YEEEEHHHHHAAAAWWWWW!!!!!For those of you wanting to make plans to participate in the Fall 98 Bad Girls Tour, here is the schedule (BTW, all the hunts have good hilltopper fields and most make for good car following--so don't let lack of a horse keep you away!):
Thurs. Oct. 15th Depart from Knoxville, TN at 5 PM. Layover at the horse park
in Lexington, VA
Fri. Oct. 16th Travel to York, PA .
Sat. Oct. 17th Hunting at 10 AM with Rosetree
Sun. Oct. 18th Hunting with Doc Addis hounds near Morgantown, PA
Mon. Oct. 19th raindate for Addis Hounds, otherwise free to play tourist
Tues. Oct. 20th Rosetree
Wed. Oct. 21st Goshen en route to Middleburg.
Thurs. Oct. 22nd Bull Run
Fri. Oct. 23rd SLEEP!!!!!/Do tack shops in M-burg? FOL Live at Mosby's, 7PM
Sat. Oct. 24th Bull Run
Sun. Oct. 25th Snickersville at Sunnybank
I am working up a flyer with stabling and B&B/motel options. Anyone wishing to come along, email me with your snail mail address. If you think you can meetus for just one hunt, great, just let me know so I can notify the Masters. They have all been very gracious and welcoming. The more the merrier!
Hopefully, we will have a grand turn out for Mosby's again. Liz Williams has been chatting them up, and I believe they are ready for us!! All FOLers and guests are welcome.
Men are encouraged to apply for positions as "drivers", but the requirements have changed from last time. . Anyone still wanting to apply must answer the following questions correctly:
1. Can you drive a rig?
2. Can you uncork champagne?
3. Can you do hair and nails?
The only requirement for women, is, of course, to be bad or to be "bad in training".
It's all for fun. Hope to see ya'll there.
Carla AKA Fluffy
TVH DinoSource
Counting the days.....
Question by Jos:
I am in need of clarification of the above requirements, before making
application.
a) Is one required to carry out hormonal assays to ensure the horse is a rig?
b) If one only has experience in driving stallions, mares or geldings, is
it still worth applying?>>
Answer by Fluffy: Hmmmmm....
Next question by Jos:
a) Is there a requirement as to the particular method of uncorking?
b) Do you have dress/undress codes while the uncorking occurs?>>
Answer by Fluffy: Ummmm....ahhh.....hmmmm.....
Final question by Jos:
I definitely need more information on this, as any foxhunter should know:
Unless you are hunting a pack of Welsh foxhounds, hair is not an issue, and
if you do enough roadwork with your pack, caring for nails is not an issue
either
I await your reply with eager anticipation.....
Answer by Fluffy: Oh, my.... Honey, you're just gonna have to apply in person.... ;-)
Goshen today was fantastic!
A very, very handsome red fox travelled within a few feet of us to pay his repects: his fine dark orange body was at least 30" inches long followed by an equal length of elegantly brushed tail with an inch of white on the very end, his chest had a large white diamond a little off-center, his mask had a linear wisp of black down each cheek beneath his ears with black points, the black pointson is legs only extended to just below his hocks, and he stood a full foot tall.
M. Reynard wasn't in a particular hurry, undubitably because he knew scenting conditions for the hounds to be poor, and furthermore, he had plotted his continued course directly through a small herd of resting black angus cattle. So, he was right casual, looked directly into the eyes of all of us BGTr's, never broke a walk until he had to trip through the cattle to keep from becoming "bovine-sport", apparently traversed the covert along the entire fenceline in there, and then gave everybody the slip. If he had deigned to converse at all with us, it would have been to say, "Well, it took you long enough to get here. Now, come back again so I can REALLY show you my stuff. HoHum this isn't really a whole lot of exercise for me yet."
There shouldn't really have been any scent for the Goshen hounds--it's been as dry there as anyplace else on the Eastern Seaboard, but thosefine, big hounds worked the above gentleman from a hollow between the rolling hills where there is a little marshy place. On top of "Mr. Charlie Cool", the hounds somehow managed to find two more foxes (both holloa'd) and to run them for 20-30 minutes each in and out of the cornfields and bordering coverts--this ole lady thinks that Goshen's American hounds are remarkable, as they should not have been able to strike on any scent--much less follow it under the conditions which prevail with this weather. But, they did it anyway, and the music was FINE--full, deep, resounding, and exciting.
