In & Around Horse Country Holiday 2019 by Marion Maggiolo

VOLUME XXXI / NUMBER 5 • THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE VIRGINIA STEEPLECHASE ASSOCIATION • HOLIDAY 2019

HARE FOREST - Pr,votely located In orguobly one of the most beout.ful. end protected oreos of Central Virglmo, Hore Fore.st Is the qulntessenlial historic estote The 2 story c 1784 brick Federal style mono, home is Jdeolly siluoted on 173cc in the Ropldon oreo ol Oronge County, end Is proteded by o con1erv0• lion easement. The house ha, been updated, while still keeping most of the o,iglnol. moldings, mantels, end cho,r ,oils. The property Is lurlher Improved by 3 cottages, swimming pool, smoke house. small goroge, 24 stoll stable, office, 11 paddocks In boord fencing. $2,495,000

Justin H. Wiley • 04.941.552&

AIRSLIE - Landmark county atate located In the beautiful Keswick hunt Oreo ol Albemarle County House wos slgnlficontly renovated In the eo,ly 1990's using only the finest moteriob end craftsmen The surround,ng 62•/- acres o,e mostly open, ond offers stunning views of the south west mountoin.s. Property con olso be purchased with odd,tionol lond end lmp,ovement> $3,500,000

Justin H. Wiley • 434.941.552&

FOXCROFT FARM - Located od;ocent to the Keswick Club, Foxcrolt ts situoted on 25 p<ivate ocres yet only 10 minutes from Charlottesv,lle. The colonial home hos been added to since it's origlnal construdlon end boos!$ o lorge fom,ly room end k,tchen ideol lor enterto,nlng. The 5 BR, 3/2 both home Is situated approximately 1n the center of the most�y open parcel. The form is currently used os o ho,se property thot includes o mo,n stoble w,th 6 stolls, heated tockroom, and wmh stall. A second born hos on odd,t,onol 6 stalls, numerous 3 boo,d paddocks, end o fenced ring. $1,375,000

Justin H. Wiley • -434.941.55'2&

VIEWMONT FARM - An e.cephonol 675cc Carter's Bridge estate 10 mile, south of Chorlotte,vrlle One of Albemode County's most productive ond turnkey form,, Vlewmont is a perfect ml, of cropland, posture and moture hardwood forest with l.5 mile of frontage on the Hardwore River DGP Arch,teds coll0boroted with Gibson Mogerfleld to build on open floor pion home with perfect proportions thot toke In the stunning views ond noturol light from every room. W,de plank oak Aoars, exceptional millwork and experlly designed Rumford, heotlng f,replcces e,empllfy the croftsmonsh,p The living oreo spoces open out lo bock lawn and "outdoor room w,th large fireplace. $8,750,000

Peter A. Wiley • 43-4,4'l'l.'l090

INDIAN BOTTOM FARM - A spectacular 807-ocre cattle & gron Form In the Middlebrook-Brownsburg Corridor The form Is not under easement end 1, surrounded by protected properties Heys Cree, runs through the property for over o m,le Lend 450 ocres of crop end groz,ng, 350 ocres of hardwoods Numerous building sites with v,ews of both the Blue Ridge end Allegheny Mountoin.s. Mult,ple cottoges including a meticulously renovated cabin. Good form buildings including equipment building end feedlot Excellent woter on property. $3,695,000

Peter A. Wiley • 4H,4'lil090

SCOTTSVILLE FARM• A beoullful, medium-sized horse form or retreat 14 m,les from town The turn-cl-the-century farmhouse IS well-Sited In the center of 77 acres al fenced posture and fields, w,th o beautiful stable, large pond and trolls. The form offers privacy 0nd views end Is odjocent to over 1500 ocres ol protected farmland A 6-stall center aisle born with power, ho and cold water, both,oom, lock room. wosh stall ond shav,ngs sloroge is pos,t,oned neor the large outdoor ung. $695,000

P,rter A. Wiley - -434,.f'l'l..'l090

IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY â&#x20AC;¢ HOLIDAY 2019

IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • HOLIDAY 2019

Casanova Joint Masters Retire

SPORTING LIFE HIGHLIGHTS

Douglas Lees photo

Theodora A. Randolph North American Field Hunter Championship Finals Glenwood Park, Middleburg, Virginia, October 12, 2019 • Douglas Lees Photos

Hunter Champion Skye’s Limit owned and ridden by Kate Gilhool of the Eldridge-Harford Hounds (MD).

Linden Ryan and Thunderville of Blue Ridge Hunt (VA), winner of the Best Thoroughbred Hunter Championship.

Virginia Field Hunter Championship Hosted by Loudoun Fairfax Hunt, Hamilton, VA October 20, 2019 Liz Callar photo Pam Cibula and “Fine Art,” representing Bull Run Hunt, took the Virginia Field Hunter Championship.

Huntsman Tommy Lee Jones served as MC when Casanova Hunt (VA) held a party to honor retiring joint masters Joyce Fendley and Bill Fendley, October 5, 2019. Joyce was appointed master in 1983 and her husband Bill joined her as a master in 2001. The family legacy continues as their daughters have taken up the mantle: Jeanne Fendley Clark now serves as joint master (along with Kathleen O’Keefe) and Amanda Fendley Choby whips in to Tommy Lee Jones.

Horse Country’s Holiday Open House & Booksigning Wednesday, December 4, 2019 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm Rita Mae Brown will be signing copies of her latest book in the “Sister Jane” series:

Scarlet Fever Rita Mae Brown’s “Sister” Jane Arnold Heats Up the Pages With a Winter Mystery Winter blizzards bring a flurry of cases to solve in this riveting new foxhunting mystery featuring “Sister” Jane Arnold and her incorrigible hounds from New York Times bestselling author Rita Mae Brown. Frigid February air has settled into the bones of the Blue Ridge Mountains, making for a slow foxhunting season, though “Sister” Jane Arnold’s enthusiasm is not so easily deterred. With the winter chill come tweed coats, blazing fireplaces—and perhaps another to share the warmth with, as the bold hunting scarlets worn by the men in Sister Jane’s hunt club make the hearts of women flutter—until someone’s stops entirely. Harry Dunbar, a member of the Jefferson Hunt club with a penchant for antique furniture, is found with his skull cracked at the bottom of the stairs to a local store. There are no telltale signs of foul play—save for the priceless (and stolen) Erté fox ring in his pocket. Sister and her hounds set out to uncover the truth: was this simply an accident—a case of bad luck—or something much more sinister? Steeped in the deep traditions of Virginia horse country and featuring a colorful cast of characters both two- and four-legged, Scarlet Fever is another spirited mystery from Rita Mae Brown. PHOTOGRAPHERS: Liz Callar www.lizcallar.com John J. Carle II, ex-MFH Coady Photography Claudia Coleman Karen Kandra Isabel Kurek Douglas Lees douglaslees@comcast.net Joanne Maisano www.joannemaisano.com Bill Sigafoos www.wlsphoto.com Rick Stillings www.rickstillings.com Darrell Wood

ON THE COVER: Huntsman John Harrison, Deep Run Hunt, signals to his pack that it's time to start the formal season at the meet from Fullstream Farm, Manakin-Sabot, VA, October 26, 2019. Bill Sigafoos photo

Door prize drawings, a tempting array of buffet delights, a time to see old friends, make new ones, and browse through our expansive selection of gift-giving options. RSVPs appreciated: 540-347-3141 or email huntbooks@aol.com Books will be available for purchase at the store. To preorder your copy, call 540-347-3141 or 800-88-2-HUNT (4868). Signed copies may be ordered and will be shipped to you or a gift recipient with a personalized gift card.

Horse Country Saddlery 60 Alexandria Pike, Warrenton, VA 20186

is published 5 times a year. Editorial and Advertising Address: 60 Alexandria Pike, Warrenton, VA 20186 For information and advertising rates, please call (540) 347-3141, fax (540) 347-7141 Space Deadline for the Winter issue is January 15, 2020. Payment in full due with copy. Publisher: Marion Maggiolo Managing Editor: J. Harris Anderson Advertising: Debbie Cutler (540) 347-3141, (800) 882-4868, Email: hcdebbiebtc@aol.com Contributors: Aga; J. Harris Anderson; John J. Carle II, ex-MFH; Cathy Moss Dattel; Will O’Keefe; Virginia Equine Alliance; Jenny Young LAYOUT & DESIGN: Kate Houchin Copyright © 2019 In & Around Horse Country®. All Rights Reserved. Volume XXXI, No. 5 POSTMASTER: CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED Regular subscription 5 issues $25.00, U.S.A. First Class subscription $35.00, Europe, Canada, etc. $45.00

IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • HOLIDAY 2019

OPENING MEETS

The Rev. Weston Mathews, Rector of Grace Episcopal Church, The Plains, VA, received a special greeting from a pack member of Orange County Hounds on Opening Day, November 2, 2019, at Meredyth Farm. Meanwhile, Huntsman Reg Spreadborough and the rest of the pack awaited the signal to move off for the day’s sport. Joanne Maisano photo

Casanova Hunt Opening Meet at Casanova Green, October 19, 2019. Tommy Lee Jones, now in his 50th season as Casanova’s huntsman, with hounds, followed by honorary whipper-in Amanda Fendley Choby. Douglas Lees photo

Joint Masters of the Casanova Hunt (l-r) Kathleen O’Keefe and Jeanne Fendley Clark leading the field. Douglas Lees photo

Rev. James Cirillo of Grace Episcopal Church, Casanova, VA, delivers a special blessing to Amanda Fendley Choby’s horse. Douglas Lees photo

Luxury estate with two homes, 12-stall barn, dressage arena, & 10ac +/- of fenced paddocks just 20 minutes to Roanoke.

6505 Winter Drive, Boones Mill, VA 24065 Visit www.WinterDriveEstate.com for more details Eight-bay Federal style mansion on Nat’l Historic Register. Create a show-stopping equine estate on the level 20ac +/- with multiple barns.

Steve Farrin is now carrying the horn for Old Dominion Hounds. His first Opening Meet with his new pack was held from the Hunter Trials Field, Orlean, VA, November 2, 2019. Joanne Maisano photo

3719 S Lee Hwy, Glasgow, VA 24555 Visit www.FancyHillEstate.com for more details

Realtor with Wainwright & Co.-REALTORS

David Hurt, REALTOR 540-598-9645 dhurt@landmatters.land LandMatters.land

“It’s Opening Day! Let’s roll!” Piedmont Fox Hounds were in an enthusiastic mood with the launch of formal season from Oakley on November 7, 2019. Joanne Maisano photo

IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • HOLIDAY 2019

OPENING MEETS

Huntsman Matt van der Woude moves off from the kennels at Elway with hounds of the Warrenton Hunt on Opening Day, November 2, 2019. Douglas Lees photo

Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington (an avid foxhunter among a few other notable accomplishments), held a Horse & Hound event on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. Marlborough Hunt, located just across the Potomac River in Maryland, was invited to exhibit their hounds to the admiring spectators. Shown here (l-r) are Whippers-in Greg Busch and Kimber McCreight, Master Christy Clagett, Huntsman Jason Cole, member Liza Duval, and Whippers-in Jane Cox and Val Levin. Aiding the hunt staff is young Sebastian Cole on his Shetland pony. Isabel Kurek photo

The Joint Masters of Warrenton Hunt assembled for the start of formal season, November 2, 2019. (l-r) K.T. Atkins, Celeste Vella, and John Wyatt. Douglas Lees photo

Hayley Reese shows off solid form over a coop on Blue Ridge Hunt’s Opening Day, October 26, 2019. Joanne Maisano photo

Blue Ridge Hunt Joint-Master Jeff LeHew starts the formal season in fine style as the day’s sport begins from Longbranch, October 26, 2019. Joanne Maisano photo With Loudoun Fairfax Huntsman Neil Amatt out of action due to a broken leg, several other hunts have extended open invitations to the LFH members to hunt with them. Several took advantage of that offer to join New Market – Middletown Valley for their Opening Meet on November 3, 2019, from Windward, the home of Katharine Byron, MFH, in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. Here LFH Whipper-in Amanda Kaseman gives her horse a little extra encouragement over a coop. Karen Kandra photo

Bonnie Kepner portrayed the picture of perfect Opening Day turnout when New Market – Middletown Valley met at Windward on November 3, 2019. Karen Kandra photo

IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • HOLIDAY 2019

OPENING MEETS Karen Kandra Photos

Tim Michel (center) prepares for his first formal season day as a professional Huntsman, October 19, 2019, with encouragement from Bull Run Hunt’s joint masters (l-r) Mike Long, Adrianna Waddy, Jay Moore, and Rosie Campbell.

