Late Autumn in Chester County was punctuated by crystalline days, an errant snow and unrelenting weekly rains.  Staff and hounds continued to leave the kennels three mornings a week to pursue Mr. Fox.  One morning a hard frost covered the Doe Run Valley, every tree, blade of grass and fence rail, with silver.

Mr. Stewart’s Cheshire Foxhounds meets every Thanksgiving morning at 11:00 at the Kennel Lawn.  The “field” of riders grows to twice its size from the week before, enlarged by students home on break from college, friends and family in from out of town.  Non-riding members of the community are encouraged to come out, meet the hounds and watch the hunt take off from the hill overlooking Plantation Field, home to a major Three Day Event competition.  The crowd arriving to watch is so large that traffic control is warranted.

Some spectators come prepared for a tailgate party.

The crowd numbers into the hundreds and includes many children.

Children and hounds mix and play to everyone’s delight.

Hounds released, they head down the hill for the first draw.

Riders and horses wait while the hounds search for a fox in the cover below the Kennel Lawn.

Hounds find a fox and chase him across Route 82 behind Chesterlands, eventually returning to the Plantation Field.

Riders are dressed formally, including Top Hats.

The end of the day, Ivan Dowling, huntsman, blows his horn to gather the hounds.

Saturday, following Thanksgiving, the hunt meets at The Laurels at Landhope, site of an annual carriage driving event which is one third of the Triple Crown of Combined Driving (http://www.equidigital.com/Combined-Driving/Laurels-at-Landhope-2011)  Terrain here is largely flat and rolling hills.

The following week, the hunt meets at a location at the highest point in The Laurels Preserve area (http://www.brandywineconservancy.org/laurelsPreserve.html), which overlooks the Doe Run Valley.

The sunlight in autumn is rich and ethereal.   Joint Master Russell Jones (in Pink coat, foreground) and First Fieldmaster Sanna Hendricks (in Pink coat with blue helmet cover) lead the field behind the Huntsman.

The field heads down the hill, away from the meet, towards the Brandywine River.

Huntsman Ivan Dowling blows his horn to bring hounds back while the remainder of the field enjoy a check (a rest in the action) after putting a fox “to ground”.

Ivan Dowling casts his hounds into the cover.

Crossing the Brandywine River at a ford…..

and later, through a covered bridge.

Third Fieldmaster, Nancy Miller, rides through a covered bridge in The Laurels Preserve.

The field at a check overlooking the Doe Run Valley.

The Doe Run Valley, looking toward Unionville.

Where did the fox go?

Back down over the Brandywine, yet again.

Returning to the meet, and….

counting hounds as they return to the hound truck.

Two weeks later, hounds meet at the home of one of the Joint Masters for a good day of hunting followed by a Hunt Breakfast hosted at his home.

Rain brought mud, and mud brought the expected hazards:  stuck in the “in” gate waiting for a tow, even before the hunt begins.

On the other hand, if you didn’t get dirty, you didn’t have fun.

A Visual Recap of Foxhunting in Cheshire Country,

Autumn, 2011

–::–

Opening Meet, Formal Hunting, Runnymede

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Formal Hunting moves to 11:00 A.M.  in November from 9:00 the previous month.  Riders met at St. Malachi Church to park their vehicles and hacked to the Meet at Runnymede, about a mile away, down the hill and a long driveway, along a creek ruled by a venerable Blue Heron.

The Joint Masters, Huntsman and Whip, wearing Pinque for the first time this season, are joined by the Field (the riders following the hounds) on the lawn of Runnymede.

Runnymede is known for its broad, open fields and sloping terrain, punctuated by fences with gates and coops, with creeks emptying to the Doe Run, and eventually to the Brandywine River.

–::–

Byrd Road, Webbs Woods

Saturday, November 5, 2011

The Meet at Byrd Road encompasses a large woods, Webbs Woods, and is flatter than Runnymede, with many foxes.  The Meet is close by the Veterinary School at the University of Pennsylvania, New Bolton.

Cheshire encourages family participation and many children join their parents on the hunt.

This dairy farm, close by Brooklawn, the home of the late former Master, Mrs. John Hannum, was owned by her as well. No longer home to herds of cows, horses graze in the pastures.

