October04 Publisher.pub

October, 2004
HOUND EVALUATION
By Jeanne Ahrenholz
Kennel Talk …………………….
Notes From a Country Keeper ...
Deer Hunting Dates ……………
Hunter Pace ……………………
Homegrown MFH …………..…
MN Harvest Horse Show ……..
Foxhunting Clinic ……………..
LLH at the Theatre …………….
Trailer Readiness………………..
Moingona Invitational….……….
Photo Gallery ……………………
Foxhunting Abroad ……………..
Welcome New Members ……….
Classifieds ………………….….
LLH Calendar ………………….
Contact Information ………..….
THE BLESSING 2004
By Cindy Piper
Blessing of the Hounds, 2004
(l to r back row) Mr. & Mrs. Melvin Poe, Dr. &
Mrs. Marvin Beeman. (front row) Jt Masters Jennifer Schuck & Bridgett Paradise
(Photo by Karin Winegar)
On Wednesday morning, August 4, members of the Long Lake Hounds gathered at
Pine Meadow Farm for a cub hunt and
hound clinic. We were privileged to have
with us Dr. Marvin Beeman, MFH of
Arapahoe in Denver, an equine veterinarian, and long time friend and advisor to
Cindy Piper on all things hunt and equine
related. We were also honored to have
with us Mr. Melvin Poe, past huntsman of
Orange County and current huntsman of
Bath County, both in Virginia. Mr. Poe is
no stranger to us or to our hounds. He is
Bridgett Paradise’s dad. Lennie and Jennifer took several of our hounds to Virginia before last year’s season for training
and evaluation. What an opportunity for
us to tap into the wisdom of two of the
finest huntsmen in North America!
Our hounds hunted the lines well and did
not embarrass us. Following a bountiful
potluck brunch, hounds were brought into
the lounge for evaluation. They also behaved well in the lounge, except for a
couple of times when groups of hounds
(Continued on page 4)
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LLH Turns Out in Style at
Polo Classic
Photo by Erica Stene
One of the most ancient and charming
of the traditions of Fox Hunting which
we observe annually is the Blessing of
the Hounds. For several centuries, the
Priest of the Parish, whether he be
Catholic or Anglican or in the States,
Episcopal or Lutheran,
has taken pains to bless
the local pack of foxhounds. Not infrequently
he would also hunt. We
were privileged to have
The Reverend Jean
Parker Vail bless the
hounds and
hunt with us several
By Marcia Brown
The 2004 Polo Classic is truly
unique in the crowded field of
charitable events in our area, and
for the 2nd year in a row, the members and supporters of the Long
Lake Hounds were present!
There were those of us who sat under the big Family Tent sipping wine
and cold drinks, and nibbling on the
(Continued on page 3)
(Continued on page 2)
See more Polo Classic photos on page 7
prayer of blessing and all respond as
indicated. A color member presents the
St. Hubert medals, already strung on a
years ago.
red ribbon and hanging from the handle of a hunting whip. The Priest
The service we have used to bless
blesses the medals which are distribthe Long Lake Hounds since we beuted to new members
came a recogand anyone who has
nized pack in
not previously re1959, was
ceived one. St. Hubert
handed down
lived in Belgium in the
directly from that
8th Century. Legend
tradition. For the
has it that while stag
past three dechunting on Good Friades, we have
day, he saw a cross in
invited either the
the antlers of the stag
Catholic Priest
and he was immedifrom Holy Name
ately converted to
Church, the EpisChristianity. He later
copal priest from
became Bishop of
St. Martin's-byLeige and is
the Lake or the
the patron saint of
Pastor of the Lynhunters. His feast day
dale Lutheran
is celebrated on NoChurch located
vember 3rd. Then we
on Cty. Rd.92 &
“Tallyhojo” Bolte on Max at the Wall
Cty. Rd. 6. This
Photo by Erica Stene "pass the hat" to take
a collection for the
year The
Reverand Melinda Bobo from St. Mar- Priest to dispense as he or she sees
fit.
tin's did this year's service. They all
happily use the same service without
The Huntsman pins a sprig of holly on
reservation.
the collar of the hound or those hounds
who have distinguished themselves by
For the benefit of newcomers and for
outstanding behavior in the hunting
posterity, perhaps it would be wise to
field. This year the holly was pinned to
explain the ritual we observe: At the
announced day and time in early Sep- Interest, a 7-year old bitch who came
to us from the Cassanova Hunt in Virtember, the hunting members, all
ginia.
properly mounted and turned out in
The Huntsman then mounts, the circle
colors, assemble at the appointed
place. They form a close circle facing the center where
the priest awaits the arrival of
the hounds. Historically gentlemen would dismount and
stand to horse with their hats
under their left arm holding
their horses with their right
hand. Ladies, children and
the aged or infirm are allowed
to remain mounted and covered. Immediately the Huntsman, Masters and staff, all
turned out in scarlet, arrive
with the pack of hounds,
passing through the circle to
the center where the priest is
standing. The Huntsman dismounts
opens and they move off to begin the
and stands with the hounds in front of hunt. A stirrup cup and/or hunt breakthe Priest. This year we all stayed
fast are usually provided. For this
mounted.
year's Blessing, Tom & Ellie Crosby
and Tad & Cindy Piper provided the
The Priest promptly begins to read the
(Continued on page 3)
(In The Masters’ Pocket The Blessing 2004
Continued from page 1)
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Greetings from the kennels!
