THE MAGAZINE OF MOUNTED FOXHUNTING
SUMMER 2018 • $5.00
BREEDING THE FOXHUNTER CEDAR KNOB RENAISSANCE ART OF THE HUNT
sJ o h n C o l e s 2 018 s
“A Virginia Horseman Specializing in Virginia Horse Properties” oAKeNDALe
oATLAND ViewS
rALLywooD
The epitome of an exquisite Virginia hunt country estate in prime Orange County Hunt territory. From the William Lawrence Bottomley designed Manor house to the meticulously manicured gardens, grounds, dependencies and the hundreds of acres of surrounding pastures with protected view-sheds. 333 acres @ $8,990,000 or 837 acres @ $17,990,000
ALDIE – OATLAND VIEWS off of Oatlands Road - 271 ACRES divided into 11 Parcels ranging in size from 13 – 41 Acres with private road frontage on Clear Creek Lane. 10 of the 11 parcels have wells and Certification Letters for 4 Bedroom septics. Land protected by Loudoun County Open Space Easement. $5,500,000.00
World class equestrian facility comprised of 115 Acres in the OCH Territory. The U shaped complex encompasses an 80’ x 180’ lighted indoor riding arena connected by a breezeway to the 12 stall center-aisle barn and extraordinary living and entertaining quarters overlooking the outdoor ring. Additional structures include tenant houses and large heated equipment barn. $4,400,000
wAVerLy fArM
GreeN GArDeN
LANDMArK
A graceful & charming 5 bedroom French Country home is set amongst nearly 40 serene acres enhanced by majestic trees, rolling lawns and fenced paddocks. This wonderful horse property also includes an 7 stall center-aisle barn with office, additional 4 stall barn with apartment, indoor arena, and tremendous ride out potential. Located in the OCH Territory. $3,200,000
c.1823, with a stunning tree lined entrance, offers one of the grand manor homes in the famed horse country of Upperville and Piedmont Hunt. Recently renovated, the home offers wonderful indoor and outdoor living areas. Porches, gardens, barns, paddocks, riding arena, pond, pool and magnificent mountain views. $2,950,000
Stone posts and walls mark the entrance to the 133 acre estate of Landmark. As the driveway gently rises, and circles in front of the handsome two-story stone manor house, one notices that the home is sited perfectly to enjoy the expansive mountain views from the Bull Run to the Blue Ridge. The setting for this 4 bedroom, 4 bath residence is further heightened by the massive boxwoods and the stately trees. $2,790,000
DeSTiNAire fArM
MiDDLeburG LAND
SToNeHAVeN
Impeccably maintained, this exquisite 118 acre horse farm has 10 fields and paddocks of 4 board fencing, gently rolling land & panoramic views of the Blue Ridge Mtns. In addition to the stucco and stone main residence, there are guest and tenant homes, numerous barns and run-ins to house 25 horses comfortably, an indoor dressage ring, outdoor arena and pond. $2,450,000
145+ acres of land in sought after location on Mountville Road near Foxcroft School. Several home sites with wonderful views and vistas yet extremely private, half wooded and half pasture with over 2,000’ of Goose Creek frontage. Minutes from Middleburg with easy access to Dulles International Airport and Washington DC. Middleburg Hunt Territory. $2,465,250
A tranquil retreat nestled on 158+ acres in pristine Rappahannock County. At the end of the private drive is the historic Stone residence, c. 1745 with additional stone cottage for guests or office and tucked into the woods, beyond the home, is a charming and beautifully restored 2 bedroom log cabin. Gardens, lawn, barns, paddocks and tremendous ride out. $1,845,000
LAND
GreeN GArDeN LAND
riDGeView
BLACK ROCK - Great elevation, fantastic views, open land, woodlands and river frontage on the Rappahannock. 726.66 acres in 14 parcels, all 50 acres or larger. Accessed from Hume Road & Black Rock Ford. Mixed game for hunting. Great opportunity for tax credits. $2,979,300
Beautiful rolling land with excellent views of the Blue Ridge just outside of Upperville. 93+ Acres in a great location. This is a portion of Tax ID#:656382092000 and is subject to Loudoun County approval. $1,397,173
FRED WARREN LANE - 137.74 acres with frontage on Little River, Open Space Easement, rolling fields with mature hardwood forest, Orange County Hunt Territory, great ride out, very private, within 5 miles of the village of Middleburg. 3600 view. $2,534,500 BEARS DEN - Enjoy the pastoral views from this prime 151.61 Acre Hunt Country Property. 3 parcels of open land, pond, stream & woods. Desirable Leeds Manor Rd. $1,060,000
This lovely 22.8 Acre farm offers a private, 4 bedroom residence sited on a knoll, with spacious rooms and views into the trees that border Little River. Located in prime Orange County Hunt territory the horse facilities include a 6 stall barn with tack room and wash stall, machine shed, run in shed and 4 beautiful board fenced paddocks, fields and round pen. VOF Easement. $1,095,000
Offers subject to errors, omissions, change of price or withdrawal without notice. Information contained herein is deemed reliable, but is not so warranted nor is it otherwise guaranteed.
(540) 270-0094 THOMAS AND TALBOT REAL ESTATE (540) 687-6500
Middleburg, Virginia 20118
www.Thomas-Talbot.com
SUMMER 2018 • VOLUME 9, NUMBER 2
Features 12 FINE DETAILS BY LAURIE BERGLIE
Harvey S. Ladew was a collector of all things foxhunting. His legacy lives on.
18 BREEDING THE FIELD HUNTER BY JOANNE MESZOLY
Some breeders are focusing on hunt horses.
24 RENAISSANCE AND RECOGNITION
Page 24
BY MARTHA DRUM
Cedar Knob makes a comeback.
IN EACH ISSUE:
7
28
Cedar Knob Hounds is back and stronger than ever.
From the Executive Director p.2 From the Publisher p.4 MFHA News p.6 Last Run of the Day p.32
THE CLUB MFHA wins a prestigious conservation award. YOUNG ENTRY Twins Harry and Charlie Caldwell are all-around horsemen.
30
31
ASK THE HUNTSMAN Two western huntsmen talk about the value of big game hunting skills.
ON OUR COVER: George Stubbs (British, 1724-1806) A Saddled Bay Hunter, 1786 Oil on panel
SPORTING ART Sporting artist George Stubbs studied equine anatomy.
Promised Gift of the Berger Collection Educational Trust, TL-18021
SUMMER 2018 | 1
FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Energy and Excitement
T
www.mfha.com
OFFICERS Patrick A. Leahy, MFH • President Leslie Crosby, MFH • First Vice-President Penny Denegre, MFH • Second Vice-President Joseph Kent, ex-MFH • Secretary-Treasurer David Twiggs • Executive Director
MFHA FOUNDATION Patrick A. Leahy, MFH • President PO Box 363, Millwood, VA 22646 (540) 955-5680
HUNT STAFF BENEFIT FOUNDATION Nancy Stahl, MFH • President PO Box 363, Millwood, VA 22646 (540) 955-5680
COVERTSIDE EDITORIAL BOARD
LIZ CALLAR
his has been an incredible hunting season. All of our Hark Forward festivities have been tremendous—so many gatherings of foxhunters have spurred a multitude of conversations, ideas, and possibilities that we will continue to explore. Thanks to all of the hundreds of folks who came together to organize these fantastic events. As we move forward with the work on our headquarters project, I am seeing more and more folks who understand the HQ’s importance in putting our story out to the public. Thank you for your donations—I am thrilled with the number of people who are participating at every level and taking ownership. If you have not donated yet, please go to our website and do what you can. Foxhunters have tremendous positive impact on the countryside, and being honored this year with the Anson W. Taylor Jr. Conservation Award from Equine Land Conservation Resource was a great example of this. Our members have quietly been conserving land, improving habitat, and working with their local trusts for many years; and they do so much that doesn’t even come to our attention. In addition to our major projects that are submitted for the Hunting Habitat Conservation Award program, please let me know any time your hunt or individual members are involved with real conservation work. It is our collective effort that shows both our impact and that we are the true conservationists.
