The Kits Can’t Be Far Behind
Sunday, March 31 2013
Overnight the moon rose and the temperature dropped hourly to almost freezing and then, as the waning moon set, pink light appeared at the margins of this morning. Spring has already officially begun over a week ago but it is still cold in the morning
Surprise!
Monday, March 25 2013
Walking the course of the Southern Pines Horse Trials II this past Friday underscored yet again the tremendous amount of preparation, and bravery, involved for both horse and rider at the Advanced level. These fences are not for the faint of heart, equine or human. The humans, of course, have walked the course more than once; the horses, however, as they round each twist and turn, are seeing the course for the very first time.
Making the Cut
Monday, February 18 2013
Recently, Augusta, Georgia hosted the first leg of the Mercuria NCHA (National Cutting Horse Association) World Series of Cutting. The competive event will then move through Texas, Canada, Idaho, California, Ohio and Lyon, France before the end of 2013. TheNCHA, with 16,000 members nationwide, falls somewhere between eventing (USEA) with 12,000 members and dressage (USDA) with 30,000 members so it represents a significant number of competitors nationwide although membership tends to be clustered in regions where the sport first sprang up.
“I’m in the doghouse now…”
Wednesday, January 23 2013
The Low Country Hunt, whose territory encompasses land southeast of the South Carolina city of Walterboro – approximately half way between Charleston and Hilton Head – was formed in 2006 which places it among the newer Recognized Hunts in the United States. That youth is belied by the passion and ability of the field, the staff and the hounds. Jointly led by four Masters, the chase for quarry carries over onto private plantations owned by family, friends and supporters who generously open their land to the Hunt.
Hunting Wiley Coyote
Monday, November 05 2012
Two weeks ago I left the rolling green hills of Pennsylvania and flew to the flat brown mesas of New Mexico to join up with Caza Ladron, a hunt organized out of Santa Fe and Albuquerque, New Mexico. Caza Ladron is a recognized hunt with the Masters of Foxhounds Association, one of some 165 hunts in the United States, so you might think they might be stuffy, but one of the Joint Masters told me before I even sent in my check that this is a hunt that “has fun”.
Dancing with the Stars under the Stars
Wednesday, October 03 2012
It’s Fall And that means it is Dressage at Devon Saturday, September 30, 2012 7:30 P.M. FEI Grand Prix Freestyle – $10,000 In Reverse order of Win: 10. Barbara Strawson on Amicelli (Holsteiner) (U.S.) 9. Annie Desranleau on Magruin (Canadian) (Can) 8. Susanne Hassler on Harmony’s Baroncelli (Hanovarian) (U.S.) 7. Nicholas Fyffe on Sentimiento I (P.R.E.) (Aus) 6. James Koford on Rhett (DWB) (U.S.) 5. Diane Creech on Devon L (Hanovarian) (Can) 4. Jaimey Irwin on Lindor’s Finest (DWB) (Can) 3. David Marcus on Chrevi’s Capital (DanWB) (Can) 2. Pierre St
A Shared Land, A Shared Community
Thursday, September 27 2012
Saturday, September 1 , marked the end of houndwalking for Mr. Stewart’s Cheshire Foxhounds in Unionville, PA and what better way to bring the season to a close but an early evening ride out from the kennels followed by a covered-dish supper? Instead of meeting with the hounds at 7:00 AM, the “meet” was called for 5:00 PM.
2012 Devon Fall Classic
Wednesday, September 19 2012
September 13 through the 16th saw the inauguration of the Devon Fall Classic. Parking and admission to the new event were entirely free, a pleasant surprise after I had pulled a twenty out of my wallet to enter the lot. The event, dedicated to jumpers of all ages and education, was punctuated on Saturday evening by a $7500 High Junior Amateur Owner and the signature event, the $25,000 Devon Fall Classic.
A Simple Gift
Monday, August 20 2012
For as many years as I can remember, Gerry Hoover has been the Field Master for Mr.
Venus and Jupiter
Sunday, July 15 2012
In Cheshire Country education of the young hounds has progressed to the point that they are now leaving the kennels under the direction of the Huntsman, Ivan Dowling. The hounds bound out of the kennel yard precisely at 7 A.M.