It has been awhile since we updated everyone on how things are going
out here.
We have all settled in nicely.
There were a few disagreements between
us when we first moved, but Lennie kept
shuffling us around until she came up with
a solution that everybody liked and now
we are happy. We love the new place to
exercise and hope that the members keep
coming out to see us. Briana, Jon and
Cathy have been doing a great job of getting us out regularly. Oh and Lennie is
there everyday too.
We were so happy to start cubbing! Scenting has been great, footing has
been good and the places we go have been
fantastic, though we do hate it when we
miss out on breakfast. (Maybe someone
could slip us a doughnut next time? Goliath would love that!)
Those of us that went to the Polo
Classic had fun, but again we missed out
on a fabulous spread. (I think I need to
work on Lennie some more.) We hope that
you all had fun, too.
Lennie has been going on about
the Blessing these last few days and she
keeps babbling on about Go Cart. All I can
say is he had better watch those long lanky
Thoroughbred legs of his. One of those
could hurt a hound.
I had better go—I think I hear
Lennie coming to clean. Hope to see you
all hound walking and hunting.
Until next time,
Gretchen (the hound)
(In The Masters’ Pocket The Blessing 2004
Continued from page 2)
breakfast at the Crosby's home on
Lake Woesfeldt.
This year there were 30+ riders and
90+ for the breakfast. The weather was
questionable as almost two inches of
rain fell during the night but the clouds
parted to a beautiful blue sky. The
hounds moved off and the field slowly
navigated from the Crosby's to the
McCrea's jumping field, cautious about
the footing. The second line crossed
Willow Drive to the old Vo-Tech land
and then down the hill to the Koch's
beautiful bark-laid horse trail ending
with a stone wall which was jumped
onto the driveway. We crossed over
Clarkson and Nancy Lindley's property
to Alpine Farm, where hounds checked
near the riding rings. The second field
then dispatched themselves to get in
position to watch hounds race through
the gelding pasture and over the hill to
an area called the Dump. In the 70's
when Dutch Elm disease hit the city of
Minneapolis, Mr. Matt Reimer, who
owned the property, made a deal with
the City and all the diseased elm trees
were trucked to a lowland. Hundreds of
truckloads brought the trees, which
were then covered with dirt, hence
the name. We skirted the Abergs,
Cox and Petrucci property to check
in ChiChi Steiner Chew's land.
ChiChi's mother-in-law is a retired
MFH of the Long Lake Hounds and
still attends hunt functions at the age
of 91. Home to the Thies/Crosby hay
field where hounds were rewarded
with worry for having exemplary performance. All in all it was a very good
day.
Many thanks to Kitty Crosby for providing the history of The Blessing as
you read it here (and for being a fox at
The Blessing)!
Notes from a Country Keeper
By Nancy Bizzano
In 1995, between the time we agreed to buy our horse farm and before we moved in,
we took one last big vacation. We went to Badminton England for the 3-day eventing
horse trials. The eventing was wonderful to watch but there was another thing I really
drooled over. Public bridle paths. Anyone with a horse could ride for miles and miles.
Well, we in the Long Lake Hounds don’t have it quite so good but we have the next
best thing. Privately-owned horse trails that we have permission to ride upon. In exchange we must be extremely thoughtful to our landowners and agree to help maintain
the trails for the safety of our fellow riders. Safety is our main concern. If none of our
riders have to duck to miss a branch in the head, we have done a good job.
Members of the Long Lake Hounds have agreed to help country keep each year. Some
things you might want to bring include branch clippers, chain saws, shovels, power
hedge clippers (PRIMO!), weed whackers (I never seem to get these to work), ATV,
or other small utility vehicle, bug spray, something to drink, cell phone (to call the
other country keepers to find out what going on and when are we meeting at Red
Rooster).
It is important to realize the trails are private. When we mow the trails, the paths
should not be easily visible from the road. We don’t want to create paths for trespassers, snowmobiles and ATVs. It’s also a good idea for the mowing to be done before
the ‘ground crew’ goes out to clip branches and clear coops. I have never been on
some of these trails and those who have, tell me they look quite different while galloping down them. Does it go this way or that? Where is the next coop that needs to be
cleared?
I like country keeping. If you have good tools, lots of helpers and an idea of
what needs to be done, country keeping is a lot of fun.
(Polo Classic Continued from page 1)
delicious array of goodies brought in
"potluck" fashion by our members. Then
they were those, who dressed in formal
attire, braided their horses and
marched happily along behind our huntsman, staff and hounds in the Parade of
Horses, making a grand impression for
the crowds.
A great big thank you to those who
came and participated in the Polo Classic
Marcia and Sally celebrating tradition and shared in the camaraderie of the
at the Polo Classic 04.
Long Lake Hounds!
DEER HUNTING DATES
Zone 3A …………….. November 6-12
Zone 3B …………….. November 20-28
W of the Crow River: Zone 4A …………….. November 6-7
Zone 4B …………….. November 13-16
Condolences to our member, Judy Carlson, who's horse, T.J.
(nephew of Fella), died tragically on Saturday, September 18,
at the June Sutton fixture. He was buried at Ahrenholz’
later the same day. Our thoughts are with you.