Huntsman Tim Michel is joined by his daughter Samantha as hounds prepare to move off on Opening Day from Locust Hill Farm, Locust Dale, VA, home of Mr. Mike Long, MFH, and Mrs. Long, October 19, 2019.

Huntsman Larry Pitts, Bedford County Hunt, Opening Meet at Allwood Acres, the home of Mr. & Mrs. John Watts, Amherst, VA, October 26, 2019.

Bedford County Hunt junior member and Pony Clubber Carol Ann Pollard enjoys some quality time with hounds on Opening Day, October 26, 2019. Mary Long, MFH, welcomes the assembled crowd on Bedford County Hunt’s Opening Day, October 26, 2019.

(l-r) Huntsman Ashley Hubbard and Whipper-in Matthew Martinez move off with an eager pack on Green Spring Valley Hounds’ Opening Day from the kennels in Westminster, MD, November 2, 2019.

A well-placed tree stump by the kennels door serves as a handy mounting aid for Green Spring Valley’s Huntsman Ashley Hubbard.

IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • HOLIDAY 2019

CHARITIES The Brooke Charity: A Singular Mission of One Woman to Rescue Old War Horses Eighty-Five Years On Helps Working Animals In 11 Countries By Cathy Moss Dattel

Brooke India CEO Brigadier Jyothi Dharamadheeran speaking in a village outside Agra, Uttar Pradesh.

Women do most of the work with livestock, including detailed record keeping.

A donkey loaded with bricks at Rajakhera.

The leaders of the Qalander sect in Meerut.

When Dorothy Brooke stepped off the train in Cairo, that day in October of 1930, the social duties as the wife of the newly appointed commander of the British Cavalry Brigade were not her only concerns. Born into a life of privilege in 1883 in Scotland, Dorothy Evelyn Gibson-Craig was a lifelong animal lover and horsewoman. And contrary to most in her privileged circle she could not turn a blind eye to animal suffering. In England, she had followed the story and status regarding the fate of the army’s war horses that were left behind in Egypt after WWI. Some 22,000. Dorothy Brooke hated to remember, but could not forget the fate of those horses. They had carried cavalrymen, pulled guns and supply wagons in battles against Turkey, Germany’s ally, and helped defend the Suez Canal dutifully and in the most challenging conditions. The British Government did not return them to England, rather ordered the ones over 12 and those that could not perform work due to illness or injury be humanely destroyed. The rest were sold into the most wretched environment of hunger and deprivation and hard labor. Some of the cavalrymen who could not bear the thought of the life awaiting their faithful partners, pulling heavy loads through the streets of Cairo or working in stone quarries, rode them quietly into the desert and shot them. It was rumored that 200 of these horses remained in Egypt almost 13 years after the war. Dorothy Brooke feared there were more. She was right. There were 5,000. Intense heat and dust and a sight that once seen could not be ignored greeted her as she stepped off the train. Lined up at the station were rows of gharries, or taxis, and harnessed to each one were horses, all thin, some barely able to stand. Skeletal visions of underworked and undernourished animals driven on by whips of owners indifferent to their suffering. On this day, Dorothy Brooke could see the telltale arrow brand of the British Cavalry on the flanks of some of the larger carriage horses. Her journey from England to Cairo had just ended. A mission that would evolve into the largest equine charity in the world, Brooke, had just begun. Major General Geoffrey Brooke, Dorothy’s husband, understood that for his wife there was no other option but to somehow rescue the remaining war horses and give them a peaceful end. An avid polo player, showjumper, and steeplechase rider, he too could not bear the suffering of any animal. But despite his support and that of many others, she would encounter many of the challenges that face Brooke today: different cultures and different ways of doing things, and a reluctance to accept help from an outsider. In her approach and plan to recover the horses, Dorothy Brooke proved masterful in navigating the pushback of locals and her own government (she was warned against meddling in Egyptian affairs). Modern in her thinking, she realized that these animals were the only means to earn a living for many people and it was ignorance and economics that played heavily in the abusive situations the horses, donkeys, and mules found themselves in. She believed that keeping people out of poverty was best not done with handouts, but aiding them in maintaining a livelihood. Thus, education became a big part of her endeavor. But first she had to buy the horses back, there had to be compensation for the owners to buy a replacement. That was going to be a process and require a great deal of money. A plea to the English people in a letter that was published in The Morning Post, now the Telegraph, proved to Dorothy Brooke that England had certainly not forgotten the equine war heroes. “Out here in Egypt, there are still many hundreds of old Army Horses. They are all over 20 years of age and to say that the majority have fallen on hard times is to express it very mildly…many are blind, all are skeletons. If those who truly love horses will send contributions to help in giving a merciful end to our poor old war heroes, this may be as fitting a War Memorial as any other that could be devised.” An avalanche of mail followed, letters of encouragement, and, best of all, money! The word got out about the “crazy lady” who was buying broken down horses, some just to put to sleep. But Dorothy Brooke couldn’t turn away from the other working equines, horses and donkeys, who had the same needs and worked under the same conditions. So, The Old War Horse Hospital was opened in 1934 in Cairo

and still operates on that same site offering free veterinary care. In 1996 a chance viewing of a BBC documentary on The Old War Horse Hospital would connect me to Dorothy Brooke and her mission, irrevocably. By now it was called The Brooke Hospital for Animals and was serving the general public and their working equines in Cairo as the last war horse was long gone. In a scene that echoed her feelings towards the proper and humane end to an animal beyond all help, a cart horse that was scheduled for euthanasia was led to a courtyard where piles of straw were bedded extra deep. The horse was fed a mash and allowed to rest peacefully for a few days, the first mash and first rest he had known for a very long time. If ever. Small mercies to some, to Dorothy Brooke, the only way it could be. Twenty-three years later I was offered a chance to travel to India with Dr. David Jones, Chairman of the Board of Brooke USA, and a group of nine other supporters of Brooke USA. India is one of 11 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East now served by Brooke through clinics, mobile vet care, and education. I stepped out into the hot, hazy night in New Delhi accompanied immediately by too many “desi” dogs or local dogs to count. I stood waiting with the others for the bus to take us to our hotel as one sniffed my luggage and another pressed his head into my leg. They were followed by a few more, who waited politely for their pat on the head and scratch on their back. I thought of the words of a friend when she found out about my trip, “Brave girl, hold on to your heart.” Too late. I was slowly doling it out to my new friends as I would not forget them nor did I want to. I boarded the bus and watched them, watching me. I had been in India one hour. Something about those dogs. At home, I would have stuffed as many as I could into my car. It just didn’t seem right here. Not because it wasn’t feasible. After only one hour I thought I understood India. And I couldn’t wait to see more. Dinner the second night, after a day of recovery in Delhi, provided the first opportunity to get to know the people I was going to share this incredible journey with through sometimes challenging terrain, architectural beauty, extreme poverty, so many animals, so many people. And a chance to observe the work of Brooke, firsthand. We were accompanied by Brigadier Jyothi Dharamadheeran, CEO of Brooke India, and Admiral Vijay Malhotra, Chairman of the Board of Brooke India. We would be spending more time with the Brigadier and local Brooke staff at the sites. A brief introduction to Brooke’s work in India set the tone for our first visit. The obstacles and method of outreach were explained. And when you are talking about a country with a population of 1.3 billion people with over 70% living in a rural environment, the working equines’ role in India is brought into sharp focus. The number of working equines in India is 1.1 million. Each one supports an average of six people. Food and water are just the basic considerations when trying to keep an animal healthy. Yet the owners are often too poor to provide the bare necessities and under financial pressures overwork them. Brooke’s approach is multi-layered, much like Dorothy Brooke’s: working directly with the animals providing vet care, taking care of injury, disease and illness. Then, through education and providing the tools, teaching general animal husbandry to the owners, the importance of proper tack and harness and even how to make their own. They work with locals in the community to help provide proper hoof care, feed, and vet care. Sustainability is the ultimate goal. They can’t be everywhere, all of the time. Reaching other villages is only possible when the team can move on, leaving the last one with the tools to help themselves. Working with the local governments and organizations, Brooke has helped build partnerships that directly affect the attitudes towards the workers and, just as importantly, their equines. Brooke USA, through fundraising and donations, directs money to programs that promise sustainable improvement. The outreach to the owners has proven most effective. When they can see that proper care of the animal actually helps them make more money, not having to replace them due to injury or illness, the mindset slowly shifts from treating the animal as machinery to seeing the animal as a living partner with needs. The government, through the efforts of Brooke, is slowly addressing the welfare concerns of working equine animals in policy and application.

IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • HOLIDAY 2019

My excitement eclipsed any apprehension over what I was going to see, the next day, at our first site in a village outside Agra. The sights on the road were a fantastic jumble of color, the flowers, the saris, the vegetables, a blur of pinks, yellows, turquoise, and, always, orange. A two-lane road could become six very quickly as animals and people would just move out of the way for the vehicles making their own paths. Bicycles moved in and out of trucks and buses, and cows slowly made their way in the midst of it all. Horses pulling carts trotted along, somehow avoiding the faster moving vehicles. And the dogs. Everywhere. Somehow it all seemed to move forward in the most organized chaos. A seamless meld of vehicles, animals, and people. And they all sat or moved with an unwavering sense of purpose. The dogs trotted forward, not with that thousand-mile stare of a stray but like they knew where they were going. So did the cows, marching in single file, they walked along with a steady gaze towards water, food, to rest. They all had the same purpose—survival. Places of business, close to the street, displayed bicycle tires and offered repairs as did the automotive shops, with cars on cement blocks. Somehow these businesses, falling to pieces themselves, helped put broken vehicles back on the road. All within the gaze of a cow tethered a few feet away. The busy highway was soon replaced by fields of green, punctuated with bright orange marigolds. Cement and brick houses, with more cows tethered and resting in front, started to appear. Perfect dome-shaped structures next to them were crafted from manure. They stood ready for service, providing fuel for cooking and heating and fertilizer for the crops. Nothing is wasted. Agra City Brooke’s intervention in this village outside Agra in 2016 encountered health and general animal husbandry issues, common amongst all of the sites: lack of decent feed, poor hoof care, and improper treatment of wounds, most caused by ill-fitting harness and tack. The animals’ already challenged physical condition allowed for disease, like surra, to get a foothold. Surra is spread by biting flies and causes anemia and fever and general wasting of the animal. Deadly if not treated, hard on any animal that is already physically challenged. The bus parked on the outskirts of the village. As we walked in, inquisitive groups greeted us, standing quietly, some bowing with cupped hands murmuring the greeting “Namaste.” Walking down orderly dirt lanes that defined the village, we turned into a courtyard. There stood a crowd, led by women, clapping and smiling. They had something to show us. Meticulous journals were produced, handwritten, chronicling everything from vet care to money earned and expenses. With the help of Brooke, they had formed Equine Welfare groups with women from other villages. The money earned from their animals is pooled and they are now able to make loans to each other when an animal becomes sick, for vet care, or to help each other through bad times. A graph, with big boxes, had been drawn on the pavement of the courtyard in chalk. Feeding schedules, vet care, how many times stalls were cleaned, how many times water was offered to the animals. No language barrier here. In a country where the status of women is still evolving, these women and their groups seem to be functioning autonomously, empowering themselves. But to effect lasting change, everyone has to be involved in the welfare of the animal. Working with local agencies apart from the government ensures continued welfare when Brooke moves on. When the working donkeys were presented, I found them in surprisingly good health. Even with improved care, they are asked to work long days at hard labor. To see them looking as good as they did was encouraging. The practice of tethering animals is entrenched and widespread as there are no fences, so it was unsettling to see them standing unable to move around. The good news is that the use of nylon rope is being replaced with cotton and the use of the same leg is discouraged. Baby steps that impact the health of the animal big time. This village had come a long way in a little over two years. Rajakhera, Rajahstan We left Uttar Pradesh in the morning. A visit to a brick kiln was our next stop, in Rajakhera in the state of Rajasthan. Though India is the second largest producer of bricks in the world, technology is minimal and the transportation process manual. The loading is done by men, women, and children and the hauling by mules, donkeys, and horses. Over 380,000 equines work in brick kilns in India. In scorching heat, without a break, sometimes without water, no shade and difficult terrain. Brooke is involved with over 3,000 kilns in India through mobile vet clinics and directly connecting owners with local vets and farriers. The strategy of Brooke at the kilns is to ensure water, shelter, first aid, and leveled road surfaces. The exertion of starting off with a full load, from a standstill, straining an already physically challenged animal was hard to imagine. Up to 15 trips a day, with a load of 1,000 bricks. The distance between where the bricks are molded and where they are fired can be half a mile. A level surface takes on new meaning, especially to that animal. I watched as an owner loaded his donkey with bricks balanced on both sides until the donkey’s head and neck were all that were visible. I reached out to touch the neck of the donkey, it was hard as stone. And her look, a vacant stare. Brooke can’t take them away from this life, but what they can do, and what they have proven so successful at, is changing mindsets and therefore vastly improving the way the animals are treated, bringing relief to the working equines and helping the families in the process. Meerut After a day of cultural immersion in Jaipur—the architecture, the history, my run in with a sacred cow! (another story)—we headed to Meerut: a flight from Jaipur to New Delhi, and then a four-hour drive.