After a few hours of covering a whole lot of pretty territory at a right good pace, MFH's extraordinare Jones and Pardoe called it "a morning" and escorted the two Fields back to the Nash's delightful house and grounds for Breakfast. I don't know how many foxchasers there were out there exactly, but I'd guess 35 at least--not counting three whips (who are hard workers and were everywhere) and one charming huntsman who made glorious sound issue from his grandfather's silver horn (he and his horn would surely give the Virginians a run for their money at the Morven Park horn sounding competition)-- all of whom returned to "Locust Grove" to FEAST. There were plenty of variables to quench a thirst, a great banquet of delicious food, and the very hospitable and gracious Goshen Hunt membership who made us visitors feel very welcome, relaxed, comfortable, and radiantly entertained. EVERYBODY was happy! Master Fluffy and Kim mixed up a bucket full of mint juleps; tasted just right, and I bet every head in the place was in that bucket at least four or five times. I got in there a coupla' more times than that--sooooo good!
Just reminds ya: Foxhunting is s'posed to be merry from beginning to end. I came on home to Beofort Co.; Fluffy, Fluffette, et. al., continued on to Middleburg for the Bull Run meet tomorrow. Things are gonna be RIGHT!! at Mosby's Friday night. Got a whale of a start on it today. Mary
We, the members of Goshen thoroughly enjoyed meeting the many BGT II woman who came long distances to hunt with us in Maryland. We had woman from Tenn., North Carolina, Delaware, the Eastern Shore of MD, Virginia and Penn. We all became instant friends. No one left without a smile on their face yesterday. (Maybe it was Master Fluffy's special recipe for mint julep.)
Mary Fauber, Carla and Sami stayed at my home, Locust Grove, the night before the meet. Meeting them in person was a real treat. They are fine woman with great attitudes and as friendly as the day is long. Carla and Sami left me a note on their departure. I had to laugh when I read it, it said "Thank you for your hospitality. We slept like angles and hunted like the devil." That they did. We hope they all come back next year.
Caroline Nash
Goshen Hounds
The BGT has come and gone, and Goshen will never again be quite the same. For any of us who might have ever harbored any tiny doubt about the real foxhunting interests and talents of those referred to here as "THE BAD GIRLS", let me assure one and all. They can ride with the best of us, they know hounds and recognize good and bad hound work, they enjoy watching hounds work the puzzle, they are in no hurry to end the day, and, oh yes, they do party. One (who shall remain nameless) even declared that she "nearly got the vapahs at the mahvelous sound of Robert's horn!"
We left the meet at Locust Grove with thirteen and a half couple of American Hounds on an overcast cool morning. With perhaps 20 riders in each of the two fields, the excitement level was pretty high. It was my privilege to lead the second field and to have Fluffy (Carla), Princess Fluffy (Sami), and a marvelous relative of our revered senior Master, Stanley Stabler, Mary Fauber Connelly (might I suggest Queen Fluffy?) riding with me. Hounds found rather quickly in the first covert and spoke with good voice while staying in this somewhat swampy woods, but once M. Reynard broke covert and headed for the open he was quickly lost in the soy beans, standing corn, or cattle dung.
This would be the story for the entire day. Try as they might, hounds could not hold a line for more than ten to twenty minutes before having more dust in their noses than scent.
This is really one of our premier fixtures with lots of quarry, good galloping country when the crops are down (not yet), and plenty of fences to satisfy the run and jumpers. It also has more than its share of deer, and for me the best aspect of hunting yesterday, aside from the marvelous company was the really steady performance of the hounds in the face of this constant distraction. If you think I'm proud of these hounds and our staff for the job they have done in getting this pack of American hounds this steady, you are absolutely correct.
The hunting ended with all hounds back in the truck and everyone returning to the hospitality of Tom and Caroline Nash. These folks, typical of foxhunters everywhere, opened their lovely historic home to the unwashed group that came back from three hours of hunting. In addition to the humble mint juleps served communally from a horse bucket, there was enough fine food to feed several times our number.