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(Evaluation of Hounds Continued from page 1)
exploded in through the arena door! At first, novice kennelman
Marty Paradise was blamed for the chaos, but when he explained to
us that he had not been provided with the appropriate whip, all was
forgiven! Besides Marty, those assisting Lennie in presenting the hounds
were whips Jon Martinson and
Brianna Cedar.
ing, for using their noses, and for good tongue. It was also
pointed out that a hunt needs to breed a lot of hounds to get
what they want. Citation, the race horse, had a full brother
who couldn’t outrun a fat pig.
Dr. Beeman and Mr. Poe evaluated
our hounds’ conformation, gave us
advice on developing a breeding program and also commented on our handling and training of the hounds. For
the most part they had similar opinions
but warned us that their type of hunting and the country they hunted biased
their preferences. Dr. Beeman admitBri Cedar, Lennie Williams & Jon Martinson—
ted a bias towards English hounds.
hound handlers. Not pictured: Marty Paradise
The wisdom of our mentors produced several
suggestions to improve the hunting of our hounds.
Lines should be better planned to allow the field
more opportunity to view. Too many people are
talking to the hounds. Whips (the people) should
be seen and not heard. The huntsman is the alpha
model for the hounds and is their friend. Therefore the huntsman must not be rough. Whips
(objects) should rarely be used and when necessary only whips (the people) should use them; the
huntsman even more rarely.
We have a better-educated staff and membership
because of the willingness of these two men to
(Photo courtesy of Karin Winegar) share their knowledge and this increased knowlThey explained what to look for in
edge will undoubtedly result in a better pack and
conformation and reminded us of the relationship of form to funca more enjoyable hunting experience.
tion. Here are some of the important details of conformation to
consider:
Hounds must be built to accumulate scent and air, but too wide a
chest makes them slow. A little extra width in the chest should
work satisfactorily in our country. You should just be able to fit a
hand’s width between the front legs. Look for balance and beauty.
The longer the shoulder the better it works. A long forearm picks
up the leg. Cannons should be short. Feet should be flat on top with
toenails worn evenly. Depth in the stifle creates drive.
Staff was also instructed on how to best stand a hound up so that
they could be judged effectively, and our hounds were evaluated as
follows:
Gretchen
Gretchen is one of our lead hounds. She is “made right,” though a
little calf- kneed and short in the croup and a little wide in the chest.
Though she is a good individual we are somewhat worried about
breeding her because her litter mates were not at all uniform so
we’re not sure what genetic surprises might come through. We
were advised to breed her once and see what happens.
Festive
She’s another of our front hounds with reasonable voice. She has a
good hind leg with depth in the stifle and a good chest. She has a
short arm and is back at the knees. It was felt that she would cross
well with Penn Maradyl.
Flirt
Nice hound. A front runner with good voice.
Interest
Dr. Beeman placed her as our best hound. She is one we got from
Virginia last year. She was a babbler there but has not been here.
Our experts said babbling was caused by a big pack.
Our dogs (males) all had faults significant enough to eliminate them
as potential breeding stock, most of them being too bulky.
Our goal should be to produce hounds of good conformation who
give tongue. For our country they should not be too fast. Penn
Marydyl blood would be good because they are known for dwell4
IT’S COMING! THE HUNTER PACE IS COMING!
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16th
All members are encouraged to help this fundraising effort. It is a chance to add to our treasury to "feed the
hounds.”
WHEN & WHERE: 10:00 AM @ 2505 Willow Drive, Dan
& Jill Johnson's home (formerly Piper's)
WHAT: A prescribed route will be marked through the
country. Riders will be sent off in pairs to navigate the
route. They will be given a map with landmarks. The pair
riding closest to the official time will win. There will be
two divisions, Jumping and Flat.
COST:
$ 30 Adults & $20 for juniors
Beautiful historic trophies have been presented in this
event, which began in 1967. The engraved names will
recall the many familiar names who have hunted with the
Long Lake Hounds. Stay tuned for more details. And
plan to bring friends!
Hello Friends — I have 3 new listings to
share with you. 66 acres on Nelson Road,
both wooded and open for pasture. 21.5
acres on Turner Road. 36 acres with direct
Lake Minnetonka access, new stable, Country French style home, subdivision potential.
Call me with any questions.
Cathryn Andrews 612-306-4800
4154 Shoreline Drive
Phone: 952.471.0033
Spring Park, MN 55384
Fax: 952.471.9670
JENNIFER SCHUCK – HOMEGROWN MFH
By Jeanne Ahrenholz
Anyone from the Twin Cities area who is involved in horse
sports knows who Jennifer is. Along with her partner, Cathy
Belzer, she operates Pine Meadow Farm in Delano. This includes teaching approximately 25 lessons per week, riding 8 to
10 horses per day, organizing clinics with nationally prominent
trainers, and putting on schooling shows. She also competes
with her own upper level dressage horse George, and shows
client horses including two Lusitano stallions. This is all in
addition to serving the Long Lake Hounds as a joint master.
Even though we know who she is, many of us don’t know the
extensive background that led her to who and where she is today.
Jennifer grew up in this area and got her introduction to horses
and hunting from local instructors and the Long Lake Hounds.
When she was five years old, her brother was going to horse
camp at the Chamberlin Pony Farm in Hastings and she got to
tag along. As the youngest camper, she was too young to camp
in the bunk house with the older kids, so she stayed in the
house. In addition to riding she also milked goats and fed
chickens. Though the goats and chickens were abandoned
along the way, there was no turning back where the equines
13th Annual Minnesota Harvest Horse Show
October 5-10 at the Minnesota State Fair Coliseum
Friday Evening, October 8th
$10,000 Junior/Amateur Jumper Classic
Free Admission
Saturday, October 9th
$30,000 Grand Prix of Minnesota
7:00 p.m.