Even with all of the moving around, the sights, the sounds, the smells (none of the senses is deprived in India), the poverty and sheer numbers of people, I was energized. That night we would be joined by Petra Ingram, CEO of Brooke, from London; Brigadier Dharamadheeran; Admiral Malhotra; and senior local Brooke India staff to be caught up to date with new Brooke initiatives and progress. The Meerut site was home to a minority Sunni Muslim sect originally nomadic and thought to have come from central Asia. The issues at the start of Brooke intervention were surra, generally poor health status, and a one-size-fits-all mentality when doling out drugs with multiple uses of the same syringe. The on a donkey stallion in Qalander sect bred mules for sale at A young boy ties a halter Meerut. equine fairs all over India. The condition of the animals now, still questionable, had greatly improved since Brooke’s intervention in 2012. The sect at first was resistant to help from Brooke and did not trust the advice they were being given, nor were they interested. But once the practice of treating all ailments with the same medication, without regard to dosage, was almost eradicated, they had seen a dramatic change in the health of the mares and their ability to carry foals to term. 80% of the foals would die at birth before Brooke’s intervention and now 80% survive. Once a positive outcome is perceived, it is hard to ignore Brooke. The fact that I was sitting there that day with my group was testament to that. I sat with Dr. Jones, Petra Ingram, and the Brigadier. Watching Petra Ingram interact with the stone-faced men who sat and tolerated us, I thought I imagined Dorothy Brooke watching. She would be so proud. Ms. Ingram’s respectful demeanor and deference to the leaders of the village, her patience, surely would have reminded Dorothy Brooke of those days long ago in Cairo. A woman, in a culture led by men, through immense moral courage and perseverance, being heard. And actually getting something done. Brooke is not there to change the religion, the politics, or the culture but rather to improve the welfare of the working animal. Which in turn elevates the family, the local economy. There are 100 million working equines around the world supporting families in developing countries. It’s an enormous task for any outreach. The reward at the end? Every horse, donkey, and mule helped is just that: an individual whose labor sustains the lives of a single family. One of the horses lucky enough to find itself in the care of Dorothy Brooke was a former polo pony that she appropriately named Dauntless. He had come to the hospital with ribs showing and bandaged withers, open wounds from pulling a cart with ill-fitting harness. Despite his injuries and wasted condition, Dauntless would watch the comings and goings of the vets and grooms with interest and soon learned to bang his foot on the door when he heard Dorothy Brooke’s voice. “He had me completely at his mercy,” she recalled, “because his delight was so terribly pathetic,” as she offered not one lump of sugar but four or five. One day he raised a foreleg to Dorothy Brooke, a trick he had learned in happier days, and she recalled the anxious look on his face. It broke her heart to think how often he must have lifted that tired old foot to unheeding masters before he realized it produced no results at all. “How many times had this gesture been ignored?” Dauntless never gave up and was finally rewarded, getting that lump of sugar from Dorothy Brooke. For horses like Dauntless, a life of deprivation and hard labor could not be undone. Brooke’s mission is to improve the life of the working animals during their years of service. The hard labor is etched in stone. But with Brooke’s help, better care has made a world of difference in the day-to-day existence of these animals. I think Dorothy Brooke would approve. Cathy Moss Dattel is a longtime supporter of Brooke USA and an active Dot, a network of dedicated women continuing the legacy of Dorothy Brooke’s compassion for working equines. About Brooke USA The mission of Brooke USA is to significantly improve the welfare of working horses, donkeys and mules and the people they serve throughout Asia, Africa, the Middle East, the Americas, and the Caribbean by raising funds and responsibly directing them to the areas of greatest need. Brooke USA does this through a holistic approach to funding, which includes capacity building, sustainability programming, female empowerment, and international advocacy. Brooke USA connects private philanthropists with their passion for helping relieve the suffering of working equines and their owners. For more information about Brooke USA, the Brooke Charity, and Brooke India, visit: www.brookeusa.org www.thebrooke.org www.brookeindia.org

AGA’S SAGAS

IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • HOLIDAY 2019

When the Time Is Right, the Pet Will Come

The pace has quickened at Horse Country. We added two back-to-back catalog productions to the schedule this year and, with one less weekend between Thanksgiving and Christmas, we’re in a tizzy. So much so, for the first time we’ve engaged a gift wrapper. The most exciting news is Rita Mae Brown’s latest Sister Jane mystery Scarlet Fever is launching at Horse Country December 4th and we hope to see every one of her readers in attendance. We’re planning a wonderful menu and, of course, O.B. and Barbara will be the certified mixologists. The hunting season is in full swing with riders arriving from all over North America and we’re happy to show them a good time in the store. Needless to say, we’re working late into the night getting decorations in place and with the last minute arrival of fall clothing, holiday gifts, and books we’re working round the clock. So, all in all, you may see why I might consider tizzy to be an understatement. With only 24 hours in a day, there isn’t time for much besides Saddlery business. Properly planning a meal and taking the time to sit down and eat in a casual manner seems to be low priority on the list. Few things are worse than a rushed lunch, trying to eat standing up with a phone propped under an ear and a keyboard clacking under your fingers. And with all the hustle and bustle at Horse Country, I wish Aga and Bunsen were here this year for much needed extra guidance. Thank you all for asking, but I haven’t had time to think about getting a new Scottie to replace my beloved duo work partners. The other day we had an unexpected visitor, Ms. R., a customer from the hinterlands of Loudoun County. Ms. R loves our horse-themed apparel and knickknacks but she has never owned a horse. “I am too busy to be bothered with pets!” she stated. “But horses are such spiritual creatures. I admire their beauty so much, I can’t get enough of them around the house!” She wears our popular tech shirts with horses galloping around in different states of frenzied excitement. As we chat over the counter, I notice she continually checks the cell phone attached to her belt. Then she reaches in her mothership of a tote bag and pulls out another cell, this time for a business call. Yet again, she digs in and pulls out a large iPad to show me photos of an equine statue in her landscaped “Spirit” garden. When I remark on the number of devices she carries around, she admits to being enamored with them and confesses to referring to them as her “pets.” “I know they’re cold and impersonal,’” she said, “but my life revolves around them and you can bet they are my constant companions. I guess you could call them my iPets.” For some reason as I told her about my own overuse of technical devices, I also confessed to her about my new pet search being delayed by the call of business and the holiday season being so demanding. She sympathized. As Ms. R took her leave, she turned to me and said, “Don’t worry about your decisions on a new pet. Sometimes a spirit will visit you and lead you to the action your heart desires!” That night, after working into the wee hours and feeling exhausted, I went home to a hurried dinner and fell into bed. Perhaps it was the quick meal, but my sleep was fitful. With all the tossing and turning, a dream took form. A spirit came into the room and woke me. Not just any spirit, mind you. This was the Spirit of Pets: Past, Present and Future! At first, I doubted my senses, believing it to be an undigested bit of that Uber-delivered dinner. Even though the silent spirit was completely hooded, I could tell by its shape it was a dog. Somehow, I knew the spirit was here to instruct me and by taking the proffered leash, I would be led to sights I needed to see. So I reached down, grabbed hold of the leash, and with a quick tug we were off. Back in time we went, to my youth and there in front of me was my very first pet—a cuddly black and white Cocker Spaniel. “Tally!” I exclaimed with delight. Such a darling pet without a bad bone in her body, not to mention fuzzy ears that never ended. I called out but was not heard or noticed, which is how these kinds of

Claudia Coleman illustration

dreams work. Shortly, I felt a tug of the leash and we were off to another time, home from college. After working with my mother at the fledgling Horse Country Saddlery, we drove home from the store in our old Plymouth station wagon, affectionately called “Hesperus.” There to greet me was Gayla, my Irish Wolfhound. What a joy to see her again. Rounding the corner of the house, I saw the whole pack of Wolfhounds we kept, led by my mom’s majestic retired champion Boru with Nora, Dooney, and the others lounging around the porch like a pride of lions on the Serengeti. Believe me, there were no unwanted varmints nosing around in that yard! I wanted to stay longer but felt the tug of the leash again and we were taken to another home, my sister’s house, where she and her husband lived with Lucy, their wonderful Dachshund. They were inseparable, travelled together, and even watched Redskins games together through the thrills of victory and, mostly, the agonies of defeat. Again came the tug and this time we visited the present. Here and there we went, seeing family and friends with their various companions—horses, cats...a turtle—all bringing joy, peace and goodwill to their owners. With a more ominous tug on the leash, I knew it was time to go to the future, where I would see sad, colorless lives of people who didn’t have the companionship of loving pets. And we would see wonderful animals wasting away in kennels because no one claimed them. At this point of the dream, I said, “Ahh, no more. I think it’s time to go home. And by the way, what is going on with this mysterious hood?” I quickly pulled the hood away and there standing in front of me was my very own Aga! “You rascal!” I said. “No wonder you weren’t talking. I’d know your yip anywhere! What are you doing in my dream masquerading as the Spirit of Pets?” “I’m glad you asked. We all do community service work over the holidays,” said Aga. “Bunsen would have come but he is busy working with Santa’s R & D team as they develop a new line of chew toys. Pandore is advising a group of dogs just back from Afghanistan. Wouldn’t say what they were doing. Very hushhush-puppy stuff. He said he could tell me but then he would have to take away my eternal passport. “Well, I had better be going on to my next spectral visitation, and you should be getting a good night’s sleep considering the day you have in store tomorrow. Ha! Ha! By the way, I love the new fox luggage tags. And the hats this year, fabulous. Couldn’t have done better myself.” And with that, I drifted off into a deep sleep and woke up completely at peace. I am now determined to take the time to have relaxing and well-prepared meals, no matter how things go at the store. Also, I decided to think harder about getting my next companion Scottie…when I get back from England in February.

PERSIAN HORSES Fine porcelain with elegant horses in beautiful blankets making a dash around the ﬁeld. Lamps in three shapes. All heights include the ﬁnial. Ginger Jar on footed wood base 25” 1895-TL0020 (HC1A) $196.00 Tea Jar on footed wood base 26” 1895-TL0010 (HC1B) $225.00 Tall Cylinder on wood base 28” 1895-TL0030 (HC1C) $279.00 Oversize Bowl on wooden base 14” dia 7 1⁄2” tall. 1895-PB0010 (HC1D) $279.00 Footed Cachepot 9”T x 13”W 1895-PV0010 (HC1E) $155.00

A Christmas Visit to Horse Country Do you remember how it felt in December, When you went to your favorite store? Coming in from the weather, the warm scent of leather Brought a smile as you stepped through the door.

