Friday Evening - August 24th, 2012 - Day Two

Meet: Mount Rocky
Couples: 18.5 (mixed)
Staff:
Huntsman - James Paxson, MFH
Whips      - Priscilla Godsoe
                - Winter Paxson
Junior Whip  - John Brophy
Field Master - Duncan Patterson, MFH
Hound Trucks - Gary, Karen, Connor Kennedy
                       - Hoppy Stearns

We had a nice evening out with a short and sweet run fairly early on in the corn and through the woods to the training center track when the pack split between to cubs that ran in totally different directions! All was not lost as the hounds re-grouped but the scent was much weaker and were not able to carry it as fast. After hunting the Kings and Brophys unfolded a wonderful selection of food and desserts!

Hunting tomorrow at Down Patrick - 9:00a.m.

August 22nd 2012 - First Day Cubbing

Hello again to all of the RHF Hunt Blog Followers -


I set this page up so that those who cannot hunt with us via four legged friend, four wheels, or by foot - can now 'hunt' with us via blogger... who would have 'thunk' it!

As some of you well know Blogger was set up with RHF two seasons ago but was not kept up with half way through last season due to the fact that I was over killing my work load ability and thinking I was something like super woman trying an experiment of galloping race horses 7 days a week, while hunting four days a week, AND running a riding/horse sales business at my farm. Needless to say my 'blogging' was not on the back burner - it never made it to the stove!

As I have given up my adventures in racehorses and now focus on my farm and show horses, as well as being extremely excited to hunt again and share time with our 16 new hound puppies you will find many more 'blogs' and updates on all things River Hills.

Wednesday, August 22nd marked day one of the RHF hunting season.

Couples - 18 1/2

Staff:
Huntsman - James Paxson, MFH
Whip - Priscilla Godsoe
Hound Truck - Gary,Karen, Connor Kennedy
Meet - Herr's Stone Lane
Time - 8:00am - 9:45am

We started off by heading down the lane towards Jims Barn and to the left of the barn up onto the bank where the hounds started working early. They slowly worked up behind Eds and still kept working as they went down the bank toward the stream and Park Rd. Dorothy would open up here and there and the younger hounds would honor her but all kept fairly quiet as we went across the small field along side the road and across Jims drive towards the big pond. As soon as we cross into the woods by the coop across from the drive they were off! It seemed almost as if our little fox friend had been sitting and waiting for us. The younger hound went full blast through the Clear Woods and towards the Stump Woods but since it was our first day I asked them to hold up as we waited a few seconds for the older hounds. I had trust in the younger hounds all last season but I just couldn’t believe they were all working so well after having off for almost 4 months! Clearly they didn’t forget because in second Cindy and Fritz where there to give them the 'Ay Okay'.

They took the line strong into the Stump Woods and in the direction of the cow pastures that are along Freemont Road. I position myself in the woods where I could watch the fields and still watch the hounds - you can see the video via RHF Facebook. Text book fashion the fox came out and ran across the pasture in no big hurry and then crossed up through Barkers Woods towards the dump in the woods, then full speed ahead towards the Park. I was galloping along with the hounds and they DEAD STOPPED at the Park boundary and when quiet... Fritz then went to the left and picked up the line again as they flew back across the Clear Woods towards the Ring and then a hard right toward the Park again in the direction of the Burn and the Mystery Hole.

By this point my horse had definitely broke into a sweat and I was remembering why we wake up at 4:30 in the morning to come out for this. The hounds were hunting as if they had never stopped from last season. As the hounds dove into the briers in the Burn all went quiet as they had put the fox to ground. The fox had certainly out foxed the hounds but the hounds where thrilled with themselves getting that musky smelling back into there nostrils.

We called the hounds back and took them to the big pond where they went for a drink and a swim and we headed back to the meet to load up and have Karen's special coffee and doughnuts. It was a great morning and we were also luck enough to have Hoppy Stearns our other whip out as a car follower, she is recovery from knee surgery. I fear after she heard the hounds she will not be taking doctors orders for much longer!!