MASTERS OF FOXHOUNDS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA
Leslie Crosby, MFH Penny Denegre, MFH Emily Esterson, Editor-in-Chief Patrick A. Leahy, MFH David Twiggs, Executive Director
DIRECTORS
I have been so impressed with the outpouring of energy from you all. We love our sport, and I see you as great ambassadors for our sporting values. Help us keep this momentum and look for ways to expand our impact. You are the MFHA, and we will continue to find new ways to move forward together. Please invite your friends to join you in this exciting time. Good hunting,
W. David Twiggs Executive Director and Keeper of the Stud Book, MFHA
Canada • Charlotte McDonald, MFH Carolinas • Fred Berry, MFH Central • Arlene Taylor, MFH Great Plains • Dr. Luke Matranga, MFH Maryland-Delaware • John McFadden, MFH Midsouth • Bill Haggard, MFH Midwest • Keith Gray, MFH New England • Dr. Terence Hook, MFH New York-New Jersey • Yolanda Knowlton, MFH Northern Virginia-West Virginia • Tad Zimmerman, MFH Pacific • Terry Paine, MFH Pennsylvania • Sean Cully, MFH Rocky Mountain • Mary Ewing, MFH Southern • Mercer Fearington, MFH Virginia • Mrs. Coleman P. Perrin, MFH Western • Susan Denny Gentry, MFH At Large • Dr. John R. van Nagell, MFH At Large • Dr. G. Marvin Beeman, MFH At Large • Ed Kelly, MFH
COVERTSIDE (ISSN 1547-4216) is published quarterly (February, May, August, and November) by the Masters of Foxhounds Association, 675 Lime Marl Lane, Berryville, VA 22611. Periodical Postage paid at Winchester, VA 22601 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to MFHA, PO Box 363, Millwood, VA 22646. COVERTSIDE READERS: Direct all correspondence to the same address. Tel: (540) 955-5680. Website: www.mfha.com
2 | COVERTSIDE
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#Safety365 isn’t just about wearing your helmet or body protector every day, every ride. It’s about being prepared so you can enjoy your ride from start to finish. Charles Owen is committed to making every day safer for equestrians. BY APPOINTMENT TO HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN PROTECTIVE HEADWEAR MANUFACTURERS WREXHAM
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FROM THE PUBLISHER
SUMMER 2018
Summer Blues
T
ROBERT KORNACKI
HE END OF HUNT SEASON is always a time of mixed emotions. On the one hand, I do relish sleeping in on Saturday mornings. My poor, neglected (non-horsey) husband gets a few more hours of “Emily time” on the weekends, and I actually manage to get some house and farm chores done, which doesn’t happen often during the winter when I’m hunting, conditioning for hunting, doing the prep for hunting, etc.
cise, or hoping my husband has planned a long, vigorous bike ride (“too many miles for me!”) for Saturday so I can load up the trailer and head to the kennels without the associated self-inflicted guilt. And then the off-season events begin— hunter paces, point-to-points, trail rides, territory scouting. I’m game for it all. Because once you’ve been indoctrinated into the hunt club, you can never break free—nor would you want to. Because of the all-encompassing nature of what we do, we celebrate art and lifestyle in the summer issue of Covertside. This time, we talk about breeding the foxhunter, an idea that was spawned after a lively Facebook discussion that proved the value of breeding specifically for our sport. We’ve been loving the National Sporting Library and Museum’s blog lately, so we’ve reprinted a tidbit about famous sporting artist George Stubbs (on the cover, too). We check in at Maryland’s Ladew Gardens—its collection of art and artifacts devoted to our lifestyle is a true marvel. As always, your contributions are most welcome! Members’ photos, articles, and ideas are the lifeblood of Covertside. Keep ’em coming. Kick on!
But gradually I begin to feel the loneliness of the off-season—a craving for the adrenaline, the camaraderie, the horses, and the hounds. And then, come Tuesday or Thursday, I start thinking about breaking away from the office to go to hound exer-
4 | COVERTSIDE
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/PUBLISHER EMILY ESTERSON publisher@covertside.net 505-553-2671 ART DIRECTOR GLENNA STOCKS production@covertside.net
EDITORIAL ASSOCIATE EDITOR Alissa Moe alissa@e-squarededit.net STAFF WRITER/ ECOVERTSIDE.NET EDITOR MARTHA DRUM martha@covertside.net
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS ANNE MARIE BARNES LAURIE BERGLIE KEITH GRAY JOANNE MESZOLY
ADVERTISING AND MARKETING SALES MANAGER CHERYL MICROUTSICOS sales@covertside.net 434-664-7057 PENNSYLVANIA/MID-ATLANTIC KATHY DRESS kdress@ptd.net NORTHEAST TOM KIRLIN Tkirlin@covertside.net
Emily Esterson Editor-in-Chief/Publisher
Covertside is the official publication of the Masters of Foxhounds Association Published by E-Squared Editorial Services LLC 2329 Lakeview Rd. SW Albuquerque, NM 87105 Telephone: 505-553-2671 Web Address: www.ecovertside.net www.mfha.com
OUR FUTURE
National Headquarters Dear Friends and Supporters, The Masters of Foxhounds Association is entering an exciting new era, building a legacy for the future. The new headquarters and museum will be a symbol of our historic traditions and commitment to hunting’s future. It will be a platform to educate the public about our rich history, expound the values of hunting and rural tradition, and grow our sport. There are many ways for you to be part of this legacy and your donations are tax deductible. Patrick Anthony Leahy MFHA President
T HE M F H A RE PR E S E N T S F OX H UN T IN G F O R AL L O F US! Whether you give $5 or $5,000, you can be a part of our new headquarters, building on our mission to Promote, Preserve, and Protect mounted foxhunting for future generations! SUPPORTER:
BENEFACTOR:
GOLD FOXHUNTER:
$1 – 500
$5,000 – $9,999
$50,000 – $99,999
PARTNER:
VISIONARY
PLATINUM FOXHUNTER:
$500 – $999
$10,000 – $19,999
$100,000 – $249,999
PATRON:
SILVER FOXHUNTER:
DIAMOND FOXHUNTER:
$1,000 – $4,999
$20,000 – $49,999
$250,000 and above
DONORS OF $10,000 OR MORE
will have the opportunity to sponsor and name rooms and areas while available. To see the full list of giving opportunities and appreciation go to www.mfha.com or call 540-955-5680 to donate.
Send your tax deductible donation to:
MFHA Foundation, P. O. Box 363, Millwood, VA 22646 Or online at: www.mfha.com Please make the notation “Headquarters Fund” on your check.