The day was finished by your correspondent being awarded his colors and now proudly holds the distinction of being the first recipient of BGT colors. While the fluff may tickle at times, it will serve as a gentle remember of a splendid day with good friends in marvelous sport. I shall wear them proudly.
Tom P - Master Fluffy
Goshen Hounds - the dinosaur lives!
This story is about the tour. The hunting and the social aspects. Everywhere we went, people told us how much they appreciated what the BGT was doing for foxhunting. Thats fine. Thats wonderful. If hunting behind some of the best hounds and huntsmen in the world is somehow helping the sport, well its a dirty job but someone has to do it! Seriously its nice to know that maybe our blatant enthusiasm for foxhunting is catching and pleasant to be around .......... thats wonderful. Carla and I and the rest of us just kinda wanted to have fun. Share the joy of it.
Carla told me something that Happy Addis once said: " Foxhunting will allow you to go places and meet people you never would otherwise"
That pretty much says it all. Everyone, down to the last person we have encountered has been gracious and welcoming.
Well, where do I start? First of all, I have to say, it was very very dry and warm and breezy all week........not good hunting conditions at all. Goshen, on Wednesday, was cool but windy. I am so impressed with the effort and talent I saw everywhere we hunted. We all appreciated the extra care given to make sure the field saw and heard what they came to see and hear. To me, that's when you separate the men from the boys......not when conditions are good, but when they are horrible and the staff and hounds make it good. That takes talent. When you go out thinking its gonna be tough, but that a blank day is better than nothing. Then you come in grimy, hot, happy and full of adrenaline from chasing multiple foxes for four hours each day! HA!
Carla, Ryan and I met in Johnson City where we dropped my car off and loaded my things into Carla's rig. I had two sore horses at the last minute, and had to arrange for loaners for the week. The good news is that both of my horses are just fine now, and the horses I ended up hunting were wonderful. Carla sat in the back making 'colors' using feathers, glitter, beads and bells. To the non foxhunter, they looked like naughty undies.
In Goshen, we stayed in the home of Caroline and Tom Nash and could not have been happier. We were honored guests at dinner and made great new friends of Ann, Rita (whom we knew from BGT I ) Marlene, and of course beautiful Caroline and handsome Tom..... Barefoot Mary was there too, telling stories I cant repeat.........ooooo she is good!
The Nash home is simply lovely, and Im quite spoiled now, waking up, dressing and walking out the front door with a cup of tea and coffee cake. There stands my already clean and tacked horse. What a lovely animal he was too! The huntsmans wifes' own hunter. A wonderful big guy with a fantastic big canter and jump.
The fixture is just what I like too. Plenty of open spaces to be able to watch the hounds work. The jumps were inviting . Goshens' charming huntsman Robert, cast hounds first into the edge of a woods and corn field. It was nice and cool but the stiff breeze had us a bit worried. However it didn't seem to bother Goshens hounds one bit....it wasn't long before they were on the first of several foxes that day. What a treat it was to listen to Roberts' butterscotch Irish lilt encouraging the hounds to 'fend anether'
I was trying to soak it all in and remember..........the large field was very quiet, waiting and watching at the edge of a woods......there were about 15 head of cattle up under the trees, and Guess Who goes tritty trotting straight through them? Not 50 feet away. Calm cool and collected. Right in front of the second field.
We all viewed and I was so excited, for the life of me I cant remember what happened next! Im not sure if it was that fox, but not too long after that, the hounds were working hard at the edge of a field and all of them kind of huffeling and woofing ( I love when they do that) trying so hard, and BAM! the hounds found the line and we were off..........
Carla and I moved up from the second field to the first after the2nd fox. Tom did a great job of FM'ing and putting us in the right place to see some terrific hound work and fox viewing. After 4 hours we called it a day, and were treated to a wonderful breakfast. It was quite a feast with lots of people .....more of those good looking ones. One even left an important meeting early to meet the Bad Girls........Id say he has his priorities right.
We awarded colors to Master Fluffy, finished our breakfast and sadly packed
up to move on to Middleburg. Sad to leave but happy we were off to see our old
friends Chuck and Liz Williams. We stayed with them our last trip and Im
happy to say we have graduated from the status of guests to part of the
family. Liz and Chuck are just the best. And both good looking too.
