Its’ at this time of year I realize there may be few opportunities to go hunting before the weather closes in and the Meet is cancelled because the ground is to icy, snow too deep or its just too darn cold.  So armed with toe warmers, thermal boots and gloves, I felt duly prepared to go foxhunting. It was a hopeful field of 10 that braved the day.  I assumed that several were recovering from the excellent AVH Christmas Party kindly hosted by the Feldmans’, and some, looked at the temperature gauge and opted to continue with planning for the Holiday Season in the warm!
We met at Mrs. Schwabb’s Farm and Master Cindy led First Flight and Master Joanne second.  Mr. Farin had 171/2 couple of hounds out, and a team of dedicated Whips, Master Brian, Lisa, MP, Richard and Robin.  Our friends from Paws and Rewind were also out to capture the day.
It took all of 3 mins for our hounds to quickly pick up a scent and get on the trail of a fox, so we were off at a gallop, they seemed to lose it but then took off in the opposite direction, so either the heal line or another fox. This gave everyone a chance to warm up, and coupled with the watery sunshine meant I actually got hot.
We traversed a few fields and once again hounds picked up, probably the scent of the first fox and off we zipped.  We popped the Virginia Coup (so named after a Joint Meet with what was then Fairfax Hounds from Virginia who on one day we jumped it six times!) took a nifty right turn and then looped around again, this time hopping over the same coup with a left turn.
The hounds worked furiously and Master Cindy held the field on Mr. and Mrs. Zugners Farm (who came out to wave but shot back inside probably due to the cold!), as we watched hounds work the distant hedgerow.  Gradually, I realized standing still on that ridge the temperature was dropping, and wondered why oh why doesn’t someone make traditional hunt clothing in high tech materials?  Despite being in exactly the right place to see a fox pop out none did, so we moved on past Fox Volcano and forward to Big Sky Farm.  The sky at that time looked cold and gray so it was no surprise to see the first snowflakes fluttered around. 
Just when I was thinking, OK chaps lets head in, hounds took off and Bruce and Laurie got a great view of Charlie Fox as he raced off across the green fields.  As hounds picked up the scent he looked around calmly and sensibly went to ground.   Hounds were rewarded for their effort and we turned for home, now heading into the frigid wind.
For different reasons the field diminished and consisted of the three Masters, Lisa, Steve, Claire and myself.   Master Joanne decided it was cold and we should take things up a notched and roared by on Mr. Nicholas who seemed equally intent on blowing past his stable mates and “get on with things”.  So home we went. 
The day ended with some pizza curtesy of Scott, hot chocolate and coffee, and amongst other treats a mountain of cake from Nadia.   Pictured here is the hardy crew!   
Hot Tip for super cold days…. Put one of those disposable pain relief heat pads on the base of your spine, keeps you toasty and your muscles warmed up!   (Which I stupidly forgot about!)
With toes utterly numb we all left for home, car heaters on the roast setting and when I turned on the radio, yes Michael Bubble was singing “Baby its Cold outside”.
 
Cheryl

Sunday November 13th 2016-  “Tally Ho, Ho, Ho!”
As we made our way to the meet at Mr. Kanacks, I thought about just how lucky we’ve been with the weather.  Today was our 32nd meet this season and as many of you know Mr. Farrin has set a personal goal to get out 50 times.  Last year was the first time in the decade he has been our Huntsman that we actually achieved this with 52 hunts. Today, with a light frost, slight breeze and not a cloud in the sky was a day where we couldn’t have asked for more perfect conditions.



Master Stephen greeted the field of 17 riders, with Master Cindy taking second flight and Masters Joanne and Brian whipping along with Robyn, Lisa, and Richard to help guide our 16 couple of hounds.


We crossed the stream (which no one knows the name of) and left Mr. Kanack's and joined Mr. Ribbon’s land, coming face to face with his prize alpacas.   With the request to spread out so as to minimize any potential damage to the field it seemed we turned in unison and managed a pretty respectable synchronized ride.  Three rather large steers in a field opposite did a similar dance together.  All I could think was oh lord if the alpacas come dancing over in unison as well many of us will be on the ground!   They didn’t, but we did get a fantastic view of a large and healthy fox come out of the woods, across the field and through a farm yard.


