Day 77 of the Hunting Season - March 30th, 2011

Day 77 of the Hunting Season - March 30th, 2011

Meet: Herr's Stone Lane

Temps: 30's

Couples: 17.5

Staff: Huntsman- James Paxson MFH, Whippers-in- MFH Fred VonC, Priscilla Godsoe, Hoppy Stearns, Field Master- MFH Duncan Patterson, Gary Kennedy, Hound Trucks- Karen Kennedy

Start: 10:00am
End: 1:00 pm



The video should explain it all! We had a really fun day and the hounds did a GREAT job.

We started out on Pierson's side, moved around under the power lines, and then into the Stump Woods where the hounds picked up a good line through all the briers. They worked the line over logs and stumps which was a pretty cool sight. Fox finally went to ground in the Clear Woods near the park and McPherson's Lake.

MFH Jimmy took the hounds back through the Park and the hounds were able to pick up an awesome run through the thick briers in the woods behind the blue building and then came flying from out of the briers onto the trail that comes down from the brick house. For about 45 mins hounds ran through the park and then finally put the fox to ground above the monument and below the burn in the woods.

With a good day and the hounds all accounted for we hunted back to the meet. Hounds didn't really pick up anything that they could go on with so we called it a day!



No Hunting Friday

Saturday - Red Pump - 10:00am

Day 76 of the Hunting Season - March 26th, 2011

Day 76 of the Hunting Season - March 26th, 2011

Meet: Red Pump

Temps: 30's

Couples: 17.5

Staff: Huntsman- James Paxson MFH, Whippers-in- Priscilla Godsoe, Hoppy Stearns, Dott Cochran, Field Master- Gary Kennedy, Hound Trucks- Leo & Flora Erb, Karen Kennedy

Start: 10:00am
End: 12:50 pm

What about this crazy weather... Rain? Snow? Hail? I thought this was S p R i N g ?
30 degree difference from last Saturday to this Saturday.

Scenting was a little bit tough but we ended up with a nice fox, great views, and some good gallops! Hounds went together great and you could barely tell the little puppies were there.



I'm sad the season is coming to an end because I really enjoy these puppies this year. They try so hard, and just love to hunt like there mom Cyndy. Hoping to get out Wednesday at Herr's Stone Lane, and Saturday at Red Pump.



Cheers!

1st Book Signing from Alex Browns - Greatness & Goodness: Barbaro & His Legacy

Puddle Duck Creek Tack & Apparel - hosted the VERY FIRST BOOK SIGNING of Alex Brown's fantastic new book Greatness & Goodness: BARBARO & His Legacy in Quarryville, PA on March 20th, 2011



$5.00 of every book purchased at the book signing went to the benefit of the River Hills Foxhounds for the efforts in rescuing off the track thoroughbreds and helping them start new careers as fox hunters, show horses, or pleasure riding horses.



Thoroughbreds are the preferred horse to the River Hills Staff. These horses are fast enough to keep up with the hounds, quick thinking, smart and careful enough to handle the hilly rocky terrain of some of the hunting country, and have the stamina to handle a hunt lasting several hours.


Above Picture: River Hills 'Eden' reading about the hound name Barbaro from Greatness & Goodness: Barbaro and his Legacy!


Above Picture: several OTTB that River Hills helped to 're-start'


Above Picture: River Hills Lynden Godsoe signing her illustrations from the book!


Above Picture: River Hills very own Karen Kennedy & Alex Brown


Above Picture: Lynden Godsoe (illustrator) sitting with the 'left overs' of the 5000 first edition books in Alex's garage!


Above Picture: Alex Brown signing one of the 80 books signed and sold at the first book signing!!!


Above Picture: Full house outside the tack shop!


Above Picture: One of the four River Hills Penn Marydel Foxhounds that came to the book signing to help kick off their support for Alex Brown! 'Diva' ... she was quite the crowd pleaser and of course - A DIVA!!!

We were very lucky to have Alex take a 'break' from writing his book (note the iphone in hand) to come out to the kennels to play with puppies and also enjoy fox hunting and riding with us!





In addition to Alex's great depiction of Barbaro's life and legacy, our sweet 16 year old Lynden Godsoe did the illustrations for the entire book.




