August, 2024
The opportunity to engage in and view mounted foxhunting, foxhound and equine activities, recreational athletic activities and social intercourse.
PC Bill Sigafoos: DRHC Hounds
President's Report
By Richard Michael
The last quarter has been jam packed with challenges. A letter was offered to alert the membership to some of the fiscal changes that are designed to alleviate these issues. Further information is contained in this issue of Tally Ho that addresses some of the questions that membership may have. The business of our club continues without interruption as we endeavor to manage the obstacles before us.
I would like to thank Phil Cardwell, Treasurer, and his wife, Jane Henderson, who recently led a committee to realign and improve our Policies and Procedures Manual. Godspeed to them in their planned move. We welcome Jerry Barber, former DRHC President, who has joined the Board as Treasurer. Jerry has already been deeply involved in advancing our fiscal policy and working diligently to improve our accounting procedures. The goal is to make this area more efficient and cost effective.
It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to Elissa Wagner, Club Manager for the past 2 years. We wish her the best in her future endeavors.
Another “well done” to the Deep Run Horse Show Association for a very successful A Show this year. This occurred with extreme temperatures and an infrastructure that was stressed to the max. Johnny Tuck, grounds manager, did a stellar job to keep everything moving. Also, Allison Whittemore, Pam Johnson, and her class of volunteers, as well as the HSA Board are to be commended.
Recently, we marked the passing of two of our Heritage members, Michael Roane and Collins Denny, III. These two gentlemen represented the epitome of Deep Run Hunt Club membership. Below is the thank you note from Linda Roane regarding their Heritage membership.
Though the obstacles are many, I leave you with this quote from Marcus Aurelius: “Obstacles lead the way”
Respectfully,
Richard T. Michael
President
Vice-President Report
By Col Frank J. Huber
Dear Club Members,
This letter is provided to give you better clarity on the email sent to members on July 11, 2024.
During the recent years of the COVID events, the club benefited both in terms of increased interest in equine activities and federal and state assistance in meeting expenses. As a result, we were able to keep dues increases below the rate of inflation. Now, in 2024, we find ourselves in a more difficult financial position. Your board and the masters are working diligently to find ways to ensure the club we love continues for another 137 years and beyond.
We are seeing increased expenses because of inflationary pressures in all aspects of club operations. Anyone who has gone to the grocery store, bought animal feed or undertaken a construction project in the past three years has experienced the impact of these inflationary pressures in their own daily expenses. If you would like more detailed information about our current financial situation, please attend the annual meeting on September 26, 2024.
So, you may be asking yourself “What does this mean for me”. Effective October 1, 2024, dues will increase by 8% for all members. Please remember dues increases were kept to just 3% in the past three years, so we are not keeping up with the overall rate of inflation. If you are currently at the highest level of dues, your annual dues will increase from $1,912 to $2,068. If you are at the lowest level of dues your annual dues will increase from $388 to $416. We are also considering implementation of an assessment. The exact amount will be determined based on the club’s financial performance during the first half of the fiscal year which began July 1, 2024. We intend to decide during the first half of the year if an assessment is required. If so, the amount of the assessment will be variable and impacted by the number of members/contributions. For those members already giving the suggested contribution amount, there will likely be no new assessment only dues increase. For those members who have not been contributing at the suggested level, there would be an annual assessment. The preliminary assessment estimates are approximately 18% of dues.
As you reflect upon this, please consider that we are a bargain compared to similar organizations. Many hunts and clubs with far less facilities and activities charge more than we do for annual dues. We have a wonderful clubhouse, swimming pool, our great cross-country course, showgrounds and of course our talented huntsman and staff and an award-winning pack of hounds. Few hunts in the nation can match the skill and sport demonstrated by our masters, staff and hounds. We can do these things because of the thousands of hours donated by volunteers and the generous contributions of our members. Remember that the masters, the club officers, board and committee members are all volunteers working to provide you with the best possible club.
Upon reading and reflecting on this information, please consider other ways you might help, including volunteering your time, as well as helping to recruit new members. We are forming a strategic planning committee to help determine a sustainable future path for our hunt club as we strive to meet the club’s mission to provide our members “the opportunity to engage in and view mounted foxhunting, foxhound and equine activities, recreational athletic activities and social intercourse.” Thank you for your patience in reading this important message and considering how you might help.