We continued on to Big Sky Farm, and just before Amwell Winery put up a second fox which led hounds on a merry chase into the woods parallel to Mrs. Crater’s Drive.  We checked to ensure we didn’t cross the fox’s line but he must of doubled back and on we went.


While waiting around I noticed three Red Tailed Hawks flying together, a peregrine falcon, a pair of black vultures and the usual turkey vultures overhead, earlier at Big Sky our hounds disturbed a Blue Herron that languidly took off skimming the ground. 


Anyway, we pushed onto Mrs. Schwab’s land, hounds working the woods and as we crossed into Mr. and Mrs. Zugner’s land a third Tally Ho went up!  We watched our hounds streaming across the fields, hot on the heels of Charlie; we dashed around the edges of several fields, moving fast onto Bryce Thompson land hounds were baying, they were right on the scent!  On the other side of a massive hedge horses were forced to go round the hounds had picked up the scent and off we went jumping the Virginia Coup and hard left back onto Mrs. Scwab's land where Charlie Fox was put to ground.  Phew what sport!


Having been out almost three hours it was time to work our way back to the Meet and I realized we had quite a trek back.  We met up with Jen Stevenson and her team from Paws and Rewind, waiting with their cameras ready.  Jen said they captured some great shots and how much fun they were having compared to being stuck all day at the side of a show ring.  The video of the day is now posted on our AVH web site. 


Today, was one of those really fun days, great weather, great hound work, great horses, great company and a really great breakfast hosted by our Whips!




Cheryl B
News from our Kennels- I thought every so often I should add a note to provide an update on events at the Kennels, a sort of “look behind the scenes” so here it is.  Hounds are doing well apart from Butterfly (the one eyed hound) she suddenly came up with a boil, our vet Dr. Siegel lanced it and Steve took her back the following day to have it drained again- she’s doing well.  Giddy has also been in the wars and his front paw swelled up, there was some debate as to whether it was an abscess but Steve and Lisa scrubbed it like mad and Dr. Siegel thought it was more likely a snake or spider bite.  Giddy is also doing well and should be out with us in a few weeks.    