 –::–

Junior North American Field Hunter Championships

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Warrenton, Virginia

After a fall during which children competed against each other and displayed their riding and hunting prowess in regional judged meets, the finalists met in Warrenton, Virginia for the Championships representing hunts from New Jersey south to Virginia.  Some came on tiny ponies, as small as 10 hands and appeared to be no more than 6 years old.  Many families made a weekend of it; the hosts made hunting arrangements Saturday for participants and their families and threw a party the night before.  Before setting out on their ponies and horses, parents and friends completed preparations including adjustment of ties and braiding of hair.

Contestants listened to the Master of Ceremonies as he explained the order of the competition and the rules.

Ella Brophy hunts with River Hills and Cheshire.

Ada Plumb shows winning form early on.

Audrey Buchanan regularly hunts with Cheshire accompanied by her sister, Maggie, and her parents.

After the initial cross country test during which competitors were judged on control of their mounts, the entire group returned to the starting point to begin the selection process to move on to the next level.

Ada Plumb canters her pony, Willie, in the flat phase with the entire field of hilltoppers and first flight.

::

Hilltoppers

Maggie Buchanan was in the hilltopper section although she is a regular second field participant during hunting season.

Lee Lee McNeil hunts with Radnor but occasionally hunts with Cheshire as well. Hilltoppers were required to trot down the hill, cross a narrow bridge, turn right handed and return over a small log, then canter up hill to a complete stop in front of the judges.

After the stop, Lee Lee dismounted, ran up her stirrups, then led her pony across a small stake and bound.

Lee Lee's calm demeanor and her obvious mastery of the challenge brought her the reserve championship of the division.

::

First Field, 12 and Under

John Brophy, older brother of Ella, also hunts with River Hills and Cheshire. He is a talented fiddler (see the blog archives for June 2011) and was the overall pony racing champion this past year for the Delaware Valley Point to Point Association.

Ada Plumb displays the easy grace and great position that won her the Under 13 Championship.

During the awards ceremony, it looked like Ada was going to get the reserve, but when it became clear that she was to receive the blue, she gave Willie a huge hug.

Ada balanced the large bronze trophy and bag of prizes while hoofing it back to the trailer.

::

First Field, Thirteen and Over

Rachel Wilkowski competed Pinkerton in the Thirteen and Over Division.  She and her father, John, hunt with Cheshire every week.  She posted an eighth place finish for her efforts.

::

So, even if you aren’t yet jumping your pony over the brush, there is nothing to prevent you from doing so.  Even if you’re only three feet tall.

–::–

To Be Continued…

Festival in the Country

The week before Fair Hill International CCI3* and 2* (October 13-16) was soggy, so much that fields were flooded and I rode strictly on the roads, foregoing hunting on Thursday because the footing was so slippery.  Friday was overcast with intermittent showers as I donned my wellies and fleece and headed down to Fair Hill, Maryland to go walk the course.  Between leaving the vendor tents and the far side of the course, clouds blew in with yet another rain shower; fortunately fleece is still warm and comfy even when wet.

But glory be!  Saturday began cold and as the morning progressed past 6 A.M., the sun rose and it turned into a perfect day spend in the country with blue sky, bright sunshine and magnificent foliage in yellows and crimson.  It doesn’t get much better than that.

Creature comforts

The organizers of the event thoughtfully placed many, many trash barrels everywhere. You didn’t need to carry that empty drink bottle more than a few steps.

 Port-a-potties are normally something that I, as a photographer, abhor as they always seem to crop up in the most un-happy spot – like a “Win” picture.  The organizers made sure there were lots of them and they were spread out well around the entire course, never obtrusive but there when needed.  Might not be something everyone else thinks about, but I sure am grateful.

The cross country course is long and skinny; there were designated stops, with signage, where spectators could pick up a ride back to the tents.  Very good detail.

Family Friendly

Many people brought children and dogs and made a family day of it.

This year I chatted with a woman who brought two ‘tweens, a grand-daughter and her friend, both of whom are horse crazy.  It involved a two and half hour drive but “no worry” -  she had never missed one and the long day was a minor matter.  Volunteers come year after year and at one of the water jumps,  three generations – a team of grandmother, mother and grand-daughter – spent the day together fence judging.