MFHA NEWS
4 REGISTRATION FOR
Wood, MFH, Live Oak Hounds
long to MFHA packs. Research-
that as many as 20 percent of
BIENNIAL SEMINAR IS OPEN
(FL). Cocktails and dinner at
ers found that the vaccine was
U.S. veterans returning from
The popular Biennial Seminar
Mount Vernon, along with time
highly effective in preventing
Iraq have leishmaniasis. She is
will take place June 22–24
to tour the historic home and
healthy hounds from con-
hopeful that this study’s en-
in Old Town Alexandria, VA,
estate, highlight the weekend’s
tracting leishmaniasis, and
couraging results might lay the
and at nearby Mount Vernon,
social events. To register, visit
also inhibited the disease in
groundwork for clinical trials of
George Washington’s home.
www.mfha.com.
already-infected canines. “The
a human vaccine.
The weekend’s events will
vaccine can hold the parasite
feature special celebrations of
4 UPDATE: LEISHMANIASIS
at bay until the dog’s immune
4 DON’T MISS OUR ONLINE
Washington’s passion for fox-
VACCINE RESEARCH
response system can kill it,”
hunting, including remarks by
explains Petersen.
Philip Smucker, author of Riding
PUBLISHED IN JOURNAL The results of the first clinical
COVERAGE Visit ecovertside.net and enter
with George: Sportsmanship
trial to evaluate a potential
hold promise not only for
and Chivalry and the Making of
leishmaniasis vaccine’s
foxhounds and other dogs, but
America’s First President, and
effectiveness were published
for humans, as well. In tropical
MFH, Rappahannock Hunt (VA),
a wreath-laying at Washing-
in March in the American Jour-
and subtropical regions, about
and 12 couple of hounds pre-
ton’s tomb. Seminar topics will
nal of Tropical Medicine and
40,000 people die annually
sented a demonstration at the
include opening new territory;
Hygiene. Led by Dr. Christine
from the effects of leishmani-
Virginia Horse Festival in March.
retooling OTTBs for the hunt
Petersen, associate profes-
asis, caused by bites from sand-
Search: festival
field; Masters’ responsibilities;
sor of epidemiology at the
flies. The sandflies acquire the
and a live conformation analysis
University of Iowa, the study
parasite from infected dogs, so
reports on the Wicomico Hunt’s
of different foxhound breeds
tracked use of a commercially
widespread vaccination of dogs
(MD) Hark Forward Perfor-
on the historic lawn at Mount
available vaccine, LeishTec, in
could potentially reduce human
mance Trials. Search: whirlwind
Vernon, moderated by Marty
foxhounds—many of whom be-
mortality. Also, Petersen notes
6 | COVERTSIDE
These encouraging results
the search term to read more about each story. Outreach: Michael Brown,
Hunting: Barbara Smith
And much more...
THE CLUB
CLAIRE TIMM PHOTOGRAPHY
Leslie Ballenger, Gabriela Sacco, huntsman Spencer Allen, Gavin Sacco, and ELCR President Ken Haddad enjoy a day out with Live Oak Hounds on a conservation easement parcel.
A CULTURE CELEBRATING CONSERVATION Equine Land Conservation Resource recognizes MFHA’s leadership.
THE EQUINE LAND CONSER-
tion for the MFHA, as you have
VATION RESOURCE (ELCR) is
for decades been a leader in
Oak Hounds (FL) and serves
that it has put into conserva-
a national nonprofit organiza-
conserving land for equine use.”
with Daphne Wood on the board
tion, the MFHA’s selection was
tion that monitors threats to
He noted, “In 1997, in an effort to
of Tall Timbers, a biological
unanimous.”
equestrian access to open space
educate, promote, and provide
research organization and land
and provides technical advice
resources toward land conserva-
conservancy. Marty Wood is a
recognition for the work of our
to those trying to protect lands.
tion, the MFHA created the Hunt-
member of its finance commit-
members over the years,” said
ELCR President Ken Haddad,
ing Habitat Conservation Award,
tee. These relationships allowed
MFHA Executive Director David
an avid foxhunter, presented
sponsored by Daphne and Marty
him to personally witness how
Twiggs. “Conservation has
the Anson W. Taylor Jr. Award
Wood. By presenting this honor
the Woods have protected natu-
always been an important ele-
for Leadership in Equine Land
to hunt clubs and members, you
ral habitat for foxhunting. When
ment of our mission. We hope to
Conservation to the MFHA at
highlight leadership by example.
Haddad presented the Anson
continue to educate the public,
our annual meeting last January.
You have created a culture cel-
Taylor Award to the Woods at
and our legislators, on the im-
Established to honor the late
ebrating conservation for all field
the 2016 Masters’ dinner in New
portance of farmland and open
Mr. Taylor—one of the ELCR’s
sports, which in turn supports
York, he took note of the collec-
space preservation and access.”
founders, past president of
farmland preservation, water
tive efforts of our District and
Previous recipients of the Anson
Radnor Hunt (PA), United States
quality, and habitat improvement
Hunting Habitat Conservation
Taylor Award include eventing
Pony Clubs board member, and
across North America.” He indi-
Awards winners. “It struck me at
coach Denny Emerson, the Unit-
lifelong conservationist—the
cated that the combined efforts
the time that the MFHA is one
ed States Pony Clubs, conser-
award recognizes “an outstand-
of MFHA hunts and members
of the few national horse-de-
vationist and horsewoman Eve
ing contribution to preserving
have had an impact on more
pendent organizations or sports
Fout, and Thoroughbred breeder
land for equine use through ex-
than 1.7 million acres, of which
that actually promote and rec-
and Bluegrass Conservancy
traordinary generosity of time,
1.5 million acres have been
ognize conservation efforts,” he
founder Robert Clay, among oth-
effort, and expertise.”
permanently conserved, with
explained. “I suggested to the
ers. For more information, please
another .2 million acres of public
ELCR board that the MFHA be
visit elcr.org.
bership in January, Haddad said,
lands opened to equestrian ac-
considered this year, and after
“This is a long-overdue recogni-
cess and hunting.
learning about the monumental
Speaking to the MFHA mem-
Haddad hunts with the Live
effort, through its members,
“We are honored to get this
—Martha Drum
SUMMER 2018 | 7
THE CLUB Ned’s integrity, honesty, and desire to level the playing
ROBERT H. CROMPTON, III MFH, ANDREWS BRIDGE FOXHOUNDS (PA)
EDWARD S. “NED” BONNIE, EX-MFH, LONG RUN HOUNDS (KY)
bestowed upon Ned. In 2002,
further ensure the safety and
he and Nina were recognized
welfare of the horses and riders
by the USEF with the Life-
involved, led him to become an
time Achievement Award. In
outspoken national advocate
2012, Ned was awarded the
for modern equine drug testing
first Edward S. Bonnie Award
and drug research. Fueled by
(named for him) for Outstand-
persistence and legal knowl-
ing Kentucky Equine Lawyer,
edge of drug testing, procedural
established by the Kentucky Bar
due process requirements, and
Association, Equine Law Sec-
rules establishing and enforcing
tion. In 2016, he was inducted
national drug testing standards
into the American College of
in the racing and showing
Equine Attorneys Hall of Fame.
industries, Ned ultimately
Ned is survived by Nina; sons
tried hundreds of cases before
Shelby (married to Carol) and
American Horse Shows Associa-
Robert (married to Julie Go-
tion (AHSA) and US Equestrian
mena); and four grandchildren:
Federation (USEF) hearing
Mason, Henry, Virginia, and Lilly.
committees, racing stewards,
The whole family remains avid
commissions, and courts in
foxhunters and outdoorsmen.