General Admission $8.00 (Children under 10 free)
Boxes Available
*Jack Russell Terrier races to open the show
Call Beth Miner at 651-429-2037
Foxhunting Clinic A Great Success
Thanks to Lennie, Jennifer and Jon!
By Anne Donahoe
Our June clinic was cancelled due to torrential rains, but the
July session went wonderfully thanks to our Pine Meadow hosts,
Jennifer Schuck and Cathy Belzer; our Huntsman, Lennie Williams; and Honorary Whipper-in, Jon Martinson. All four were
well turned-out representatives of the Long Lake Hounds.
Clinic participants ranged from those who have never hunted, to
those who are well-seasoned in the hunt field.
Lennie started the unmounted portion with a discussion on appropriate horses for hunting. She told how many different
breeds are represented in our hunt, and that size isn’t a real issue. If your horse is quiet, introduce them to the sport by walking hounds first. It is even better if you are new to foxhunting to
walk hounds on foot before bringing your horse along. If your
horse has a tendency to kick, tie a red ribbon in the top of his
tail. If this is your horse’s first year hunting, tie a green ribbon
in their tail.
Her role as huntsman was defined as the one who cares for the
hounds in the kennels and controls the hounds in the field. As
she talked, she defined the following terms:
were concerned. When the family moved to Wayzata she began lessons at Fortuna Farm and for two years she received her
lessons from Kathy Theissen. As life comes full circle, she is
once again training with Kathy. She trailers George to Brightonwood weekly for lessons. After two years at Fortuna, she
began riding with John and Leslie Brantingham at Wits End
Farm. This farm now belongs to the Raniers and we hunt
through it regularly. There she took lessons, was a working
student and groomed. With its close proximity to the old kennels on Hamel Road, she also helped with hound exercise.
Also a pony clubber, she was active in Northstar Pony club.
Coming full circle yet again, her former Pony Club District
Commissioner, Cindy Piper, is now sharing joint master duties
with Jennifer and Bridgett Paradise. After Brantinghams
moved their operation to Leslie Borg’s barn (also on Hamel
(Continued on page 8)
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away: A fox has “gone away” when he has left covert. Hounds
are “away” when they left covert on the line of a fox.
cast: (n) A planned move in searching for a lost line, or (v) to
make a cast. Hounds may cast themselves, or the Huntsman
may cast them.
check: (n) An interruption of the run caused by the hounds losing the line. In our drag hunt, this is a planned break during
which the hounds are accounted for and watered.
couple: Two hounds, for convenience in counting. For example,
if it is said that 8 and ½ couple are out, that would be 17.
covert: (pronounced cover) A patch of woods or brush where a
fox might be found.
cub hunting: Early hunting before the formal season. Informal
(Continued on page 6)
(Foxhunting Clinic Continued from page 5)
attire is worn, and the hunt is shorter in length. It is a time to
train hounds and condition horses.
drag scent: A combination of fox urine and special ingredients
that are put on a rag (“stinky”) and dragged behind a horse and
rider to lay the line.
feather: A hound feathers when he indicates, by actions rather
than by voice, that he is on a line or near it. The stern (tail) is
waved, and activity is concentrated and intensified.
heel: Hounds following the line the wrong way are running heel.
line: The trail of the fox.
open: A hound is said to open when he first gives tongue on a
line.
riot: Anything that hounds might hunt that they should not
tongue: (n) Cry. A hound gives tongue when he proclaims with
his voice that he is on a line. (v) To give tongue.
view: See the fox.
view holloa: The cry given by a staff member on viewing a fox.
whipper-in: A staff member who assists the Huntsman in the control of hounds.
worry: Treat given to the hounds to reward them at the end of the
hunt.
fall in behind him or her. The order of riders should be members who have earned their colors, then adults, and finally the
juniors. Whatever happens - do not pass your field master!
Whenever staff or hounds are passing you, always face your
horse towards them - even if that means backing into the
woods. You may hear “ware staff” or “ware hound.” Again,
point your horse’s head towards them.
At the checks, remain quiet or talk softly. While riding, if
someone holds up their arm at a right angle, it means that those
in front are slowing down or stopping. “Ware wire/hole
right/left” means just that. And at the end of the hunt, thank the
Masters, Huntsman, “foxes” (those that laid the drag), and landowners. Stay mounted until the hounds are loaded into the
trailer.
Cubhunts are held in July and August, and run about 45 minutes. They are a wonderful opportunity to train and condition
your horse. Formal hunts begins in September with the Blessing of the Hounds. These hunts last around two hours. The
size of the jumps range from 2’9” to 3’3”, and most are coops
and split rail. Make sure your horse
is conditioned properly - as are
She started by having everyone work in the ring, you! And most importantly, say
staying in single file and maintaining one-horse’s “thank you” to the landowners,
edge crop fields, and close gates length between themselves. This is harder than
even if you aren’t sure if it was
you think when you realize the different strides
open when the first rider went
our horses have, yet it is imperative to maintain through.
