Staff: MFH- James Paxson, Whips - Hoppy Sterns, Fred VonC, Priscilla Godsoe, Field Master - Duncan Patterson, and Gary Kennedy, Hound Trucks - Karen Kennedy
Start: 7:30a.m End: 9:20a.m. Okay morning. Temps went up pretty fast and with everything being so dry, with little to no morning dew, made scenting a tough thing. Our field masters Duncan and Gary ran into some personal problems with a nest of bees...
The below picture is of Duncan trying to get some help with stinger removal... Luckily no one was really hurt, and we all had a good laugh.
MFH Jimmy hunted the hounds off of LaGrange, a 5 year old, thoroughbred who has hunted hounds and whipped in many, many times, but it was him first time back in the hunt field after his summer show schedule in the 5 Year Old Young Jumper Division. Below pictures are of him hunting and at the Devon Horse Show. We are planning to hunt WEDNESDAY, September 1st, at Herr's Stone Lane, at 7:30a.m.
Staff: MFH- James Paxson, Whips - Carl Mease, Hoppy Sterns, Fred VonC, Priscilla Godsoe, Field Master - Duncan Patterson, and Gary Kennedy, Hound Trucks - Cindy VonC and Leo and Flora Erb
Start: 5:00p.m End: It was dark haha
Slower start while it was hot, MFH Jimmy kept moving the hounds through the woods and along the Fishing Creek. We ended up on 4 good runs, that took us and the hounds til dark. We had chicken and sodas and desserts after hunting and had an over all great evening hunt. Thank you every one! Day TEN of Cubbing
Meet: Holy View
Temps: in the 70's
Couples: 13 1/2 couples(JCP Kennels) *Puppies: none (hard night Friday)
Staff: MFH- James Paxson, Whips - Carl Mease, Hoppy Sterns, Priscilla Godsoe, Field Master - Gary Kennedy, Hound Trucks - Karen Kennedy
Start: 9:00a.m End: noonish
We were way behind a fox and it took us a good hour to get closer and closer so that we could really run him. It was pretty funny the different circles the fox took us and the different logs he took the hounds over and along the river banks and through the corn. After a long run the night before the hounds really poved they had what it took to keep going and focused on hunting since we were trailing so far behind. Their hard work paid off and we went out with a bang, (not literally) we just ended up good and took them to the river for a swim.
Staff: MFH- James Paxson, Whips - Gregory Paxson, Hoppy Sterns, Fred VonC, Priscilla Godsoe, Field Master - Gary Kennedy, Hound Trucks - Karen Kennedy
Start: 7:00a.m End: 8:35a.m.
Pretty good day... I'm thinking that the pupppies are getting a bit bold and feeling like they know too much. I saw them up in the front of the pack more then they should have and I think that made scenting a bit harder for the older hounds. They will learn! Thats why they are here :-)
Staff: MFH- James Paxson, Whips - Hoppy Sterns, Fred VonC, Priscilla Godsoe, Field Master - Gary Kennedy, Hound Trucks - Karen Kennedy
Start: 7:00a.m End: 9:03a.m.
Very great morning.
Started off by going to the right hand part of the woods at the meet and heading in the direction of the pond. It seemed as though the hounds were going to pull towards the coops but Audrey; an older hound, insisted that the line (scent of the fox) went up the drive toward the corn field... she was right and they all harked on (followed the scent she found) to her and then went off through the corn field, near the coop above Hog's Run and then around to the Bridge Abutment.
From there they were blazing and ran the old Red Pump Road up towards the woods with the two coops and in the direction of Holy View. A quick loop back the Fox ran the corn rows and headed for the Second Deer Stand and into the field of corn along Lees Bridge Road (This is when I viewed the fox heading from one corn field across to the other). At this point I headed around to the road side of the corn field, Fred stayed on the Meet Side and said that the hounds ran really strong and then stopped. MFH Jimmy and myself decided to go and investigate so we went into the corn field and found where the fox had given the hounds the slip by going in his hole. The five puppies did an awesome job on this run, and got a good whiff of what the fox scent smells like.
From here we took the hounds to the river and then hunted back towards the meet. Great Morning :-)
Couples: 17 couples(JCP Kennels) *Puppies: Journey and Jessie(second hunt)
Staff: MFH- James Paxson, Whips - Hoppy Sterns, Fred VonC, Priscilla Godsoe, Field Master - Gary Kennedy, Hound Trucks - Karen Kennedy, Leo, & Flora Erb
Start: 7:00a.m End: I really can't remember...