EDWARD S. “NED” BONNIE,
many racing states, in addition
MFH passed away peacefully
passed away on March 17, 2018,
to carefully crafting the drugs
in his sleep on March 8, 2018,
aged 88. A Kentuckian by birth,
and medication rules for the
in Maryland. A loving father
Ned was a passionate horseman,
USEF (then-AHSA).
and husband and a peerless
sportsman, conservationist, and
huntsman and breeder, his
devoted husband, father, and
ist, Ned played vital roles in the
legacy lives on through both
grandfather.
creation and establishment of
Ned was educated in New
Numerous accolades were
field in equestrian sports and
ROBERT H. CROMPTON III,
his children and his foxhounds.
Hounds from 1988 to 2014.
A committed conservation-
the Harrods Creek Land Trust
One may open the studbooks
England, graduating from the
and Oldham Ahead, organiza-
of any serious Penn-Marydel
Hotchkiss School (CT), and
tions dedicated to preserving
breeder and find a connection
earned undergraduate and law
and protecting natural resourc-
to the bloodlines of Crompton’s
degrees from Yale University
es in the Louisville region.
hounds. His dedication to the
(CT). Ned quickly established
Ned Bonnie married Nina
advancement of the breed was
himself as a trailblazing young
Winthrop in 1960, and in 1962
unparalleled and recognized in
attorney in the then-relatively
they moved to Stonelea Farm in
2008 with the Julian Marshall
obscure practice area of equine
Prospect, KY, where Ned trained
Lifetime Achievement Award
law at the Louisville law firm
steeplechase horses and Nina
for his lifetime contribution to
Frost, Brown, Todd. Driven by a
developed a top-class string
hunting and hounds. He served
lifelong commitment to justice
of show hunters. Ned rode
as Master of Andrews Bridge
and fairness and a deep love of
steeplechase horses into his late
Foxhounds from 1968–2018.
horses, he was responsible for
50s, and had numerous winners
the prosecution and/or defense
at Oxmoor, Hardscuffle, and
complished sailor and an avid
of over 1,000 medication rule
the Iroquois in Nashville. Just
pilot. His sailboat, aptly named
violation cases in the horse busi-
two weeks after Ned’s passing,
Full Cry, won its class in the
ness. He first gained national
Balance the Budget, trained by
Bermuda Race in 1984. All who
recognition as the young at-
daughter-in-law Julie Gomena,
knew him can appreciate that
torney representing Dancer’s
carried Stonelea’s colors to a
DR. EUGENE JAMES GUAZZO,
he truly was one-of-a-kind.
Image owner Peter Fuller in the
wire-to-wire victory in the Grade
88, died Sunday, April 8, 2018,
1968 Kentucky Derby drug scan-
1 Colonial Cup in Camden, SC.
at St. Mary’s Hospice House in
dal that cost Dancer’s Image the
An enthusiastic foxhunter, Ned
Maryland with his wife, Shelby
coveted Derby trophy.
served as Master of Long Run
Palmer Guazzo, at his bedside.
Crompton was also an ac-
8 | COVERTSIDE
DR. EUGENE JAMES GUAZZO EX-MFH, DE LA BROOKE FOXHOUNDS W (MD)
In 1968, Dr. and Mrs. Guazzo
Dr. Guazzo took great plea-
moved to St. Mary’s County,
sure in sailing small boats on
MD. They settled down to work
the rivers and the Bay around
and raise their family, first at
our county and riding to
Cremona Farm, and later at
hounds with the De La Brooke
their own farm in Maddox. Dr.
Foxhounds W Hunt. As Master,
Guazzo was Board Certified in
he secured the hunt’s national
Family Medicine and a family
registration with the Masters
physician for 40 years at his
of Foxhounds Association of
office in Chaptico. After his
America.
retirement, Dr. Guazzo enjoyed
Dr. Guazzo was a member
working as a substitute teacher
and lay reader first at All Faith
for the county school system.
Episcopal Church, Mechanic-
The Guazzos were married for
sville MD, and later at Christ
56 years.
Episcopal Church, Chaptico.
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Oil Paintings
DIRECTLY TO FOXHUNTERS.
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THE CLUB
At the Sedgefield Performance Trials, foxhunters gather to make memories.
particular bitch that appeared to be doing quite well. She was busy working with her new packmates, but at the same time paying attention to the guest huntsman who she’d not known until just hours ago. The hound was one of the Bridlespur entries, and with the same proud look that Vic had that night over dinner, Eleanor went on to tell me about how that hound goes back to a puppy that Ben JANICE BINCKLEY
Hardaway gave to her mother decades before. The hunting gods must have been smiling on us because the hounds started
WHY WE HUNT: PASSION The memories make it all worthwhile
BY KEITH GRAY, MFH, MILL CREEK
to open. I asked that we pick up the conversation over dinner later that night, which we did, with Eleanor elaborating on details that she may not have considered in many years. I enjoy listening to, as well as
LONG BEFORE I WAS
family and friends long gone.
that hunt my last; or the horse
telling, the tales that make what
INVOLVED with horses or fox-
Each photo had details exactly
who was heading to auction
we do for fun so unique. Our
hunting, I learned that a family
as Vic had recited, followed by
that I acquired over cocktails. It’s
sport reminds us of good times,
friend had owned some moder-
a series of anecdotes about the
these memories deep within that
important and colorful people
ately successful racehorses in his
horses (one was given a can
our sport manages to pull out
in our lives, and special animals;
younger years. Victor was well
of beer before each race), the
when we’re talking with friends
memories and feelings that lay
past his prime, suffering from the
trainers (several trained for some
and others who might innocently
dormant in our minds. Foxhunt-
effects some might say of having
of Chicago’s more nefarious citi-
ask a question that can get us
ing stokes our emotions, and we
“too good a time.” We’ve all seen
zens), and how the horses were
going like a lead hound on a
miss a great opportunity when
it: a slipping memory, a cough
acquired and often lost. There
fresh scent.
we keep it to ourselves. Share
that sounds like it hurts, blurry
seemed to be no end to his en-
vision, and not nearly as active
ergy in recounting all that went
Performance Trial in March, I
as he once was.
with what was more than a pass-
commented to Bridlespur Hunts-
ing hobby. Clearly the horse was
man Eleanor Hartwell about a
One night over dinner at his house, I inquired about his race-
a lightning rod for Vic’s spirit.
horses. I watched and listened
When I think about the ques-
in amazement as this formerly
tion of ‘Why we hunt,’ my mind
sedate man suddenly become
goes back not necessarily to the
animated and jovial with what
find or the chase, but rather to
appeared to be a remarkable
all the memories that surround it.
grasp of past facts, which of
The blizzard coming back from a
course I politely took in, given his
hunt that required us to abandon
track record of spotty memory.
the truck and trailer on the road
Not to be doubted, he got up
and walk our horses to a kind
and retrieved dozens of dusty
landowner who put us up for the
winner circle photos of a proud
night; the trip where my leased
young Vic surrounded with
horse seemed intent on making
10 | COVERTSIDE
At the Mission Valley Hound
your passion! Keith Gray is MFH of Mill Creek Hunt in Illinois.
SUMMER 2018 | 11
Fine Details Maryland foxhunter Harvey S. Ladew flawlessly maintained his historic property. BY LAURIE BERGLIE
PHOTOS JAMES BERGLIE
Nestled deep in the heart of Maryland horse country lies Ladew Topiary Gardens, the estate of the late foxhunter and cultural icon Harvey S. Ladew. Ladew purchased the over-200-acre Monkton property, which he called Pleasant Valley Farm, because its idyllic location proved optimal to enjoy the sporting life. 12 | COVERTSIDE
Opposite page: A portion of Ladew’s Staffordshire collection can be found in his study. This page: The stunning Hunt Scene garden has become an international symbol of Ladew Topiary Gardens.
