HUNT BALL 2025
by Katherine Mitchell
On Saturday, March 15th, Kingsmill on the James in Williamsburg provided a beautiful setting on a lovely spring evening, complete with a phenomenal dinner that truly satisfied. With 100 guests in attendance, En'ovation kept us dancing all night. Brought back by popular demand, the silent auction was a great success, thanks to Cynthia Porter, who collected donations from the following members and friends: Genevieve Burnett, Renee Bryan Peltz, Cortne Lanier/SECVA, Tractor Supply in Norge, Tom Wood, Rachel Toquothy, Johanna Phelan, Ryan Fitzgerald, Robin Daniels, Martha Culpepper, Cynthia Porter, Merri Musso, and Lisa Langenhennig. Thank you!
Additionally, thanks to the generosity of the following donors and bidders the live auction, our biggest fundraiser of the year, brought in the funds necessary to supplement dues to support our horses and hounds for this year.
PAH Exmoor Hunting Trip with Martyn Video
If you didn’t get a chance to see it at the Hunt Ball, we’re excited to share our 2025 Hunt Video, featuring footage from the English countryside of last year's Exmoor trip with 20 PAH members. Watch it HERE.
See photos of the evening provided by Hannah Malloy Photography HERE.
We are grateful to this year's Hunt Ball Chair Lisa Langenhennig and the following committee members for everything they did to make it a fun, beautiful, and memorable evening: Elizabeth Brown, Christen Call, Martha Culpepper, Robin Daniels, Carolyn & Ryan Fitzgerald, Brian & Natasha Gealey, Debbie Hackman, Katherine & Ed Mitchell, Merri & Steve Musso, Cynthia & Tim Porter, Linda & Mark Wenger, and Tim Watson.
For the second year in a row, PAH held a Junior Meet on March 1st at Westover Plantation. The weather was finally friendly for this event. Hunting was fantastic as well as Huntsman Martyn Blackmore brought great sport with the PAH foxhounds.
As a new tradition for the second year, PAH Masters award a Junior with "Best Horse and Rider Combination" This year was awarded to Victoria Wood!
Portrait images from the event at Historic Westover are now available for view, with download and print/portrait purchase options. Please see and share the Commonwealth Artists website: www.commonwealthartists.net Equestrian section.
What a fabulous day at Historic Westover. Thank you to Erda and Fisher families, as well as PAH Huntsman, Masters and Staff. Julia and Joe trust you will enjoy the photo images and please contact them to discuss your portraiture interests.
PAH held Closing Meet on Saturday March 8th at Sherwood Forest. The weather was fantastic and the hounds were on chase just after leaving the meet.
Several trophies and colors were awarded at the opening ceremony to include:
Whitehurst Award to Dr. Tom Wood
Mausteller Award to Alison Harcourt
MFHA Fairly Hunted Award to Ian Beck
PAH Colors awarded to Lisa Gibson and Natasha Gealey
Photos may be seen and purchased at Commonwealth Artists Equestrian section
THE HUNT PRESERVATION FUND
The Hunt Preservation Fund was started in 2018 to help Princess Anne Hunt meet one-time capital expenses that are outside of the operating budget, as well as respond to emergencies. Membership dues, fundraisers, and the annual Hunt Ball funds the day-to-day needs of the Huntsman, hounds and horses.
Initially, this fund paid for the down payment on the Huntsman’s house, installation of a new septic field, a new pick-up truck, a new horse trailer, and tracking collars for the hounds. More recently, these funds were used for kennel improvements for hound safety and comfort as well as their much-needed exercise yards. In 2025, hunt preservation funds will be used to help build a puppy shelter to house our beloved and precious puppies in a safer and healthier environment.
Please consider supporting Princess Anne Hunt's Hunt Preservation Fund.
All combined gifts of $500+ to the Hunt Preservation fund from 2018 to April 30, 2025, will be recognized on a plaque at the kennels in perpetuity. Thank you for your consideration of this important effort that supports our Huntsman, horses and hounds.
All of our very best regards,
Travis Gibson, MFH
Edward Mitchell, MFH
Merri Musso, MFH
by Sue Blackmore, Professional Whipper-in
Fourteen Virginia hunts enthusiastically agreed to host a meet, in their home countries, for this annual event of consecutive days of hunting – and technically it was two weeks - with the final meet being November 7th.
Unfortunately, PAH huntsman, Martyn Blackmore, had incurred a most debilitating torn hamstring injury whilst hunting two weeks prior to our meet. He made a few phone calls and secured Tim Michel, Bull Run Huntsman, as a substitute to hunt the PAH hounds off of staff horse, Windsor.
Tim rose to the challenge and did an outstanding job! It was a testament to Martyn’s dedicated training and care of his hounds which allowed them to easily and seamlessly accept, listen, and adhere to an unknown huntsman’s leadership and guidance.
