Hunting Saturday March 18, 2006 10:00AM
Bridlespur Kennels – Official Closing Hunt

Huntsman: Eleanor Hartwell, Lei Ruckle rode with her having won the privilege at the hunt ball silent auction.

Whips: Jill Wagenknecht, Lil Lewis, Gene Deutch, Lee Deutch

First Field: Werner Kugler (fieldmaster), Robert Millbaugh, Stephanie Millbaugh, Eddie Beyers, Betty Beyers, Tom Neese, Sarah Zenisek, Jean Mutrux, Abby Mutrux, Heidi Fox, Sarah McD, Leslie Granger

Hilltoppers: Mary Hensel (fieldmaster), Leslie Ayers, Kathy Kerns plus one other I didn’t know the name of.

Car Followers: Jean Patterson, Marion O’Reilly, Tess Fleishli

GPS readings 11.99 miles 1 hrs 51 minutes moving 35 minutes stopped. Max speed 24.9 mph
Moving average 5.5 mph

12.5 couple, many of the young hounds: Tanker, Wanda, Kestrel, Things, Jive, Patton, Scooter, Inky, Stroller, Vice, Versa, Jester, Sentry, Symbol, Target, Tumble, Daphne, Jackson, Joker, Julep. 2005 entries: Nimrod, Wise, Indigo, Kramer, Chicklet

It was cooler today but still windy, there was a good turnout as this was probably the last time to hunt from the old kennels and was also the official closing hunt. The temperature started at 38 degrees and increased to 45 degrees. Barometric pressure was falling. Winds were from the East at 3 to 7 mph. The sun was shining.

I hacked over from My Half Farm. This is probably my last time to enjoy this convenience as the club will be moving over the summer. We started out down the driveway. Jean Mutrux’s horse shied while we were still going down the driveway and she was dumped into the gravel. She got back on though, none the worse for wear. We then headed into the east woods and through Wilson’s across Benne Rd. into Granger's. We went across Granger’s and into Brommelsiek Park. She drew the hounds into the dense woods while the field went around. We came back up the pipeline behind Eleanor and headed toward the creek. At the bottom of the hill Lei’s horse accidentally stepped on Chicklet. She had a pretty good scrape that was bleeding. Lei loaned her stock tie and Eleanor wrapped the foot. Fortunately Tess was close with the car and took her back to the kennels and called the Vet.

We then continued to draw the woods and down to the creek and to the lower hayfield. Since the park is doing some construction there, they have the black plastic fencing to prevent erosion. This unusual jump provided a challenge for some as both Robert and Heidi came off. Heidi’s horse ran loose until Stephanie was able to catch him and bring him back down the trail. About this time the hounds struck and we galloped up the hill from the creek and jumped the coop into the field and went back down the pipeline.

Since Scott has had problems with cows jumping out, there were boards over the tops of the coops and no time to take them down. This caused the field to dwindle some. Gene Deutch viewed the coyote near the border of the park and saw him turn and head down the drive. He said the hounds were not far behind. We jumped the coop out onto the drive and galloped out onto Highway DD. We then headed down the driveway of Irish Fox and into Busch Wildlife area.

By this time we just had Werner, Robert, both Beyers, Tom, and myself in the field. I’m sure Stephanie would have been right with us but for taking Heidi’s horse back to her. Eleanor was able to gather the hounds and Jill and Lee were there. She let the hounds have a drink in the lake and then we headed back up Toedebusch lane toward DD highway.

We crossed DD and headed back up Benne and encountered the hilltopper field. They had just witnessed Indigo getting hit by a truck. She had a broken leg and Lei galloped back to the kennels to get a car. Someone stayed back with Indigo while Eleanor took the hounds in. I turned Right at Wilson Road and hacked back to the farm. I was at the farm by 12PM. Eleanor then took Indigo and Chicklet in to the vet. Indigo had a broken leg and they were going to do surgery on her.

Pam Smith hosted the brunch. She had a wonderful salad with chili and potato soup. There was carrot cake for dessert that was to die for.