SUMMER 2018 | 13
A FOXHUNTER’S EARTHLY HEAVEN
In the mid-1920s, Harvey Ladew, frustrated at the rate of development throughout his native Long Island, New York, set out to find a home where he could surround himself with his country pursuits—and that search led him to Harford County, Maryland. “What a natural, wonderful country I found in Harford,” Ladew noted in his journal. “Cattle grazed contentedly in lush green pasture land. There were still many snake fences to be seen. There was not a strand of wire anywhere. It was a true foxhunter’s earthly heaven.” This area of Monkton, Harford County, is known as “My Lady’s Manor.” Not surprisingly, My Lady’s Manor is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is recognized for its continued identity as a rural, agricultural, and historical treasure. Charles Calvert, the third Lord Baltimore, held the 10,000-acre tract, but when he married his fourth wife in 1713, he gave this bucolic land to his young bride, Margaret. After Ladew’s purchase of Pleasant Valley Farm, he became set on “becoming a Marylander in fact”—and that he 14 | COVERTSIDE
did. His love for foxhunting and country life made for a seamless integration into the local equestrian community. In 1932, he hosted the first of the Harford Hunt Races at his private track; the event was reported by the Sunday Sun as “one of the most fashionable events of the Maryland hunting and racing season.” The following year, Ladew accepted the position of MFH for the Harford Hunt, a club founded in 1915 and located adjacent to his property. The club later merged with the Elkridge Fox Hunting Club to form the present-day Elkridge-Harford Hunt Club. A life in the country afforded Ladew the space to pursue his other passion: gardening. When he wasn’t out riding, Ladew was transforming 22 acres into 20 separately themed gardens, turning Pleasant Valley Farm into “the most outstanding topiary garden in America,” according to the Garden Club of America. The first garden is Hunt Scene, in which bushes sculpted into two foxhunters, accompanied by their hounds, gallop over fences in pursuit of the fox. It is a true masterpiece and testament to Ladew’s love of his sport.
CLASSIC EQUESTRIAN STYLE
Although situated in a beautiful locale, the manor house was in disrepair when Ladew purchased it in 1929. With no plumbing, electricity, or heat, it was tired and antiquated, but Ladew knew he could breathe new life into its charming bones. He hired architect James W. O’Connor, and together they worked to give the house the 18th-century English atmosphere Ladew desired. When foxhunting abroad, Ladew scoured quaint village shops in search of furniture, antiques, and one-of-a-kind pieces with which to fill his home. Thus, the house became a treasure trove of equestrian style and foxhunting décor and artifacts. Hunting trophies hang next to his portrait, and English and French hunting horns are displayed in the foyer. His red hunt coat, along with Above: Ladew’s hunting habit is on display in his bedroom. Clockwise from top left: Ladew was MFH of the Elkridge-Harford Hunt Club. A hunt journal lies in the living room. A coffee and tea set boasts a gorgeous fox motif. The back of the manor house overlooks the idyllic countryside.
SUMMER 2018 | 15
Ladew Gardens
riding boots and hat, reside in his bedroom, where it looks as if he may walk through the door at any moment, preparing to dress to ride to hounds. Other equestrian trimmings which accent the house are tea sets, stirrup cups, and miniature horses modeled after his favorite personal mounts; no detail was too small for Ladew. Some of his most compelling pieces are his hunt journals, which can be found on a desk in the living room. Ladew, an avid recorder of his life’s history, traveled around the world foxhunting with numerous clubs. After serving in World War I, he began a 20-year tradition of spending every winter foxhunting in England. This particular journal lies open, displaying notes about his time riding stateside with the Piedmont, Orange County, and Middleburg Hunts in Virginia. Home renovations were completed in 1937, and while each room was stunning, it was the oval library, which Ladew designed himself, that took center stage. Built to accommodate more than 1,500 books, the library was included in Helen Comstock’s book, One Hundred Most Beau16 | COVERTSIDE
tiful Rooms in America, and Town & Country called it “the best room in the house.” As you walk into the library, a hunt scene is shown in a stained-glass window above a door, and shadow boxes, which Ladew made himself, are surrounded by hundreds of books. Another foxhunting scene, as well as fox heads, are carved into the marble fireplace mantel. One can imagine sipping a cup of hot tea and warming up by the fireplace in this elegant room after a long winter’s day of hunting. A LASTING LEGACY
On July 28, 1976, at 89 years of age, Harvey Ladew passed away peacefully at Pleasant Valley Farm. Prior to his death, he had established a foundation to keep his home, gardens, and land intact for others to use and enjoy for years to come. Currently, Ladew Gardens hosts approximately 80 annual events, which include the My Lady’s Manor Steeplechase Races, Garden Festival, the Summer Concert Series, Children’s Nature Camps, Children’s Day, Christmas Open House, and spring and fall educational programs. With a love
“The mission of Ladew Topiary Gardens, Inc., is to maintain and promote the gardens, house, and facilities in keeping with the creative spirit of Harvey S. Ladew for the public benefit and for educational, scientific, and cultural pursuits.” Gardens, Manor House, and Nature Walk are open daily, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Gardens, Manor House, and Nature Walk are OPEN Memorial Day, 4th of July, and Labor Day, same hours as above.
HOUSE TOURS Guided Manor House tours depart Monday–Friday at 11:00 a.m., noon, 2:00 p.m., and 3:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday house tours are offered 11:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. on the half-hour.
of the outdoors, sporting life, and, above all, foxhunting, Harvey Ladew’s country home is the definition of classic English equestrian style. Laurie Berglie is fortunate enough to live in Ladew’s beloved Harford County and visit his home and gardens regularly for tours, nature walks, and even the occasional paint night. She maintains the Maryland Equestrian blog.
SUPPORT FOXHUNTING Become an MFHA Subscribing Member!
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THE MAGAZINE OF MOUNTED FOXHUNTING
To join, make check payable to the MFHA and mail to: Masters of Foxhounds Association of America, PO Box 363, Millwood, VA 22646. To pay by credit card, call 540-955-5680. Call (540) 955-5680 or visit www.mfha.com to join today!
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Your valuable support of the MFHA and its foundations helps to promote and preserve foxhunting and countryside values.
GAZE AT A GROUP OF FOXHUNTERS MILLING AROUND BEFORE A HUNT MEET, AND YOU’LL SEE A MELTING POT OF EQUINE BREEDS. Has-been Thoroughbred racehorses are usually well represented, as are various sport horses. And you’ll probably spot a number of draft crosses, Quarter Horses, and a few pintos with unknown lineage and multi-use résumés. The bottom line: These hunt horses weren’t intentionally bred to be field hunters. In a sense, foxhunting has served as a repository— and a good one at that—for horses ill-suited to other jobs, or retired from former careers. Because no one actually breeds horses for foxhunting, right? Wrong.
BREEDI PHOTOS COURTESY LIZ BOOTH, MEGAN HARRIS AND ROSEMARIE MERLE-SMITH
Megan and Lee Harris of Fade to Grey Farm ride their broodmares in the hunt.
NGTHE FIELD BY JOANNE MESZOLY
HUNTER
Perigrine’s Flyte, bred by Liz Booth, hunting with Santa Fe West Hills Hunt.