We started off by heading up through the first corn field by the drive way and bending toward the fence line between Gibson's and Ankrum's. We were hit and miss, so, definitely a fox had been through that night. MFH Jimmy took the hounds through the woods below the 'Dog Box' and let the hounds keep working until they picked up the line (scent of the fox) stronger and stronger as the headed toward the 'Bone Woods' and Ankrum's barns. From where I was by the 'Two Streams' I didn't see what really was going on above me but the hounds ended up coming back in my direction and worked along the bottom where the streams come together from Ankrum's and Gibson's, and worked toward the Fish Creek Road. I ended up on the Fishing Creek Road and didn't see a whole lot that went on but I did hear everything! That's the beauty of the Pen-Marydels!! So, from what I know the hounds ran the corn by Dougs and skirted the woods around the 'Horse Shoe'.
MFH Jimmy decided to call it a day since it was getting hotter and I came up off the Fishing Creek Road and to my luck I viewed the fox coming from out of the corn headed across the horse pasture at Gibson's House. Because of the heat, we pulled the hounds up as soon as we hit a miss(hounds lost the scent. At this point the hounds will 'cast' themselves out into a circle trying to find the scent again. At the time the hounds are quiet until the find the scent again), let them drink from the pond by Gibson's House and then loaded up.
Staff: MFH- James Paxson, Whips - Alyse Kennedy, Priscilla Godsoe, Field Master - Gary Kennedy, Hound Trucks - Karen Kennedy, Leo, & Flora Erb
Start: 7:30a.m End: 9:00a.m
Started off down the old Red Pump Road and up to the coop on the Holy View side. From there we headed toward the 'Woods With The Two Coops' along the river and up towards Holy View. Hounds worked together well, and the pups were thrilled that they were actually invited along.
When they got up near Holy View they hit a line through the brier patch heading toward the 'Scottish Highland Cattle' and then on along through the bottom strip of corn along the river. They ran from the bottom, literally along the River banks and then up through the woods in the direction of 'The Point' and then out through the big corn field in the direction of Holy View.
After that run we headed around the corn field along the Lees Bridge Road Side toward the 'Deer Stand'. Nothing really picked up until the hounds got into the woods again and up through the wash in the woods toward the 'Fallow Field'. Unfortunately the hounds headed straight toward the big bend on Lees Bridge Road (unsafe to let hounds cross) and I had to stop them and send them back to MFH Jimmy. A bit of a bugger, but oh well. Safety ALWAYS first.
Hounds headed down the path by the single coop near Red Pump, and then we decided to call them in and head back to the meet since it was getting later in the morning. John and Ella help MFH Jimmy call the hounds in by blowing the horn and telling the hounds to 'Pack Up'. We loaded up and then had donuts, coffee, orange juice, and Cinnamon buns that the Kennedy's brought for everyone and as we had our breakfast John played his fiddle for us! Great morning had by all!
We will be going Monday but I haven't been told when or where... so keep posted!
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Couples: 16 1/2(JCP Kennels) *Puppies: Journey and Jessie(first hunt)
Staff: MFH- James Paxson, Whips - Hoppy Sterns, Fred VonC, Priscilla Godsoe, Field Master - Gary Kennedy
CHECK OUT THIS LINK OF THE HOUNDS RUNNING. YOU WILL HAVE TO COPY AND PASTE TO YOUR BROWSER. *** TURN UP YOUR VOLUME!!** http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBo-4VG36Jg
Start: 6:40isha.m End: 8:30isha.m
Note the 'ish' in the start time... Our field master Gary and our whip Hoppy had to do a little 'cattle pushing' before the hunt so we ended up a little off our start time. What good horses huh?
Slow Start on Piersons side and up behind Jims house.
Picked up a line (scent) by the 'Old House' that took us through the 'Stump Woods' and along the pasture line at Jim's then through the 'Clear Woods' in the direction of 'The Park' and the 'Mystery Hole'. Hounds were running very fast and the puppies did a good job keeping up!
I viewed the fox heading back towards 'Barkers Woods' and they ran it through the woods and into the cow pasture, then doubled back into 'Barkers Woods' and through a little creek bed where they hit a miss. Since it was pretty humid and getting hot we picked(stopped the hounds from hunting and moved the hounds to MHF Jimmy) the hounds up and headed towards 'Jim's Pond' to let the hounds have a drink and cool off. Next Meet 7:00am FRIDAY at Down Patrick (Gibson's) and we are also going SATURDAY at 7:30am at Red Pump (Hog's Run)
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We want to take a special note and thank all of our River Hill Supporters for their HARD work and DEDICATION in opening up our hunting trails and paths. Fixing up jumps and fence lines, and making sure our parking areas are clear and open for the safety of our hounds, horses, and members.