And last but not least River Hills Whipper-In Priscilla Godsoe were apart of the wonderful addition that Alex added to his book called the photo essay (picture 136)- Priscilla's horse Judge Beautiful was showcased as an OTTB that had a very unsuccessful time at the racetrack but was 're-started' and shown in the book in her career as a show horse/fox hunter.



From all of us at River Hills - We wish Alex the very best!

Book Available on
www.amazon.com
as well as
www.alexbrownracing.com
More information on the River Hills Foxhounds can be found at
www.rhfpa.com

Day 75 of the Hunting Season - March 19th, 2011

Day 75 of the Hunting Season - March 19th, 2011

Meet: Red Pump

Temps: high 60's

Couples: 24

Staff: Huntsman- James Paxson MFH, Whippers-in- MFH Fred VonC, Priscilla Godsoe, Hoppy Stearns, Dr.Carl Mease, Dott Cochran, Field Master- MFH Duncan Patterson, Gary Kennedy, Hound Trucks- Leo & Flora Erb, Karen Kennedy, Winter Paxson

Start: 10:00am
End: 2:00 pm



I'm sorry I dont have more pictures! We had a pretty fast day and there was no time for pictures. Oh well! First fox went out from the coops above Hogs Run, towards Hotel California, around the Pond, and up towards Freemont Road and the Amish Fields. Since the Amish were working we pulled the hounds up and headed back towards the brier patch near the meet.

MFH Jimmy got off and walked through the briers to helps the hounds stay positive about diving into the thick briers. I think they may have been a bit tired after yesterdays hunt, but they quickly got a second wind when they push a fox out of the brier patch heading towards the Deer Stand. I was holding MFH Jimmy's horse the whole time and couldnt get to the Lees Bridge Road in time to stop the hounds from crossing... and wouldnt you believe it. The one time I'm not there the fox crosses and no one was there to stop them... so into the Barrens the hounds flew.



If you look closely at the above picture - the area in red is the 'normal' area of the Red Pump Meet... the area in yellow is the extended version that is three times as big? Yeeha!
All the hounds went great and stayed together perfect. Its a bit rough going in some places... trails are not made or maintained haha! It was a day of 'River Hills Ridin'.

I outlined the different lines and runs we took with the hounds. Covered a lot of country!
All in all it was an adventure! All the hounds, horses and riders made it through the gallops and cat briers... dedication!

Cheers!

Looking like Monday will be rained out...and Wednesday is looking like a wintery mix (and this is what they call the first week of spring?)

Day 74 of the Hunting Season - March 18th, 2011

Day 74 of the Hunting Season - March 18th, 2011

Meet: Funnel Lake

Temps: high 60's

Couples: 25.5

Staff: Huntsman- James Paxson MFH, Whippers-in- MFH Duncan Patterson, Priscilla Godsoe, Hoppy Stearns, Field Master- Gary Kennedy, Hound Trucks- Leo & Flora Erb, Karen Kennedy

Start: 10:00am
End: 2:00 pm



YES!!!

A great day of hunting, and a very wonderful fox!



MFH Jimmy took the hounds in towards the stone pile. Hounds worked a line slowly from the Stone pile to the Red Barn by the Township Woods, then they went! What a sound & what a sight with 51 hounds- it was wonderful. Hounds went along by the new bridge and then up across towards the Hollow Road and the Power lines.

Amish had spread a lot of manure/sludge on the one field by the power lines which made it slow going as the hounds kept the line up through to the next strip of woods. Since the hounds were slowed down they worked through the woods pretty quiet. Fox was waiting for us in the next covert... literally... just waiting and hoping over logs and then would turn around and see how far the hounds were behind him. It was a sight.



The fox played around for a while and then popped out of the woods and flew across the wheat field towards Pumping Station Road with hound right on his trail. If I wasn't galloping towards Pumping Station Road I would have taken a video. Sound again was incredible!

The fox took the hounds along the stream and rocky cliffs around the road and then took out across the open field towards Albrights but crossed the road. We pulled the hounds up before crossing the road, because that country was a whole new day of hunting, and we would have needed new horses!