CONSIDER VIRGINIA SPORT HORSES, FOUNDED BY LIZ BOOTH, WHO BREEDS HORSES AND BUYS GREEN PROSPECTS. SHE THEN TRAINS AND SELLS THEM for a number of disciplines, including foxhunting. While her riding and training résumé goes back four decades, Booth has been breeding and selling field hunters in Virginia for 18 years. “Many first-flight riders want Thoroughbreds, so obviously I don’t breed them—that would be insane,” she says. “But I do breed a number of second- and third-flight horses. I breed for riders who want a sporty, athletic second-flight mount. Or perhaps they want a first-flight mount, but one that’s not quite up to hunting coyote. Or a first-flight Thoroughbred with a slightly calmer disposition, perhaps with ¼ Shire blood in the mix.” At first, Booth trained and sold draftcross field hunters, sourced from Canada’s abundant Premarin industry, which at one
20 | COVERTSIDE
time produced more than 30,000 foals each year. (To read more about Premarin foals, see the sidebar.) In the 1990s, Premarin ranchers began honing their breeding practices, crossing draft breeds with ½ or ¾ Thoroughbreds. With time to mature and adequate training, many Premarin foals grew up to become top-notch field hunters, possessing the Thoroughbred’s desire to run and jump, coupled with the draft horse’s solid build and calm disposition. When the Premarin industry declined, trainers like Booth continued looking for prospects, but also bred their own foxhunting mounts. “I bought my own stallions and bred for my client base,” says Booth. Currently, she stands six stallions, including a Connemara, an Irish Sport Horse, a Shire, and a Trakehner, to name a few. “I have an Irish Sport Horse and I cross him with lighter mares—Thoroughbreds or lighter-boned draft crosses—and those offspring make good second-field mounts,” says Booth. She also crosses her
Shire stallion with Thoroughbreds for sturdy, impressive second- and third-field mounts. “Some people say that I shouldn’t call them draft crosses, because they look like pure Thoroughbreds.” Her 16-year-old buckskin Connemara stallion, Tullymor’s Ned Devine, has produced offspring who have hunted and evented all over the East Coast and as far west as Montana. Booth typically crosses this stallion with Thoroughbreds and Clydesdales to produce field hunters, eventers, and hunter/jumpers. “Believe it or not, but I had a Connemara/Clyde who won the Central Virginia Show Jumping Association and hunted with Deep Run,” says Booth. “The Connemara is a sturdy, plucky, athletic breed and, depending on how you cross them, you can get a cob or something with a lot more size. Typically, the buyer interested in a cross who isn’t too big, is a 40-year-old woman with children. She wants something that both she and her kids can hunt and ride.”
PREMARIN AND THE BYPRODUCT: FOALS
Connemara halfbred by the famous eventing stallion, Grange Finn Sparrow.
BOOTH ISN’T THE ONLY BREEDER AND TRAINER TO NOTICE AN INTEREST IN CONNEMARAS IN THE HUNT FIELD. Megan Harris, an eventer who later branched into foxhunting, has bred Connemara crosses for years. Based in Luthersville, Georgia, Harris’ Fade to Grey Farm is surrounded by Bear Creek Hounds’ hunt territory, and Harris hunts her Connemara stallion, TBS Declan Pondi, whom she imported from Ireland in 2012. “He had the right temperament from the get-go, and he was roading hounds with less than 30 days under saddle when we had him back at home,” says Harris. When it comes to breeding, Harris is an eventer at heart. Fortunately, “Eventing and foxhunting go hand in hand,” she says. “All of my event horses hunt. It’s great groundwork.” Harris admits that she gravitates toward the horses “with a lot of jump,” and more
“get up and go” than other riders might prefer in the field. And most buyers interested in a Connemara cross fit Booth’s description of her hunting clientele. “I run into hunt people who say, ‘I’m getting older and I want to be closer to the ground,’” says Harris. “But I’ve had a lot of foxhunting friends who’ve booked my stallion after seeing him out in the field. And some want to cross with a Thoroughbred and get something that will run all day with coyote. This year, I’m seeing more people who want to cross with warmbloods, draft crosses and Thoroughbreds.” But the most important component is temperament. Whether a rider prefers a cob, a more sizable horse, or a fleet-footed mount to keep up with coyote, a good attitude is imperative. “They don’t have to be perfectly quiet, but they have to have that solid disposition, the ability to stand, and a high tolerance for being crowded and patient,” says Harris. “They must have a good mind.”
If you never heard about Premarin or PMU foals 15 or 20 years ago, then you’re even less likely to hear about them now. A hormone replacement therapy for postmenopausal women, the drug Premarin dates back to the 1940s. But it became well-known in the 1970s and '80s, when the FDA confirmed Premarin’s efficacy in treating menopausal symptoms and preventing osteoporosis. By the early 2000s, more than 20 million American women were taking Premarin each year, yet few knew much about the drug. And Wyeth Pharmaceuticals didn’t trumpet the fact that “Premarin” was short for “pregnant mare’s urine,” from which the estrogen was sourced. But with popularity comes scrutiny. Wyeth contracted with hundreds of ranches (mostly based in Canada) to impregnate tens of thousands of mares (typically draft breeds) each year. In the 1980s, animal rights groups expressed disdain for the treatment of the mares, who stood slotted in standing stalls, for urine collection. Meanwhile, there was growing concern for the drug’s byproduct: the foals born from Premarin production. Reports circulated that countless foals wound up at auctions, then feedlots, and eventually slaughter plants. In the mid-1990s, the North American Equine Ranching Council (an association affiliated with the PMU industry) created programs to improve conditions for pregnant mares and the outcome of their foals. NAERIC worked to educate PMU ranchers about sport horses and foster better breeding through incentive pro-
Continued on the next page. SUMMER 2018 | 21
Continued from the previous page. grams. These programs encouraged ranchers to produce foals more likely to be trained and ridden, rather than eaten. Ranchers cross-bred draft horses with Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses, and various organizations assisted ranchers in marketing foals for specific riding disciplines, including foxhunting. But equine welfare wasn’t the only aspect of Premarin under scrutiny. Medical researchers studied the effects of hormone replacement therapy and published reports in 2002 and 2004 that showed that long-term use of estrogen and progestine can increase a woman’s risk of breast cancer, strokes, and other significant health issues. Soon after, Premarin sales declined significantly, as did the number of PMU ranches in operation. Sales continued to plummet following more unfavorable studies, along with FDA approval of synthetic estrogen, and seemingly unrelated factors—like a Canadian oil boom 10 years ago. Collectively, these elements all helped to whittle PMU’s ranching industry to a sliver of its original size. Twenty years ago, more than 30,000 PMU foals were born each year, and at the time, you were bound to see a few “by-products”—all grown up—in the hunt field. But now, they are a rarity. According to NAERIC, a mere 1,300 broodmares are “involved” in the industry. While some PMU foals ultimately grew up to became great hunt horses, for the hundreds of thousands of unwanted foals, the demise of PMU ranches is a good thing. 22 | COVERTSIDE
Rosemarie Merle-Smith breeds Holsteiners for foxhunting and for sport.