THE KINGLINESS OF THE PHEASANT (SYLVIA PLATH) Made in France. Pheasant Platter Porcelain 17 3⁄4” x 14 1⁄4" 1753-PHSTR (HC1F) $270.00; Plate 91⁄4” 1753-PHSDP (HC1G) $45.00

HORSE COUNTRY®

THE COVEY IN THE NEST T Partridge Tray. Made in France. Acrylic 11”x 15” P 11753-PARTR (HC1H) $65.00

(540) 347-3141 800-88-2-HUNT (4868) 60 Alexandria Pike, Warrenton, Virginia 20186 Store Hours: Monday–Friday 9AM - 6PM, Saturday 9AM - 5PM (ET) OPEN SUNDAY 12-4 FROM THANKSGIVING UNTIL CHRISTMAS

THE ATWOOD OD FOX FOX X Fox in full coat at bbyy A American me ica mer me ican aartist rtistt rtist rti orccel or cee ain ain.. ai Julie Wear. Porcelain. Plate 61⁄2” 1897-AWFXBP (HC1J) $54.00 Plate 8.0” 1897-AWFXSP (HC1K) $68.00 Mug 1897-AWFXMG (HC1L) $52.00

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PISTOL HANDLE KNIVES Serrated edge steak knives with hand engraved fox. One set only. Boxed set of six. Silver plated. 2765-676 (HC1M) $875.00 All prices subject to change without notice. All items subject to availability. IAHC 11-2019

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A bounty of wonder, up high and down under, Of presents for those on your list. In every direction, gift-giving perfection. Not a name on your list would be missed.

BLAAANKETS AND THROWS We carry a large selection of throws from England, France and Italy. Choose from Cashmere, Alpaca, Merino and Mohair as well as antique Welsh blankets. Incredible plaids and tartans, solids and heather mixed designs. Throws make wonderful gifts and wedding presents. English wool. Assorted colors and patterns. (HC2A) From $150.00-$330.00 French Merino in popsicle colors (HC2B) $625.00

AT THE DOOR All are washable, 21”x 33” Horse and Bit 1247-DM0200 (HC2C) $39.99 Horse and Black Dog with Carrot 1247-DM0400 (HC2D) $39.99 Standing Horse 1247-DM0500 (HC2E) $39.99

STANDING HUNTER Traditional Show Hunter in either a Comfort Mat on ½” soft rubber. 29.5” X 20” 1567-009 (HC2F) $44.00; or Floor Mat 25”x 19” 1567-008 (HC2G) $38.95

WOODLAND CRITTERS Always useful melamine trays. 15” x 61⁄2” 3161-RWMT1 (HC2H) $9.99; 18” x 111⁄2” 3161-RWMT2 (HC2J) $19.99

FOX ACCENT LIGHT Metal and capiz shell 9”x 8” 1888-AL0001 (HC2L) $47.95 BLACK H HORSE LAMP Herringbone tweed shade. Herringbon 14 1⁄2" tall. 11816-AL01 (HC2K) $58.99

HC2 H O R SE C O U NTRY ® 800 88-2 HUNT Visit us online! www.horsecountrylife.com

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Shop online! www.HorseCountryCarrot.com Soft and Dreamy TUCKED IN FOR THE WINTER We’re pleased to offer our own Horse Country pillow selection. Here are just a few for inspiration.

HAMPTON Down ﬁlled. Square 18”x 18” 770-HAM-001 (HC3A) $149.00 Bolster 15” x 30” 770-HAM-002 (HC3B) $179.00

TWO FROM OUR MUNNINGS COLLECTION Down ﬁlled, on English linen. Foxhound 17” x 18” 1880—PC004 (HC3C) $96.00; Huntsman 23” x 24” 1880-PC002 (HC3D) $144.50

AP PAINTER’S FOX Black flocked Bla bac background. Down fille lled 18” x 18” 770-819001 (HC3E) $103.00 FOX FULL BODY PILLOW Great for the floor or rest your back. Double life size at 45” long. Plush with zipper. 1660-PL003 (HC3F) $99.99

FOLK HORSE THROWS Artisan made in Peru. Alpaca. 72" x 51" Aqua 3460-TH0571A reduced (HC3G) $295.00 reg. $380.00 Green 3460-TH0571G reduced (HC3H) $295.00 reg. $380.00 Orange 3460-TH0571O reduced (HC3J) $295.00 reg. $380.00

HUNT BUTTON AFGHAN Hunter Green with the hunts of Virginia around the edge. Famous Huntsman Melvin Poe iss hunting the hounds this day. Cotton Cotton. 65” X 52” 422-003 (HC3K) $85.00 CHESHIRE HUNT Classic American hunt scene. Made in the USA. Down ﬁlled with zipper. Euro 26" x 26" 770-CHE (HC3L) $175.00 Bolster 36" x 15" 770-CH2 (HC3M) $199.00

PUNCTUAL FOX CLOCK Hard resin, matt grey metallic ﬁnish, 12” dia. 1893-WC0001 (HC3N) $49.95

H OR SE C OUNT RY ® 800 88-2 HUNT HC3 Shop online! www.horsecountrycarrot.com

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New books and old ones, scarves that are bold ones In colors and patterns quite brightful. Tack for your horses, plus stable resources, And hats that are truly delightful.

THE MASTER’S BAR HERRING HUNT Classic Herring Hunt Scene. Double Old Fashioned Set of four. 14oz 2026HS (HC4A) $49.95; Decanter with four DOF in gift box. 2039HS (HC4B) $87.95

SECOND HORSES Horse Country Signature, etched glasses. Made in the USA. Wine Glasses. 16oz. Set of four. #471-HCGS02. (HC4D) $89.95 Double Old Fashioned. Set of four. #471-HCSGS01. (HC4E) $89.95

FULL CRY. Horse Country Signature. Etched glasses. Made in the USA, double old fashioned. Set of two. #1416-HC/001. (HC4C) $72.00

FOX LUCK Etched fox graces a red wine glass or a white wine glass. Set of four. Red 16oz. 471-HCRGS (HC4F) $49.00; White 19oz. 471-HCWGS (HC4G) $49.00

ZEPHYR FOX Tray Aluminum with a pewter fox finial. 15 1⁄4”W x 10”D x 41⁄2”T 1303-TR0010 (H (HC4J) $98.00 Canister Glass body with aluminum top and pewter 0010 (HC4K) $69.00 fox finial. 1303-KC0010

TALLY HO MUG with traditional hunt scene. 16oz size. 3161THM010 (HC4H) $7.00 MR. FOX MUG in handsome box 1718MA0574 (HC4L) $15.95

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HC4 H O R SE C O U NTRY ® 800 88-2 HUNT Visit us online! www.horsecountrylife.com

All prices subject to change without notice. All items subject to availability. IAHC 11-2019

FOX IN THE POPPIES MUG with traditional hunt scene, 16oz size. 3161-RWMG4 (HC4M) $13.00

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LAUREL, THE GALLOPING HORSE WITH SPARKLING EYES Napkin rings with Swarovski eyes. Set of four. Platinum 3085-NR3700 (HC5A) $195.00 Gold 3085-NR3701 (HC5B) $195.00 Knife Rest with Swarovski eyes. Set of six. Platinum 3085-KR3700 (HC5C) $250.00 Gold 3085-KR3701 (HC5D) $250.00

No one entertains like youTHE WELL APPOINTED TABLE Belmont Collection at Horse Country We carry a wide ranging selection of Belmont serveware. Please visit www.HorsecountryCarrot.com to see more pieces. Belmont Wood Utensil Caddy with Pewter Bit. 4005-H264LB (HC5E) $98.00 Belmont Cream and Sugar with Tray and Stirrup Spoon. 4005-H317EQ (HC5F) $145.00 Belmont Cheese Pedestal 4005-202E31 (HC5G) $145.00 Belmont Napkin Ring Pewter Brass Horn and Pewter Fox Mask 4005-E115GH (HC5H) $42.00 each Belmont Wooden Cheese Board with Pewter Bit 4005-H251BT (HC5J) $45.00

MUNNINGS, ART ON THE TABLE Sir Alfred Munnings was one of the most important Equestrian and Sporting Artists of the early-mid 20th Century. His unforgettable and timeless style of capturing rural, sporting and equestrian themes is now brought to life on a range of greeting cards and home wares available at Horse Country. From the Munnings Museum collection. All images are the property of the Munnings Estate. Please visit www.HorsecountryCarrot.com to view the stocked range. Placemats, luncheon mats, coasters, greeting cards, notebooks and pillows.

CHAMPAGNE AND WINE ON ICE Belmont Ice Bucket Vintage Belmont Park trophy replication. Bronze with pewter ornamentation. 4005-H503EQ (HC5K) $575.00 Polo Club Ice Bucket, brass. 9 1⁄2" t 1303-IB0010 (HC5L) $115.00; Polo Club Ice Bowl, brass. 12” dia round. 1303-SB0010 (HC5M) $125.00

TALLY HO HUNT Classic scene hard mats and matching coasters. Table mats. Set of four. 12”x 16” 3602-S0073MAT (HC5N) $42.95; Coasters. Set of six. 41⁄4” 3602-S0073-CSTR (HC5P) $15.95

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H OR SE C OUNT RY ® 800 88-2 HUNT HC5 www.Facebook.com/HorseCountryLife

Shop online! www.horsecountrycarrot.com Not responsible for typographical errors. IAHC 11-2019

Shop online! www.HorseCountryCarrot.com AU BUT! Pau Rigual ( 1863-1917, Spain, France) Figural piece, spelter. 20”L x 17”H. #999-1114-002. (HC6A) $1900.00

A Horse Country visit for something exquisite Is the clearly reliable reason For fully assuring that this Christmas morning Will be your best holiday season!

SITTING HOUND Royal Worcester. Artist Doris Linder. 1950s. 7” t. #4207-001. (HC6B) $695.00

FOX DEMITASSE SPOONS Velvet lined case. Set of six. #9330003. (HC6C) $495.00 Two sets available.

TOBACCO JAR Royal Doulton. Comical scene with the master in the rough. Lid formed to hold aromatic spice. 8”t. #2516-005. (HC6D) $550.00

ENAMEL FOX GLASSES Water Goblets. Set of four. #5100-1114-009 (HC6E) $395.00 Set of six. #5100-1114-007. (HC6F) $595.00 Old Fashioned. Set of four. #5100-1114-010 (HC6G) $395.00 Decanter and Set of five Sherry Glasses. #5100-1114-006 (HC6H) $795.00

CRYSTAL JUG Hand-painted horses and hounds. Mouth blown. 12” H. #2517-003. (HC6J) $325.00 JOY AND GRIEF Arts and Crafts copper frames with Surtees quotes. Frank Gillete prints. 19 1⁄2”l x 16 3⁄4”t. #2118-010014. (HC6K) $2450.00/pair

INKWELL Crystal hooves as double inkwell. Hunting crops hold the pens. Silver plate, 1900s. #2517-001. (HC6L) $2250.00

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HC6 H O R SE C O U NTRY ® 800 88-2 HUNT Visit us online! www.horsecountrylife.com

All prices subject to change without notice. All items subject to availability. IAHC 11-2019

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14k racehorse with large diamond eye (9200-003) (HC7B) $2200.00

FOUR LEAF CLOVER PIN 14k with four crystals, 1950s #813-008. (HC7A) $2995.00 ROOSTER PIN 14K. Edwardian. Diamonds. #9341-005. (HC7E) Enquire with store.

WIDE BARREL CUFF 14k and 1 1⁄4” wide cuff embellished with diamond and precious stone ornaments including a coach, jockey cap, Belmont Park race program, race horse, sailboat, dog, champagne bucket, elephant and others. (9200002) (HC7D) Enquire with store. CRYSTAL HORSE HEAD RING 14k yellow gold. 1970s. #9335-002. (HC7C) $1900.00

SADDLE AND CROP STOCK PIN 14K. 3 1⁄4”L. #9345-005. (HC7G) $995.00

FOX CRYSTAL PIN Estate. Fox crystal, 18K. 2 1⁄2” long. #2518-004. (HC7F) $1375.00

GENTLEMAN RIDER 14k gold and crystal cufflinks, solid back. 9533-001 (HC7L) $3400.00

HORSE HEAD CRYSTAL STICK PIN 2 1⁄2”. #9345011. (HC7J) $1200.00 CRYSTAL FOX PIN Estate. 14k gold. Large crystal with chain edging around crystal. Serves as either a pendant or pin. 1 1⁄2” long by 1” wide. #9345-012. (HC7H) $4500.00.

