Riding into Formal Season at Our Opening Hunt

October 26, 2024

In addition to a large contingent of Glenmore riders out on this beautiful day at our Bonnie Doon fixture, we greeted many members from our sister hunt, Rockbridge. While chatting with Jake Wilson, Huntsman and Master for Rockbridge, I let Jake know that this was a smaller fixture, but Julie would “hunt the hell out of it.” 

The piper played various favorites including Amazing Grace as staff and hounds entered the front yard of Bonnie Doon for the Blessing of the Hounds. Following a glass of port and the blessing by Pastor Steve, we set out for the North Pasture and Stony Point. Jakki led First Flight, Stacy led Second Flight and Joe led Third Flight. Mary Lee, who just finished a few days with various hunts with Virginia Hunt Week, led a Champagne Flight. A full staff would help with the hounds. Jake, Huntsman for Rockbridge, rode up with Julie as did Addie.

Prior to mounting up, Stacy had cleared a plan for a gallop around the perimeter of North Pasture with Julie while Jakki followed Julie into the woods. As soon as we entered the woods and passed in front of the old Stony Point house, the hounds opened along the river. Whipper-In Lindsay, who was positioned in the hay field beside the river, tally-hoed a large red fox. We followed Julie as she galloped up the hill towards the gate. The fields passed through the gate and for a moment, I thought I might have to dismount to manage this gate, but I saw Mary Lee approaching from the east and asked her to manage the gate. 

From the little hill above, we watched as Julie and companions passed through the gate and then First Flight cleared the coop. We cantered through the hayfield along the river staying in touch with the hounds. Initially, I thought a few of the hounds crossed the river to continue the pursuit, but they continued along the bank on the riverside. The pack seemed to lose the scent as they approached the River Bend. Julie gathered them in and pushed them into the woods here. The hounds opened again and headed east along the river. Uncertain as to whether the hounds were on a new fox or picked up the scent of the viewed fox, we moved along the headlands of the soybean field and through the gate at the far end.

The hounds continued along the river around the bend. We cantered on to the left around the shooting range and through the gate. Rather than making the right turn down to the Jumping Trail, they headed south between the fence line and trees. The cry of the hounds seemed to die out and we speculated that a fox climbed into his hidey-hole in the tree near the river.

Julie gathered the hounds and took them to the southern end of Bud’s Woods and pushed them into the covert. We paused about halfway down the tree line and, almost immediately, the hounds rewarded us with “sweet thunder.” Jake, watching the woods near Julie and Addie, pulled his cap and pointed into the woods where he saw the fox. We prepared ourselves for another run, but as the hounds ran out of the wood and into the sunlight, they appeared to lose the scent. Julie took the pack into Bud’s Pasture and drew the hounds toward the foundation of the old house here.

The hounds found nothing, so Julie moved them into the woods above the Jumping Trail. Once again, the hounds found a line in the shade of the trees and followed the game back into the soybean field. We had another gallop under the brilliant blue sky over the hayfield along the Middle River. 

As with our last gallop, the fun ended when the hounds seemed to lose the scent at the bend in the river. Hoping to build on the already successful day, Julie took the hounds along the headlands between the soybean field and the river. To our amazement, the hounds opened again and led us on another rousing gallop through the Jalopy Gate and down the hayfield along the river. 

 As we reached the bend of the river again, the hounds slowed and stopped. With the temperature rising, Julie made one more cast along the headlands heading east, then took the hounds to water. With three thrilling gallops and several views, Julie decided to call it a day. We enjoyed a fabulous breakfast on the grounds of the Bonnie Doon to celebrate the beginning of our formal season. – John Meyer, Member