CROSSBREEDING AND CROSSING DISCIPLINES If Harris and Booth poked holes in the belief that foxhunters aren’t bred, they are “re-purposed,” then Rosemarie MerleSmith totally shattered the theory. Like Harris, Merle-Smith initially hailed from another equine discipline—the hunter circuit—but later took up foxhunting and realized that her horses could compete on the show circuit and ride to hounds. “I started hunting with the Arapahoe Hunt in 1983, and started breeding around the same time,” says Merle-Smith. “In Colorado, you hunt whatever might work. And while some horses don’t make the transition [to hunting], you’d be surprised by how many can do it.” Merle-Smith initially bred Trakehners for the show ring; but they proved their mettle in the hunt field and served as field hunters for Merle-Smith and her husband, Grosvenor (an avid foxhunter with a lengthy résumé, including Master and huntsman for Bull Run Hunt and Master and huntsman for the Tennessee Valley Hunt). “If you look at the Trakehner throughout history, they foxhunted in Prussia,” says Merle-Smith. “Most of those old Prussian stud farms had packs of hounds
because that’s how they trained their cavalry mounts.” So the Merle-Smiths bred horses with the chops for the A-show circuit and the stamina and willingness to foxhunt—and later event, as well, with their daughter Nicolette. Fast-forward several years, and a few moves along the way (including a stint in Ireland when Grosvenor served as Master for the Golden Vale Hunt), and the MerleSmith family settled in Virginia in 1989. Over the years, Merle-Smith’s breeding program has branched out to include Trakehners, Holsteiners, Oldenburgs, Connemaras, Thoroughbreds, and Percherons, to name a few. And since Nicolette, now 31, competes as an upperlevel eventer, Merle-Smith says that she focuses on breeding eventers. However, 75 percent of the horses she sells go to foxhunters. And since she’s a member of the Keswick, Deep Run, and Thornton Hill Hounds, her horses get plenty of mileage autumn hunting, hill-topping, and hunting. “We want our horses to be well-schooled and willing to jump what’s in front of them,” says Merle-Smith. “But we also want them well-trained, should they go to horse shows or compete in other disciplines, even if foxhunting is first and foremost in their minds.”
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RENAISSANCE and RECOGNITION Cedar Knob Hounds comes back stronger than ever. BY MARTHA DRUM | PHOTOS MICHAEL GOMEZ
ORIGINALLY ESTABLISHED IN THE 1970S, this Tennessee pack
was dormant for decades, until the right combination of leadership and cooperation brought it back to life. With a strong emphasis on youth participation, the future now looks bright. Sporting pundits occasionally wonder whether foxhunting will survive through the 21st century. At Cedar Knob Hounds, recognized by the MFHA last January, the answer is a resounding “Yes!” Facing the same challenges as many hunts today—attracting new members, achieving financial stability, maintaining country—Cedar Knob’s enthusiasm, commitment to juniors, and respect for neigh24 | COVERTSIDE
boring hunts have allowed them not only to rebuild, but to thrive. Cedar Knob was originally founded in the 1970s by Buck Allison, and hunted territories in Giles and Lincoln Counties in Tennessee for more than a decade before falling inactive. About ten years ago, dedicated conservationist and sportsman Albert Menefee III set out to reestablish Allison’s pack. The greater hunting community offered help: Susan Walker, Master and huntsman at Longreen Hunt (TN), suggested getting started with PennMarydels, and the late Larry Pefferly drove to Pennsylvania to pick up drafted hounds from Dr. Todd Addis. Menefee, who, with his
To encourage learning about the sport, field masters keep riders close to the action.
sister Marianne Menefee Byrd, owns ample property in the old Cedar Knob country, reconstructed the kennels, linking the hunt’s new incarnation to its early history. MFHA district representatives for the Mid-South region encouraged the group to pursue registration and, ultimately, full recognition. Rob Caldwell, who joined Menefee as Joint Master in 2017, explains that immediate goals included welcoming newcomers, incorporating juniors into all aspects of the community, and keeping the field near hounds. “Our territory is very hilly, so it’s challenging, especially hunting coyote. But we established from the get-go
that people need to be up close and personal with the hounds, and our field masters keep them forward so they can really learn about hunting.” To attract subscribers, Cedar Knob proactively invites non-foxhunters from local equestrian facilities; doesn’t demand that they purchase full formal attire for their first times out; and maintains a busy schedule of participation in performance trials, hound shows, and hunter trials. Caldwell estimates that 60% of Cedar Knob riders are newcomers to foxhunting, and the group already has a reputation for providing fun, hound-centric sport. SUMMER 2018 | 25
Above: The view of staff, hounds, and first field from the photographer’s drone. Below: Hounds eagerly on the chase. Opposite: Master Rob Caldwell pointing out the country.
26 | COVERTSIDE
Bill Haggard, Joint Master at Mells Fox Hounds (TN) and district representative at the time Cedar Knob sought full recognition, says it was a joy to help. “They have got youth involved, they’ve got committed followers, they’ve built a good pack of hounds. They’ve got the excitement our sport needs for the future.” With country surrounded by Hillsboro Hounds, another hard-running pack, the Masters at both hunts have developed a cooperative relationship. Hillsboro and Cedar Knob enjoy joint meets, engage in friendly competition at Tennessee performance trials, welcome one another at hunter paces and trail rides, and together support young riders by hosting Junior North American Field Hunter Championship qualifiers. Caldwell has a personal stake in the youth involvement—he and his wife, Joanna, have 18-year-old twin sons, Harry and Charlie, who grew up hunting fox and other game with their parents and excel in competitive equestrian disciplines, including polo and the Retired Racehorse Project’s Thoroughbred Makeover (see Young Entry: Keeping Up with the Caldwells). “Our family started Cedar Knob Pony Club about nine years ago, and we’ve had a tremendous amount of support for getting the Pony Club kids out
with hounds.” A few Pony Club parents even decided to subscribe for themselves after seeing how much fun their children had riding with staff and showing hounds. Hunt Secretary Beverly Greenup also credits the personal drive and contagious enthusiasm of the Masters and staff. “We are indebted to our founder and Master Albert Menefee III, who, along with his wife, Theresa, continue to share their love and support of Cedar Knob Hounds. We also could not have achieved full recognition without the unfaltering energy and superb leadership of our Master Rob Caldwell, along with our stalwart and tireless Huntsman Clare Pinney and her talented pack of Penn-Marydel hounds.” As Haggard says, “The MFHA needs people like the Menefees and the Caldwells, with passion and commitment. In turn, they understand their need for the MFHA, keeping an eye on the bigger picture, to protect this great sport for all of us. The relationship is a value-adding opportunity for everybody.” Martha Drum is digital content editor for ecovertside.net, and staff writer for Covertside. She lives in Charlottesville, VA.
SUMMER 2018 | 27
YOUNG ENTRY
COURTESY RETIRED RACEHORSE PROJECT
The foxhunting twins also compete at the Retired Racehorse Project’s Thoroughbred Makeover. Charlie’s horse (right), Taberna, won overall.