HORSE CRYSTAL WATCH Two horseshead crystals. 14k. Bits and stirrups embellish the links. 7” in length. #9341-001. (HC7K) $4900.00

NOW & FOREVER CRYSTAL PIN 14K, hand-painted, square crystal, 1960s. #2015-NFCPMF.#9324-001. (HC7M) $1400.00

HUNT SCENE PIN Estate. Rectangle pin, sterling silver. 1864. 23⁄4” long #2518-003. (HC7N) $998.00 TALLY HO CRYSTAL BRACELET 14k. 1924. Unusual, hand-painted crystals. Detailed loose ring bit links. 7”L. #420-111301. (HC7P) $2995.00

H OR SE C OUNT RY ® 800 88-2 HUNT HC7 Shop online! www.horsecountrycarrot.com Not responsible for typographical errors. IAHC 11-2019

AMERICAN FOX HOUND Royal Doulton. Rare. 7 1⁄2"L x 5 1⁄2"H. #9330-006 (HC8A) $1500.00

It’s wonderful to be able to do

something we love and to serve people who are truly friends

BRONZE GILT HORSE Shadow box frame. 18”x 15”. #5100-02016. (HC8B) $2950.00. Two others available, smaller size.

and not just “customers.” So to all of you, from the entire Horse Country team, may you have a fabulous Christmas and a

happy New Year full of merry times and exciting chases. Sincerely, Marion

Framed.

HAND-PAINTED PITCHER Antique. 10" tall. #2518-020. (HC8C) $450.00

CARVED FRENCH PLAQUES One of a fox, the other a hare in natural setting. Set of two. French. #5201-088. (HC8D) $995.00/pair

DOORSTOP Horse hoof with silver plate shoe and fittings. 22” t x 4 1⁄4”w. #9240-014. (HC8G) $995.00

FOX AND HOUND SALT & PEPPER SHAKERS. Antique. Sterling silver. Set of two. 1" tall. #2518-019. (HC8E) $695.00

OVAL FOX SIGN Wooden. 59"W x 41 1⁄2"H. #3026-mm-014 (HC8F) $1750.00

HAND-PAINTED PILSNER GLASSES Antique. 7 1⁄4" tall. Set of five. #2518-021. (HC8H) $450.00 HAND-PAINTED HIGHBALL GLASSES Antique. 5 1⁄4" tall. Set of five. #2518-022. (HC8J) $450.00

Horse Country® (540) 347-3141 • 800-882-HUNT (4868)

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To SPERRYVILLE & I-81 211

W IN CH ES TE R

St.

MAIN St.

HORSE COUNTRY

WATERLOO St. ss RT. 29/17 Bypa

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BROADVIEW Ave.

Store Hours: Monday–Friday 9AM - 6PM, Saturday 9AM - 5PM (ET)

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Rt. 17 By pass

60 Alexandria Pike • Warrenton, Virginia 20186 CUSTOMER SERVICE AND INQUIRIES: (540) 347-3141 24 HOUR FAX: (540) 347-7141 For Orders Only: 800-88-2-HUNT(4868)

To WASHINGTON via I-66

Pk. DRIA ALEXAN

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To WINCHESTER, I-66 & I-81

To CULPEPER & CHARLOTTESVILLE

IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • HOLIDAY 2019

JUNIORS

It Takes More Than A Village ( A Lot More!) By J. Harris Anderson, Managing Editor • Joanne Maisano photos

A “village” (defined as “larger than a hamlet and smaller than a town”) may suffice for raising a child (singular). But for an all-volunteer youth-oriented program that this year encompassed 16 US states plus one Canadian province and reached several hundred youngsters, you’re going to need a whole lot more than a village. To make the Junior North American Field Hunter Championship a reality requires an expansive network of participants who help in myriad ways. Those ways encompass a broad spectrum of activities, the most visible of which are the qualifier meets hosted by participating hunt clubs. There were more than 30 such events held this year. Each one entails a team of helpers to encourage local juniors to participate, organize the day, handle registrations, serve as mounted judges, provide refreshments afterward, and record the results. As anyone who has scheduled special hunting days knows, hosting an event ramps up the responsibility to see that everything goes well while accepting the reality that unforeseen glitches can occur—foul weather, poor ground conditions, quarry unwilling to provide good sport, etc. When several eager juniors are primed to come hunting with your pack on a specific day, the flexibility to cancel on short notice is substantially reduced. So prayers are sent up with added fervor that all will go well. An essential group to make this program work consists of all the parents who give their children the opportunity to ride and participate in the competition. The often cited phrase “today’s juniors are the future of foxhunting” is obviously true. But what must also be noted is that without parents willing to invest the time, effort, and expense required for a youngster to ride to hounds, there would be no hunting juniors to fulfill that future. One example of such dedicated support comes from Angela and John Sneed, whose twelve-year-old daughter Brooks Marie hunts with Hillsboro Hounds in Tennessee. “It’s about an 11 hour drive,” Angela said, “and, yes, worth it! On the drive up I asked Brooks what she likes most about the JNAFHC. Her initial response was ‘Everything!’ When I pressed for something more specific, she said, ‘I learn from so many people. But mostly it’s that these kids are just like me.’ In middle Tennessee, foxhunting isn’t something everyone does. So to do this with lots of kids her age—she’s simply on Cloud 9!” Angela added her own thoughts on the benefits of this program. “JNAFHC has challenged Brooks with responsibility while allowing her to watch and learn from others, young and old. To hear her talk passionately, at such a young age and in her own words, about taking care of animals, wildlife, preserving land…I mean wow! That’s not something most twelve-year-olds have on their mind. So does JNAFHC make a difference? Does it matter? Yes, yes, and…YES!” Parental support might come from simply paying the registration fee and then driving a child and his or her pony to one qualifier meet. In areas where there are multiple hunts hosting qualifiers, the number of such trips could multiply. For those who go all the way through to the finals weekend, like the Sneeds, which is held in a different place each year, the commitment can rise significantly when long distance travel, stabling, and guest rooms are factored in. For that special weekend, the generosity of so many becomes especially critical. The registration fees only cover a portion of the program’s overall expenses. Numerous supporters make cash donations

103 Juniors assembled on Saturday, November 8, at Old Whitewood Farm, The Plains, Virginia, for the finals of the 2019 Junior North American Field Hunter Championship.

of varying amounts. Private individuals offer their homes and barns for guest accommodations and stabling. Others volunteer to host the weekend social events, which typically include a reception on Friday evening and a dinner party—complete with dancing and the always-popular whip-cracking and hornblowing contests—on Saturday night. Businesses and hunting-related organizations serve as sponsors for items such as trophy coolers, helmets, stable products, and association memberships. And local hunts offer an added day of sport. This year approximately 130 juniors qualified to participate in the finals. Not all of them were able to make the trip to Virginia, where Saturday’s competition and the related Friday and Saturday social events were held. But 103 did and, while many of them live within driving distance of Middleburg, many others needed to take advantage of those generous offers of stabling and sleeping quarters…and have parents or other adults in their lives willing to make such a trip. The big weekend saw chilly conditions but nothing that interfered with the scheduled activities. All the participating juniors and their supporters enjoyed three days filled with socializing and plenty of good sport. Loudoun Hunt invited the juniors to hunt with them on Friday, Snickersville Hounds and MOC Beagles did so for Sunday. A reception was held at the MFHA headquarters in Middleburg Friday evening, the finals took up most of Saturday followed by the post-competition party that evening hosted by Snowden Clark and Bryce Lingo at Orange Hill Farm in Marshall. Saturday’s action began with each of the four divisions performing a hack under the judges’ eyes, followed by a mock hunt. The judges then whittled each group down to 10 finalists (40 juniors total) who rode a handy hunter course to determine the resultant rankings. At day’s end, the division winners were: Hilltopper 10 & Under: Brynn Miller, Rocky Rocks, Potomac Hunt (MD) Hilltopper 11 & Over: Josie Galvin, Priceless, Farmington Hunt Club (VA) First Field 12 & Under: Flora Hannum, Snickers, Orange County Hounds (VA) First Field 13 & Over: Colby Poe, Hershey, Old Dominion Hounds (VA) Lynda Johnston Perpetual Spirit Award: Sydney Pemberton, Middleburg Hunt (VA) Best Turned Out Lydia Eifler, Long Run Woodford Hounds (KY) Whip Cracking: Max Kaplan, Mill Creek Hunt (IL) Horn Blowing: Sam Dozier, Belle Meade Hunt (GA) For the full results, visit www.jnafhc.com. Next year’s finals will be hosted by Iroquois Hunt in Lexington, Kentucky.

Flora Hannum, Orange County Hounds, Champion, First Field 12 & Under.

Colby Poe, Old Dominion Hounds, Champion, First Field, 13 & Over.

Brynn Miller, Potomac Hunt, Champion, Hilltopper 10 & Under, receives her award from (l-r) Judge Joseph Keusch, ex-MFH, and three ladies who have dedicated several years and countless hours of effort to making the JNAFHC a success: Douglas Wise-Stuart, ex-MFH; Marion Chungo; Michelle Arnold.

IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • HOLIDAY 2019

HOUND SHOWS

Friends of the Penn-Marydel Hound Show By John J. Carle II, ex-MFH

Beth Opitz, MFH, brings hounds to the meet at “High Thicket.”

Thornton Hill Joint Master Erwin Opitz.

Rick and Leslie Gable Perpetual Trophy for Highest Scored Pack, The Moore County Hounds Lincoln Sadler, MCH Huntsman; Laura Linderwood, MCH Whipper-in; Leslie and Rich Gable.

Longreen Foxhounds Huntsman Susan Walker accepts the Michael E. Wright trophy for Champion Foxhound. Presented by Joseph T. “Jody” Murtaugh. Longreen “Quartz” admires his trophy.

For many years the Kimberton Hound Show was a beloved fixture on the calendars of all lovers of the Penn-Marydel foxhound, and they flocked to Chester Springs, PA, where Sandy Dunn, MFH, the Kimberton Hounds, and his Joint Master and daughter, Barbie Dunn Mueller, hosted packs from far and wide. When, after the 2018 renewal, Sandy and Barbie decided time had come to step down, up stepped the Friends of the Penn-Marydel, a wonderfully enthusiastic, proactive group of hound lovers, to take over. Beth and Erwin Opitz, Joint Masters of Sperryville, Virginia’s Thornton Hill Hounds, offered to hold the show at High Thicket, their lovely Woodville, VA, farm. And thus, an old tradition carried on as a new one was born. Weekend festivities began early with a joint meet on Thursday, September 19, 2019, when Tennessee Valley Hounds’ Huntsman Ryan Johnsey, MFH, threw 7½ couple of his hounds in with Thornton Hill’s 14 couple at a meet at High Thicket. Hounds were eager and, during the Opitz’s welcoming remarks, took themselves off to draw the woods nearby. Brought to order by horn and voice, they were taken across Fletcher’s Mill Road to Michael Ewen and Barbara Stettner’s farm and thrown in below the small pond. Always a vulpine hotspot, this dense covert produced a leash of young red foxes that flew back across the road into the Browns’ Lazy Lot, where they split, two crossing High Thicket’s back pasture to The Shade, and one rocketing up Turkey Mountain (High-Top Turkey in local parlance, and well named). Setting the woods a-clamor with the operatic volume for which PMDs are famous, the pack settled on the line of the mountaineer, scorching his brush till he went to ground in a rocky sanctuary. Brought down to the The Shade to try for one of the remaining brace, they soon were working a promising line from the point where Second Flight Field Master Jim Massie claimed he’d smelled a fox. Just as hounds were getting in gear, a coyote intervened and, fleeing straightaway into the lower slopes of formidable Red Oak Mountain on to a distant valley, he put paid to the hunt, as this vast tract of country is unpaneled. Tracking collars and GPS to the rescue, all hounds were in by 1:00 p.m. The Friends of the Penn-Marydel Hound Show was held on Saturday, September 20, in a lovely, delightfully shaded dell, where the ground had been leveled and seeded last year for Elida Opitz and Nick Merriam’s wedding. It is the perfect spot to accommodate hounds from 15 packs; and, even then, in some classes hounds overflowed its capacity. Senior judge was Joseph T. “Jody” Murtagh, lifetime Huntsman, former Rose Tree Master and PMD advocate. Indeed, Jody has preached the PMD gospel countrywide, often with the firebrand fervor of a backcountry preacher at an oldtimey Appalachian tent revival. His co-judge was daughter Missy, who turned hounds to her dad for years and is a former Tennessee Valley

Happy Addis presents the Dr. H.L. Addis Perpetual Champion Puppy Trophy to Tennessee Valley Huntsman Ryan Johnsey, MFH for TVH “Kubota.”

