Hunting Saturday November 7th, 2009 - 9:00AM
Valley Green Farm (Bridlespur Kennels)
Bridlespur Blessing day

Huntsman: Eleanor Hartwell (Seamus)

Whips: Gene Deutsch (Waffles), Tess Fleishli (Abe), Jill Wagenknect (AJ), John Korenack (Rocky), Geri Washausen (Belle)

First Field: Fieldmaster Mary Hensel (Toby), Leslie Ayers (PT), Lauren Reitz (Roxie), Sarah Zenisek (Fitzwilliam), Roger Smith (Rakerin), Jean Mutrux (Pee Wee), Abby Mutrux (Hoppy) Leslie Granger (Maurice), Stephanie Mihlbaugh (Magnum), Jen Miller, Kyle Little (Floyd), Michael Murphy (Mo), Heidi Fox (Chance), Ron Ausman (Lark), Mackenzie Bussard (Bert), Deb Daugherty, Kristin Herbst, Kaylan Herbst,

Second Field: Annie Hoagland (Mo), Gigi Harrow (Festus), Jane Liesmann (Hunter), Kevin Parentin (Izzy), Bob Wilmott, Brody Robertson, Beverly Stevens (Courtney), Fran Krame (Poco), Nick Strieker, Joy Yates (Wakeyan), Colby Tinsley

There may have been some others, not sure I counted everyone.

13 1/2 couple hounds

GPS readings 9.44 miles. 1 hr 53 minutes moving. One hour four minutes stopped. Max speed 22.4 mph. Moving average 5 mph.

Lunch/Brunch – Catered, organized by Marilyn Carney MFH.

It was an unseasonably warm day. The sun was shining. It was 64 degrees when we started and 74 degrees when we finished. Barometric pressure was rising. Winds were from the Southwest at 4-8 mph.

Deacon Lonnie Weishaar was out to bless the foxhounds and then bless the Basset Hounds. We had a nice stirrup cup at 9AM.

There was also a tractor and haywagon available for those neighbors and non-riders to enjoy the beautiful day and country side.

We first went west back up the driveway. When we were almost to the main road, we headed North along the edge of the fields, there were still soybeans in them. We continued north and then headed east down the hill and across the ditch to jump the coop into the horse pasture. There were some difficulties here and Ron Ausman came unseated on the landing side of the fence. The hilltoppers went through the gate and we went on. We came out of the pasture by jumping the coop at the top of the hill and worked our way to the East. We jumped the post and rail near the club and then the log and then jumped the little coop going down hill and went across the creek. Some came unseated in the crossing but the horse was quickly caught and they remounted. Eleanor then headed south along the eastern side of the creek. Nabisco spoke a few times but the temperature was rising quickly and scenting was bad.

We worked our way along the creek heading southwest. We crossed the creek and followed the bluffs along the side of the corn field. We were almost to the next crossing when Ron Ausman viewed two red fox headed behind us along the bluffs. It was 10:10AM. Eleanor quickly turned the hounds around and took them to the spot where the fox were seen. The hounds picked up the scent and started speaking, the headed up the hill and Eleanor headed up the hill with them in a spot that looked near impossible to climb. We took the long way around and climbed the hill near the kennels and met Eleanor at the top. Hounds worked the hillside and we came back around and back down and worked south along the creek again. We could see the hounds on top of the bluffs, it was quite a sight. We circled around with hounds speaking at times and kept coming back to the place were the foxes had originally been viewed. They worked their way around and then several hounds went into a cave in the bluff. They were speaking and very excited. Mary held Eleanor’s horse while she crossed over and climbed up to where the hounds were. She blew “gone to ground”. It was now 11:39 and we had been working those same foxes for about an hour and a half. She gathered the hounds up and we headed in. It was a fabulous day.