Next meet:

Friday, August 24th at Mount Rocky - 5:30pm (EVENING MEET)
Saturday, August 25th at Down Patrick - 9:00am

Wiles Meet November 14th, 2011

November 14th, 2011
Meet: Wiles
Couples: 23 1/2
Staff:
Huntsman -James Paxson MFH
Whippers-In -Fred VonCzoernig MFH
-Priscilla Godsoe
-Hoppy Stearns
Field Master -Gary Kennedy
Hound Truck -Karen Kennedy

Start 10:00am
Finish 12:45pm

Wonderful foxes grace the country side of the Wiles meet. As the foxes cris-crossed the woods and wheat fields the hounds pressed on and ran for nearly two hours. Early into the first draw of the corn field the hounds picked up a line and ran through the corn and into the woods, crossed the rail road bed and went up through the vegetable farm where the fox was headed back towards the meet paralleling the Puseyville Rd and towards the bridge. The hounds followed the line through the corn field again and back into the woods by the dump and did the same loops again. Some where the foxes crossed paths and the hounds struck a line toward the Ram, and then they took a direct line back through the woods, this fox was much darker and was headed back in the direction of the meet. Another fox was viewed coming out of the woods near the meet almost head on to the hunted fox. Hounds struggled a bit to stay on the line as puppies didnt know which line to take. Drummer, Cyndy, Darla, and Dawn took the line back down to the creek and then the pack blasted one out of the park toward the Saw Mill, bending towards the Chicken House and ran hard until they put the fox to ground above the Chicken Houses. We hunted the hounds back to the meet and loaded up after a great day.

Wednesday meet was canceled due to rain.

Plan is to hunt Down Patrick - Friday and Red Pump - Saturday

*Dont forget - Next week is the last week of hunting before the two week break of deer season. Next week we will be hunting Mon-Wed-Thur (Thanksgiving)-Fri-Sat!!!

Belated Update From RHF - November 13th, 2011

Hello Friends,

I will start by first giving my regrets to those of you who regularly followed the River Hills Blog on hunting and other such 'hound like' activities. Reason being for the lack of 'blogging' has more or less been a lack of time on my behalf. I started this summer galloping horses for trainer Tim Woolley at the Fair Hill Training Center in Fair Hill, Maryland along with the regular activities of training my show and sales horses and running my farm and working at the kennels and whipping-in. Its a full time job keeping up with me.... trust me I know!

The reason for jumping back into the blog was due to the sudden death of two dear hound friends Dutch and Daniel. Age and hard hunting finally caught up with our dear boys and with in a two week time we lost one and then the other. I suppose I regret not writing about them in the blogs, not listing there part in what we do out there. I felt lost heading into the kennels the other morning and not seeing them, and even more so not hearing them while we were hunting. I hate to start everyone off with such sad news but I do want everyone to remember that the hounds are why we go out, and its because of them we enjoy our sport. I think its very important we remember them, love them, and respect them for all they do for us.

On a lighter note I can happily report that our hunting season, along with last years nine puppies have been coming along tremendously well. We had a few weeks that set us back here and there due to the rain but for the most part we've been going along just great. Our Opening Day was re-scheduled; due to SNOW, to yesterday, November 12th. The fixture was at the King's Mount Rocky Meet were we started off to a good view almost right from the first draw. Opening Day crowd drew out about 40 some riders and many well wishers on foot and car followers. Its great to start the formal season with so much support from our hunting friends. After the hunt we were grateful to share the Mount Rocky Carriage Shed and Barn to enjoy a lovely meal prepared by Laura Brophy and Vikki King.

Many thanks to all those who continue to support the River Hills Foxhounds. Please check back and be sure that I will be posting about our beloved hounds!