They found on the first draw, opening on a coyote, which ran out of country, crossing Route 5 after giving the field a good run. The warm, dry day, with heavy leaf fall, led to a challenging scenting day, but 12½ couple of hounds worked extremely well, and hounds (and staff) diligently persevered. After all available country was drawn, and with the temperature fast rising, hounds were soon at a loss and the decision to end the day was nearly called when they found again. Either a fresh coyote or the original one caught on his way home, and the entire pack ran this one all the way back to the mighty James river. A great end to the over 3-hour day. All hounds were on before arriving back at the trailers, for which Tim was most thankful! This allowed every participant to partake of a fabulous breakfast in the cool cellar of Dogham Farm.
Visitors from other hunts greatly enjoyed our scenic territory on the river, and getting to stay close to hounds to see them work. According to a hardcore group of Virginia hunters who attended every meet, Princess Anne had the best hospitality, friendliest people, and best post-hunt socializing!
The Princess Anne Hunt Masters invite you to an exclusive members-only morning to view
Puppy Training with Martyn and Staff
November 16th, 2024
4527 Beechland Road, Elberon VA
9:30 a.m. Stirrup Cup
10:00 a.m. Hound training on Foot
followed by Lunch and Our Annual Flask-Tasting Contest
Please Register by Wednesday, November 13th
Princess Anne Hunt members and their guests can experience the exhilaration of the hound work without horses; enjoy the camaraderie of the day; and learn something new about foxhunting. Chances are very good you'll view a fox!
A Thanksgiving-inspired lunch will be provided in the Clubhouse following hunting by member and chef extraordinaire Kris Goeckeritz with help from our event team of the day. Participate in the flask-tasting contest. All entrants should bring enough for at least 50 people to have a small taste. All guests can vote!
It is a rare opportunity and privilege to be able to witness the pursuit of the hounds on foot and up close --as if YOU are a part of the pack! -- and we hope you will join the fun.
Attire is country casual with good walking shoes.
Cost: Donation of Champagne for the Landowner's Bar
by Alex Cromer
This year's Princess Anne Hunt Hunter Pace was held on Sunday October 27th and featured 100 riders and 34 teams. Teams competed over a 7.8 mile course on the scenic and historical land of Sherwood Forest Plantation, courtesy of the Tyler Family.
We featured the following divisions: Fast Time Over Fences, Fast Time on the Flat, Optimum Time Over Fences, and Optimum Time on the Flat. Teams were composed of 2-5 riders and were tasked with self-navigating the course following the markers designated. Click HERE to see the times and results. Click HERE to view the photos taken by Commonwealth Artists of the day.
Princess Anne Hunt would like to thank the following volunteers for their work on this event:
by Merri Musso, MFH
HUNT SEASON PREPARATION
Now is the time to get both you and your horse prepared for the upcoming hunt season that is right around the corner. Waiting for the leaves to fall is too late!
Rider
Time to cut down on those summer sweats and umbrella drinks and get some cardio-vascular exercise. If we expect our horses to be fit, so should we. Biking, yoga, jogging, walking out hounds at kennels are all a wake-up call to those muscles in summer mode. Check your hunt clothes and make sure they are clean; buttons and stitching are good and appropriate (check PAH website for attire) to fit your fabulous figure.
Horse
Time to get those marvelous steeds out of the field and back to work. Think of what problems you may have had last season and address them. Call the vet and get a checkup (teeth, shots, coggins, worming) and a lameness evaluation. Often, those attitude problems can be attributed to pain. Clean them up by pulling mane, trim, and get shoes. You should be riding AT LEAST 2x a week. Best fitness for horse and rider is trotting. Incorporate hills, ditches, water crossings, and jumping gymnastics. Break up your riding routine (whether on trails or ring) into 3 equal portions of warm-up, training and cool down. Doing these suggestions will make for a more enjoyable hunt season for both horse and rider. Remember. The outside of the horse is good for the inside of the person!
Tack
Time to get that green mold off the tack and check for weak points and stitching. Make sure your saddle and girth fit your horse correctly making adjustments due to weigh changes. Correctly adjust your bridle and bit to your horses needs. Thoroughly give your tack a good cleaning and oiling before the season starts. Cleaning your tack well now, makes for easier regular cleaning after each hunt.
Remember, being properly appointed shows respect for yourself and the traditions of foxhunting
CHECK LIST
Rider:
-exercise-bike, yoga, jog, walk out hounds
-hunt clothes-clean, buttons, stitching and fit
Horse:
-vet checkup-teeth, shots, coggins, worming, lameness
-clean up-mane, trim, shoes
-exercise-AT LEAST 2x a week trotting hills, water, ditches, jumps
Tack:
check weak points, stitching
adjust bridle, bit and saddle
thoroughly clean and oil
by Sue Blackmore, Professional Whipper-In
Back in the fall of ’22, a couple of friends from NC came to visit and hunt with us. They brought another couple along and we were introduced to Ian and his fiancée, Shannon. Our new friends, who hunt with Red Mountain Hounds, had such an enjoyable time hunting as guests with PAH and, after hearing from Martyn of his desire to have grass (exercise) yards for the hounds, Ian generously offered his professional services, for no payment, to erect the fencing using the materials saved from a previous grass yard, that was taken down to get the huntsman’s house in situ. My, was the huntsman happy!
