by Gina Sybert
PAH Spring 2025 Hunter Pace Follow-Up
Thank you to all of the volunteers and riders who joined Princess Anne Hunt for an enjoyable day of riding and competition at the PAH kennels. Special thanks go out to Martyn Blackmore for the incredible course and exceptional marking and to Sue Blackmore for a peaceful and refreshing midway rest stop. Without the help of our many volunteers, the day would not have run so smoothly.
As for the riders and registrants, we had 106. The smiles on everyone's faces as they crossed the finish line made all of the hard work worth it. More smiles and laughs came as the awards were presented. The results are as follows:
Hunter Division/Optimum Time - 78 minutes
1) The Old and the Restless 78 minutes
2) Red Oak Foxhounds 82 minutes
3) The Flask and the Furious 85 minutes
4) Trail Blazers 86 minutes
5)Expect Chaos 65 minutes
6)Team Pungo 92 minutes
Hacker Division/Optimum Time - 88 minutes
1) En Route to Champagne 88 minutes
2) Two Mares & a Stud 89 minutes
3) OHF 97 minutes
4) Gaited Glory 98 minutes
5) Peppermint Paddy & Friends 105 minutes
6) Deer Lodge 106 minutes
Junior Division/Optimum Time - 78 minutes
1) The Nutty Jumpers 86 minutes
2) Brandywine Farm 2 66 minutes
3) Brandywine Farm 1 101 minutes
4) English Irish Team 103 minutes
5) Yorktown Stables 104 minutes
6) Travel On 129 minutes
Fastest Team - Airville Stable with a time of 52 minutes
Congratulations to all of the teams and be sure to visit https://www.commonwealthartists.net/ for photos from the day. Joe and Julia Svetina were our incredible photographers and are sure to have some amazing photos for you. Lastly, all are invited to attend our upcoming trail riding series. Information on the rides can be found at princessannehunt.org. Thanks again and have a great spring and summer.
INVESTING IN OUR PACK: NEW PUPPY WHELPING LODGE
& ENGLISH HOUND IMPORTS
Due to the generosity of numerous Raise-the-Paddle donors at the Hunt Ball, funding was secured for a new Puppy Whelping Lodge. Construction will start in the next 30 days! Designed by PAH member and Hunt Veterinarian Tom Wood, together with PAH Huntsman Martyn Blackmore, this structure will provide a sterile and safe environment for new and expecting mothers and their puppies. The goal is to expand our breeding program. This will give us more entered hounds from which to choose, so that we can continue to improve our bloodlines, which improves hunting.
This structure will also make it possible to isolate any sick or recovering hounds if/when that is needed, so that we can keep the overall PAH pack healthy and safe. The timing of this structure could not be more critical, as we are working now to import four (4) bred bitches from England to jump start our breeding program for 2025. This will help to strengthen our pack of English foxhounds and improve hunting as well. The following puppy lodge donors will be recognized on a plaque at the kennels this summer along with all of our hunt preservation fund donors: THANK YOU!
Troy Arnold, Ian & Joe Beck, Genevieve Burnett, Judee & Gil Calkins, Brandon Call, Pam & Dee Crigger, Martha Culpepper, Jim Daniels, Mary Finney, Micheal Fuzy, Natasha & Brian Gealey, Sandy Gerardi, Kathy Giewont, Jack Godin, Jen & Kim Hahn, Philip Halsey, Jeanine Hinson, Lisa Langenhennig, Abby Lee, Cynthia & Tim Porter, Dee Dee Mausteller, Patrick McCarthy, Julia Mitchell, Katherine Mitchell, Angie Pfeiffer, Johanna Phelan, Lisa Popovich, Mary Pugh, Vanessa Roselli, Upendra Srikakulapu, Joseph Svetina, John & Gina Sybert, Rachel Toquothty, Kay Tyler, Megan & Tim Watson, Mark & Linda Wenger, Brett Whitsitt and anonymous donors.
For more information about these investments and/or to donate to the hunt preservation fund, contact masters@princessannehunt.com.
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
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