As Huntsman, Lennie asked
that she never be crowded, and
that you never get between her
and the pack or a hound. Like
any member of the staff, she
should be given the right-ofway at all times. She stressed
while hunting.
that no one else should address
the hounds, but that you can
encourage a straggler with “get to her” or “move on.” As a
hound moves up through the field, say “ware hound left/right” so
that the riders in front of you know to give the hound room. If
you do roll or step on a hound, it is very important that you tell
Lenny at the end of the hunt so that they can carefully check the
hound over for injuries.
Jon Martinson started by showing the Halloween Hunt tape that
was done by a local news station. He outlined appropriate attire
as follows:
walking hounds: very casual
cub hunting: breeches, boots, polo shirts, and square saddle pads.
formal hunting: black field or dress boots, light colored
breeches, white shirt, white stock tie, black coat and gloves.
Jon walked us through a day of hunting by starting with the evening before. He stressed how important it is to have everything
located, clean and ready the night before the hunt. Nothing is
worse than being late due to a misplaced girth. Arrive at the meet
a good half-hour early so that you can warm up your horse. Introduce yourself to the Master(s) if you are new, or say “good
morning” if you are a regular. Just before the start of the meet,
there will be announcements made. Special instructions will be
given, staff will be identified, and guests/new members will be
introduced. (Remember that guests and new members must have
a sponsor, who supervises them for the day/first year.)
There are two fields in our hunt. The first field travels faster and
jumps; the second goes at a slower pace and does not jump.
When the hounds move off, wait for your field master and then
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Jennifer’s mounted portion was
incredible. What an amazing instructor! She started by having everyone work in the ring, staying in single file and maintaining one-horse’s length between
themselves. This is harder than you think when you realize the
different strides our horses have, yet it is imperative to maintain
while hunting. She then had the riders practice changing positions in the order, which was great work for horses that had
trouble leading/following or were a bit competitive.
The group then moved out onto the cross-country field where
Jennifer worked on riding and jumping up and down hills
(slightly forward going up; stay centered over horse’s back
when going/jumping downhill to help them stay balanced.)
Horses were “asked” to leave the group and move out on their
own to address any herd-bound issues, and the pulley rein was
demonstrated in the event your horse bolts. (Sit deep with heels
down, shorten reins and grab the mane with one hand, with the
other hand lift up sharply as you rock your shoulders back.)
And if your horse bucks, don’t sit deep in the saddle and lean
back like you see the cowboys do. This only puts you in the
position to be launched out of the tack. Stay slightly forward
and slightly out of the saddle.
When jumping as a group, you must keep a safe distance. This
is at least five or six lengths back. The rider ahead of you
should have landed and recovered before your horse gets to the
jump so that you can stop if the rider has a refusal or fall. If
your horse refuses, move to the side and fall in at the end of the
line. And, if you are second to the last in line, make sure the
last rider is safely over the jump before moving on.
(Continued on page 8)
FOXHUNTING ATTIRE
Breeches of black, green or blue
In the hunting field are quite taboo;
Beige, tans and light taupe are perfectly right
Except those in scarlet may also wear white.
LLH AT THE THEATRE
What happens when Albert Einstein, Eddie Cantor, Meyer
Lansky, and Major League ballplayer turned spy Moe Berg all
share the same stage? Mishegass! Directed by Peter Moore,
this new musical by Joseph Vass features the world-class
band Klezmerica with singer/actors Laura Adams, Kevin
Dutcher, Arne Fogel, Geoff Jones, and Michael Paul
Levin. (You may remember Michael's outstanding turn as
George Gershwin in "Gershwin The Klezmer" another
Vass/Moore production)
Wednesdays wear, informal but neat;
Tweed jackets are wonderful, seen at the meet.
Ratcatcher neckwear is shirt and tie:
Open shirt is as gauche as an open fly.
"Mishegass" (which means "craziness" in Yiddish) plays at
The Woman's Club Theatre in Loring Park in Minneapolis for a
four-week run. Shows are Thursday and Saturday nights, and
two shows on Sundays, starting Thursday evening, October 21.
The LLH will make a night of it on Saturday, October 23. See
you that morning in the hunt field, that evening in the lobby!
Purchase your tickets individually by contacting TicketMaster
at (612) 673-0404 or visit
http://www.ticketmaster.com/artist/930276/ For more information, visit our Website at http://Mishegass.com.
Hat covers come in rainbow hues,
But stay with black or very dark blues.
As riders and horses are often up-ended,
A cap with a chin strap is highly recommended.
Your stock neatly fastened with plain pin,
Horizontally set won’t stick in your chin.
And after each hunt absolutely you ought to,
Launder white socks in bleach, soap and water.
Hi, Everyone
Back in 1978 Bob McCrea and Will Bracken sponsored my
membership in the Long Lake Hounds, which began in 1979.
Twenty-five years later and two tours as Joint Master of Foxhounds with LLH, I have had the honor of being elected president of the Santa
Ynez Valley Hunt,
Los Alamos, CA.
Some people never
learn.
Hunting coats-ratcatcher, scarlet, or black
Should be properly fit, not too tight nor too slack.
Be long enough to cover your rear,
And brushed between wearing of mud, sweat and smear.
I am also pleased
to inform you that
my cataract surgery was a success,
so no more photos
like this one will
be taken.
Eric Canton,
SYVH President
If the staff turned out badly, improper and ripped,
With horses unbrushed and sadly unclipped,
If the hounds were bony and covered with dung,
Just imagine the lashing from everyone’s tongue.