This was Thursday so it must be Bull Run.........the only day I didnt have a
horse and was mentally preparing myself to car follow. I was fine. Really I
was. Until I saw the fixture and then I wasnt so fine.........but god bless
foxhunters the next thing I knew I was being offered a horse and told no one
cared if I had black breeches on and "please ride my horse". It wasnt a
formal day.........and I had all the rest right including a beautiful new
stock tie my friend Carla gave me.......What am I supposed to do? Pass up a
chance to ride a really nice horse behind Grosvenor?
"NO?"
I dont THINK so.......
Its the hunting. The hunting is the thing. ( Jimmy Young please will you
forgive me? Everything else was perfect like always, even down to the clean
underwear)
. Gro and Rosie were happy to have me hunt. Yes I did learn a lesson....no,
two lessons. I admit I may be the first one to 'look' at someone not perfectly
turned out. I may be more understanding next time. Lesson two: Even if you
think youre only going to get to car follow, bring the right clothes
anyway......ya never know.
I do have to say I did feel a bit self consious, but I got over it a half
second after Grovenors hounds opened on that first fox. and by the time the
third fox was tucked in for the evening, I was in adreneline heaven and could
have been naked and not cared. The sound those PMDs make is enough to make
you slap your pappy.
They would work it and work it, find it for a few yards it seemed and then
the scent would give out. But they kept at it and ended up on several nice
runs, with the field getting a good look at the fellow in red fur.
Friday we had off. Sleeeeeeeeep late. Well sorta......I lost my wallet at the
Muckamoor fixture and of course woke up thinking about it.........its still
missing.
We took a ride out to Auldie to watch some of the Basset stuff and get our
BGT friends Jeff Eichler and Christine Olsen. Jeff was just coming in from
the pen and we didnt even let him go get his money.......made him jump in the
truck so we could get to the tack shops.
We did as much damage as possible, ate some lunch in Middleburg and then it
was Mosbys time...............
Ahhhhh.......It was grand!
Due to reasons too numerous to mention, Sami and I were unable to attend the
PA part of the BGT this time. However, we were well represented there by
several TVH members who said the hunting was superb. I hate to have missed
it, (and all my great friends there) but what a lovely time we had in VA!!!!
A gentleman we met at Locust Grove, the enchanting Goshen fixture, last
Wednesday said to me." Goshen is the hidden jewel of American foxhunting."
Well, if it was hidden before, it certainly is not now, as a large crowd was
able to find it for the hunt Master Fluffy described for you!! Caroline and
Tom Nash were our gracious hosts for a great hunt (we viewed!!) and they
provided a luscious hunt breakfast. Those of us used to Pennmarydels tend to
think we have cornered the market on voice, but let me tell you, Goshen's
American hounds make beautiful music through the fields and forests of their
gorgeous country. Sami, Mary, and I were guests of the Nash's and rested well
in their lovely manor house. We slept like babies and were never disturbed by
the ghost of the steer allegedly slaughered in the upstairs suite decades
ago!!! (This ghost goes, "mooo'" rather than "booo"!) Master Fluffy seemed
quite pleased with himself for earning his Party Colors and wore them with
pride throughout the breakfast! Several new Bad Girls were initiated into the
ranks: Marlene, Anne, Rita, and Caroline. We are hoping they will join us on
the next road trip to Fox Heaven.
Claude came out on Thursday at Muckamoor with Bull Run and brought some of his
hounds to join in. Yeeeehhhhaaawwww!!! (Sami is certain one of his puppies
made off with her wallet, but that is another tale....) The welcoming table
was decked out in "dino decor" so we felt right at home. On one good run
through the woods (where I saw Grosvenor and Claude jump an electric
fence--WOW!!!), one horse was galloping so hard that his foot went through the
rider's stirrup!!! Now that is a sight!! No one was permanently damaged and
on we went!!! The hounds were able to hold to the scent in the woods, but the
wind and the sun made life difficult in the open. Still, they worked on and
we had several good runs. Mmmmmm....good friends, great hounds, strong
drink---never a dull moment at Bull Run!