It was a really great run, and we covered a lot of River Hills Country! Yeeeeha! Ready for tomorrow? (Red Pump - 10:00am)

Day 73 of the Hunting Season - March 12th, 2011

Day 73 of the Hunting Season - March 12th, 2011

Meet: Red Pump

Temps: 40's

Couples: 17

Staff: Huntsman- James Paxson MFH, Whippers-in- MFH Fred VonC, Priscilla Godsoe, Hoppy Stearns, Dott Cochran, Field Master- Gary Kennedy, Hound Trucks- Leo & Flora Erb, Karen Kennedy

Start: 10:00am
End: 1:00 pm



I hate to say it.. but I think hunting days are starting to slow down. This time of year they are either crazy good or short and sweet. Today was short and sweet.



Hounds did good trying but thats all they seemed do. Whatever lines they worked, they worked straight to dens with vixens getting ready to have cubs.

Day 72 of the Hunting Season - March 9th, 2011

Day 72 of the Hunting Season - March 9th, 2011

Meet: Herr's Stone Lane

Temps: 40's

Couples: 17.5

Staff: Huntsman- James Paxson MFH, Whippers-in- Priscilla Godsoe, Hoppy Stearns, Dott Cochran, Field Master- Gary Kennedy, Hound Trucks- Leo & Flora Erb, Karen Kennedy

Start: 10:00am
End: 1:00 pm

Well.... first off - I forgot my Droid in the hound truck - OOOPs! I did however get pictures for the blog from other members of the field who were less forgetful.

We had a terrific day of hunting! Just super! Hounds picked up a line in the Stump Woods and went strong and fast toward the Old House. They just about flew through Jim's Clear Woods towards the Park, and then made a bend towards the Park Road along the little stream that runs under Jim's Drive. Hounds were still going fast as they bent around the bank at Jims and crossed the flat area between Jim and Ed's Pond. Daniel, Issac, and Izzy were on front and took the line straight up towards the power lines.

At the top of the hill out of the briers the hounds went across the cow pasture towards the Pond in the woods and then started to bend toward the Sheep Pasture. Hoppy viewed the fox from the Sheep Barn Side heading back towards the meet. Hound were not far behind and they took the line strong all the way back to the Stump Woods were they originally started.

MFH Jimmy didnt let the hounds stay at the hole of the den long thinking that the fox may have been a vixen. So. on we went toward Barkers Woods and the Park.

Not much happened through Barkers Woods but as we crossed into Jim's Clear Woods near the park the hounds picked up a line and went full tilt into the Park with Issac and Drummer on front. They took the line towards the Swamp and then up towards the Monument, took a bend towards the Burn in the woods below the Junk Yard and back into Jim's Clear Woods, but... not in the clear part! The hounds made a good struggle to work through all the cat briers. I know you wouldnt find me in there!

As the fox gave them a guided tour of the brier patch he split and went towards Barkers Woods and the Old Barn Foundation. The fox then went to ground in a pile of logs with a den nicely build in the bottom. Older Hounds and Puppies were very proud of themselves! MFH Jimmy got off his horse and blew the fox to ground and then we moved off again to leave the fox been in his den.

As we moved back towards the meet the hounds picked up another line towards the meet, through the cow pasture and straight towards the Cemetery. In the bottom of the brier patch below the Cemetery, Leo saw the hounds working the line in the direction towards Jim's Barn.
Luckily for us we were able to enjoy watching the hounds work and were able to sit tight and let them work around us. The Hounds took the line back towards the woods above Jim's Horse Pasture and took the line to a hole again.

And then we called it a day!

We were all about tired too!

Day 71 of the Hunting Season - March 5th, 2011

Day 71 of the Hunting Season - March 5th, 2011

Meet: Red Pump

Temps: 40's

Couples: 17.5

Staff: Huntsman- James Paxson MFH, Whippers-in- Priscilla Godsoe, Hoppy Stearns, Field Master- Sara & Melissa Gartland

Start: 10:00am
End: 1:00 pm



No sight of our red furry friend but we had a very enjoyable day!

Melissa and Sara Garland did an excellent job leading the field and navigating the meet with all of their younger field members that included children from Pony Club and 4-H.