So please FOR TRADITION, and to help make our day,
Set aside enough time and GET SQUARED AWAY.
Brush up on hunting manners, and ready your etiquette
anew.
Good hunting to all, because our hunt is made by you!
Be Ready for a Trailering Accident!
The following was addressed to TVH Cyberhound, and
sent out on "Foxtales" the email newsletter of the Tennessee Valley Hunt. It was written by TVH Hon. Sec. and Whipper-In, Dr.
Stacey Adair, in reference to a serious trailering accident. The
author suggests that all these items be on hand even for shortdistance hauling.
I would like to say thanks to everyone who called with
well wishes after our accident on the way to hunt last Saturday.
We certainly were surrounded by angels that day. I have thought
a lot about the circumstances surrounding what happened, and
have decided the only way to have avoided what happened would
have been to not leave the barn that morning. I did my home7
Boots of leather, rubber will do
Must be shined every time and really fit you,
And while they are sold in all of the shops
Unless you’re in scarlet, don’t wear tan tops.
For horse and for rider the rule is quite set,
Horse’s manes should be tidy,
Ladies hair in a net.
Tack should be plain, create no sensation,
Saddle pads are just that, no loud decoration.
work, checked our roads and listened to the radio, and felt we
could have a safe journey.
I would like to remind our members of some things that
may help them through a similar mishap. There were many
things we did right that day, and only a few wrong ones. Therefore our horses came out of a death trap fairly unscathed.
I would like to suggest that everyone try to have these
things as their standard equipment when hauling, even short
distances.
1. Quick release trailer ties. You can’t always get a conventional snap to open.
2. Always haul your horse in a leather halter. Leave the nylon
hanging in the barn.
(Continued on page 10)
Moingona Hunt Invitational
We have been cordially invited to take part in The Moingona Hunt's joint meet on November 6 and 7. TMH invites all surrounding hunts to hunt with them on Saturday in the South River Hunt Country, which is north of
Osceola, Iowa, and close to New Virginia, Iowa. They
will host a brunch following the hunt.
On Sunday they will hunt their Grand River country, and
again host a brunch following the hunt. If you are interested in going please call the Lakeside Casino at 877477-5253 to reserve your room. Say that you are with
the Moingona Hunt group, as they have reserved a
block of rooms. Then call me (651-405-1818) or email
me ASAP with the number of horses you are bringing,
as they will have to put our horses in private stables in
the area.
One mile down the road there are other motels:
The American 641-342-9400
Best Western-641-342-2123
Super 8
-641-342-6594
Days Inn
-641-342-6666
They are really a fun group of people and they love to
hunt! So let me know!
—-Marcia Brown
(Foxhunting Clinic Continued from page 8)
Stressing that your eyes are one of your most important tools
when riding and that you need to look up and over the jumps,
Jennifer finished her lesson by having everyone walk, trot
and canter through Pine Meadow’s water obstacle. I wish it
had been filmed because I know many of you would not have
believed how willingly all of the horses went through the
entire 30 feet of water!
Everyone had a wonderful time, and were impressed with
their horses. Jennifer is an incredible teacher, so getting time
on her calendar is difficult. However, we should plan more
of these sessions next year. It is a fantastic way to prepare
your horse for hunting without the hounds, and for the Masters to see how each rider’s horse reacts in a group.
Sincerely,
“Wishing I Had Been Riding”
(a.k.a. Anne Donahoe)
(Jennifer Schuck Homegrown MFH Continued from page 5)
Road), Jennifer was introduced to Jenny Goelz who was an avid
hunter at the time. Soon Jennifer, on her buckskin mare Lady,
accompanied Jenny to the hunts.
She left our area (though not far) to attend college in River Falls,
as an Animal Science major considering Veterinary Medicine.
She made the decision not to ride so that she could concentrate on
her studies, but soon Betty Ledstrom and daughter Connie LaFond (we hunt through her farm too) sent horses to River Falls
for Jennifer to ride. Since the ‘concentrate on college’ philosophy wasn’t working, she transferred to the college of Associate
Arts in St Paul and pursued an art degree, but still couldn’t leave
the horses alone. She worked for Ellie Crosby —house sitting
and riding. During those years we saw her in the field on Ellie’s
Cocoa, and she also did freelance riding, working horses for me
and others.
After graduating in 1988, she nabbed a respectable corporate job
as an art director at Carmichael Lynch where she spent two years,
also continuing her job with Ellie. But the horses still called.
She decided the corporate life was not for her. Ever hungry for
more education and experience, she sent resumes to top notch
event trainers on the East Coast. There she worked with the
greats including Wash Bishop, Bruce Davidson, Peter Green, and
hunt horse dealer Elise Daniels. These jobs included grooming at
the Pan Am games, at major events all over the East coast, and at
the 1995 Pam Am Games in Argentina. She had a great time and
received a fabulous education, but couldn’t make a living. She
returned to us and did freelance riding and taught at Fortuna
Farm. Cathy Belzer was a student of Jennifer’s and they decided
to build Pine Meadow which they have had for eight years now.
Due to a fairly recent rotator cuff injury, she no longer events and
has decided for the time being to avoid further wear and tear by
riding in the second field and showing dressage. She hopes
someday to event again and would like to reach the Grand Prix
level in dressage. She shows George at 4th level now but is
schooling all the Grand Prix movements.
