaking past us back over toward Plum Branch. We got to see and hear Kaptain and his really cool voice. They seemed to lose it in the field, although Jim saw a den in the covert between the field and creek by Katie’s.

From there we headed back to the field and up to Ruckers Rd. then across to the hay fields up top, then to the peninsula of pines, where they spoke again, but it was suspicious and Kate stopped them and sent them back. They all looked a little guilty but listened well and got back in hunting mode right away.

We jumped Ingrid’s coop and followed Lili and hounds through Evan’s cow pasture over to the pond, where hounds found in the woods by the pond, and took it up to the field behind his house. There they trailed the fox into a huge pile of old pallets, and just couldn’t get in there well enough to flush him out, OR he had already left! Lili blew gone to ground, and we moved on. Hounds kept finding all in the coverts in that field, and really worked hard there. We got to see them open and speak, and hear the different voices. We especially enjoyed watching Dawson throw his head up and give tongue with his beautiful voice. He looked entirely pleased with himself.

We headed back out to the gasline and Lili was going to pack them up and head in. As they went down the holey trail, hounds struck and took off, on what sounded like coyote. The field was still close to Ruckers Rd. so we went back out and had a nice gallop down Ruckers Rd., but then I heard on the radio that hounds had stopped and they were getting them back in. So we went back to the holey trail, but at least got one little gallop in on decent footing.

Had a fabulous breakfast in the mist, and truly enjoyed our guests from Reedy Creek. They were all fine riders, and excellent hunters, and seemed to enjoy the day. Thanks to everyone who came out in the more than questionable weather to make it a great day.

Cheryl M.

Hunt Report: Apr. 2, 2008

Filed under: 2007-2008 — Cheryl @ 7:53 am

Fixture:  The Meadows at Naked Creek, 9 a.m.

Members:  Lili, Kate, Cheryl, Gary, and Howard

Weather:  cool and partly sunny and breezy

Hounds: 8 couple

Misc. Notations:  Bishop, our newly drafted handsome and SMART hound from Potomac, demonstrates his impeccable training by streaking toward Lili’s doubling on the horn. He obviously knew exactly what it meant!

I.D. Awards: None

Tailgate/Breakfast:  Sandwiches provided by Lili and Kate

The Hunt:  Started off in the church pines, where hounds found and ran a bobcat round and round. Sounded good on and off, and Cheryl talked to the pastor who said they hear bobcats back in there all the time. Nobody saw anything, and we pushed on. Lili drew behind Fewell’s, and again, we think the hounds ran a bobcat round and round for a bit, heading toward the hay bale field and pine trail. From there we went on back by Nowlins Mill toward Tweedy Rd. looping back and ending up in the field by Judy’s gate and Ralph Ogden’s.

Hounds struck hard and FAST right there on top of the hill. Boy they were off like a streak, all in a line screaming and running toward the creek. Lili galloped on after them, Gary and I had to shut a gate… of course we are all thinking coyote. I heard it sound like it was turning, so Gary and I waited up in the field above the schoolbus. Lili and Kate stopped the hounds in the woods before the crossed Nowlins Mill. It’s a drag stopping them but the alternative is running like mad to try and keep up with them on a coyote run, and being out all hours of the night gathering hounds. So we were glad they stopped. Boy they sounded and looked good streaking off though!

So on toward Ralph Ogden’s and our newly marked trail. Hounds found right at the end of that trail where it meets the pines and started chasing a gray fox in the pines. Lili stayed at the edge of woods, and Gary and I went up further for a good vantage point. Kate and Jane flew to the other side to watch the roadside with Howard.

Lili radios her “Tally Ho” as she watches the gray fox saunter around her in the woods. It pauses, walks across a fallen log, looks at her and keeps sauntering off. Gary and I quietly hurry over but miss the view. Lili doubles up on the horn and Gary and I help push the hounds on to her. She watched them work the line the fox took, even up and down across the log. It’s really neat to see where the fox goes, then actually watch the hounds work to find and trail that same line.

Kate and Lili follow the hounds in the woods where they are following Charlie’s line once again. Unfortunately they lost it coming out into the plowed field and sunshine.

They go over to the woods by Tweedy Rd. and find again in there. Lili follows down farm Rd., and Kate is out on Tweedy Rd. Lili said he’d be going back, so Gary and I stay back in the field, and after a long while standing there, are treated to a perfect view of the gray coming back out of the woods and running across the plowed field. Tally Ho! Lili gallops over and calls the hounds out to the line. They just couldn’t pick it up, the scenting was that tough with the sun in the dirt field.