Anticipation

Kristi Nunnink, whose horse is named R-Star, has blue stars on her cross country helmet.

She resides in California but when she is on the East Coast Bruce Davidson is her coach.  While watching the show jump phase, where she eventually moved up from her 13th after dressage to 8th place at the final jump, Bruce stood along the rail in great anticipation and when she finished double clear he was clearly over the moon.

Kristi in the warm up area prior to entering the ring.

Bruce Davidson watches as Kristi clears a fence...

then in nervous anticipation of another...

and at the end of the clear round, leaves for the "in" gate to congratulate her.

Life after Retirement

Some people get to the end of their career, retire and move to the chaise lounge for a well-deserved rest.  Others can’t imagine getting up in the morning without a challenge to tackle; they keep on showing up at work until infirmity calls them to quit.  The improbably named Ying Yang Yo came to the US with Boyd Martin and shortly thereafter placed 11th at Rolex.  This weekend Boyd won the the 3* on Ying Yang Yo whom he had previously retired, handing the reins over to the owner’s daughter who competed him at Novice and Training.  This horse, like some folks, didn’t seem ready to retire. Boyd tuned him up, starting all over at Preliminary then quickly moved to Advanced, winning the Three Star this year where he had come in second in 2007.

Boyd has gotten to the last fence with a lot of rubs but no downed rails.

He clears the last fence.

Just checking!!!

Now that he is sure the last fence stands, he knows that he has retained at least a red ribbon.

A pat for a job well done.

Boyd is congratulated by his wife Silva.

I love this picture of Boyd with Ying Yang Yo. You can see the partnership and easy friendship.

Boyd with owner Faye Wolffe in the winner circle.

The victory gallop with Boyd's stars and stripes helmet.

Outriders get to school too

At the end of Cross Country, as the crowd dissipated and judges packed up their gear to get back to their cars, an outrider took a moment to school her five year old Mule, “Rose”, at the water.  Rose wasn’t quite so sure about it all, the sand at the edge giving way slightly under her hoof, but though tentative, she was game.  With some encouragement from her rider and help from passers-by, she walked through the water and banished that boogey-man forever.

Success!

Every kid’s dream

Kylie Lyman is a 25 year old young woman who, through diligence and a winning disposition, won the Two Star.  As a teenager, she rode nasty little ponies at a local stable, then finding a passion for horses, began to work for and train with Robert Costello and Buck Davidson.  She has her own following now and has found a owner who clearly considers her family. Joan Nichols the owner of Trading Aces and the other horse that Kylie competed this weekend (Garrison Flash, coming in at 20th place in the 2*) told me that “she is the real deal” – a model for every kid who is willing to put in the time, effort and sacrifice that it takes.  As they say, “Cream Rises”.

Kylie and Trading Aces on Cross Country Saturday.

Kylie in Show Jumping on Sunday.

At the "in" gate, several people including fellow competitor, William Coleman III, cheer on Kylie Lyman.

Kylie has jumped double clear.

She is just realizing what she has done.

A hug from former employer and coach Robert Costello.

Victory Gallop

Kylie with her friend and the owner of her horse, Joan Nichols of Vermont.

Olympic Dreams

In reviewing the weekend and looking to the future, Boyd Martin is enthusiastic about the American prospects for 2012 (or the London Olympics, to be exact).  He has competed internationally on three continents and he categorically states that Fair Hill is the hardest 3* in the world due to the combination of questions, huge fences and terrain.  All three top finishers, Boyd, Becky Holder and Jan Byyny have capable horses and a depth of experience that he believes puts them in a good position to do very well next year.  While they coyly refused to actually say the word “Olympics”, they do admit they are anticipating and preparing for “a Big One”.

From left to right: Becky Holder in second place, Boyd Martin in first, and Jan Byyny in third.

Portrait at the winners circle: Boyd Martin on Ying Yang Yo and Becky Holder on Can't Fire Me

Dancing

At the end of Cross Country, Jan Byyny was ahead of Boyd Martin by two tenths of a point.

Jan on Cross Country.

The last fence.

Disappointment in having dropped a crucial rail as Jan heads out of the ring.

