It was a beautiful, 60 degree day for 32 teams consisting of 92 riders to compete in the 2023 Princess Anne Hunt Fall Hunter Pace, a part of the Fall Hunter Pace Series conducted with 7 other Virginia MFHA Hunts. A hunter pace is an exciting and competitive gathering that tests the skills and teamwork of riders and their horses over a cross country course. Participants are tasked with completing a predetermined course at a controlled pace, aiming to achieve the optimum or fastest time depending on the division. Horses and riders that participate in a hunter pace can expect an experience that mimics the pace and obstacles met in a typical day of fox hunting.

 

The 2025 PAH hunter pace course contained 20 jumps and covered 7.8 miles through our beautiful hunt countryside in Charles City, Virginia. This year, we offered four competitive divisions: Optimum Time on the Flat, Optimum Time Over Fences, Fastest Time on The Flat, and Fastest Time Over Fences.

Here are this year’s winners:

Fastest Time Over Fences: 

1. Here To Stirrup Trouble - 1:26 

Fastest Time On The Flat: 

1. Galloping Goblers - 0:52

2. Howling Wolf - 1:15

3. Cedarview Frolicking Foxes - 1:45

Optimum Time Over Fences:

1. WRVEC - 1:22

2. Pink Pony Club - 1:26

3. Rose All Day - 1:28

Optimum Time On The Flat: 

1. Jaspers Team - 1:24

2. For Fox Sake - 1:28

3. Beloved Farm - 1:29 (TIE)

3. We Are On Fire - 1:29 (TIE)

 

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Alex Cromer, our 2025 Hunter Pace Chair!  We would also like to thank Huntsman Martyn Blackmore for hours spent constructing and grooming the hunter pace course this year with the assistance of Honorary whippers-in Allison Harcourt, Rachel Toquothy, and our Professional Whipper-In Sue Blackmore for coordinating and hosting our champagne pit-stop.

 

Special thanks to Masters Ed Mitchell, MFH, Merri Musso, MFH, and Travis Gibson, MFH for their coordination;  and Robin Daniels for coordination of catering. We would also like to thank our vendors: Robin Daniels, Dreamshine Tack, and Commonwealth Artists.

 

Our course photographers were Commonwealth Artists, Julia Bowman and Joe Svetina.  Photos from the day can be found at their website (https://www.commonwealthartists.net/)

 

Troy Arnold, Mark Wenger, and Phillip served as the official time keepers.

 

We had many, many volunteers behind the scenes performing tasks both big and small, and we would like to recognize that this event could not be done without them all!