So we ended up calling it a day and heading in. It wasn’t a very exciting hunt as far as any runs, but the hounds found and chased plenty of game, and we enjoyed being able to view the hunted fox two different times.

Cheryl M.

Hunt Report: Mar. 18, 2008

Filed under: 2007-2008 — Cheryl @ 7:30 am

Fixture:  Cedar Ridge Farm, 9 a.m.

Members:  Lili, Kate, Carol, Dr. Cheryl, Marie, Earl, & Howard

Weather:  mild and partly sunny

Hounds: 7 couple

I.D. Awards: None that anyone admitted

Tailgate/Breakfast:  In Carols’ kitchen (thanks!)

The Hunt:  (posted from Lili) Tuesday’s hunt was another bobcat day. Kate had the honors of catching sight of a small bobcat crossing the road while steady, old Dawson was speaking his long and beautiful voice heading the opposite way. There must be another family in the church pines. Thankfully raising bobcats and not coyotes. I think they did get on a coyote later but only Tidy persisted. She was picked up on the other side of Spring Mill Rd. behind the community center about 3 hours after we came in and after a delicious lunch in Carols cozy kitchen. Again, hoorah for the tracking collars (and the good food)!

Currently there are 7 females in the heat kennel and 2 hounds out from lameness issues. Other kennel news is that Sally has been bred to Kaptain and our newly drafted hound, Potomac Bishop, will be put with Adeline.

Hunt Report: Mar. 15, 2008

Filed under: 2007-2008 — Cheryl @ 7:45 am

Fixture:  Vassar’s Farm, 9 a.m.

Members:  Lili, Kate, Tom, Marie, Mary K, Cheryl, Earl, Howard, Paul and Buck, Jim, and Lealon  (Paul and Jim are brothers and Jim has Luke, Dickens, and Tilly now in his foxhound pack -unmounted)

Weather:  fairly warm and mild

Hounds: 7 couple

I.D. Awards: None

Tailgate/Breakfast:  Egg Salad from Marie at the trailers and some chips, yummy mango peach salsa & crackers and cheese

The Hunt:  Hounds found a little in the beginning, but were heading back toward the trailers and Rt. 746, so when it appeared they were heading toward the road, whips stopped them.

Lili then casts them in a different area, and they find a fresh line, and take it round and round in the cutover. I was following with Earl in the truck and jumped out and ran up to the cross road, and the gray fox crossed in between me and Paul & Buck (his son).

Hounds came out right quick on the line and continued to chase it, and the field and car followers viewed more than once, as the fox crossed back and forth trying to shake the determined pack.

At one point it popped up in front of Daffodil (who has shown little to no interest in hunting yet) and she trotted after it, somewhat confused as to why she found herself following the furry creature! He disappeared again, and hounds stayed true.

Then Lili saw Jeremiah actually grab the fox in his mouth, but when the fox turned and snapped at him, he dropped it and ran the other way! LOL

It was a great hunt for the hounds, they really got to chase a hot line and keep following.

After that exciting chase we moved along to the other side of the area we normally hunt. It was a very pretty area, and took us down to Ward’s Fork. Lili then picked up hounds (we had to wait for Able) and moved on. Then realize Tidy is no longer with them, so Earl and I track her in the truck and pick her up on the other side of the road. We carry her safely back to the trailers and everyone untacks and sits in the sun to relax.

We spent a good while there yakking and relaxing in the warm sun, enjoying Marie’s egg salad and the other snacks brought by Kate & Lili.

Hunt season is waning on us… but we still have a few more meets scheduled and then it will be trail riding time and PUPPY training! Hopefully lots of you will get out to the kennels often this summer to learn the new hounds and help with puppy/hound walking.

Hunt Report: Mar. 9, 2008

Filed under: 2007-2008 — Cheryl @ 4:14 pm

Fixture:  Wallis Farm, 10 a.m.

Members:  Lili, Mary K, Tom, Michael, Cheryl, Dr. Cheryl, 3 guests (Terry, Margo, and Liam from Ireland), Earl

Weather:  fairly pleasant, but humidity was very low, scenting not great

Hounds: 9 couple

I.D. Awards: That would be me. I took a header off Uzi (after warning the field about the right turn after the jump) when Uzi pops the jump and loosens his precious cargo, then proceeds to follow the trail to the right as instructed, dumping said cargo (ME!) on the ground like a bag of bricks.