An unlucky fence in Show Jumping took Jan from first to third in the very last round Sunday.  Jan Byyny was honored with the Sportsmanship Award at the awards ceremony, an acknowledgement of achievement not only for placing in the top three, but also for having found the strength and hope to return to competition after a career-ending injury.  A year and a half ago, at an event in Georgia her horse fell and she suffered a traumatic brain injury.  Coming back from that fall required that she learn to walk and to talk all over again, then learn again to ride a horse.   She has said that re-learning to speak was as hard as re-learning to ride.

The second fence on the course Sunday snatched away her chance to win the 3* but it is almost beyond comprehension that someone could achieve that level of competence in a scant twenty months.  She just hammered away at the rehabilitation until she got back to the start box.  She says she takes everything “one day at a time”.  When she said that it was like hearing the phrase for the first time.  It will forever take on a new meaning for me.

To her, I send a Valentine.

“I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat
But always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted ….
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you’ll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
        I hope you dance” ***

***Song by Lee Ann Womack – “I Hope You Dance”

Sunday afternoon, during a break between the two star and three star show jump phase to decide the winners of the Plantation Field Three Star Event (Unionville, Pennsylvania), visitors were witness to a spectacular jump-off, of sorts, between some of this weekend’s event riders.

Three years ago the organizers of the Plantation Field Three Day Event sponsored a casual puissance jumping event during the lunch break.  Puissance features a wall that increases in height with elimination of riders as they fail to clear it until there is only one rider and horse combination remaining – a horse version of musical chairs.  It’s popularity with the crowd got the organizers last year to entice several event riders to participate and it resulted in a strip-tease of sorts as Doug Payne gamely traded articles of clothing for the right to stay in the game.  This year the Professional Riders Organization sponsored the event for the benefit of Operation Homefront, an organization which provides emergency funds for military families and wounded veterans.  As the contest progressed and a wall came down, off came the boot of one rider in compensation…

****

****

but as the brick wall grew higher and higher, Jenny Brannigan topped them all and retained all her accoutrement.

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By the way,  in this puissance the riders are jumping BAREBACK.

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Well, that was easy.

Now, let’s add a little height….

….

****

…and a few more bricks to the wall… how high is that?  Higher than one of the wall builders.  She has disappeared behind the wall.  But she IS there.

****

****

…and yet again…

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We’re now going to six feet!

Six Feet!

Last (wo)man standing.

****

When the arena cleared, Phillip Dutton escorted several young ladies to the brick wall to see just exactly how high it was.

****

****

It was high.  Very high.

With the soggiest August on record behind us and the second week in September requiring the evacuation of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania and other cities along the Susquehanna River because of the continuing rainfall, a window of opportunity briefly opened Monday, Labor Day, to officially kick off the start of cubbing with Mr. Stewart’s Cheshire Foxhounds (Unionville, Pennsylvania) under a cloudy, but dry, sky.  Members of the Hunt parked their rigs at St. Malachi Church, an ancient chapel high on a hill overlooking the Buck and Doe Run Valleys.

From there, riders hacked to the front lawn of Runnymede, a farm that includes strenuous hills and wide, open meadows.

Some seventy riders, including seventeen children, and numerous car followers followed the staff and field down Creek Road where the Huntsman cast the hounds and immediately found a fox.  Hounds followed diligently and eventually the fox was seen crossing the meadow at the crest of the hill, disappearing into dense trees and shrubs, confounding the Hounds.  

Only a little later, very dark clouds moved into the area, a drizzle commenced and shortly there was a torrential rainfall.

Close to roads leading back to the meet, some riders chose to return to their trailers, but once wet, many others decided to carry on.  Truth to tell, it had been so warm that morning that many had bemoaned the requirement of wearing a jacket, but once the rain fell and clothes were soaked, it was refreshing.  Calling it a day, as the rain and gloom lifted, the Huntsman led hounds and riders back to the meet, and an awaiting Hunt Tea with hot coffee and home-baked breakfast cakes.   