​​I woke up on the Saturday of the Hunter Trials thinking about our late dear friend Wendy Hopper and realizing it was only a year ago that I had planned to meet her at the Trials.  I had been unwell and she visited me two weeks beforehand, when I needed friends around me.  Suddenly a year had passed and it was only a few months later that August and I were asked to take over from Kristyn and Jacqui to run the Hunter Trials. It seemed like a good idea; after all we both go to horse shows how hard could it be?   Holy Moly the list of “to do’s” just seemed to grow at an alarming rate, and how the previous team ever managed to do the Ad Book as well defies belief.  So, when Master Stephen said we would only have to be involved in the actual Horse Show, we both grinned. 
Well, the week beforehand could only be described as a bit frantic, thankfully we had a great donation from Brendan and Wendy for the Derby, had advertised like crazy, managed to sell jumps, banners and believe me if we could of we’d have sold the turf!   Holly once again stepped up in pulling the Ad book together and with Barb and Dan chasing for Ads, it turned out brilliantly.  The pressure was on for Gus and me to put on a great show.
Now what do you need for a great horse show, entries!   We had created a web site just for the trials, and had about 20 plus confirmed two weeks out, but as the weather report started to look dire, and the rain came down, whereas us hunting dudes would say “great to get some rain” show hunters start to fret about their horses slipping. Our hearts sank as the first of many scratches came in.  I even got scratches from people that hadn’t entered! 
Two days beforehand the team working the show got together at Black River Farm to go over the day to ensure everyone felt comfortable with what they had actually volunteered for, and we got some great suggestions for improvements. We knew there were two areas we had to get right, the Signing-In desk, and the In-Gate.  Meanwhile I flipped from weather apps by the hour comparing and contrasting the dire forecast and grasping at any slight positive variation. 
Gus had designed a fabulous sweeping course of jumps that would need minimal adjustment for the different classes which we assembled together on Thursday afternoon.  On the Friday, Cindy and I collected the huge array of plants that Rutgers Nursery kindly lent us and with the help of Barb we arranged almost a 100 plants to decorate the jumps.  Thank goodness I had two artistic people in charge of that!
5.45am Saturday it was chilly gloomy and bloody wet!  But the team arrived in good spirits, Maria, Jeanne, Christie and Cheryl G, set up the Signing-In Desk and once they sorted out their system and got through the first wave of entries, looked confident.  Lauren assigned to parking, waved trucks and trailers in, Mary Pat stood to attention at the In-Gate and despite being 15 mins late, we were away with the first junior on course. 
The day progressed and much to our relief got busier and busier, Franck and Brian turned out to be the best Jump Crew ever.  Our Vendors were set up, Barb and Angie with the help of Jen and Ruth set up their stall and ended up doing a roaring trade in slightly used Hunt and Show clothing!
Dan, who clearly used to horse show prize giving, was super on top of the proceedings and riders were pinned, silver sups presented by Cindy in full Hunt Attire, and photos snapped. 
Meanwhile, Gus and I charged around checking and generally I think annoying the team who had everything well under control.  Bea a wonderful Hunt Supporter had decorated her car, I wish I had a picture with AVH written all over it, the Califfe family had their tent up and Robin and Tina had a raucous crowd having fun.
After the Parade of Hounds by Mr. Farrin, we moved on to tackle the 30 entries for the 3” Derby. By 5.30pm a gentle rain had started and I was thankful the grass wasn’t too slippery.  Franck kept raking each side of the jumps like mad, and MP got the last of the 170 rounds into the ring.
After awarding the Derby, it came time to present the Wendy Hopper Memorial Award.  I had seen Masters Cindy and Stephen comparing and contrasting notes on each rider, but was a little stunned when they informed me they had reached their decision- No 10 on a grey pony. I rushed to look at the entry forms. Went back to them and said “are you absolutely sure, do you know who you have chosen?”  Both Cindy and Stephen looked at me as though I was nuts- they understood when I said No. 10 on a gray pony is Annabel Califfe- Wendy’s granddaughter!!!
So Art Hopper and his wonderful family stood and smiled through their tears with both sadness and pride when Cindy made a very moving presentation to young Annabel. Thinking about this later I realized Annabel looks and rides exactly like her Grandmother did, gray horse, elegant, and forward. 
Sunday- A Hellva chase!
Why is it the days you don’t go out hunting are the days you sure wished you had!  I arrived at the breakfast just as the field arrived back- they clearly had a blast chasing one fox all the way from Cindy and John Nance’s almost to Amwell Rd. Due to some great whipping from Lisa, Charlie Fox turned and they chased him all the way back until he went to ground.  Apparently this happened twice (not exactly the same run- but good enough).
After a fabulous breakfast hosted by Robin and Tina (the French toast was to die for!)  the clean-up crew including Claire, Cindy and I took the plants back, Masters Brian, Stephen, Gus and Mr. Farrin, packed up the jumps, returned the straw bales and we said goodbye to the sort of weekend our dear friend Wendy would have loved!

It would be remiss of me not to make note of the date of 9/11 etched on all of our memories.  I lost a friend on Flight 93, Tom Burnett.  Tom was the Chief Operating Officer of a small West Coast Medical Device company called Thoratec.  He had been a candidate and lastly a client whom I met the night beforehand in Boston for an early dinner.  Tom told me he hoped to get on an earlier flight home the following day.  I got a late flight back to Newark and thought little more of our meeting.
 
Recordings later, showed Tom was one of the passengers who stormed the cockpit and said “lets roll”.   During the days that followed, the Princeton Post Office was in lock down as various letters had been found to contain a mysterious white powder, and the suggestion was Anthrax.  So it was some weeks later I received a letter in a plastic bag from the Post Office to my work.  I opened it gingerly to find a Thank You card from Tom, posted from his hotel the morning he caught that doomed flight.
 
Why am I sharing this with you, you may ask, but Tom liked to be a bit daring in his life and in some ways Fox Hunting can be just that.  Today, one of our Supporters Angie came out Hunting for the first time.  She had watched us leave several times and decided it looked wonderful.  So she leased an old horse, took English Riding Lessons, bought some basic clothes, borrowed tack and here she was.  Admittedly looking somewhat green around the gills!
 
The morning started out with high humidity and I’m sure that led to a small field of five in First Flight, and six in Second and Mr Farrin brought out 16 ½ couple of hounds.  As we left the meet, Master Cindy trotted off to lead the field around the far side of a stand of corn at Mr. Jack Kanack’s farm, when a huge buck jumped out and bounced off the fence.  Ponder (Cindy’s Horse) and Mowgli (mine) both spun round in alarm, but somehow we both stayed on, nervously giggled and off we went.   Well that got my heart racing!
 