It was mid-July of ’23 when Ian, Shannon and a stock trailer full of necessary tools arrived. It turned out to be the hottest week of the summer but they, along with Martyn and a committed team of PAH members and staff, toiled for three days of blood (sometimes) sweat (constantly) and tears (some) in 90 degree plus weather until, due to not quite enough materials, the foreman ordered “down tools” Not one store in the area had what was needed to complete Ian’s project so, consequently, he and Shannon headed back to NC.
Due to Life getting in the way, for all parties involved, it was not until the first day of March, this year, that the now married couple, Ian and Shannon, returned with the materials to finish the fencing and with a gang, again of PAH people, got the job done in one day.
These grass yards, one for the bitches and one for the dogs, will be for hounds to be turned out in whilst their lodges and yards are being cleaned up, so will never be left unattended. This playtime will not replace their daily exercise, and they will still be walked out, once they are fed back in their kennels, every morning.
2024 AWARDS PRESENTATIONS
Please join us in congratulating the following PAH Members who were recognized with awards and commendations by the Masters at our Closing Meet Breakfast:
The William A. Whitehurst Memorial Trophy
Robin Somers-Strom
The Mausteller Perpetual Award
Teresa Gregory
Colors
Tim Watson
Carolyn Fitzgerald
Tim Porter
Buttons
Alex Cromer
Claudia Sands
Patrick McCarthy
WILLIAM A. WHITEHURST
MEMORIAL TROPHY
The William A. Whitehurst Memorial Trophy was established in 1998 in memory of long-time supporter and former Master of Foxhounds, Billy Whitehurst, in recognition of his outstanding service and dedication to Princess Anne Hunt. His love of the sport of foxhunting continues to be an inspiration to us all. This trophy is given annually at Closing Meet to a member who has demonstrated outstanding service and dedication to Princess Anne Hunt.
1999 Lee and Tec Sease
2000 W. Michael Adams, MFH
2001 Cherylle Wornom (Lang)
2002 Miriam and James A. Daniels, Jr., MFH
2003 Linda and Peter Ault
2004 Bonnie Mershon
2005 George A. Smith
2006 Cindy and David Chewning
2007 Jack Ferguson, MFH
2008 Paynie Tyler
2009 Linda and Joe DeFazio
2010 Mike and Dee Dee Mausteller, MFH
2011 Nancy and Dick Nance
2012 Christine Sweet
2013 Edward D. Mitchell, MFH
2014 Hester and Tim Coyne
2015 Thomas G. Vance
2016 Harrison R. Tyler
2017 James Raine, Huntsman
2018 Judee and Gil Calkins
2019 Jim Daniels
2020 Cynthia Long-Porter
2021 Mike Maddocks (in Memoriam)
2022 Travis D. Gibson, MFH
2023 Katherine Mitchell
2024 Robin Somers-Strom
THE MAUSTELLER PERPETUAL AWARD
The Mausteller Perpetual Award is in honor of Ex-MFH Dee Dee Mausteller, who served as Master of Foxhounds with PAH from 2012-2023. Her ceaseless dedication to hounds, hunting and staff was remarkable. Dee Dee was the hero behind the scenes many times and enforcer of proper etiquette and codes of hunting. This trophy is given annually at Closing Meet to an Honorary Staff member who has demonstrated outstanding service and dedication to the hounds and hunting.
2023 Allison Harcourt
2024 Teresa Gregory
HUNT BUTTONS & COLORS
The privilege of wearing a hunt’s buttons and/or distinctive collar is awarded at the discretion of the Masters. It’s an honor, and also brings with it responsibility for the wearer. It means the Masters consider you a valued member of the hunt, based on your participation year 'round in supporting the hunt, and your abilities in the hunt field. Other riders should be able to look to you for assistance in the field during a hunting day. You know the country, and the landowners, and help to keep them happy. Prerequisites may include hunting regularly to gain knowledge of the hunt country, participating in Hunt events, and assisting with the affairs of the Hunt. Any member awarded colors should, in the opinion of the Masters, be a person knowledgeable of Foxhunting etiquette, and a proficient rider, who when hunting with any Hunt, would be a good representative for PAH. Buttons and Colors may be awarded by the Masters at any time during the year.
Members who have been awarded BUTTONS are entitled to wear black “P.A.H.” buttons on their hunt coat.
Members who have been awarded their COLORS are entitled to wear the PAH colors (Apple Green) on their collar and “P.A.H.” buttons on their hunt coat. Gentlemen and Staff can wear a pink coat, as well as different boot tops (brown for anyone wearing a pink coat and black patent leather for ladies).
MFHA FAIRLY HUNTED AWARD
The MFHA Fairly Hunted Award acknowledges juniors 18 and under who participate in mounted hunting with hounds.
Each year, the award is presented by the PAH Masters on behalf of the Masters of Foxhounds Association to any junior who has hunted with PAH 5+ times during that season. Recipients receive an MFHA pin, a Certificate of Achievement, and a 1-year subscription to the MFHA magazine: Covertside.
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