Young foxes are tumbling out of the den, playing with grasshoppers, learning the ways of their neighborhood. So it goes with foxhounds who were born last year, making their debut with the pack and following their elders who mastered the intricacies of the chase in prior years. The Huntsman and Whipper-In have worked with the puppies since the day they were born, teaching them rudimentary manners. Under the watchful eye of the hunt staff, they have ventured outside the confines of the kennels, into the fields and brush, watching and mimicing the older hounds as they find and follow a scent. Among the things that are being reinforced are obedience to the Huntsman as they must learn to go as a group, not willy-nilly across the countryside.  Hunting is a large-country sport and the distances over which the Huntsman, the fox and the hounds traverse are vast. Inevitably, hounds have travelled further than a voice can carry so the Huntsman communicates with the hounds, staff and the field with different calls on the hunting horn.  Just as your dog learns to “Come” on command in your own yard, hounds are learning “come to me, come to me” through the language of the horn.

As they graduate to the next level of their education, they encounter mounted riders who join the “walk” early in the morning, meeting on the kennel lawn. While some hunts train their hounds without a “field” trailing behind, Mr. Stewart’s Cheshire Foxhounds has made a practice of inviting members and their children, as well as members of the community at large, to join this “walk around the block” three days a week. Each time out the Huntsman asks a little more of the hounds and goes a little further so that by September first the pack is actually ready to begin searching for its quarry in earnest.

Houndwalking with Cheshire commences the first Tuesday after the Fourth of July at 7:00 in the morning, just as the sun is rising and the mist is lifting from the meadows.

Day One

Day Two

Day Three

Day Four

A pack of eight and a half couple (children, not hounds) met on the kennel lawn early mornings this past week to learn the basics of Foxhunting.  Led by the Huntsman and the Whip, the pack learned basic hunting etiquette, how to avoid accidents in the field (holes, slippery roads and wire fences) and the language of the hunting horn in the classroom, improving their riding cross-country and over jumps in mounted sessions.  Riding abilities and reasons for loving the sport ranged widely but the group was united in its enthusiasm.

Cheshire campers are introduced to Ivan Dowling, Huntsman, and Stephanie Boyer, Whip, at the Kennels.

"Aunt Wendy" ("Grandmom" to one camper) ably led the group through introduction to the staff and hounds, supported by a large contingent of volunteers from the community.

Ivan Dowling, Huntsman, talked about the hounds before releasing them from the kennels onto the lawn.

Out onto the Lawn.

Ivan moves the hounds out into the open, allowing them to settle, before introducing the children to the hounds (and the hounds to the children).

Who's more excited? The children or the hounds?

Face to Face.

Jack gives the huntsman's horn a good toot and finds it's harder to get more than a "pffffttt" than it seems.

Day Two, riding out from the kennels towards Plantation Field.

A leisurely ride, down the hill, toward Apple Grove Road.

My coach always says I should ride loose and kick on like a kid - is this what she means?

Two members of Work to Ride joined the Cheshire camp for the week to learn the art of foxhunting.

Working on jumping skills.

Returning to the kennel lawn after cross country.

Impromptu races prior to the beginning of Day Three Cross country skills session.

Campers and chaperones ride further afield on Day Three.

Leaza Dowling, stable manager for Cheshire, gave a quick lesson in "doing up" a pony for turn out on hunting day.

Campers polished their own jumping skills while waiting for sit-down classroom work to resume.

Day Four - A Gymkhana followed by a Pool Party at Aunt Wendy's.

2011 Class Picture - Mr. Stewart's Cheshire Foxhounds Camp

The other evening the Delaware Valley Point to Point Association wrapped up its competition schedule with a dinner party, an impromptu fiddle concert and end of the season awards under the stars, which you could see until the thunderstorm arrived.

Picnic on the lawn at the home of Don Cochran and Pat Branum

Paddy Neilson, (l) and Billy Meister (r), both multiple winners of the Maryland Hunt Cup, the penultimate Steeplechase race, watch a replay of this year's Hunt Cup. Videos of this years point to point series played all evening to the delight of participants and spectators alike.

John Brophy, overall winner of the Large Pony races, excels at fiddling AND horsemanship.

Awards presented were those for:

*Leading Rider – won by William Meister;

*Overall Horse – won by Sky Count, owned by Daniel Baker and ridden by William Meister;

*Small Pony – One Stinky Pony ridden by Katie Hindt;

and

*Large Pony – Prince Caspian ridden by John Brophy.