Hunting was a bit tame considering the flat our gallops that we had yesterday at Funnel Lake. Hounds were hit and miss on a few lines, and circled around a lot of holes. Its rather promising to see that the vixens are sticking to their dens preparing to have pups soon!

Holy View will definitely make good fox viewing... maybe I can get out there with my camera once the pups start exploring life outside the den!



Monday looks like rain - I doubt we will be out hunting.

Cheers!

Day 70 of the Hunting Season - March 4th, 2011

Day 70 of the Hunting Season - March 4th, 2011

Meet: Funnel Lake
Temps: 40's

Couples: 18.5

Staff: Huntsman- James Paxson MFH, Whippers-in- MFH Fred Von C, Priscilla Godsoe, Hoppy Stearns, Field Master- Gary Kennedy

Start: 10:00am
End: 1:00 pm



What a SUPER day! Just awesome.

Hounds ran from the woods below the log house, up and around toward the stone pile, made two tight circles on the big bank. We thought the fox may have went to ground, but he shot out across the woods going up towards chicken Sam's, into the Township woods and then back towards the Red Dairy Barn where they finally put the fox to ground on the rock cliff.

MFH Jimmy brought the hounds across the corn field and toward the woods with the power lines heading towards Pumping Station Rd and the second Dairy Barn. As the hounds made their way through the woods they picked up a line hot on the last fox of the day. The headed straight towards the Dairy Barn and along the bank over the creek that flowed along Pumping Station and Dry Wells Road. Fox was viewed coming up from the pond and heading towards Hollow Road. Hound were not far behind him!

As we got near the Hollow Road MFH Jimmy had to make the call to pull up the hounds because the fox was viewed heading out of country. Beautiful, healthy fox, and probably surprised that we stopped playing with him today. He would run, and then stop and just sit and watch the hounds, disappear in the woods, and pop out again and watch the hounds. I think he knew exactly what he was doing!!

Hounds were good and let us pick them up.. they weren't happy about it, but it was a great day for the puppies, and the older hounds were pretty tired.

Day 69 of the Hunting Season - March 2nd, 2011

Day 69 of the Hunting Season - March 2nd, 2011

Meet: Herr's Stone Lane

Temps: 40's

Couples: 16.5

Staff: Huntsman- James Paxson MFH, Whippers-in- Priscilla Godsoe, Hoppy Stearns, Field Master- Gary Kennedy

Start: 10:00am
End: 12:00 pm



Great - Great Day!



We started out along the fence line towards Barkers Woods and the hounds picked up an early line through the woods. The fox went right, deeper into Barkers Woods and in the direction of the Park. Hounds made pretty good speed following the fox through all of the cat briers. The puppies had a good taste of staying with the pack and going through thick and thin!



As soon as the hounds hit an open road they were flying. They took off along the road in the Park into the ravine paralleling West Ridge and the Blue Building. Keeping a steady canter I could keep up with the hounds along the edge of the woods in the fire break as the hounds headed towards the Brick House and then on towards the Church.



The hounds dropped left through the wash in the woods on the Radio Tower side heading towards the old quarries. From the quarries the were still going fast until the fox jumped back into the cat briers and slowed the hounds up a bit. I galloped from the ridge above the hounds near the quarry, all the way around to the Monument but never quite caught up.



As I came from the Monument the hounds were ahead of me heading towards Jims Woods, along McPhearson Lake. A good fast gallop around the lake put me on Park Road were I saw hounds still running up behind Jims House. I waited for a second or two to see if the fox would cross the drive at Jims but instead the fox crossed through Jim's back yard, along the pond, and up on the bank towards the horse pasture.



Full speed ahead and then silence! I cantered up through the horse pasture to find all the hounds at the hole. It must have been a well used den, because the hounds covered the two on the bank and got a good sniff of fox in their lungs. MFH Jimmy blew the fox in and praised the hounds for all their effort. We pulled the hounds back to let the fox be in his den unharmed and ready to play another day.

We packed up with a bunch of tired hounds, happy horses, and I'm sure some riders who will be feeling stiff in the morning!

Cheers!