Our Masters
By Polly Bance, MFH
It will be a surprise to members who have not recently been to our kennels in Cumberland to see the construction on Ashburn Road to meet the needs of affordable housing in the county. But our club has been extremely fortunate to have Helen and Dacre Walker purchase two key tracts adjacent to our property to protect our hunt country in the area.
Their first commitment was the 150 acres of Doubletree Stable just to our north where John regularly takes hounds in the summer to swim and splash about in the pond. They have graciously allowed us to use the pasture there as well to allow us to give ours a rest.
Their second contract was on the 170 acres formerly owned by member Terry Adcock which she thoughtfully placed in a conservation and fox hunting easement enabling us to hunt there in perpetuity.
The Walkers have been members of the club for decades, Dacre was an honorary whipper in for huntsman Tommy Kneipp in the eighties and Helen could be found in the field with a posse of children. Their granddaughter Harper is a member of our pony club and hunted with us last year on a pony who loved nothing more than splashing in puddles. When you see the Walkers at club functions or at the meets, please take the time to introduce yourselves and thank them for their generosity. It truly takes a village to manage and sustain a fox hunting club, we are fortunate to have individuals whole heartedly invested in our future.
Dacre Walker
Helen Walker
Deep Run's new Kennel Assistant- John Rothell
By Caroline Eichler, MFH
Where are you from?
I’m originally from Camden, SC, but have spent time traveling from NY to FL with the racing circuit.
What got you interested in foxhunting?
I was put on a pony in the hunt field as a small boy. My grandmother was a Joint Master of The Camden Hunt and as I grew up was given the opportunity to ride closely behind the Huntsman, falling in love with the sport.
What other hunts or related horse and hound jobs have you worked before coming to Deep Run?
After tagging along behind the Huntsman for years, I then began whipping-in at The Camden Hunt. I spent a couple season as a professional Whip before moving on to exercise and start Thoroughbreds under saddle for racing. I was asked to take the horn at the Wateree Hounds for the 2023-2024 season, which ultimately gave me a true taste for hunting hounds and passion for this sport; I have much to learn, therefore am so looking forward to this season with Deep Run.
What has been most surprising about your first week at the DRHC Kennels?
I wouldn’t say I’m surprised at anything, but I am impressed and appreciative of the team here at Deep Run. My transition has been made very easy by the welcoming and helpfulness everyone has shown me, from furnishing the house to learning the hounds. I love how “dog friendly” everyone is at the kennels, Schatz (my young GSD) and I have enjoyed getting to know everyone.
What's something you'd like Club members to know about you?
If “John and John” is a challenge, I’m happy to be called Rothell. I have a sweet Thoroughbred gelding, that needs a place to live up here, if anyone has suggestions; and I’m blessed with a great dog and a good woman.
Equine Activities Committee
By Sandra Dawson/Gretal Mangigian
Deep Run Hunt Club will be hosting a Hunter Pace and Hunter Trials this Fall.
On September 15th we will be kicking off the Fall Hunter Pace Series from Fairfield Farm. This hunter Pace series includes 7 neighboring hunt clubs. These events are fund raisers for the clubs and there will be high point awards at the end of the series.
The Key to Hunter Pace success: Have FUN! The Fall pace series is casual attire which allows for coordinating team colors – rider attire as well as saddle pads and ear bonnets. This fun competition is meant to emulate a fox hunt and is used to leg up horse and riders for the hunt season. Enter the division that suits your level of comfort. Hunter is a faster pace with jumps, Hacker has no jumps and Hill Toppers is a pleasure pace with no jumps. The course is often 5 to 9 miles and each. You choose the pace! The awards are determined by each organizer. Most often it is based on average time of the teams, sometimes they have a predetermined optimal time. Vary your pace according to the division you selected and the terrain, etc. Follow the rules and the ribbons. If you haven’t seen a ribbon in a while, keep going and you often find it, look on the ground, too – sometimes the markers fall off. Trotting is often most efficient gait – you cover ground faster than you think. Remember when hunting, we Walk, Trot and Canter and stand at checks. If you see cows, ask them to MOOOVE and walk longer way around them to give clearance. If you feel like you have lost time with cows, make up for it! Cross the finish line with a smile and wait for the awards while enjoying camaraderie at the tailgate.
On October 13th we will be hosting the Hunter Trials. This is a popular club and community event with participants from all over. After many years of being the Chairperson, Pam Ottley has stepped aside but has graciously offered her support and wisdom as a new team steps in to keep this tradition going. We have selected a new weekend (moving from first weekend in November) to have longer daylight hours and hopefully better weather. Tell your friends, let’s get word out and make this a well-attended event. Watch social media for updates to the event – lots of fun ideas are coming together!