Misc. Notations:  Submit your votes, should we rename 4 post road and call it “Mad Mud Road” ? 

Tailgate/Breakfast:  Ham Salad Sandwiches and beer. Not sure if we had anything else.

The Hunt:  We started off in the field behind Loee’s but the cows were uncooperative and very nosy. So as not to make them run (or worse chase us LOL) we left the field, via the new coop, and went toward the pine trail instead. Up at the gasline hounds begin to speak, Lili views a gray fox cross the gasline. They find in the pines, and we all head over to 4 post road to listen. Up and down, round and round.

I see a deer cross the 4 post road, but no hounds come out. Michael is stationed further above, and Lili below. Michael screams a tally ho and we go up and stop with the line just between us. We then see the pack come out and cross the gasline on the fox trail. That was about the best part of the whole day!

They hunt round and round in there and MK views yet another fox up on the gasline. Hounds are getting separated now, with Allison and Tennessee, and various others, MIA. There are so many foxes in there they can’t figure out which one to chase! Clara stays true to her original fox, the field goes up and down 4 post road more times than we care to count.

Finally we gather most, and head back toward Crane Creek & Loee’s. They strike in the woods, so we go on Tom’s new trail, up to the top, then thru woods and jump the log over the fence. Hounds go back so we jump back in (and have a slight detour to pick Cheryl up off the ground and catch her horse… ugh).

I think this was pretty much the end, we did hunt back to Loee’s, but nothing much came of it and we needed to try and find the missing hounds.

Meanwhile, back at the trailers, a man calls and says he has Allison and Tennessee over on Five Forks Rd. ACROSS 460. ACK. Probably 6 hounds are still out. We keep calling while Lili and Earl go pick up the errant hounds. A couple dribble in, and now we have all but Solomon and Soldier.

Soldier’s Night Out 

We track Solomon to the back of Loee’s and Soldier is just not even registering on the tracker. Lili goes home (it’s 8:30 now) and I drive around with the tracker, and find him over in Darlington Heights on Nursery Rd. I know he’s right in front of me, but won’t come out. So at 10:30 I give up.

The next morning I go back and he’s not there. So back in the car with the tracker, he’s moving further south! I get closer and closer, as I approach Darlington Heights, then take a back road that cuts into the middle of the block. Finally I have him on short range and he’s there, in front of me. SOLDIER!! He turns and goes back into the woods. Lili gets there a bit later and finally convinces him to come out.

Turns out he was at the end of Cork Rd., which as the crow flies, is over 7 miles from where we started, and across 4 lanes of highway…. WHEW, he’s a lucky hound.

Cheryl M.

Hunt Report: Mar. 4, 2008

Filed under: 2007-2008 — Cheryl @ 7:12 am

Fixture:  Quail Hollow, 9 a.m.

Members:  Lili, Kate, Judy, Carol, Marie, Cheryl M., Dr. Cheryl, Karen, Sandy (guest), Earl, and Howard

Weather:  Threatening rain, but it holds off for the most part and we enjoy not getting soaked!

Hounds: 7 couple (many females in  heat couldn’t come!)

I.D. Awards:  none today

Misc. Notations:  Roo Roo (young entry) shows a lot of promise and drive

Tailgate/Breakfast:  Carol brings sandwiches and others contributed what they brought for a simple lunch after the meet.

The Hunt:  Today was Tidy’s hunt. We started off back behind Quail Hollow and worked our way through the 4-wheeler trail. End up at the little field and hounds head over toward the pines. I notice Tidy working something at the curve of the farm road, (toward Spring Mill), but most hounds are over toward the pine trail.

Tidy speaks, and takes off to the right of the farm road in the woods. The other hounds honor her and join her back in the woods, and they all go running toward Nowlins Mill.

The field and whips get out to Spring Mill quick, and Howard and Earl are already there. We flank Spring Mill in case of coyote, but the game turns back, and makes a big circle. Hounds follow and everyone ends up back where we started.

They speak on and off but it gets fewer and farther between. We figure bobcat, but never see it. Tidy took the hounds on this hunt and we were all very proud of her!

Then we make our way over to the honey pot pines off New Chapel. We run into a small pack of beagles already hunting their little hearts out in the honey pines. They sounded great, although much higher pitched than our hounds. Lili tries to send our hounds in as an experiment, to see if they would join the beagles. Pepper is the first to run out with his tail between his legs!!

