54 SIDELINES NOVEMBER 2011
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
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By Jen Hicks
The Tryon Hounds, based near the state line of North
and South Carolina enjoys a very enthusiastic and involved
mastership. Bonnie Lingerfelt, MFH serves as a whipper-
in in addition to her master’s duties; Kerry Holmberg, MFH
leads the frst fight; and Louise Hughston, MFH, one of the
longest-serving masters in the country, lead the hilltoppers
until a few years ago and now is a dedicated road whip.
Master Dean McKinney both whips in and serves as feld
master as needed.
Sidelines:
When did you start foxhunting and when did
you become a master?
DMK:
My wife Roberta and I bought a piece of land right
in the middle of Tryon’s hunt country and that’s what got us
interested in foxhunting. I started hunting 18 years ago and
became a master for Tryon in the 2006 season. We built a
farm on that land 15 years ago. The views are phenomenal
and we have access to a wonderful trail system that is part
of our hunt country.
Sidelines:
What is your favorite foxhunting memory?
DMK:
My favorite memory has to be when I was jumping
a coop and looked down just in time to see that the fox was
jumping the coop, too; but in the opposite direction!
My birthday present this year was a papier-mâché
rendering of the moment created by Kerry Holmberg’s wife
Sarah.
The most thrilling memory was viewing a coyote cross
the trail in front of me and seeing my favorite hound, Sage,
only a few feet behind it with the rest of the pack joining in
the hot pursuit.
Sidelines:
What was your favorite road trip and is there
anywhere you would like to hunt?
A Few Minutes with Dean McKinney
DMK:
Our huntsman Jordan Hicks is good friends with Keswick’s
huntsman Tony Gammell and Tryon was invited to take our
hounds to Keswick’s country last fall. The masters and members
were very welcoming, the country was beautiful, and our hounds
thoroughly enjoyed hunting a country with so many red foxes.
I’m interested in hunting in some of the Northern Virginia countries,
Orange County or Piedmont. Tryon mainly travels in the Southeast
so getting to travel to Virginia is a treat for us.
Sidelines:
What kind of horses do you hunt?
DMK:
My frst hunt horse was a Tennessee Walker, Chance,
who started out as my trail riding horse but learned to be a really
reliable mount for the hunt feld, jumping every coop in the country!
My next horse, Flash, is a Thoroughbred who at 21 years old is
still going strong. My wife Roberta stole him from me a few years
ago and she now leads the second fight with him. My current
horse Harry is a Canadian Sport Horse who is an awesome
jumper, he’s been a great whip’s horse and I lead frst fight with
him occasionally as well.
Sidelines:
Is there anything the readers should know about
hunting in Tryon?
DMK:
Visitors are always welcome, so if you want a great day’s
sport in the beautiful foothills of the Carolinas come see us!
MFH Dean McKinney on Harry out with Tryon Hounds
Photo by Erik Olsen www.ErikOlsenFilm.com
Nothing like a birthday present that memorializes a great
moment foxhunting