Friday we slept in at Liz and Chuck William's in Middleburg before going
hunting at the tack shops. Several more BGs joined us in M-burg with their
"grooms"...bringing the total to about 14 Bad Girls if you include the
boys........
Friday night was FOL Live at Mosby's. Someone else will have to tell that
story as my memory is a blur of Merlot, party colors, a dinosaur cake, and
much ado about Ranch and the National Sporting Library. We did manage to
raise almost as many dollars as glasses, and I understand that the donations
are still coming in (Liz--I have $22 in my hunt coat that Jane gave me and I
think I still owe $35 myself...)
Saturday dawned bright and the BGs managed to struggle out of bed to head for
Culpeper. Doug Morris had written the directions on a cocktail napkin the
night before and Sami and I agreed to store it above the visor on my truck.
Well.....the next morning we stopped at the bakery , and while the others went
in for pastries, I was cleaning my boots in the truck. When finished, I wiped
my hands on a paper napkin sitting on the front seat and threw it away.
Later, en route to the meet, Sami asks "Where are those directions to The
Hill?" Uhhh....Ohhhh.....You guessed it!! In the trash can at the Safeway
parking lot!! Damn!!!! Luckily, the hunt gods were with us and we came
across Rosie in Culpeper (saved my neck!) and she led us to the meet. As Sami
was getting tacked up, Grosvenor rode by with the hounds and commented "No
hurry---we won't find a fox for at least a minute and a half." Well....make
that 45 seconds!!! Ye gads!! Right off the bat those Bull Run Hounds are
screaming and we view the fox!!!! Like I said, it is never a dull moment at
Bull Run!! Despite the high temps Grosvenor's hounds worked on and after
putting that fox to ground went on to several others. It was a good day of
galloping and jumping and excellent hound work under difficult conditions.
After hacking in we had a chili feast in the front yard of none other than
our own Doug Morris. (And there we came to know a gentleman who is a MFH
from Texas ----soooooo....you know what we are thinkin' now.....)
Warm regards to all,
Snickersville on Sunday morning followed some late night adventures at the
Hidden Horse in Mburg. Some BGs who will remain unnamed were rendered unable
to hunt Sunnybank. Bless their hearts...... (They did rally later to cartop
with Chuck Williams, King of Cartoppers and remarked that they really enjoyed
the hunt as they had no horses in the way!!)
Mike Turner welcomed us warmly and we took off, hounds immediately finding
their line and putting a fox to ground. The day was heating up fast, so
Master Mike sent us hacking back to the trailers to leave our coats. Soon
hounds were on again and I got to tally ho the fox as he broke into a newly
planted field! Yeehaawww!!!! Soon we learned that we had two foxes going,
one behind the other--- and the field master, Vaughn Clatterbuck kept us with
the action. Several times I took mental snapshots of the breathtaking scenes
as we galloped parallel to Master and hounds in full cry!! Chill bumps!!!
Deer were breaking cover right and left all day, but hounds stayed true to
fox.
Vaughn is an excellent field master with many years experience as a whip. He
knows the territory and he kept us right up with the hounds all day.
Sunnybank Farm is well paneled with inviting stone walls and coops and rails.
What a beautiful place. Someone told me that it is the oldest continuously
hunted farm in the US. Someone better at math than I will have to tell you
how many foxes we ran on Sunday. I know I viewed three times. Ahhh.....
We had a hearty breakfast at "the big house", gave out the last of our "glow
in the dark dinosaurs", and said our good-byes to everyone.
Sami and I left Mburg at 6PM (after one last burger at Mosby's) and I pulled
into the barn in Maryville, TN about 2:30 AM. Whew....tired, but happy.....
Thanks, Friends. Special thanks to Liz and Chuck, Laura and Roger. There are
no better folk than huntin' folk. You've help us live a fantasy life TWICE
this year. Mmmmm.....It doesn't get any better than this!
Respectfully submitted,
For all those who have read about the Bad Girls Tour and wondered what it
was all about-----and all those who wondered if these ladies were for
real----and all those who wondered if this was just a bit of hype------ Let
me put it right.