Huntsman. Kimberton always had puppy classes (6 months and under), and the tradition was carried on, with TVH “Kubota” winning the blue in Dog hounds, and John Dean’s “Flirt” in the bitches. Then she won the tricolor and he the reserve. Unentered Dogs went the way of the Sedgefield Hunt (NC), their “Patch” heading a strong lineup. Another North Carolina pack, the Moore County Hounds, took Unentered Bitch honors with their lively “Becker.” Incidentally, she is the great-great-great granddaughter of MCH “Needy,” bred by Jody Murtagh, whom, long ago, C. Martin Wood III, MFH, pinned Grand Champion Foxhound at the Virginia Foxhound Club show, thus lifting forever from the PMD the stigma of “ugly sister” accorded them so unfairly by some aficionados of other foxhound breeds. Young Riley Beahm, representing the Snickersville Hounds, put on a professionally polished performance to top a very competitive Junior Handlers class. His mother, Julie Maley, whose lovely smile lit up the secretary’s tent all day, hunts with Thornton Hill. The Entered Dog class was huge, the ring awash with quality hounds. After much deliberation, the judges awarded top honors to Longreen “Quartz,” surprisingly spry despite a marathon journey from Byhalia, Mississippi. In second place was TVH “Kudzu,” who had shown under the Aiken Hounds’ banner in May, but was drafted back to his breeders. Entered Bitches was so large it had to be split. After much close scrutiny, Moore County “Seattle,” a whisper-light mover, stood supreme (and, incidentally, left her kennelmate “Youpon,” PMD Champion at this year’s Carolinas’ Hound Show, mired in 4th). The Listed Dog class brought back a bit of recent history when Keswick “Keebler” outclassed the competition. “Keebler’s” Keswickbred, bobtailed sire “Kirkland” led the Thornton Hill pack during the last two years of Billy Dodson’s tenure as Huntsman. Furthermore, “Keebler” traces his bloodline straight back to Murtagh’s “Boxer.” Cedar Knob “Treasure” bested the other unentered bitches.

IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • HOLIDAY 2019

End of an awesome hunt Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019, Beth Opitz, MFH with hounds.

Best Stallion Hound went to Mt. Carmel “Rascal,” and Brood Bitch to Warwick Village “Bittersweet.” In the special class for Performance Trial winners, Cedar Knob “Kiss” hunted up the blue ahead of a lineup of hounds with vastly varied conformation, but proven hunting ability. Longreen “Quartz” climbed atop the podium for Champion Foxhound, with Reserve/Best of Opposite Sex awarded to Warwick Village Hounds “Bittersweet.” Four hunts contested the Pack Class, and performances were all sharp and fresh despite the stifling afternoon heat. But none could top Lincoln Sadler’s MCH’s cheerful and relaxed showing, although Ryan Johnsey and TVH and Kimberton, under the guidance of Huntsman Phil Shirk, made it close. The combined Cedar Knob-Longreen pack was made up entirely of six-months-and-under puppies who, after briefly visiting every other pack, settled in to produce an amazing showing for fourth. When points were counted, the Moore County closely edged the Warwick Village for overall highest scored pack to win the Rich and Leslie Gable Perpetual Trophy. Longreen Huntsman Susan Walker won the award for the longest distance traveled, having trekked from the Mississippi delta. This show was superb in every aspect, from the warm welcome to top-rate facilities set in a gorgeous

TEAM CHASE

setting, to entertainment par excellance. To Beth and Erwin Opitz, and all the enthusiastic Friends of the Penn-Marydel volunteers, a standup ovation. Can’t wait ’till next year! But the excitement wasn’t over yet. On Sunday, the ancient trencher-fed tradition of foxhunting— when local farmers, each bringing a few hounds, met at a specified location, threw their hounds in together, and went hunting—was symbolically reborn, as hounds from TVH and Kimberton joined the home pack at the THH kennel for what evolved into a classic run. Local foxhunters long-gone, from Bywaters to Burkes, would have loved it. With Beth Opitz carrying the horn, the pack drew the long, overgrown fencerow that nudges the kennel fences, and where generations of foxes have been raised, then swung right-handed toward the Thornton River. In the woods above the crossing, they had a youngster afoot; but he proved a timid soul (or smart?) and after a quick flurry below Bill Fletcher’s house, sought refuge in an earth amidst a jumble of junked farm equipment rusting at riverside. Hounds were lifted to draw downstream, and at the base of the cliff they unkenneled a most sporting gentleman. This young red fox ran as if compelled by ambition to have his name writ large in the history of foxiana as a humbler of hounds. Down-river he flew, past Wright’s Hole, then

11 past Natalie Marsh’s, only to sharply double back to the find. And repeat—often. For variation he twice topped Mason Mountain to eyeball the THH racecourse, then avalanched back to the river and retraced his earlier route. Despite running at top speed throughout, hounds’ cry never weakened, resounding off the slopes of Mason like the musical offerings from an evening at Carnegie Hall. However, and inevitably, the blister of the pace and the farrier-forge heat wore on fox and hounds alike; and big circles became sharp, desperate doubles; an ending loomed. Fortuitously, and true to his race, Red Rascal proved as shrewd as he is gallant and, with a sleight-of-brush maneuver, handed hounds off on a convenient coyote. The hunt ended at busy Route 522, when this unintended quarry crossed into “Eldon Farm.” Were hounds humbled? You bet! Followers and horses, too; but happy. And “all-on” at the end truly marked this as a significantly Red Letter Day. Bounteous food and libations awaited at the kennel, a fine sendoff as the band of foxhunters scattered homeward. No doubt, they’ll all return next year.

Moore County Huntsman Lincoln Sadler gets a congratulatory kiss after winning the Pack Class.

Orange County Hounds Team Chase

First Flight Hunter Champion, Cynthia Holz on Want to Be, Piedmont Fox Hounds.

Old Whitewood Farm, The Plains, Virginia October 27, 2019 • Joanne Maisano Photos

The trio of Beth Fout (shown here), Nina Fout, and Caroline Fout, representing MOC Beagles, finished as First Flight Best Hunt Team.

Junior Hunter Champion, Flora Hannum on Snickers, Orange County Hounds.

IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • HOLIDAY 2019

JENNY’S PICKS Since the Christmas season is upon us, I’ll make a few suggestions for gift items this issue.

HORSE COUNTRY BOOKSELLERS

Specialists in New, Old & Rare Books on Horses, Foxhunting, Eventing, Polo, Racing, Steeplechasing & Sporting Art

watering color photos of the cookies—“the ultimate chewy, gooey, crispy, crunchy treats.” Hardcover, 112pp. $12.95

I’ve also got a lead on a book about the sculptors known as “the Animaliers” and hope to 60 Alexandria Pike, Warrenton, VA 20186 • 800-882-HUNT • 540-347-3141 have that in our store before Christmas. And don’t forget the upcoming Felix Francis book, Wall: We have the most of the Foxes calendar. Guilty Not Guilty, $27.00, which will probably came a placid statesman. This book is full of tales of Others we have only a couple of each, so order right be out by the time you get this issue, and Rita Mae his younger days in the saddle, both as a soldier and away if you want the following: Jack Russell TerriBrown’s next Sister Jane: Scarlet Fever ($28.00) a sportsman. I haven’t had time to read more than a ers, Pembroke Corgis, Just Corgis, Corgi Puppies, due out the end of November, with our booksigning snippet, but it looks like a very interesting book. PicBasset Hounds, Clydesdales, Wild Horses, and in the store scheduled for December 4th. tures are usually small, mostly b&w (given the timeHunter/Jumper. Singles are Friesians, Gypsy Vanframe). I’d have liked larger print, but the I just got through most of the advance copy of Rita ners, Horse Feathers, and Happiness is a Horse. information within is worth reading. Hardcover, Mae’s book. There’s plenty of foxhunting action in Box Calendars: Just three this year: Corgis, Basset 230pp. $34.95 this one—some new foxes in some new territory for Hounds, and What Horses Teach Us. the Jefferson Hunt—and you’ll meet the staff at Whitaker, Edward. A Year in the Frame. On this Horse Country, where early action happens. The Engagement Calendars: What Horses Teach Us. side of the Atlantic, we may not be familiar with this charming and incredibly handsome Weevil, who was photographer, but he’s produced a lovely assortment For the young artists, we have coloring books, introduced in Homeward Hound, has taken over of his best racing photographs, month by month, in sticker books, and my favorite, Smoky Joe’s Book hunting hounds following an accident to regular glorious color. Hardcover, 176pp. $50.00 of Drawing Ponies, which retails for $19.95. huntsman, Shaker. At $7.99, coloring books are the “I Love – ” series Smucker, Philip G. Riding with George. Much has You’ve probably noticed that Rita Mae slips in (Riding Lessons, Trail Riding, Hunter Jumper, Dres- been written about George Washington the states- references to current issues in many of her books. sage, Cross Country, and Show Jumping) and two man, George Washington the soldier, George Wash- Here we encounter the increasing problem of delabeled as “adult coloring books” with lots of de- ington the farmer; here we have a book that mentia in this country, with one of Sister Jane’s forsigns and patterns: Color Me Splashy and Eat Sleep acknowledges George as a horseman, discussing mer hunt followers suffering from the disorder and Horses. “sportsmanship and chivalry in the making of Amer- causing havoc in his family. ica’s first president.” From a quick glimpse through, Our two sticker books are Peel & Discover Horses Rita Mae Brown will be signing copies of her latthis looks like a book foxhunters, farmers, and horseat $8.95 and The Horse Farm Read-and-Play Sticker est book in the “Sister Jane” series: Scarlet Fever men alike will enjoy perusing. Hardcover, 362pp. Book at $7.95. on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 6-9 p.m. at Horse Country $26.99 Saddlery, 60 Alexandria Pike, Warrenton. Books We have a few new books to suggest for adults: Medrich, Alice. Holiday Cookies. This is a great lit- will be available for purchase at the store. Call Scott, Brough. Churchill at the Gallop. Winston tle stocking stuffer for the person who loves to bake 540-347-3141 or 800-882-HUNT. Churchill was a dashing young soldier before he be- and has a sweet tooth. Of course there are mouthCalendars: All calendars except the mini calendar, be they wall, box, or engagement, are $14.99. The mini calendar is $7.99.

IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • HOLIDAY 2019

POLO

2019 National Women’s Arena Handicap Tournament By John J. Carle II, ex-MFH

The first week of October saw Virginia Polo hosting the National Women’s Arena Handicap Tournament at their “Forest Lodge” facilities outside Charlottesville, Virginia. Five teams from the southeast competed, with the University of Virginia being the only collegiate team; the others had corporate sponsors. After a week of intense play, the Texas and Maryland-based Sullivan Group faced off against Virginia in Saturday’s final. On paper, these teams seemed evenly matched; however, Sullivan Group (S.G.) received a 1-goal handicap to start the game, since Virginia was rated at 16 to their 15. Both teams were led by nationally rated players, Maddie Grant for the home team at 7 and S.G.’s Marissa Wells at 8. Both girls carried their teams brilliantly. In the first period, action was furious from the throwin, as S.G.’s #3, Marissa Wells, stole the ball from Maddie Grant (U.Va.) and raced to goal. Almost immediately, Grant, also at the #3 position, replied with a 40-yarder, good for two points. But Marissa was on a roll, and scored three straight, carrying the ball home from scrimmage, then on another steal from Grant, and finally, on a rebound at goal-mouth. At the bell, Maddie Grant again tallied a 2-goaler, leaving the score 5-4 in S.G.’s favor. Starting the second period, in the words of Winston Churchill, “…the struggle hung in the equipoise for some time.” There were repeated pileups, more like rugby scrums than polo, until, at the three-minute mark, Maddie picked up the ball in a goal-mouth save, and raced the length of the arena to tie the score. A little while later, Marissa Wells was unhorsed after making a spectacular backhand save, and time was taken. Marissa soon remounted, unhurt, and upped her game a notch. However, Maddie stole the ball at period’s end and scored from 20 yards to give U.Va. a half-time lead they never relinquished. The second half produced far better, more wide open polo, with better teamwork by both sides. Virginia was on fire, scoring three times: Maddie was first, with a shot out of a goal-mouth melee, then followed by carrying