A special “mystery” guest was Rosie Napravnik, leading jockey at Delaware Park, ranked eighth in the nation who, with her fiance, took an evening to present awards to up and coming riders, some young enough to have been toddlers when she was competing locally

Awards Master Carl Meister (l) and Rosie Napravnik (r)

Rosie is a “graduate” of the Delaware Valley Point to Point Association pony races, having raced her pony “Brownie” up and down the mid-Atlantic region before aging out at 16.  She and her older sister, Jazz, now a trainer in Maryland,  dominated Pony Racing year end awards for years.  It was impressive that she would take the time to give a boost to the sport, come to a party where there would be some old friends but a large number of strangers, and be so at ease, so charming.

Winners in the season's Pony Races pose with Rosie and their awards

In talking with Lauren Giannini (Sidelines blogger at Lauren Gallops) I learned that this was not the first instance where Rosie is giving back.  On May 22, Rosie and Jazz competed (against each other, no less) in the Beat Up Cup, the alumni race of the North American Point to Point Association Championships (http://www.naptp.com/) .

Rosie on the left and Jazz on the right at the start of the "Oldtimer's" Race. Photo by Lauren Giannini.

All in good fun, Jazz beat out her sister with a second place finish over Rosie’s seventh.  But more to the point, she continues to participate in the steeplechase even as she vaults to the top in flat racing.

Rock On, Rosie!

Two weeks ago tonight a fire destroyed the barn housing horses trained by Boyd Martin on the ground floor and employees on the second.  In the days that followed the community was numb with the aftermath, the loss of lives of horses, the injuries, the immediate need of the human survivors for a somewhere to live and something to wear.  Everyone knew someone intimately who had lost something dear.  Ever mindful of the irreplaceable, friends moved into action to take care of the practical.  Among many others throughout the country, a “boots on the ground” fundraising effort was begun in anticipation of the Horse Trials planned for Plantation Field in Unionville this past weekend.  Phone call and email solicitations for contributions to a bake sale were sent out and resulted in a table overflowing with cupcakes, snickerdoodles, cake and brownies.  Priced to sell at “donation”, business was brisk and resulted in a first day total of over $1000.  The second day recovery is as yet uncounted.  I personally ate a brownie with peanut butter drizzle, its purchaser informing me that it was a $40 tray of brownies – worth it?  Quite tasty.

The best thing of all, however, was to see Boyd Martin look to the future with four horses competing at the Novice level through Preliminary.  Boyd completed the day with two firsts, a fourth and a ninth place finish beginning a new phase “after’ the event.

To donate to the recovery effort using paypal you can go to http://eventingnation.com/home and look for the Donate button on the right hand side of the Home Page.

Pony racing at the local Point to Points is always a high point of my spring.  I love to watch the kids before the race when they are gathered in a circle around the steward going over the rules while a sibling, parent or friend walks the pony around the paddock;  I love to watch the kids get on their ponies and head off to the start behind the outriders; and mostly I love to watch them run to the finish with an intensity and competitive spirit that transcends their young age.  This year at the Plumsted Races the competition was fierce and friendly.

The local Point to Points are frequently an incubator for future jockeys, owners and trainers.  You get the bug early and you can’t leave it behind.  This year the female jockey at the Kentucky Derby, Rosie Napravnik, has Unionville connections that go back to her days as a pony jockey in those same Point to Points.  Her older sister, Jazz, now a trainer in Maryland and a former pony jockey herself, lived in Unionville where  Rosie joined her and galloped for Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Shepperd at the tender age of thirteen.  Rosie then left for Maryland to work with trainers there and later found a home at Delaware Park, about a half an hour distant, where last year she was the leading rider.

At the Fair Hill Races in spring 2000 she rode her pony in the races there and then, back at the barn with her friends, showed us how she had been taught to vault onto her pony by big sister Jazz.  It was an extraordinary performance.  She was so light and lithe.

The following year at the Pennsylvania Hunt Cup in the fall she was helping with the horses in the paddock.

I have succumbed to Kentucky Derby fever this year because of Rosie Napravnik, the female jockey aboard Pants on Fire who drew the number seven spot.  Racing in the hot pink and orange silks of owners George and Lori Hall she will be hard to miss.