Those of us who manage hunts and those of us who hunt hounds can tell you
these gals are true grit. They are polite, well turned out, good looking,
knowledgeable, good riders, avid fox hunters, can properly light a cigar,
open a champagne bottle without spilling a drop, incredibly generous and
hold their own in any company. And after they are home and write the
reports you realize that they had been paying attention to the hounds and
their quarry AND having a good time. They knew what was happening---and
understood what they were seeing. Will wonders never cease!!! This is
enough to make a huntsman stop yelling at Whippers-in.
These gals and the guys who escort and protect them (?) are doing more to
build bridges between foxhunters than any other program I know. When we
all met at Mosby's, it was like meeting old friends
Two thumbs up to the Bad Girls and the hunts who hosted them.
Can't wait for Bad Girls III.
Mike Turner
It'd be hard to prove to this grateful participant in the BGT'98 that
there is a foxhunting experience like it, or as good fun, or better sport
in this whole, wide world. Matter of fact, I did not see anybody
else--either--the whole time! who wasn't happy, excited, pleased, and
gratefully relishing the experience: whether they were the incomparably
gracious, wonderful, merry hosts who welcomed us, or whether it was we
who were the recipients of the privilege of incomparable Foxchases, or
whether it was the fellow foxhunters who welcomed us into their countries
and helped to cheerfully guide us about...and it even includes the
persons who were not even aware fo the BGT but who seemed to enjoy
playing with us anyway, i.e., the clientelle and staff at Mosby's(and, no
doubt, the tack shop owners in Middleburg). The good humor, good will,
and enthusiasm was everywhere I went, from the time I got on the road to
join the Tour until I had to depart to come back home.
Got to say that Fluffy (Carla) and her co-conspirator Fluffette (Sami)
accomplished an adventure for all of us which was amazing--not only
because of the sport we enjoyed, and the horses, and the hosts and
hostesses, but for the perfect ambiance which permeated everything.
Carla and Sami emphasized the spontaneity of the whole arrangement--and
all the activity did feel spontaneous, care-free, "lucky" sort of--but
it, in fact, all went off like clockwork. The planning, the positive and
happy attitude which was sustained, and the securing of the high quality
of the whole foxhunting-experience-at-its-best had to have been the
result of HARD WORK, ingeniuity, meticulousness, and knowledge. This
ole lady's been lucky enough to have been foxhunting in all sort of
places around the U.S. and Europe--and have been "royally treated"
everywhere (well, 99% of the time, anyway) i went--but I can honestly say
that I have never enjoyed anything any better than the Autumn BGT'98.
Thank you! thank you!! thank you!!! you two ASTOUNDING, zany, wild,
adorable, vital, funny, attractive, and (most of all) unselfish ladies.
YEEEEHHHHHAAAAWWWWW!!!!!
Mary
Thanks to all FOLers at Mosby's (and some who were thousands of miles
away!), we managed to raise $276 to donate to the National Sporting Library
in Middleburg, Virginia. At Jimmy Young's suggestion, it will be earmarked
for the Alexander Mackay-Smith Room, in the name of FOL.
Particular thanks is due to Ranch, who donated some wonderful items of
apparel and artifacts bearing his elegant "Foxhunting Worldwide" logo, to be
auctioned off. The bidding was spirited! (in more ways than one)
Liz Williams
I just returned from the National Sporting Library, where I delivered FOL's
donation to the charming Mr. Peter Winants, who was most appreciative,
surprised, and happy. The next time we have an FOL Live in Middleburg, Mr.
Winants has invited us to a reception/tour at the new library facility, due
to be finished in May, I think he said. He and the librarian, Laura Rose,
were very interested in hearing about FOL (I didn't actually mention the
BGT, feeling that I shouldn't push our luck), and I believe that he will be
sending a letter of thanks and appreciation to the list soon. Will keep you
posted.
Liz Williams BGT II - Carla's Version
Fluffy AKA Carla
TVH DinoSource
BGT II - Snickersville: See Fox City
Fluffy AKA Carla
TVH DinoSource
The incredible Technicolor BGT II
Snickersville Hounds
YEEEEHHHHHAAAAWWWWW!!!!!
National Sporting Library Donations
Snickersville Hounds
Snickersville Hounds