Cheers - Priscilla



We will be hunting tomorrow at Wiles at 10:00am

Cubbing Re-Cap Days 2-7 (Aug 20th-Sept 3rd)

Day 2 - August 20th
Meet: Red Pump

Temps: high 60's

Couples: 15.5

Staff: Huntsman- James Paxson MFH, Whippers-in- Priscilla Godsoe, Dr.Carl Mease, Dott Cochran, Hoppy Stearns, Field Master- Gary Kennedy



Day 3 - August 24th
Meet: Herr's Stone Lane

Temps: 70's

Couples: 19.5

Staff: Huntsman- James Paxson MFH, Whippers-in- Priscilla Godsoe, Dott Cochran, Hoppy Stearns, Field Master- Saran Singh Hound Trucks- Winter Paxson



Day 4 - August 27th
Meet: Red Pump

Temps: 70's

Couples: 15.5

Staff: Huntsman- James Paxson MFH, Whippers-in- Priscilla Godsoe, Dott Cochran, Hoppy Stearns, Field Master- Gary Kennedy Hound Trucks- Winter Paxson




Day 5 - August 31st
Meet: Herr's Stone Lane

Temps: 70's

Couples: 15

Staff: Huntsman- James Paxson MFH, Whippers-in- Priscilla Godsoe, Dott Cochran, Hoppy Stearns, Field Master- Gary Kennedy Hound Trucks- Winter Paxson



Day 6 - September 2nd
Meet: Down Patrick

Temps: high 60's

Couples: 16

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



Day 7 - September 3rd
Meet: Red Pump

Temps: 70's

Couples: 15.5

Staff: Huntsman- James Paxson MFH, Whippers-in- Priscilla Godsoe, Dott Cochran, Hoppy Stearns, Field Master- Sarah Gartland Hound Trucks- Winter Paxson

FIRST DAY of the Cubbing Season - August 17th, 2011

Day 1 of the Cubbing Season - August 17th, 2011

Meet: Herr's Stone Lane

Temps: 70's

Couples: 19 (puppy - Kia)

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

Start: 8:00am
End: 9:45am


Today was the first day back in the hunt field for the River Hills Foxhounds. It was a good, steady morning. Nothing too fast, yet not too boring.

We started out around Peirsons and into the woods toward the Park Road, came up high along Ed's house and then dropped through the horse pasture and up into the Stump Woods. The hounds cast out into the cattle field and picked up pieces of the line all the way to the grove of trees near the West Ridge Road.

They dropped down into the wet part of the woods and then moved in towards the old barn foundation and picked up a fast line through the clear woods and in behind Jim's ring. From here they worked an old log and seemed to lose what was left of the line but then they hit again and went back in the direction of the Old House foundation and the stream. At this point MFH Jimmy started hunting the hounds back to the meet. Not much on the way in but the hounds did get a good dunk in the pond as we went by.

Fridays hunt has been canceled due to the wet footing at the Mt. Rocky meet.
Saturday we will be hunting at Red Pump - 9:00am

Many Thanks! Plus a re-cap of the River Hills 2010-2011 Season!

THANK YOU!

There is no hunt that can go without recognizing the generous support first and foremost from its landowners. Not a hunt out there can be successful with out this support by the ability to 'get out and hunt'! Great hounds, a great huntsman, and fast horse's are nothing without the rolling hills of farm lands like that at Wiles and the Tree Farm, the deep ravines of the River Hills at Ankrum's and Down Patrick, the thick coverts at Herr's Stone Lane and Mt. Rocky, the healthy fox population growing at Red Pump, and relationships with farmers like that at Funnel Lake.

Our hunting country stretches over thousands acres of landowner permitted hunting ground. Some of our meets individually having over 200 landowners to visit yearly, along with keeping track of farming, livestock and construction being done at farms proves to be an on going, daily job to making sure we respect and keep good connections with the very people who make hunting possible. There should be no greater voice than that of a happy landowner who gives permission to 50 or more hounds hunting through their woods and over their fields! To that we are extremely grateful.

A special thanks to the Gibson Family for so graciously opening up their property as a meeting place for us throughout the Cubbing Season, Opening Day, Children's Hunt, Joint Meets, Blessing Of The Hounds, New Years and including many, many other days of great hunting. In addition the Gibson's hospitality spills over by their opening up the 'Pigery' to us at anytime. This has become a place where we have enjoyed many after hunting lunches with all of our hunting friends.

