Hounds, Sweaters, and Holiday Cheer
December 24, 2024
With all the anticipation of children at Christmas, a rather large field gathered at our Christmas Eve Festive Hunt waiting to see what gifts our Winding River fixture would yield. Fifteen guests joined us for the annual Festive sweater contest, donned in a variety of Christmas regalia.
At the helm were Huntswoman Dr. Julie Bullock, DVM, flight leaders Jakki Avery leading a faster flight and Mary Lee McDavid leading a slower flight. Whips included Holly Davies, CJ Wise, Jake Arbaugh, Ida Rademacher and Lindsay Johnson.
Road whips included VJ Thomas, Karen Robertson, John Meyer, and Brenda Simmons MFH.
Following along by car was T Stewart and friend.
After casting hounds to the north, almost immediately Lindsay called in Tally-ho with two reds in view. Jake continued on to view at least one, possibly two red foxes, zipping back and forth between the trees and cow pastures. As Julie forged on to lead the hounds to the scent she asked, “which line do I follow?” To which Jake replied “Pick one! They are all over the place!”. However, while good fences make for good neighbors, they also make for frustrating hunts.
Much of the first half of the hunt was spent on the other side of the fence from the trusty hounds who enticingly were at full cry. Nevertheless, the hounds continued to explore the remaining territory, where Jake Arbaugh also caught another sighting, and thus, it was declared that this was a fruitful fixture. As the field returned to the trailers, one field observed a red fox trailing behind the field, seemingly as if taunting, “Maybe next time, folks!”
Back at the tailgate, the flight awaited the results of the much-anticipated festive sweater contest.
● Addie Hartley won the prize for the “Jolliest Jumping Junior Jokester” award with a full tinseled argyle sweater.
● Kim Rittenhouse won the “Foxiest Festive Frock” award for a classic matchy as she sported a rust tweed jacket and stock tie.
● Mari Turvey won the “Gaudy Garland Guru” award! She rode in on ‘Rudolph’, her very tolerant gelding Cooper, outfitted with a white trimmed red blanket, antler head bonnet and full-on red nose affixed to his noseband, which much to her surprise, remained on for the duration of the hunt.
● Anne Morrison won the “Cheeriest Claus” award for overall representation.
But the most unexpected award went to CJ Wise who brought back a six-point set of antlers, still attached to a whole skull, which she discovered while whipping with Holly. While it took a bit of maneuvering to figure out how to tie the find to the saddle without getting speared, CJ couldn’t simply abandon this random, but wonderful, find.
Sated with tailgate sweets and other goodies, the hunt dispersed with good cheer and full holiday spirit. – Mari T., John M., & Lindsay J.