We watched and listened for a bit, the beagles were in full cry, and we thought we might view something, even if it was a rabbit! No such luck, and we moved on, but that was a fun little sidetrip to the hunt.

…Cheryl M

Hunt Report: Mar. 1, 2008 Joint Meet Farmington Hunt Club

Filed under: 2007-2008 — Cheryl @ 7:12 am

Fixture:  Bonnydale Farm, 10 a.m.

Members:  Lots of our members along with Farmington and some Glenmore Guests

Weather:  WINDY (YUCK) but not cold, and pleasant other than the 4-letter word wind.

Hounds: 9 couple

I.D. Awards: Jenner (Glenmore Guest) parts company with her new horse when he pops her over a jump. She hangs on and somehow gets back in the saddle only to be dropped when horse takes a quick prop many strides later!

Misc. Notations:  Glenmore and Farmington guests were all a lot of fun and we hope to see them back sometime soon.

Tailgate/Breakfast:  Oh my goodness! There was quite a spread, thanks to all members and many guests for bringing some really great stuff!

The Hunt:  Well with the wind it was pretty much nil. Hounds did find over by the church pines and ran up to The Meadows parking area (through the woods). A herd of deer popped up but no hounds were on it nor were they interested. We had a gallop from Plum Branch up to the Meadows to follow them. Other than this the hunting was not one of our best days by far!

This was, as most of you know, our hunt where the MFHA sent someone to assess us regarding our recognition status with MFHA. All went well and it looks like that will be coming soon! Lili was honored to have Farmington Hunt Club members join us, as she has known many of them for years and has a very high regard for them and their hunt.

All in all it was a very good day, except for the hunting!! LOL

…Cheryl

Hunt Report: Feb. 9, 2008 Junior Hunt

Filed under: 2007-2008 — Cheryl @ 7:27 am

Fixture:  Quail Hollow, 10 a.m.

Members:  Lili, Kate, Michael, Judy, Carol, Tom, Mary K, Marie, Cheryl, Jan & Steve, Sarah, David & Cheryl, Lee, Earl and various guests & juniors

Weather:  Finally very nice weather! A little warm, but not too bad.

Hounds: 10 couple

I.D. Awards:  Michael briefly visits the ground. Dini takes a fall when her horse went one way and she went the other to avoid a tree, and hurts her back and has to go in.

Misc. Notations:  Lots of jumping today. Tom viewed chased coyote near Booth Rd.

Map:  Click here for Map of Junior Hunt, courtesy of Tom-Tom (our resident GPS)

Tailgate/Breakfast:  Once again, too much food. It’s so good, and so much fun, but I think everyone should bring diet food as my breeches are getting tight!!

The Hunt:  Hounds found right away in Quail Hollow field where we parked. Dawson opened and his booming voice let all the others know it was a fox. They worked feverishly but couldn’t take it anywhere. The entire field got to watch them working in that small area.

Lili picks them up and moves on over to the fields across from the church pines and down to the honey pot pines. They find again and head over toward Bohannon’s new house, but lose it in the pines and we move on again.

We cross over to behind RSG’s house, and run into some rabbit hunters with their beagles, so we go through the woods toward the Meadows, and down to the pond. They start working again and lead us up the trail to the coop at the back of the cutover, and into Franklin Farm. We move on through the gate into Billy Cox’s where they strike in the woods and take off. We end up at the back of the Burks’ farm, and head down to the creek. We all gallop down to the power line, and head up the steep trail toward Booth Rd.

Tom is further up and hears them screaming through the woods, then he views the coyote cross the pasture up by Booth Rd. We gallop as fast as we can to catch up to Lili and hounds on Booth Rd. We go into the cutover for a bit to try and gather up the rest of the hounds and decide to hunt back in the other way or we’d end up going further away.

The wind starts picking up and the scenting is not as good so we end up packing up the hounds and heading in, all the way through Bobcat Alley and up through the back of the Meadows. Sally is not coming in so we wait and try to get her to come since we have to cross roads to get back, but she is not cooperating. She shows up at the trailers once the fried chicken is unwrapped (coincidence? or she got hungry LOL!) So all hounds are now back safe and sound, and we all enjoy a delicious breakfast and reminisce the events and what everyone saw.

Thanks again to everyone who helped Dini get back to the trailers and who helped to catch her horse. Dini was thankful to everyone and sorry to have missed the rest of the day, as she was really enjoying it!

Cheryl M.