Along with the Gibson's we would like to thank Tim Hanks for allowing us to hunt through his property which is better known to as the Ankrum's Dog Box. Tim also hunts with us regularly and has become very active in keep trails clear, at helping to keep hunting land open for fox hunting.In addition a big thank you to Jim and Louis Herr and Herr Foods Inc. for all of their support with opening up the Red Pump and Holy View Meets, as well as Herr's Stone Lane. Their support has been tremendous throughout the years. Jim who also hunts with us has been out many other occasions to help improve the trails, adding new jumps, and giving us full access to hunting through out the Cubbing and Regular Season.

Another Thank you to Wilson and Vikki King as well as John and Lea Reynolds for opening and maintaining the Fox Mill and Mt. Rocky Meets. Both adjoining meets are comprised of  hundreds of acres, lots of trails, and many great jumps.

Lastly a thank you to our Amish farmers and friends, too many to list, but all of their support and kindness cannot go without mention. To the Amish, land and livestock, and way of life is everything. They farm, hunt, and fish off the land to help keep and feed their families, so, understanding the Amish way of life and respecting their traditions has helped River Hills to grow great relationships and respect from our Amish landowners.

Amish landowners have educated themselves over that last 10 years to fox hunting through the efforts of our masters. Because fox hunting is seen by some Amish as a 'worldly' past time it is very important to us that we have been given the support from our Amish landowners in keeping the Southern Lancaster County and parts of Chest County open to fox hunting. Many of our Amish landowners can be seen on Saturdays and holidays enjoying the hunting day with us and their families by watching the hunt off and enjoying the hounds work.

Because of our landowners support and interest in what we do, they have helped to educate their neighbors, friends and family about American Fox Hunting.

In addition to thanking our landowners a very special thank you goes out to our members. It is rare to find so many people who are truly passionate about hounds, and horses. On a slow day when the scenting is not there you can always look and no matter what see that we are surrounded and supported by fox hunters.

It also, cannot go without saying, a great BIG thank you to our River Hills Staff. Our staff has become like family, and we embrace them under our wings. The tireless commitment to hunting four days a week, along with keeping 'real' jobs, waking up to go Cubbing at 3:30am to hunt at 5:30 in the mornings of August or what seems like negative temperatures of January, no matter what they are always there. This particular thank you goes out to James Paxson, Fred VonCzoering, Duncan Patterson, Leo & Flora Erb, Gregory & Winter Paxson, Gary, Karen, & Alyse Kennedy, Dott Cochran, Dr. Carl Mease, Hoppy Stearns, and Priscilla Godsoe.

We would not be where we are without you!



SEASON OF ADVENTURES

For the River Hills Foxhounds the Cubbing Season started August 9th, 2010 with the addition of 14 puppies, and last years 5 new entries. Although the Cubbing Season started in August we had been out hound walking, and leash training the puppies throughout the month of July. 'Pre- Season' is always a lot of fun around the River Hills Kennels as we try to include as many children, parents, and members to get out with us, learn the hounds names, socialize with the puppies, walk the hounds on the loop around Funnel Lake, take the hounds for a swim in the creeks and pond near the kennels and just plan have fun!

Through the Cubbing season we had a lot of terrific hunting. The puppies were brought out slowly and worked into the pack really swell. In the midst of Cubbing season we were able to attend the Kimberton Hound Show on September 19th, 2010. We had three 2nd place finishers and a 4th.The ending of October was the finishing up of the Cubbing season and start to the Opening Season. In the middle of October two teams represented the River Hills Foxhounds at the Pennsylvania National Horse Shows Hunt Night. Gregory Paxson MFH, placed 6th, Kelly Conner placed 6th, and Wilson King placed 7th.

Also, our very own Master & Huntsman was featured in an article about his 'Heart to jump 7'3" walls' on his thoroughbred horse Ilion. Lastly, our Opening Day Meet, October 30th, 2010 held at the Gibson's Down Patrick which was a great success.