The key to Hunter Trial success: Have FUN! This event tests horse and rider skills to navigate an obstacle course emulating challenges found out in the fox hunt. Choose the fence height to your liking and enter accordingly. 2’, 2’6” and 3’ divisions are offered. Trot or canter the natural jumps, logs and ditches along rolling terrain. The object is a smooth and consistent pace and rhythm jumping in stride and as Pam Ottley would say: The horse that goes around as if your grandmother could ride will be the winner. Steady Freddys win!! The atmosphere is very inviting and encourages fun. Lots of spectators to cheer and competitors are always encouraging each other. Come enjoy the fun!
Remember these 2 events are Volunteer run fundraisers for our club. They are both FUN ways to support the club, your personal riding goals and other competitors.
We need volunteers and would appreciate any help – in small or significant ways - you choose! We need help for set up and take down, registrations, food, decorations, Parking, trail clearing – the many things that make the events a success. Please reach out to me…. or you may get a call for help from me!!
JACK’S SHACK
During our first Meet and Greet the Hounds we noticed some repairs were needed at Jack’s Shack. The front door under the glass was peeling and not looking welcoming, the foundation was missing stones and full of holes, the table the food was on has wobbly legs, and the two coolers I made 9 years ago were dirty, unbalanced and the wood they were made from was a mess. I decided to tackle some of these repairs myself as I had worked on the building before, so I got my trusty sidekick Layla Heyworth to come with me and here is what was accomplished. During 2 trips Layla helped puzzle piece the stones together and we sprayed them with foam and then tried to cover the foam with mortar or smaller stones. One trip Layla got to exercise the staff horses before starting with the foundation which was a good thing as not wearing gloves using the foam gave us “foam fingers” that we had to get off by the afternoon. A big chore, as it usually takes 3 days for the foam to wear off. I promised Emily, Layla’s mother, we would wear gloves next time! The large hole on the pasture side of JS is now filled in.
Our next project as we ran out of stone was to try and level the coolers and we did. Then apply some wood oil to help with the finish. That worked some. Layla did the washing and oiling. Looking on the inside along the floor it was not pretty lacking the need of more stone, or wood to cover up the raw cement. Jane Whittmore to the rescue as she recruited her husband Lance to go to the creek bed and dig up stones so I could bring them to JS. And now the inside was done. The front door would have cost $1,000 or more to replace was the next project. I took the bottom panel out and replaced the wood, framed it out and painted it.
I have always loved Jack’s Shack and before I was a member when I went inside, I was hoping for more to be inside than there was. The fire was warming but it lacked some conversation stimulation. I made the maps of our hunt country that are hanging behind the front door, Mitchell Reese made the glass cabinet to hang hound ribbons one day, and there are shelves in there to place your favorite hunting picture in a plastic frame, bring it out during our gathering there and tell the story behind it. Now we have some conversation stimulators. But there are no new pictures in there.
On cold days it was hard to have a plate or a bowl of soup and hold a drink, so I got carried away and made a bar top and have 4 bar stools to sit there. More surprises coming as far as seating goes. And now the coolers of both beer and wine are ready for use.
Moral of the story: There are many projects that can help the club, some larger than others. I saw this opportunity to help improve Jack’s Shack and asked permission to make improvements. Sometimes it just takes some sweat equity, and a little bit of finds to make a difference. I believe I improved the Shack and will make it a more usable space for members to enjoy. I love to make a difference and take on projects and have asked Masters to make a list of things they see are needed. If you see something, speak up. If you want to pitch in and help, please let me or the master know. We can do it together or organize a group. It’s all for the love of our wonderful Hunt Club.
New Member Report
By Jane Whittemore
For information, feel free to reach out to the Membership chair, Jane Whittemore 804-389-0792 janewhittemore@yahoo.com or Field Secretary, Sophie Goluses 585-314-2134 SMgoluses@gmail.com or any of The Masters.
Retired Hound Odessa
By Jane Whittemore
After 8 years of working hard as a member of the Deep Run pack, Odessa was ready for a couch of her own. Everything happens for a reason and when Micah showed me a short video clip of Odessa, I knew she was the one! She was to be next K9 family member to join our household. Our lifestyle does not lend to the needs of a puppy, so adopting an adult dog was easy notion for us. John, Sophie and Micah met me at the kennels for a meet and greet and the decision was easy. John clearly loves his hounds and wants them to have a happy retirement. Lance said, “You know I am a dog lover, bring her home”. A quick phone consult and Tom Newton offered encouragement, support and guidance. It was such a wonderful team of support- really all to help Odessa have a soft landing.
