16 SIDELINES JANUARY 2012
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
F
O
X
H
U
N
T
I
N
G
By Rebecca Walton/PMG
History and tradition inevitably spring to mind when
one thinks about the Radnor Hunt Club in Malvern,
Pennsylvania. It is one of the oldest recognized hunts in
the United States, with roots dating back to 1883. For Collin
McNeil, the new Joint Master, foxhunting at Radnor centers
on history and tradition, but also promotes preservation
and growth of the unique sport. This past May, Collin was
named Joint Master, alongside incumbent Michael Tillson.
“It was a great honor to be named Master,” said Collin. “It
wasn’t something I expected or that I sought after. Through
the years, I have done a lot of things because of my interest
in and love of Radnor and becoming Master is really
exciting. Mike and I are a good team. We have a great
time with it. ”
Encouraging Interest in Hunting
Although Collin has always been fascinated with
Radnor’s history, he is also focused on the growth of hunting
and hopes to see more families and younger generations
participating in the sport. “When Radnor Hunt moved to
the country in 1931 it quickly became even more of a place
to belong to in the area, like a country club. If we have 300
family members, I’d say maybe 20-30% are involved in fox
hunting in some way or another. The rest of the members
Radnor’s Collin McNeil Blends
Tradition and Technology
are members because it’s a fun place and they have equestrian
interests, or they just happen to live nearby and it’s a nice club to
belong to. I’d like to see the hunting membership grow; it would
be great to see more young people join in.”
Facebook for Foxhunters
One of the ways that Collin tries to appeal to the younger set
is through the Radnor website and Facebook page, “Friends of
Radnor Hunt,” which features regular updates about the club as
well as photos taken by Collin while he is fox hunting.
In addition to the website and Facebook page, Collin has also
plans to start working with the Radnor Pony Club to encourage
young riders to become more involved with Radnor. “The Pony
Club is a large, active organization that actually owns its own
property, which is somewhat unique in the Pony Club world, and it
is adjacent to the Radnor Clubhouse. I’d love to see more kids get
involved and I’d love to see more families participate so the hunt
remains a vibrant welcoming operation that looks to the future, as
well as the past.”
Collin admits it is diffcult to describe what makes foxhunting so
unique, and truly a sport that a rider needs to try to understand. “I
think it’s a camaraderie frst and foremost, it is such a great group
of people all sharing the same love of sport,” he explained. “I think
that one of the aspects that I am always mindful of is that there
are four distinct species working together to pursue the goal. The
Radnor Hunt’s newest master, Collin McNeil
“[Foxhunting] is open to anybody who wants to ride and
enjoys the idea of sport and country pursuits. By all
means, the invitation is open to anybody who is keen on
the idea of foxhunting!” says Collin McNeil
Continued on page 18