The hounds worked three stands of corn and clearly there were foxes in abundance, hounds split several times leaving our Whips to race around a bit.  Richard who was whipping on Manners Road radioed that a fox had crossed the road in front of him.  Off we went at a clip and hounds worked the corn on the opposite side of the road, clearly catching the scent.  While we galloped off alongside the field of sunflowers, now left to seed, the Second Flight led by Master Stephen elected to stay exactly where they were and watch events unfolding below them.
 
We then headed along the road and entered Mr. Ribbon’s land where the hounds paddled in the small pond and cooled off.  We moved off and Mr. Farrin collected hounds and worked more corn stands.  By this time we had been out 90 mins, hounds had worked hard running through the corn.   We returned to Mr. Kanack’s land, allowing hounds to drink and cool off in the stream before we headed back for a Pot Luck breakfast.  The humidity had been replaced by a slight and welcomed breeze and the view from the hillside was stunning, a few herons and an egret flying overhead and the corn having turned yellow as the leaves started to die off.  It was time to head home.
 
I asked Angie her thoughts about her first hunt.  She went silent for a bit thinking and then said she loved the fact that everyone in Second Flight had been so wonderfully welcoming and were keen to share advice and a few horror stories of things that have happened to them over the years.  Then broke into a huge grin and said, “well it seems hunting makes me feel alive!”   Aren’t we all glad we feel this way on this particular anniversary.
 
Cheryl B

We had watched the weather report religiously all week, which up until the Sunday of the Picnic had been rather dismal.  Of course this created much behind the scenes debate – should we cancel or not?  But with the Pig Roast, Chairs and Tables and everything else paid for and no hope of a refund, we pressed on hoping against hope the Hurricane Hermione would head out to sea.
 
Saturday saw hunting from the Nance’s Farm and Master Cindy led the first flight of nine of us, and Master Stephen the second flight of eight.  Mr. Farrin had 18 ½ couple of hounds that guided by our Whips Masters Joanne and Brian, Lisa and her ladies (Robin and Tina) worked for three and half hours to catch some scent.  However, the weather was really strange, with an eerie stillness, and apart from one hawk even the usual songbirds that tend to fly along the hedgerows with us were absent.  It felt like the prelude to a mighty storm.   The only real sound came from various members of the First Flights excitement when jumping several of the new and very inviting jumps on Cindy’s Farm. It is rumored that second flight did see a fox leaping out of the corn running towards Back Brook as the hounds worked the corn by Barbara Hays farm.      
 
We returned to the Meet and had a very tasty breakfast supplied by Master Joanne and Erica, and after munching those that were out helped put up the tents, laid out the chairs ready for the picnic.  At that point while my 2 weather aps said clear skies, the men tied down tents as though their lives depended on it. 
 
Sunday- The Picnic.   Waking to clear skies, light winds and sun seemed incredible especially when Gov. Christie had declared the State of NJ under a National Emergency. I always knew the Amwell Valley was an enclave of paradise, and what further proof does one need? 
 
The tents had stayed up, food arrived, the Band strummed their first numbers, the Trap Shoot Team were practicing, Karen Sergeant checked the microphone for the Bingo and Master Cindy had groomed her garden area with mulch, flowers and blades of grass standing to attention!  By 2pm we were ready for our landowners to arrive.  Gradually they came, about 150 guests, including nearly all of our Major Landowners, Mr. and Mrs. Greg Manners, the Du Fosse family, and many others whose land we touch upon on our way.
 
This year the honor of the Dessert Judging had been passed to our newest Masters, Cindy and Brian, who clearly enjoyed the tasting.

Another fun hunting day, great hound work. Enjoy.
Sunday 28th August 2016   To the Airpark!  (Well sort of!)
 
Hounds met at The Hillsborough Country Club rather than the printed venue on the meet card, Branders Farm, as Robert Brander had yet to harvest his second cut of hay and parking on it would be quite an issue.  So we parked and took off immediately across to McGarrens corn where hounds worked hard to pick up a scent.  The field was quite large with 10 of us in the First Flight led by Master Cindy and 8 in Second led by Master Stephen.   Mr. Farrin had 13 ½ couple of hounds out and Masters Joanne and Brian, along with Lisa, Mary-Pat and Robyn were our whips for the day.
 