A SINCERE THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOW:
GREG PAXSON HUNTER STERNS JIM HERR Thanking you for removing the fallen trees,opening the trails, and the many miles of mowing paths around the corn fields and through the woods around the RED PUMP & STONE LANE MEETS
WILSON KING Thank you for clearing and maintaining the trails, jumps, and fields at the MT. ROCKY & FOX MILL MEETS
We are going to try and organize a TRAIL CLEARING for the ANKRUM'S DOG BOX & DOWN PATRICK (GIBSONS) MEETS We will be hunting at Ankrum's Dog Box on MONDAY August 16th, this should help us get an idea of what we will need to take care of the trails this season.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN HELPING PLEASE CONTACT MFH Jim PAXSON Or call 484-667-6187 Or e-mail PAG2886@aol.com
Staff: MFH- James Paxson, Whips - Greg Paxson, Fred VonC, Priscilla Godsoe Hound Trucks - Karen and Gary Kennedy, and Rob Meisner
Start: 6:30a.m End: 8:15a.m
Great morning even though it was rather warm. Hounds ran and worked well together. Hunted toward Peirsons Woods in the direction of the Park Rd, picked up (found the line/scent of a fox) a fox that went back towards the Church and Cemetery towards Freemont Rd.
Fox went to ground (back to his hole). Greg got off his horse and went into the woods to scout out the hole and blew the fox under (blowing under: fox has 'out foxed' the hounds which is a good thing! A call is made on the horn known as 'blowing under' letting the hounds know that the chase is over and they did their best. No harm is done to any animal. Remember OUR fox 'hunting' is the training of foxhounds to pick up a scent and follow it, not for kill!). PLEASE CHECK OUT OUR WEB SITE - www.rhfpa.com - WHAT IS FOX HUNTING? to understand a bit more about what we do.
After our first run Greg and Jimmy picked up the hounds and took them to the spring house on Piersons Side to cool off and get a drink. Then headed back toward the Park Road and hunted the bank towards Ed's pond. Again they picked up (found the line/scent of a fox) another fox, which Fred viewed headed in the direction of the power lines and the woods. It was a shorter run than the first but none the less gave everyone a good schooling over a few coops (jumps built into fence that separate the fields making it easy to navigate through pastures) to catch up to the hounds when they crossed the cow pasture. This fox also went to ground giving the 5 new entry ('I' Puppies) a good smell of fox at the hole(This helps the new entry which at this time is the 'I' Puppies, to understand that the scent of the fox is what we are out there looking for)! MFH JCP blew this fox to ground. We picked up the hounds and headed down to the pond to give the hounds a drink and a swim and loaded up!
Karen and Gary brought coffee, water, juice and donuts and fresh fruit to get us re hydrated and ready to head home. Many THANKS!
Next Meet FRIDAY MORNING 6:30a.m AT RED PUMP - HOLY VIEW SIDE
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Staff: MFH- James Paxson, Whips - Fred VonC, Hoppy Sterns, Priscilla Godsoe, Field Master- Gary Kennedy, Hound Trucks - Karen Kennedy, Leo and Flora Erb
Good day. Hounds ran well and worked well together. Hunted mainly throughout the corn.
I got a rather busy in the last few days and have not had time to inform everyone on the wonderful time we had hound walking on Thursday.
We had a great turn out with lots of puppy handlers! We went for a walk down Pumping Station Rd, down Bridle Path Rd, cut up through a field, back around to Pumping Station Rd, to the hay field at Funnel Lake, and down to the pond for a swim (we were actually all sweaty enough after that walk that I think we could have all jumped for a swim). The 9 little 'K' puppies are doing great with the pack, and the 5 'J' puppies are doing super too! Its always a lot of fun to see the puppies gaining more and more confidence within themselves to move around in the pack, interacting with the older hounds, and trying new things. We have had a lot of supportive people coming out to help us hound walking this season, and it is through their dedication and help with the puppies that we will be able to start our cubbing season with confidence.
I'm very excited to report that I think we will be starting cubbing next week! I'll be sure to keep everyone posted on Facebook, Twitter, and the RHF web site. You can also keep informed by calling the RHF Hunt Recorder @ 717-786-1894 or e-mail pag2886@aol.com or call 484-667-6187... No excuse to not know whats going on!!! Remember MFH Jimmy's motto: We are an inclusive hunt, not exclusive! We appreciate every one's support, and love for the hounds and hunting!
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