It’s this wealth of experience and talent that led her to be chosen
for the job as our MFH last year when the hunt was reorganized.
She absolutely loves the job and would really like to be able to
devote full time to it. She especially enjoys meeting the landowners and evaluating country and terrain. Her relationship with
joint MFH Bridgett has been a great influence on her and she’s
had great fun with Bridgett, and Melvin and Peggy Poe. The
highlight of the job so far was her trip to the Poe’s in Virginia
with Lennie and hounds. We’re lucky to have a leader with such
an extensive background who has been homegrown by the Long
Lake Hounds.
“The horse is your reflection. It never flatters you. It reflects
your temperament. It also mirrors your fluctuations. Never
get angry about your horse. You might as well get angry
about your reflection. “
—Rudolf Binding
952-473-0546 2460 West Industrial Blvd Long Lake, MN
8
This is a quote that hung in Max Von Bluecher’s tack room.
It says so much about him. Max, you will be missed!
Polo Classic Parade
Wendy Powell @ Polo Classic
Rachel Erickson, Jerry Brost & Marcia Brown at Alpine
Heather Oetjen @ Polo
Classic parade
SVVH Race
Meet
Ted Kuller &
Banjo
Joint Master Jennifer
Polly McCrea, handing out
medals for new members
Joanie Stene
on Moonlight
Valkyrie
Allie Hamilton on Apollo
Jo Bolte and Max at
the Blesssing
Photo courtesy of Steve Gardiner
Guess who got engaged in Florida
—” and it didn’t even happen on a
horse!”
Wendy Powell & Rachel Erickson
Wendy Powell & Rachel Erickson
Dave Stene on Casador
Bob McCrae on Mr.
Brown
Sam Nelson
on Randi
Jumping
Sam! at the
Blessing
Eric Canton & Mr. Ruggles on
Doheny Ranch trail ride
Rachel Stene
on Velvet @
Polo Classic
Jerry Brost
on Winston
Jr Lehmann
on Manny
Juniors’ antics
at the Blessing!
Ted Kuller on Rocky
Stirrup cup shared at the Blessing
Polo Classic parade
Stevie, Rachael, Dave & Joanie Stene at Polo Classic
9
By Steve Hanges
MPs have voted to ban hunting with dogs despite mass demonstrations and the debate in the House of Commons being
interrupted by protesters.
The Bill's second reading was passed by 356 votes to 166 after
Rural Affairs Minister Alun Michael insisted the will of the
elected chamber would prevail. Prime Minister Tony Blair did
not attend the second reading vote. For the Tories, James Gray
accused Labour of having an "Islingtonian outlook" on the issue.
More votes will follow as ministers try to pass through all stages
of the Bill on Wednesday. Mr. Michael urged the House of Lords
to behave democratically once they received the Bill. And he
reiterated the government's intention to use the Parliament Act to
push the bill through if it was rejected by peers:
"I still hope that peers will engage with the Hunting Bill this time
around. If they fail to do so, the only way in which the matter can
be properly resolved at this stage is for the will of this House to
prevail under the provision of the Parliament Act."
He also urged hunt supporters not to defy any ban on the grounds
that the use of the Parliament Act meant it was "unfair".
"That argument turns democracy on its head," he said. “The
rightness or the wrongness of a particular piece of legislation is
always subject to argument in this House and our parliamentary
processes are the means with which these issues are argued
through in the legislative process.
"The Parliament Act is part of that legislative process and part of
the structure of our democracy - used sparingly, used only under
provocation."
Conservative environment, food and rural affairs spokesman Mr.
Gray said: "I think the nation and the world as a whole will be
looking at our procedures with some amazement and some horror. With the world in the state it is in, with the million patients
waiting for treatment on the NHS, with the Middle East and Iraq
in turmoil, with Beslan and Darfur so much in our minds, people
will not understand Labour's warped priorities and their fixation
with the issue of banning hunting with hounds."
The ban would probably lead to an increase in the numbers of
foxes being killed, he told MPs. But they would be killed by poisoning, gassing, snaring and shooting which were "a great deal
more cruel" than hunting, he warned.
Liberal Democrat MP Lembit Opik, one of the leaders of the
group seeking a compromise solution, said the stalemate between
the two Houses was an indication there was something "seriously
wrong" with the Bill.
"The pro-ban lobby can win the vote today but they cannot pretend that by stifling the debate and ignoring the existence of alternative views they have won the argument," said Mr Opik.
MPs are now debating a suggested amendment to delay the date
when the ban comes into force.
10
This would be to enable those employed in jobs linked to hunting time to adjust and for dogs to be rehomed and other hunt
activities to be wound up.
Earlier, Mr. Michael said he was happy to accept the idea of a
ban on hunting starting in July 2006 rather than in November as
he had originally argued.
During the debate, James Paice for the Tories said the ban
risked criminalizing people who were usually thought to be valued members of the community.
But Environment Minister Elliot Morley said the issue was a
moral one. "It is a nonsense to suggest it's an attack on rural
society," he said. "It's a nonsense to suggest that every person
who lives in the country supports hunting."
Labour former minister Gerald Kaufman said hunting had been
the subject of "the fullest and most elongated debate" he had
experienced in the Commons.
Backing the ban was "a vote against cruelty and callousness,”
he added.
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!
Emily Fischer, returning member, who used to whip-in to
Bob & Anita Romfo. She rides Jose, Bob Romfo's old
horse who currently lives at Kitty Crosby's.