the ball on her near side the length of the arena; finally #1 Demitra Hajimihalis pounced on the ball amidst a “snake-killin’” melee to bang home goal #3. Not to be denied, Marissa Wells carried the ball from midfield in heavy traffic to score, in a brilliant display of horsemanship and stick-work. Maddie then scored twice, exhibiting her unerring feel for the game and lightning reflexes, first on a steal from 40 yards, then on an impossibly-angled, off-side back shot. Marissa replied with two quick scores, carrying the ball along the boards for the first, then driving home a #4 penalty shot. S.G. followed with U.Va.’s 7-Goaler Maddie Grant. a near miss, but it was picked up in the corner by Virginia’s #2, Meghan Milligan, who fought off repeated bumps by opposing players to carry the ball all the way and score. Maddie Grant opened the final period scoring by carrying the ball from the midfield throw-in. Teammate Milligan then snatched the ball from S.G.’s #1, Joanie Jackson, to score from 20 yards. A crossing foul gave S.G. a #4 penalty shot that Marissa Wells blasted home: few men can hit the ball harder. S.G. then had another shot at goal, but Maddie Grant picked off the near-miss rebound to race all the way. S.G.’s Catie Stuek at #2 returned the favor after a midfield steal. Fittingly, Maddie closed the scoring with a powerful off-side near the final bell. Dust settled, the scoreboard read: U.Va. 16, Sullivan Group 12. In winning, Virginia gave notice that they are a formidable force in the field of intercollegiate polo in the coming months. At closing ceremonies, Maddie Grant, U.Va.’s Maddie Grant making a nearside backshot hands-down, won the Most Valuable Player Award. She as Sullivan Group’s Marissa Wells tries to hook her is a phenomenon, an athlete with grace and power. Her mallet. horsemanship is Medal-class; yet when play gets rough, she rides like a Comanche. And her polo instincts are unerring. Best of all, she seems to lead by example. U.Va.’s “Gaucha” won the Best Playing Pony Award, and was ridden by Maddie in the final period. Folks, for the best polo around, get thee to Forest Lodge!

Sullivan Group’s Marissa Wells U.Va.’s Meghan Milligan turns the ball rated 8 goals and U.Va.’s 7 goaler toward goal. U.Va.’s Maddie Grant reaches for a bouncing ball. Maddie Grant fight for the ball.

U.Va.’s Demitra Hajimihalis carries the ball goalward despite bump by Sullivan Group’s Marissa Wells.

U.Va.’s Meghan Milligan plays through a hook by Marissa Wells and a bump by Catie Stuek.

U.Va.’s Maddie Grant yells at teammate Meghan Milligan as Sullivan Group’s Marissa Wells drives on the ball.

U.Va.’s Maddie Grant passes the ball to teammate Meghan Milligan with the Sullivan Group’s player in defense position.

IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • HOLIDAY 2019

RACING

Fall Races By Will O’Keefe

Foxfield Fall Races, Maiden Claiming Hurdle (l-r) Be Counted (Jack Doyle, up) – 1st; Be Somebody (Bryan Cullinane, up) – 3rd. Rick Stillings photo

Foxfield Fall Races, Filly and Mare Maiden Hurdle (l-r) Virginia Envy (#1, Graham Watters, up) – 4th; Inverness (#5, Jack Doyle, up) – 1st. Rick Stillings photo

Virginia Fall Races, Theodora A. Randolph Cup Maiden Hurdle. Big Bend (Graham Watters, up) – 1st. Douglas Lees photo

Virginia Fall Races, Bon Nouvel Ratings Handicap Hurdle Ebullience (Darren Nagle, up) – 1st. Douglas Lees photo

Foxfield Fall Races 9/29/2019 The Foxfield Fall Races were run on Sunday, September 29 at the Foxfield Race Course near Charlottesville, Va. The first of three maiden races over hurdles on the card was for a claiming price. In the race Morning Star Farm’s Good and Proper (Ross Geraghty) took the lead at once and stayed there until the final fence where Mrs. S. K. Johnston, Jr.’s Be Counted relinquished his stalking role. These two jumped the last together, but Be Counted landed running and drew away in the run to the finish. The final margin was 2½ lengths, and trainer Todd Wyatt saddled the winner. In the second race five horses had entered the Virginia bred flat race, but on race day there were three scratches leaving only two starters. Beverly R. Steinman’s Speed Ahead (Barry Foley) and Galaxy Express (Thomas Garner) raced as a team most of the race. With a quarter mile to run Speed Ahead established a ¾ length lead. Galaxy Express remained a threat but could not cut into Speed Ahead’s lead. Doug Fout was the winning trainer. Ridgeview Farm’s Virginia Envy and Debra E. Kachel’s That’s That (Ross Geraghty) set the early pace in the filly and mare maiden race with KMSN Stable’s Inverness (Jack Doyle) in third. Inverness moved to second with one more time to go around while Virginia Envy continued on top. With about a quarter mile to run and with two fences remaining, Virginia Envy dropped back and Inverness took command and led to the finish. Beverly R. Steinman’s Paris Lady (Barry Foley) rallied belatedly for second but was never a threat to the winner, who won handily by 6¾ lengths. This was Keri Brion’s first sanctioned win as a trainer. In the maiden hurdle race Sara E. Collette’s Eryx (Kieran Norris) opened a comfortable lead in the early stages, but Hudson River Farm’s Skydiving (Jack Doyle) rallied to join him at the second last fence. Upon landing Skydiving was on top and held the lead to the finish. Sharon E. Sheppard’s Mr. Fine Threads (Graham Watters) loomed in the stretch but proved to be second best. Eryx faded to third. The margin of victory was 1¾ lengths. Jonathan Sheppard was the winning trainer, and Jack Doyle completed a hat trick with the winning ride. Virginia Fall Races 10/12/2019 The Virginia Fall Races were run before a record audience on Saturday, October 12 at Glenwood Park near Middleburg. All the elements came together to make a good day of steeplechase racing over one of the most popular race courses. The featured race on the card was the National Sporting Library Cup timber stakes, and it attracted Ballybristol Farm LLC’s Andi’amu (Jack Doyle), who is undefeated in two timber stakes, the Virginia Gold Cup at Great Meadow and the Middleburg Hunt Cup over this course in the spring. In the race Andi’amu led from the start and won as his rider pleased in a very impressive performance. Leslie Young, his trainer, did a great job bringing him into peak condition for his first start this fall. His next start was in the International Gold Cup. In the entertaining steeplethon race, KMSN Stable’s Able Archer (Darren Nagle) was far back in the early going while Ballybristol Farm LLC’s Mercouer (Jack Doyle) set the pace. Able Archer rallied in the last half mile and won going away by 2¾ lengths over Straylight Racing, LLC’s Invocation (Sean McDermott), who finished well but was second best. Donna Rogers’ Dapper Dan (Gerard Galligan) finished third but could have finished better if he hadn’t lost considerable ground around the hairpin curve on the backside. In the ratings hurdle handicap race, Jonathan Sheppard’s Ebullience (Darren Nagle) took the lead

Virginia Fall Races, National Sporting Library and Museum Cup Timber Stakes Andi’amu (Jack Doyle, up) – 1st. Douglas Lees photo

after the first fence with Leipers Fork Steeplechasers LLC’s Querry Horse (Jack Doyle) close behind. Magalen O. Bryant’s Paddy’s Crown made a run at the leaders in the final quarter mile but could not sustain his bid. Querry Horse was no threat to the winner but held Paddy’s Crown safe in the stretch. In the maiden hurdle race Kinross Farm’s Big Bend (Graham Watters) raced off the pace but launched a rally with a half mile to run. Big Bend, Irvin S. Naylor’s Royal Drumlee (Jack Doyle) and William G. Wofford’s Pappy On the Rocks (Gerard Galligan) jumped the last as a team, but Big Bend pulled away in the stretch to win by 2¾ lengths. This was the first of three winners for trainer Neil Morris, owners Zohar and Lisa Ben Dov’s Kinross Farm, and rider Graham Watters. In the maiden claiming hurdle race Kinross Farm’s Junonia (Graham Watters) was rated well off the pace, launched a steady rally on the backside and went to the front approaching the last fence. He was not challenged in the stretch and won by slightly more than 3½ lengths. William G. Wofford’s Choklitcoveredonut finished well but was second best, and Stonelea Stables LLC’s Naval Glazer (Michael Mitchell) was third. In the Virginia Bred or Sired flat race Flying Elvis Stable’s Vincent Van Gogo led all the way with the tightly bunched field close behind. Beverly R. Steinman’s Speed Ahead (Sophie Henelius) finished strong and nosed out PathFinder Racing’s Talk Less (Michael Mitchell) for second. In the maiden timber race S. Rebecca Shepherd’s Curve of Stones (Barry Foley) was fourth the last time around, moved to second on the backside and took the lead after the last fence. Irvin Naylor’s On My Wish List (Graham Watters) threatened in the stretch but could not reach the leader, who won by ¾ of a length. Kiplin Hall’s Renegade River (Darren Nagle) finished third. David Bourke was the winning trainer. Robert A. Kinsley’s Aardwolf (Sean McDermott) took sole possession of the lead after a quarter mile in the training flat race and led the rest of the way. Beverly R. Steinman’s Go As You Please (Sophie Henelius) made a run at the leader in the stretch but could not reach the winner, who won by 1 length. Sharon E. Sheppard’s Undisclosed (Barry Foley) was third. Elizabeth Voss was the winning trainer. International Gold Cup 10/26/2019 The International Gold Cup Timber Stakes was run at Great Meadow near The Plains, Virginia, on October 26, and it attracted the two best timber horses in training among the six entries. Both horses had winning preps two weeks earlier. Ballybristol Farm, LLC’s Andi’amu had won the National Sporting Library & Museum Cup Timber Stakes at the Virginia Fall Races, and Mrs. John R. S. Fisher’s Schoodic won the Genesee Valley Hunt Cup Timber Stakes at the Genesee Valley Hunt Races. At the end of the International Gold Cup one of these horses would be the new National Champion.

IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • HOLIDAY 2019

Schoodic (Hadden Frost) went to the front at the start, but Andi’amu (Jack Doyle) quickly took over, setting the pace with Schoodic in his shadow. With three fences remaining, Schoodic took the lead but Andi’amu did not give up easily and continued to apply pressure on Schoodic but to no avail. Schoodic was pulling away at the finish. This was trainer Jack Fisher’s ninth winner of the Inter- International Gold Cup, national Gold Cup. Ratings Handicap Hurdle Fisher had also sadEbullience (Darren Nagle, dled the winner of the Up) – 1st. David L. “Zeke” FerguDouglas Lees photo son Memorial Hurdle Stakes with Riverdee Stable’s Irish bred Gibralfaro (Michael Mitchell). Gibralfaro was content to let Stonelea Stables LLC’s Balance the Budget (Ross Geraghty) and Irvin S. Naylor’s Sempre Medici (Darren Nagle) set the pace. Mitchell made his move to the front on the final turn and luckily avoided contact with the loose horse that caused Sempre Medici to lose his rider. Gibralfaro was challenged by Rosbrian Farm and Meadow Run Farm’s Zanjabeel (Jack Doyle) at the second fence from the finish but Gibralfaro pulled away from Zanjabeel and held off Harold A. Via, Jr.’s Hinterland (Willie McCarthy) whose late rally missed by 3½ lengths. Fisher had a hat trick on the day as Mrs. S. K. Johnston, Jr.’s Brianbakescookies (Willie McCarthy) accounted for the maiden hurdle race. In the race Brianbakescookies raced close to the pace that was set by Irvin S. Naylor’s Royal Drumlee (Brian Linehan) and Magalen O. Bryant’s Fashion Line (Ross Geraghty). When Fashion Line faded, Brianbakescookies moved into second place on the backside. He took the lead on the final turn, led over the last and proved best under a vigorous ride to the finish. The final margin was 4¾ lengths. Jack Fisher was not the only trainer with multiple visits to the winner’s circle. Trainer Jonathan Sheppard saddled two winners over hurdles. His Ebullience won the ratings handicap, and Hudson River Farms’ Skydiving won the allowance race. Ebullience (Darren Nagle) had won the ratings handicap at the Virginia Fall Races, and he duplicated that winning effort at Great Meadow. Ebullience set most of the pace, jumped the last with his stablemate, Jonathan Sheppard and Steven Poorman’s Hepcat (Gerard Galligan) and Leipers Fork Steeplechasers LLC’s Tomgarrow (Brian Linehan). He put these in the stretch and proved best by ½ length over Petticoats Loose Farm’s Gaye Breeze, who made a late charge and just missed. Hudson River Farm’s Skydiving (Ross Geraghty) made most of the running in the allowance race for horses that had not won twice over hurdles. Kinross Farm’s Big Bend (Graham Watters) and Why Not Racing LLC’s Jump Ship (Richard Boucher) were close behind. Jump Ship tired to finish fourth, but Big Bend kept the pressure on Skydiving. These two dueled down the stretch, and Skydiving held on to win by ½ length. In the steeplethon Donna Rogers’ Dapper Dan had a much more eventful trip than at the Virginia Fall Races where he finished third. At Great Meadow Dapper Dan (Graham Watters) was never far off the pace, dueled with Kinross Farm’s Just Wait and See (Hadden Frost) and Ballybristol Farm LLC’s Mercoeur (Jack Doyle) around the final turn to lead over the last fence and to win as his rider pleased by 5½ lengths. Mercoeur finished second and ran well but was no match for the winner. Just Wait and See faded to fourth and Straylight Racing LLC’s Invocation (Sean McDermott) rallied for third. Dapper Dan was trained by Neil Morris. Lady Olivia at North Cliff, LLC’s Accountable (Ross Geraghty) won his third straight Old Dominion