As we trotted down on the roadside of the corn, it was fascinating to see starlings taking to the wing in droves as our hounds moved through the corn and obviously disturbed them.  Another good deed by our hounds, as these voracious eaters can decimate a crop in days. 
 
I was surprised to learn (I’m sure many of you already know; but if not) that the Starling is categorized as an invasive species, introduced in 1877 by a group of eccentric birdwatchers calling themselves The American Acclimatization Society, whose aim was to introduce wild birds from around the globe to the NY and NJ area.  The Times of the following year wrote; “the 60-100 birds released in Central Park, were expected to prosper”.  Boy have they done just that, and these clever, resilient birds are now deemed a pest.  In 2011, 5,000 were poisoned on one Princeton farm. Eek!  Well I know I enjoyed seeing them sweep across the top of the corn and into the woods.
 
Starlings can also mimic the song of other birds including Red Tailed Hawks, but today we got the real thing and I saw at least three (or it could have been one following us!).  Anyway, we shot on towards the Airpark, with Master Cindy opting to go around Dead Center of the Territory (the nickname Mr. Farrin gives For Amwell Cemetery) and up North Hill Rd. Sadly the shortcut into the bottom fields was blocked by a fallen tree, so we had to reverse and trot back.  The upside was a swift gallop along three fields.  
 
Thankfully we all seemed to meet up at the Airpark.  This 700-acre track of land crosses the boundary of East Amwell and Hillsborough and was built as a back up airfield for WWII.  50 years ago it became the home of William Adams a WWII fighter pilot who named it Adams Airpark.  He later started an aerial photography business.  By 1956 he turned the land into a recreational area, including a small airport with a skydiving school, flight instruction, plane rentals and a lake people paid to swim in.  By 1970 it had ceased all operations and John Higgins purchased the property, and it ended up as a hunting reserve.
This year it is in the process of being sold to various New Jersey Conservation groups, so we hope we can retain the right to hunt there in the future.
It was as we entered the airpark that things got a bit muddled, several reverse fields and then we caught up with Second Flight who were now in the lead and had renamed themselves “The One and a Half Field (thank you Claire).  So with hounds trying hard to catch scent, we did manage to put one fox to ground, and then in the tight confines of the Airpark, we were able to watch some great hound work. At one point, after reversing fields, Master Stephen found his second flight was now behind the First Flight but he was directly behind the Huntsman with a field of one! He remarked “Katy and I just continued on hunting” things eventually sorted themselves out and order was restored.  It was at this stage Dan, riding in front of me realized having been in such a rush to get to the meet, he’d leapt out of his car, got on his dear horse “Lady”, but just remembered he had left his car running! Oh boy!
We did make it as far East as Mr. and Mrs. Branders farm where hounds did a remarkable job of scenting a fox in a bramble thicket, however, he went to ground very quickly. So two plus hours out, bombers were now coming out in force, horses were hot and tired, and with ground level scent long gone Mr. Farrin blew for home.   It was a very pleasant walk back with swaths of Yellow Golden Rod and Camphorweed nodding along the side of the miles of trails that Mr. Farrin had mowed just for our benefit!  
 

With so much politics in the news I have found hunting a pleasant escape for a few hours, hopefully twice a week.  So on Wednesday last I rode Mowgli over to the kennels, to join what turned out to be a large group of riders for a mid-week meet.   This will be my second season riding this horse, which is still quite young and seems to act, and in my opinion looks, a lot like a loveable overgrown pony.   So when Master Joanne was called to Whip I was asked to lead the field.  Ah ha a chance for Mowgli and I to demonstrate our leadership capabilities.

Well for the first ten minutes this was the case, until we arrived on our farm when Mowgli, being big and darn strong decided “wayhay lets go back to the barn with my 22 new friends!”  A few circles in a field brought him back under control and then in our 25th minute our hounds put Charlie Fox to ground on Phil and PM Ward's land. 

