This is a short story written by Nick Microutsicos for a writing contest, which required the stories to be written from the perspective of an animal. The 13-year-old son of an avid foxhunter, Nick has heard many hunt recollections, so he chose to write his story about a fox and his siblings.
Resting at the foot of an old oak in the early hour of dawn, I heard a rumbling in the distance. Leaping up, I heard my sister Ruby yelp, “THE HOUNDS!” “Let’s give ‘em a good chase!” brother Randall cried exuberantly. He shot off and ran straight towards the surprised hounds and jumped into a tree, disappearing in the pine boughs. Ruby and I separated and ran opposite directions, she along the river, and I along Mr. Pickett’s cow fence. The hounds circled, trying to find us, but we were much too sly for them. |
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 With the price of gas soaring over the summer and horse events everywhere suffering low attendance, the organizers of Virginia Hunt Week (VHW) made a tough decision to cancel for this year. Before we had long enough to mourn the loss of VHW ’08, a new idea was born – the 4 Day Hunt Weekend Extravaganza! The Masters of the Oak Ridge Fox Hunt, Glenmore Hunt, Rockbridge Hunt and the Bedford County Hunt teamed up to offer foxhunters four days of hunting and socializing in their different hunt countries, with an afternoon of Beagling and the Glenmore Hunt Ball thrown into the mix.
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There's a first time for everythingAt the last moment's notice a friend who caps with a nearby hunt suggested I should come along. I was so excited at the idea but felt I was unprepared equipment-wise. I only have a wintec saddle...I don't own a jacket or nice shirt...I have a pair of black boots but they don't quite fit right. Fitness and training-wise we were decently prepared - we ride 7-10 miles several days a week and have ridden in some company (4-6 horses) and ridden several hunter-paces. We don't jump, but it sounded like that wasn't an issue if I was going to go with the hilltoppers anyway. My friend assured me it is not super formal this time of year, especially on a weekday, so I decided to organize some quick loans and got myself and my horse together, and made arrangements to give it a try! |
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About the study: Hunting With Hounds in VirginiaFoxhunting has been a tradition for generations throughout centuries. The lifestyle of enjoying hounds, horses and countryside came to America from England with our forefathers. Today that lifestyle so many enjoy is being threatened. England lost the battle against animal rights activists and many who viewed foxhunting as a “class sport”; consequently foxhunting as we have always known it in England is illegal. These animal rights activists have vowed to take their fight to America…….and they are here. Virginia is under attack. Make no mistake, they will take every opportunity and use every avenue to put a halt to not only mounted foxhunting, but any hunting. The HSUS and PETA are powerful money machines hiding behind the face of the abandoned and abused animal to play on the sympathies of the uneducated individuals with the checkbook. Never forget the mission statement of these people – “A Meatless and Petless Society” |
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The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries is conducting a study, administered by Virginia Tech, on hunting with hounds. As part of that study, public comment is being sought. It's vital that every foxhunter be heard. Please read about the issues and comment before September 12, 2008. We have several links and documents. |
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