Turf Championship race on the flat by leading for most of the Virginia bred and sired flat race. Flying Elvis Stable’s Vincent Van Gogo (Graham Watters) rallied in the final furlong but could not reach the winner, and Quest Realty’s Speed Gracer (Darren Nagle) rallied for third. Carla L. Morgan has trained Accountable for all of his wins at Great Meadow. This was Ross Geraghty’s second win on the card. Montpelier Hunt Races 11/2/2019 The Montpelier Hunt Races on November 2, 2019 is the biggest event in Orange County each year, and once again a big crowd was on hand. The races are held at President James Madison’s Montpelier, and no International Gold Cup, Steeplethon Timber Stakes venue can equal this as a backdrop for a day of rac(l-r) Just Wait and See (#6, Hadden Frost, up) – 4th; Dapper ing. Dan (#8, Graham Watters, up) – 1st. Douglas Lees photo The Noel Laing Memorial Hurdle Handicap is the featured race and is the only race that still runs over natural privet hedges. The course suited Irvin S. Naylor’s lightly raced Amschel (Graham Watters). He was imported from Ireland last year and was unplaced in one start each in 2018 and 2019. In the Laing Memorial he was held off the pace, but rallied down the backside of the course the second time around. He and Rosbrian Farm’s Stooshie (Jack Doyle) jumped the last fence as a team, and these two battled around the turn and into the stretch where Amschel drew away and won by 3¼ lengths. Stooshie held second over Woodslane Farm’s Pik Em (Michael Mitchell). Cyril Murphy trained the winner. If there was pari-mutuel wagering at Montpelier, the team of owner Mark W. Buyck, Jr. and trainer Archibald Kingsley, Jr. would have cashed the daily double as their horses swept the first two races. In the Virginia bred or sired flat race on the dirt training track, their Tolaga Bay (Skylar McKenna) led all the way and won handily by 4 lengths over Beverly R. Steinman’s Speed Alert (Sophie Henelius) with Lisa International Gold Cup, David L. “Zeke” Ferguson Nelm’s Arkadag (Paul O’Neill) finishing third. In the Memorial Hurdle Stakes second race, a ratings handicap hurdle race, it was Ay(l-r) Gibralfaro (Michael Mitchell, up) – 1st; No Wunder doun’s turn to complete the double. Under Archie (Sean McCermott, up). Douglas Lees photo MacAuley, Aydoun raced in a group that was content to let Beverly R. Steinman’s Bullet Star set the pace. With Bullet Star dropping back, Aydoun took the lead approaching the last fence and held off Mrs. S. K. Johnston, Jr.’s Ack Feisty (Michael Mitchell) to win by 3 lengths. Stephany W. S. Harper’s Change Maker (Ross Geraghty) held on to finish third. Jonathan Sheppard and rider Darren Nagle also had another good day winning two races over hurdles. In the first division of the maiden claiming race Jonathan Sheppard and Vincent Varvarro’s Attracting was reserved off the early pace, advanced down the back side and battled Atlanta Hall LLC’s Dream Verse (Bernard Dalton) around the final turn and to the finish line where he won by 1¾ lengths. Sheppard’s second winner was in the maiden hurdle race where Sherry L. Fenwick’s Anticipating went to the lead at the drop of starter Graham Alcock’s flag and led the Montpelier Hunt Races, The Montpelier Cup Sport of Kings rest of the way. Port Lairge Stables and Holwood StaMaiden Hurdle ble’s Decisive Triumph matched strides with Anticiup) – 2nd; Anticipatpating around the final turn and to the finish where (l-r) Decisive Triumph (Willie McCarthy, ing (Darren Nagle, up) – 1st. Douglas Lees photo Anticipating won a photo finish by a nose. Beverly R. Steinman’s Deposit (Barry Foley) was third best. Both of the two horses saddled by Sheppard were also bred in Pennsylvania by the trainer. The second division of the maiden claiming hurdle race went to Kristian J. Strangeway’s I Am Not Here (Jack Doyle), who led most of the race. With a half mile to run, Black Cloud Racing Stable LLC’s Summer Vow (Ross Geraghty) took up the chase but could not catch I Am Not Here, who won by 5 lengths. Sanna Neilson and John L. Huganir’s He’ll Do (Graham Watters) rallied to finish third. Todd J. Wyatt saddled the winner. The filly and mare allowance race for non-winners of two races went to Magalen O. Bryant’s Eve’s City by 1¾ lengths over Joseph F. Fowler, Jr.’s Down Royal (Bernard Dalton). Down Royal made the early running with Eve’s City (Ross Geraghty) running in her wake. On the back side the last time around Eve’s City took sole possession of the lead, and held Down Royal safe for the win. Doug Fout was the winning Stakes trainer. KMSN Stable’s Inverness (Jack Doyle) rallied Montpelier Hunt Races, Noel Laing Hurdle Handicap Amschel (#5, leading, Graham Watters, up) – 1st; Stooshie for third but could not match the top two. (#9, Jack Doyle, up) – 2nd. Douglas Lees photo

HORSE RACING

IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • HOLIDAY 2019

Horses and People to Watch Virginia Equine Alliance

Shenandoah Downs Fall Harness Racing Season Concludes With 11 Breeder’s Championship Races The five-week fall harness racing season at Shenandoah Downs in Woodstock came to a close October 13th with the $382,125 Virginia Breeder’s Championships. A total of 11 Breeder’s races were contested—four for freshmen and sophomores and a trio for aged horses. A pair of 1:57 1/5 winning miles were authored in both the Two-Year-Old Filly Pace and Two-Year-Old Colt Pace by Breeze Away B and Nvrfearlloydishere. The former went outside of leader Fire Me Up at the half in the $44,275 filly championship, took command shortly after and crossed 2½ lengths the best. The Nuclear Breeze filly is owned and trained by William Fletcher of Oak Hall, Virginia. Pam Wager’s Nvrfearlloydishere wired the field in a $47,950 male counterpart by beating Caviart Revere by 1½ lengths. A winner in his prep a week prior, the victor is 6-for-8 this year with purse earnings of over $65,000. In addition to the runner-up spot, Caviart Farms in Vienna, Virginia, had the third Cate’s A Keeper (#2) edges Lizzy Borden in and fourth place finishVirginia Breeder’s harness racing action. Darrell Wood photo ers—Caviart Sage and Caviart Val. Eddie Davis, Jr. piloted Cate’s A Keeper to an exciting nose victory in the $45,325 Filly Trot in 2:03.0. She won for the sixth time in nine starts while her bankroll surged over the $75,000 mark. Jane Dunavant’s Chauffer won his third straight race in the $47,975 Freshman Colt Trot, wiring the field in 2:04.0. The Dusty Winner gelding crossed one length the best over his stablemate Air Time and boosted his 2019 earnings to $85,000. Dunavant scored again in the $41,800 Three Year Old Colt Trot with Psycho, turning the tables on Great Am I who won this division as a two-year-old in 2018. The Crazed gelding finished in a career best 2:01 4/5. In the $43,000 filly counterpart, Debbie Warnick’s Sweet Reason went coast-to-coast and secured a 1¼ length win over Zsa Zsa Dabor in 2:02 4/5. The Gregory Pecs filly bettered her prep mile time by over a full second. Four of the five participants in the filly trot were by Gregory Pecs who along with Artzina are the two stallions that stand in Virginia. Elwood Tignor’s Sketcher, a runner up to Rusty’s Houdini in the Three-Year-Old Colt Pace prep, reached the winners circle in the $42,400 finale by beating the prep victor by 1½ lengths. Larry Jackson’s Hillbilly Camtastic was the lone parDebbie Warnick and Amanda Jackson celeticipant in the $41,400 Three-Year- brate victories in a pair of $40,000-plus races Old Filly Pace. After posting a 2:08 on Breeder’s Day at Shenandoah Downs. Darrell Wood photo 2/5 uncontested time in the prep, she knocked four full seconds off that in the final, crossing in 2:04.0. In aged divisional action, John’s Dream, the Shenandoah track record holder (1:52 1/5), strolled to a ten length win in the Horse/Gelding Pace in 1:56.0. Beep Beep Bye Bye wired the field in the Aged Trot and Hot Hot Jenna also went wireto-wire in the Mares Pace finishing in 1:58 2/5. For information on the Virginia Breeder’s program or the new Standardbred Certified Residency bonus program, visit www.vhha.net. ••••• Colonial Downs Group Opens A Fourth Rosie’s Gaming Emporium The Virginia horse racing industry took another giant step forward on October 29th when the Colonial Downs Group opened a fourth Rosie’s Gaming Emporium in the state. Located in Hampton in the Power Plant complex, the facility features 700 Historical Horse Racing terminals and a live simulcast area where up to 20 televised track signals are available to wager daily. The 39,000 square foot facility

Dignitaries prepare to cut the ribbon at a new Rosie’s Gaming Emporium October 29th in Hampton. Darrell Wood photo

is expected to generate $11.9 million in taxes annually. Other Rosie’s locations are in Richmond, Vinton, and at the Colonial Downs track itself in New Kent. ••••• Colonial Downs Wraps Up Successful Summer Thoroughbred Season In New Kent Sparked by outstanding participation from horsemen and racing fans, Colonial Downs concluded its 2019 race meeting on September 7 punctuated by a lucrative daily purse structure, large fields, and an emphasis on horse safety and welfare for its participants. Total wagering handle was $17.5 million for the 144 races that were conducted. Over the 15-day meet, there were a total of 1,229 starters representing 17 states including California, Minnesota, Louisiana, and Florida. Over $7.6 million in total purse monies were distributed, nearly $1.5 million of which was in stakes purses. Average field size was 8.53 horses per race. There were no equine fatalities during racing or training from the time the barn area opened on July 25th. Season highlights were the return of the $250,000 New Kent County Virginia Derby (G3), which was won by Calumet Farm’s English Bee, and the $150,000 Fasig-Tipton Virginia Oaks, which was captured by Godolphin’s Carnival Colors. Four Wheel Drive, winner of the $100,000 Exacta Systems Rosie’s Stakes, advanced to the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. In the September 7th finale, over $700,000 in purses were distributed, highlighted by five $100,000 stakes for Virginia- Four Wheel Drive wins thest $100,000 Rosie’s Stakes at Colonial Downs August 31 . Coady Photography photo breds. “On behalf of all of us at Colonial Downs, we are truly proud of our outstanding race meeting, captivated by an overwhelming response from participating owners, trainers, and jockeys who embraced the return of Thoroughbred racing,” said Jill Byrne, Vice President of Racing for Colonial Downs. “We are equally gratified by the dedication and support demonstrated by our racing department and track maintenance team which worked with great efficiency to conduct a safe and secure racing season.” Among sweeping improvements to the facility this year were a new irrigation system for its world-renowned Secretariat turf course, renovations to the 1¼-mile dirt track, stable area, paddock, receiving and test barns, and dormitories. As an incentive for horsemen this year, Colonial Downs introduced both owner and trainer participation incentive programs. Each owner received $1000 per start for any horse that did not earn $1000 in a race, and each trainer also received $300 each time they started a horse.

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