We then moved across to Welizawitz’s land and onto the outskirts of Unionville Winery, but as the day grew hotter, scent became more difficult and the six of us that remained in the first flight hopped a coup or two and M. Farrin blew his horn for home.  I should say it was great to see Joanne Pelosi back out this season with her Grey ISH.

Wednesday also saw an invitation to an “extraordinary club meeting for voting members” where we met our presumptive forth Master candidate Brian Skowronek (name is Polish word for Skylark song bird and apparently a great line of Polish-Arabian horses) at the bar of the Country Club.  Brian who has normal hair and doesn’t own casinos or hotels or has email issues and a liking for pant suits, comes from Bridgewater, has been a member of Amwell for more than 20 years and has one wife Lynette whom he has been married 40 years ago.  No private or Airforce One planes for him, but instead his trusty horse Sebastian, whom he bought up in Vermont and since that time Brian informed me has “dumped him on the ground all over the Valley!” 

On a more serious note Brian is someone recognized and described by many as “solid, likeable, authentic, calming, firm and loyal” and probably the best Second Field Master we have had since I’ve been a member.  He has been our Treasurer for many years and seen our Club through the normal ups and downs with a tight rein on the purse strings.  He ran the Hunter Paces for a decade and now whips. (Which he informed me he loves doing most).  So it was pleasing to see Brian willing to step up to this unpaid job.  Having gained a unanimous “Yes” vote from all, Brian said he had never aspired to become a Master but looks forward to making a leadership contribution. 

So reflecting on the day, I was thankful to Barb and Ruth for helping Mowgli get the idea that off the farm he can be a leader, thankful that Brian will help lead the Club in his new Mastership capacity, and as for dear Mowgli, he is at the moment a wonderful fast follower.

Cheryl B

So while many of you elected to scoot further down in your beds when you heard 

the rain coming down outside, some of us elected to go hunting, and it is unusual for 

Amwell to go hunting in the rain as the ground usually gets too soggy to go out, but 

with the very dry spell footing was perfect!

Mr. Farrin stated we had 13 couple of hounds and I greet the field (Cindy) Cindy 

greeted me and said she would be happy to lead the second flight (her) and then as 

Field Master I took the executive decision about our attire, but it was simple, jackets 

were to be excused and rain coats accepted. Cindy and I did spend a little more time 

debating whether we would keep our stock ties on, and feeling reckless, abandoned 

those as well. Giddy with power we even high five'd! 

So we off under the bridge where only a week ago the stream was completely dry, 

today we splashed through and the hounds then worked the cornfields. The field 

shot around the other side where, I shouted, “ware Whip” and Cindy echoed this 

for her field, and we made way for Ralph. 

The hounds seemed to pick up on a various scents but there was still time to look 

around and admire the wet leaves gleaming like multicolored jewels on the trees, 

and watch hounds kick up their own mist as they shot across a hay field. 

We had been going for about 90 mins when Cindy pointed out that she thought she 

saw a fox about two fields away, I thought this most unlikely as she couldn’t see the 

barbed wire two feet in front of her. But you can't be rude to your only mate in the 

field and I said, "Hmmm I think it’s a hound". Suddenly the hounds were onto the 

scent of the said fox and low and behold it was a one of the largest most magnificent 

frightenly fierce coyotes, (Ok it was a large black coyote). Hounds gave chase, and 

from the fields vantage point we watched in awe as hounds, followed by Huntsman 

followed by Whip took chase. We caught up just as the hounds were in full steam 

heading for the 206 highway. Somehow with much skill, Steve managed to get 

their attention, Ralph shot to the road which the Coyote crossed, but hounds were 

stopped with a great team effort. 

Cindy and I congratulated the staff, (well done Mr Farrin, well done Ralph) and 

congratulated each other (excellent work leading second flight Cindy- good ride 

Field Master- Cheryl) and it was time to head in. Yes, we were a tad damp, and it 

was so good to find Steve P and Sally had thoughtfully brought some hot coffee 

and donuts. So now six of us feasted and I reflected on how different breakfast 

was from last week when Cindy and Master Joanne hosted 60 of us in the bright 

sunshine. 

When I got home and sat in a hot bath to warm up, I reflected on a very unusual day, 

we rode in the rain yet the footing was great, we enjoyed a sort of private hunt, and 

got on the chase of a Coyote. It doesn’t get any better than that! 

 October. A Very Unusual Day. Cheryl B.