Catching Up with the Caldwells
T
Twins Harry and Charlie are all-around horsemen.
wins Charlie and Harry Caldwell (18) began foxhunting as children. As their horsemanship developed, they progressed to junior staff in the hunt field and significant achievement in other disciplines, notably polo. Harry was selected to compete in the United States Polo Association’s National Youth Tournament Series Championship for two years in a row. At the 2017 Retired Racehorse Project’s Thoroughbred Makeover competition, both Harry and Charlie entered horses in the polo division that they’d retrained. Charlie’s filly, Taberna, was the winner and went on to receive the overall title of America’s Most Wanted Thoroughbred. Covertside asked the boys about the connections between
28 | COVERTSIDE
hunting and polo. “Foxhunting has taught me how to ride and control a horse subtly,” says Harry. “It has, hands down, made me a better polo player. The
“Foxhunting has taught me how to ride and control a horse subtly. It has, hands down, made me a better polo player.” —HARRY CALDWELL
most challenging part is having the patience, waiting for a horse to finally come around. Some may take weeks to understand a simple command; but when they do, it’s awesome.” Charlie agrees: “Yes, for sure hunting makes me a better rider. Harry and I are always working with our green
BY MARTHA DRUM
horses and exposing them to the hunting world. It is always entertaining when some of these off-track Thoroughbreds see a cow for the first time!” With their involvement in Pony Club and youth polo, do the brothers have any suggestions for how to attract more juniors to the hunt field? “Last weekend I was asked to hunt the hounds all by myself,” says Harry. “This is something [former huntsman] Albert Menefee was always wanting. Blowing the horn is a lot harder on a horse and in front of a lot of people. I loved it, but I was so nervous. We had other Pony Clubbers as staff. It was a fun day, and all of us had a great time. This is what more hunts need to do: actually let us be a part of it.” “I think once someone hears the sound of the Penn-Marydels
in full cry, they will want to get more involved,” Charlie adds. “My favorite aspects of hunting is that music; galloping horses through the woods; and working with my green ones, all at the same time.”
THE RETIRED RACEHORSE PROJECT’S THOROUGHBRED MAKEOVER: Competitors train horses off the track to compete in a variety of disciplines, including a field hunter competition. The best horses go on to an overall competition, where they are crowned “America’s Most Wanted Thoroughbred.”
covertside_autumn_17_Layout 1 27/07/2017 10:25 Page 1
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ASK THE HUNTSMAN
Hunting Game
Huntsman Brian Gonzales of Caza Ladron, with whippersin Phyllis Gonzales (left) and Elsa Kloess (right) in the Buckman fixture arroyo.
Two western huntsmen talk about the value of big game hunting skills.
Covertside: How does big game hunting experience influence your decisions when pursuing coyote with foxhounds?
Atchinson: You learn a lot when hunting and guiding big game. You focus on habitat and time of day, with the biggest factor being the wind. I want to hunt with the wind into my and the hounds’ faces, or at least a crosswind. In our country in the morning, the wind comes from the north, but by the time we’re heading back in, it’s typically blowing from the southwest. So I plan the day so that the wind is always into the hounds’ faces. Gonzales: Without that experience, you don’t have the instinct to consider terrain, barometer, moisture, all those conditions. You ask yourself, “If I was a coyote, what would I do? Where would I go?” That way of thinking helps you put 30 | COVERTSIDE
RICK ATCHINSON
I
T MIGHT BE A BIT UNUSUAL to find elk hunting in Montana and big game guiding in the Rockies on the typical huntsman’s résumé. But the backcountry experiences of huntsmen Brian Gonzales and Rick Atchinson prepare them perfectly to offer great sport in Caza Ladron’s wide-open New Mexico territory. Joint Master Gonzales hunts hounds as his schedule allows, with Atchinson either whipping-in or carrying the horn himself. Gonzales is also an avid bowhunter. Atchinson grew up with hunting dogs, began guiding elk hunts at age 16, and has worked as an outfitter in Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico. Atchinson’s elk, oryx (a type of non-native antelope), and wild sheep stews are popular fare at Caza Ladron’s hunt breakfast.
the pack back on the line. It’s different every time. Sometimes I may have to move hounds to find the scent; sometimes it’s about being patient and just watching it unfold.
Covertside: Describe the challenges and rewards of hunting in New Mexico. Atchinson: In our hilly territory, coyotes will be in the bottoms in the morning, but heading up to the ridgelines or northern slopes to stay cool if it’s a warm day. We want to catch them working up the slope, or get up above them. At our flatter fixtures, we’ll find them near arroyos, or gullies, and again, based on the wind direction, we might work across the trees along the hillsides, or we’ll work down the slope if the wind’s blowing uphill. In very dry conditions, the scenting is so poor, we almost
have to jump the coyote right out of covert. I’ll take out the fastest hounds in this situation, as we’re almost sight hunting at that point. In one dry season, we had only two days of moisture—and those days turned out to be almost sensory overload for the hounds!
Gonzales: It’s beautiful. The most fun is all the stuff that happens while you’re out there, those unique experiences. Foxhunting is adrenaline, it’s fast, you’re going through unknown country on a good mount with good hounds you can trust, just enjoying the chase and watching it unfold. It’s the most gorgeous thing to hear a hound start to give voice and the others honor him. Covertside: Many of your members don’t have that big game hunting background. How do you help them appreciate these nuances?
Atchinson: Our field masters really know the territory, but I will try to check up if I see the slower fields are left behind (if we’re not on a run). Otherwise, it would be like playing the Superbowl with no spectators in the stands! Then the huntsman gives a full report at the breakfast—I’ll explain which hound did what, and how the day unfolded, so the riders have an understanding of what’s going on. Gonzales: [The hunt report] has become important to our followers. They want to hear it coming from the person who saw it. It’s fun to share, because you see people get excited. I’d encourage other hunts to offer this explanation—it really makes a difference with getting the riders interested, and that’s been a blessing for us. — Martha Drum
SPORTING ART Plate from The Anatomy of the Horse by George Stubbs, 1766.
George Stubbs: Anatomy of an Artist
R
enaissance figure Leonardo da Vinci is famous for many things, from designing the first helicopter to painting the Mona Lisa. One of his most notable achievements was to capture human anatomy on paper, board, and canvas. From the Renaissance onward, science and art went hand in hand, especially in rendering the human form. Horses, on
Stubbs was not only able to render a horse with paint, but to place the horse within the composition naturally and effectively. the other hand, were not always studied in so much detail.
BY ANNE MARIE BARNES
George Stubbs (English, 1724–1806) was one of the first artists to use extensive equine anatomical study in his body of work. Stubbs was mostly selftaught, and he studied human dissection at York Hospital to inform his art. His fascination with anatomy led him to publish Anatomy of a Horse in 1766. The ability to convincingly capture individual horse conformation and motion on canvas eluded most artists of this time. Stubbs, in contrast, was not only able to render a horse with paint, but also to place the horse within the composition naturally and effectively. Stubbs was made president of the Society of Artists in 1772, and elected an associate of the Royal Academy in 1780; he exhibited for both groups. His recognition, however, seemed to stall even though his skill was respected
far and wide. Animal subjects were relegated to a lower order than historic, figurative, and landscape art in a hierarchy longestablished by fine art academies and art critics. Stubbs continued to study and paint, but passed away with little fanfare in 1806. George Stubbs’ contributions to art do not rest solely in the “animal painter” genre.
Though known for his sporting scenes, his dedication to realism and anatomy place him in the category of artists who, like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, seek the truth in art through science. Anne Marie Barnes is the Clarice and Robert H. Smith Educator at the National Sporting Library and Museum.
$10,000 REWARD!
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LAST RUN OF THE DAY Photograph by Ron Glockner
Ah...Ponies PAYTON JONES, ANNA GRASSO, AND ADDISON JONES try their hand at bridling Chocolate Chip, owned by Field Secretary Kathy Blanche, at the De La Brooke Foxhounds W closing meet held in March at Keechland.—KATHY GLOCKNER
EDITOR’S NOTE: Do you have a photo, story or essay to share with Covertside? Send high-resolution, 300 dpi photographs or essays to editor@covertside.net, or snail mail to Covertside, 2329 Lakeview Rd. SW, Albuquerque, NM 87105
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