Mary Kay Jans rides a mustang named Shadow, who is
easy to spot in the field as he had brand marks on his
neck and haunches. This is Mary Kay's first year of hunting. She was a career lawyer and has turned in her St.
John's suits for a black boots, hunting coat and stock tie.
Sue Talalla boards at Alpine, rides a wonderful big black
draft cross horse. It is also her first year of hunting.
Sue Mills, a very talented horseperson with eventing experience. Also her first year and she rides a nice energetic TB. She has been both drag laying and outriding
with Jr Lehman.
Dan Diekel, a polo player and now a foxhunter. He rides
a wonderfully marked bay & white colored horse, who
came to him from the Moingona Hunt in Iowa.
Sam Nelson, who only started riding about 1 1/2 years
ago at the Wild River Campout, is now an avid hunter! He
rode in the Burwell, Nebraska, hunt last year and is now
riding Bri Ceders’s horse, Randi. You know his Mom, Teri,
as the Queen of the Hilltoppers!
(Trailering Accident Continued from page 7)
3. Leg wraps.
4. Emergency kit for horse injuries. Mine was in the trailer,
with the door to the compartment face down on the road.
Maybe a better idea to carry it in the tow vehicle.
5. Cell phone.
6. Extra things which might be helpful:
• Fire extinguisher. I carry one since my trailer caught fire a
few years ago.
• Sharp locking-blade knife. One of our many good samaritans had this and saved both horses from their blankets,
(Continued on page 11)
(Continued from page 10)
•
•
HUNTERS!
which had become dangerous to them after the accident. Another idea is a tool for cutting seat belts/breaking glass that
has a guarded razor on it. This might be useful as well.
Hack saw for metal/steel. Not something I would ever think
to carry, but the one thing that actually saved both our
horses. Someone had this in his vehicle, and we were able to
cut the horses out of the trailer. This was the one thing that
was the most important in this accident.
Spare halter and lead rope. I know most of us have these, but
unfortunately mine was again trapped under the trailer!
Capture your Favorite
Hunting Horse or Hound or all Three of you !on Canvas Painted by Artist
William Ersland
651.430.1878
This article was edited down to fit our available space. If you would like the
complete article, please email me at [email protected]
IC
MP T
Y
OL MEN
MO
Dressage commentator: "This is really a
lovely horse and I speak from personal
experience since I once mounted her
mother."
LLH Calendar of Events
October 16
October 23
October 30
November 6-7
November 13
November 20
January
February
LLH Hunter Pace
Junior Hunt
Guest Day ($50 capping fee)
Travel Hunt Week
Moingona Invitational
Guest Day( $50 capping fee)
Last hunt of the season
Colors Party & Award Ceremony
Virginia Hunt Trip (TBA)
Hunt Ball (TBA)
Remember!
You can access, read and download The Babbler at
http://members.aol.com/jmastene/Babbler.pdf
THE LONG LAKE HOUNDS HUNT HOTLINE
Are the LLH Hounds going out? Information available on
inclement weather, location and times during walking, country keeping, cubbing and regular season. This is an unmonitored number so please do not leave messages.
(952) 472-2743
THE LONG LAKE HOUNDS
JOINT MASTERS OF FOXHOUNDS
Bridgett Paradise
Jennifer Schuck
Cindy Piper
HUNT SECRETARY
Ellie Crosby
763.473.1141 [email protected]
MEMBERSHIP CHAIR
CLASSIFIEDS
Wanted:
• Horse blankets, summer sheets, winter blankets, size 78” -82”
• Also horse jumps, any shape, any size, any color.
Please call Lennie @ 763 684 0854
E-mail - [email protected]
For Sale: SanDisk ImageMate (for downloading digital photos onto your computer); SanDisk driver; instruction book;
two SmartMedia cards (64MB and 128MB). $75.00
Joanie [email protected]
Classified Advertisements
LLH Members no charge
Non-members — $10.00 per issue
Business Advertisements
LLH Members—$10 per business-card size ad per issue
LLH Members—$30 per business-card size ad per year
(4 issues)
Non-Members—$20 per business-card size ad per issue
Non-Members—$50 per business-card size ad per year
(4 issues)
Send your ads to Joanie at [email protected]
11
952.472.2726 [email protected]
763.972.9116
612.868.2190 [email protected]
Jeanne Ahrenholz
952.955.1951 [email protected]
COUNTRY KEEPING CHAIR
Steve & Carmen Gardiner 763.479.2095
[email protected]
The Babbler Editor
Joanie Stene
763.576.9608 [email protected]
The Babbler will be published quarterly (October, January,
April, July). All submissions should be sent to Joanie
Stene at [email protected]. If you wish to have your photos and work credited to your name, please state so. If photos are not sent electronically, and you wish them returned,
please include SASE. We reserve the right to edit all copy
received for typographical and grammatical error and to
shorten pieces as necessary. We also reserve the right to
decline to use or to hold an item for publication in a later
issue. For items to be considered for publication, they
MUST be submitted at least one month prior to the publication date.
12
From time to time, The Babbler will publish the work of local artists. If you have something you would
like to submit, please send it electronically to [email protected] or mail cd to Joanie Stene, 15120
South Diamond Lake Road, Dayton, MN 55327 This month’s piece is by William Ersland.
LONG LAKE HOUNDS Babbler
15120 South Diamond Lake Road
Dayton, MN 55327