November's Hunting was just a blast and filled with probably the most fun tails! November 13th we had a Joint Meet with the Warwick Village Hounds at Gibson's Down Patrick. 22 1/2 Couples of fast hounds and foxes that just ran everywhere from all different directions. It was a great day, with great people!

Hounds were prime this season, and as hard as it is to admit but we have a great story about loosing the hounds on a fantastic run at the Ankrum's Dog Box Meet November 22, 2010. The saying of that day was, 'The hunting gods were with us!'.

In addition to some great hunting we had a very memorable Children's Hunt that was coupled with the Huntsman For The Day. The Children's Hunt included two Pony Clubs, and the Work To Ride program out of Philadelphia.Also in November the River Hills Staff could be seen out riding at the Pennsylvania Hunt Cup on our fleet of greys.

December hunting was a bit shorter with only 9 hunts,the time off from the Deer Hunting season slowed us down a little but we went out of 2010 with some good times on December 31st New Years Eve Hunt. December also included the addition of Gregory and Winter's healthy baby boy Clayton.

January, March and February were the hardest months on all of us as fox hunters. We were plagued with two good snow storms and lots and lots of ice! The Blessing Of The Hounds on New Years Day at the Gibson's Down Patrick meet was just wonderful. Reverend Jo-an Glass blessed the hounds, horses, riders, and the hunting land. The day of hunting was fast, and we enjoyed a great lunch afterward at the Gibson's 'Pigery'.

January 24th, 2011 we hunted on a day with the temperature well below freezing, more like the single digits, we had just enough snow to ride around, but boy was it cold. The going joke that day was that we were hunting with Arctic Hounds, no longer Penn Marydels!

February hit us the hardest in two ways: we only hunted twice because of the crazy ice and snow that we got, and our hardest hit was the loss of our dear Beazie. She was a wonderful hound, and she will be missed terribly.March weather cleared up a little, we went from ice - to mud - to rain!

We finished March by getting out 9 times. The hunting was good when we did get out. Funnel Lake, Herr's Stone Lane, and Red Pump were pretty much thrillers!To highlight a couple, there was a hunt March 2nd, 2011 at Herr's Stone Lane, the fox was very fun, he would go in and out of different holes, and just a pleasure to watch and enjoy with the hounds. That day left us jumping in and out of more pastures, over logs and coops than any other day this whole season.

One particular hunt at Funnel Lake, March 4th 2011, we ran out of horses just keeping up with the hounds. It was a fast day and we covered A LOT of country. We cannot forget to add the March 19th Hunt at Red Pump and the hunt over the 'extended' Red Pump hunting country through the Barrens! Not many pictures were taken that day due to the sheer amount of galloping to keep up with the blistering speed of the hounds into country we are not overly familiar with. Perhaps this summer we can open up new trails in this section of our country? Hint - hint!

In the closing of our season we were very thankful to Alex Brown in benefiting $5.00 from each book sold at the 1st Barbaro Book Signing held at the Kennedy's Puddle Duck Creek Tack Shop in Quarryville, PA. Alex was very generous in supporting River Hills in our efforts to saving and re-started off the track thoroughbreds into new careers as fox hunters, and show horses.

In the middle of writing his book Greatness and Goodness: Barbaro and his Legacy, Alex was out hound walking, cubbing, and hunting on many occasions (as long as it wasn't too cold) as a bit of a mental break. We were very pleased to be a part of the journey and watching the book unfold!

Our very last day of hunting was March 30th, 2011, at Herr's Stone Lane. We had planned three more hunts but the weather and farmers planting and proved to get the better of us. We were able to finish out strong, safe, and healthy with no bumps or bruises along the way we enjoyed a terrific season of hunting!

Tally ho!



Just a reminder...

You will see us at:

Plumsted Races Out Riding - April 24th
Winterthur Point to Point Out Riding along with the Parade of the River Hills Foxhounds - May 8th
Willowdale Races Out Riding - May 15th
Radnor Races Out Riding - May 21st
Fairhill Races Out Riding - May 28th