Its’ been the most rewarding experience and remarkably easy. I was prepared for house training challenges, yet we had none. I was worried about assimilating with the aged cat and Odessa made it clear from the first meeting that she just wanted to be friends by doing the play bow and wagging her tail. I had consulted Angie Pell regarding the process of bringing a hound home and she said “It’s very easy -they find a comfortable place and they sleep for a month’ – Odessa did just that!! I’ll never forget the day she discovered the leather couch. She slowly climbed on (with my assistance boosting from behind) and stood there a minute, then collapsed and rolled on her back, squirming and kicking her legs up with sheer joy. She found HER couch!!
Being a well-trained working dog, she has been very responsive to commands and direction making her very easy to live with. She does not have the ‘entitled’ expectations that the other house dogs have (and we are making sure we act accordingly to train ourselves). For example, when we are cooking in the kitchen, she stays on the couch – has no expectation that she will get anything from the delicious aromas in the kitchen. She doesn’t beg at the table during our mealtime. She knows her place when it’s time for her to have a meal and she cheerfully hops to her designated space. Same goes for arriving home from being gone. She stays in the couch and wags her tail and slowly makes her way to greet. Meanwhile our shepherd, Jake is bouncing off the ceiling with excitement. Odessa is very routine oriented - her potty needs are every 12 hours…. Every single time we head out for a walk with the dogs, Odessa drops to scratch her back in the grass (two times) and we wait for her to be finished before we carry on. She is just a happy girl with simple needs.
I recently saw Maria Becker at the pool with her retired hound, Jinx. I told Her about having Odessa and she said, “I puppy walked Odessa”. Such is the circle of the life of a loved Deep Run hound! It’s a wonderful feeling of family that this has come to light. We have plans for a reunion when the weather breaks. I have no doubt that Odessa will know Maria and will greet her with a big smile and waggly tail!!
Pony Club News:
By Julie Muniz
On July 11, pony clubbers celebrated the finished construction of their new storage building, known to all as the Beagle Pens, with a ribbon cutting ceremony and reveal! There were many "oohs and ahhs" at the bright, spacious, new building complete with shelving and a dry erase board for messages. No longer will pony clubbers (and parents) have to maneuver an obstacle course of stuff to get to what is needed or make loud noises to alert anything crawly or slithery to evacuate. Everything is now clean, organized and accessible!
A huge thank you goes out to all the hunt club members who donated and supported this project, and especially to Walker's Run Contractors for all their hard work in constructing our new building.
MFHA Resources
MFHA Website for many informative articles, this is a great book, Introduction to Foxhunting, which we can download for free.
Deep Run Hunt Horse Show Association
By DRHHSA “Saddle Up” Committee
“Saddle Up” and help the Deep Run Hunt Horse Show Association raise $115,000 to enhance the future of the Deep Run Hunt Show Grounds. The grounds are growing, in high demand, and loved by many in our community. Your tax-deductible donation is an investment in our equestrian community. Together, we will address immediate infrastructure improvements and build a new 20 stall barn by the start of the 2025 show season. To learn more about the Deep Run Hunt Horse Show Association visit https://www.deeprunhorseshow.com/. Thank you for your interest in and continued dedication to the Deep Run Hunt Show Grounds!
Please mail your tax-deductible donation to: DRHSSA for “Saddle Up” Fundraiser, Attention to: Cindy Pryor, P.O. Box 8626, Richmond, VA 23226. If you have questions, please call 804-347-5848.
Thank you, DRHHSA “Saddle Up” Committee: Erika Elliston, Cindy Pryor, Gayle Presson.
Visit the Horse Show Association visit.
Thank you for your interest in and continued dedication to the Deep Run Hunt Show Grounds!
Sincerely,
DRHHSA “Saddle Up” Committee
Erika Elliston, Cindy Pryor, Gayle Presson
Communication Committee
By Kim Barlow
If you would like to contribute to our next newsletter, please email Gabrielle Thomas at gab88thomas@gmail.com, and include “Tally Ho” in the subject line. Thank you.
REMINDER: When not hunting, specific permission must be obtained from landowners for cross-country riding privileges.