July 28, 2009

Dear Landowners, Subscribers and Friends,

The future of foxhunting, and specifically the Middleburg Hunt, depends on the generosity of our landowners, the support of our loyal subscribers and the hard work of our staff.  It also depends on our pack of wonderful American foxhounds.  Raising foxhounds involves a well thought out breeding program and nurturing what we think are some of the cutest puppies in the world.  This spring we built our much-needed beautiful new whelping lodge that we call the “Puppy Palace”.  The construction was funded by the donations of the entire Board of Governors of the Middleburg Hunt, with special thanks to Pat Rogers and Melissa and Rodion Cantacuzene.  We thank the Board for this essential improvement. 

It is often said that hounds are made in the kennels, as much as they are in the hunting field.  Our honorary staff has worked hard with hounds these past few months, and we are once again indebted to our loyal Fred Duncan for the time he spent as interim huntsman.  He hasn’t lost his touch.  Hounds walked beautifully under his seasoned guidance. 

Speaking of staff, we welcome our new huntsman, Barry Magner.  We are fortunate to have found someone as talented and caring as Barry is with hounds.  It’s a remarkable sight to see him leave the kennels with the entire pack and watch him play ball with the hounds in the open fields adjoining the kennel property.  We can’t wait to go hunting!  

In the meantime, on Saturday, June 20, we had our summer trail ride.  Most times bad weather spoils an outdoor activity.  In this case rain made it more fun.  At 8 am sharp the skies opened, and fifty fun loving trail riders embarked on Middleburg Hunt’s summer trail ride.  Only positive comments were made: “no flies”, “how hot can it be when you are soaking wet”.  Fortunately, the rain stopped for the most part for the refreshments that followed, hosted by Devon Zebrovious and George Kuk.  The group was indicative of all good foxhunters and horsemen.  We must remain “flexible”.       

The sport of foxhunting continues to face challenges, the greatest of which are maintaining open space and defending ourselves against legislative and governmental actions that may restrict our sport. 

As we have said many times before, our generous landowners make foxhunting
possible.  Each piece of land, large or small, is key to the sport for which the Middleburg countryside is known.  Every year more and more acres in the Middleburg Hunt territory are being protected.  Landowners are leading in this concerted community wide effort to put land in permanent easement and are taking advantage of significant savings in their federal and state taxes.  These favorable tax laws may not always exist.  The slow economy also makes it a good time to take action; once the economy rebounds a strong resurgence of development will follow.  We are hopeful that the Middleburg Hunt will be able to celebrate hunting for many years to come and would like the opportunity to discuss and to assist our landowners in any way to preserve our hunting country.  Please feel free to contact us. 

Legislation, not necessarily aimed at our sport, but nonetheless potentially detrimental to foxhunting, continues to be proposed in Richmond.  Last year the Middleburg Hunt, along with several other hunts, engaged legal council to represent foxhunting during the legislative session.  Prior to the next legislative session we hope to engage council again.  All foxhunting enthusiasts, who are interested in preserving the sport, whether you ride or lend support in other ways, should become Members of the Virginia Foxhound Club and Subscribing Members of the Masters of Foxhounds Association.  With our help, both organizations monitor what goes on in Richmond and help us to make our voices heard at the State level.  If you want to preserve foxhunting in Virginia, join the VFC, contribute to its Legislative Fund and become a subscribing member of the MFHA.  Now is the time to be counted among those who love the sport.  Make no mistake; there is strength in numbers.  We encourage all to join by visiting their websites:  www.virginiafoxhoundclub.org and www.mfha.org.

If you are interested in subscribing to the 2009-2010 season, please contact one of the Masters.  We remind you of our growing category of subscriber, called “Social Subscriber.”  Social Subscribers are invited to all hunt functions and are afforded the privileges of all other subscribers, with the exception of riding to hounds.  These non-hunting supporters are some of our most enthusiastic.  We are grateful that they are a part of foxhunting and the Middleburg Hunt. 

Junior subscribers are the future of our sport.  That’s why the rates for junior subscriptions at the Middleburg Hunt are very reasonable; a child under 14 with an adult hunts for free and a junior age 14 to 21 hunts for a nominal fee.  We want the young to be able to afford to hunt and learn about our sport.  Last season Karen and George Kingsley began educating, coaching and shepherding young foxhunters.  Building a stable of young entry, they brought out many talented junior riders and introduced them to foxhunting.  We can’t think of a safer way to start riding to hounds.  If you know of a youngster interested in foxhunting, we encourage you to contact Karen and George at (540)974-5167. 

Please consult the Calendar page for dates to save in the 2009-2010 season.

Please remember that hunting is a special privilege we enjoy thanks to the generosity of our landowners.  When not hunting, you must obtain specific permission from landowners for cross-country riding privileges.  These are our neighbors and should be treated with due respect. 

We look forward to sharing the upcoming foxhunting season with all of you.  We remind you that for updates, photographs, information and to contact the Masters by  e-mail, you may log on to our website, www.middleburghunt.com. 

In today’s world of communication, we can’t encourage you enough to share with us your e-mail address.  Events happen quickly; whether it is a newly proposed bill in Richmond or a developing storm necessitating a meet change, we would like to keep everyone who receives this letter - landowners, subscribers and friends - informed.  So, please e-mail your name, address, phone number and e-mail address to info@middleburghunt.com so that we may communicate with you about changes in hunt meets, pending legislation, upcoming events and last minute information.

Our phone numbers are listed below. We always enjoy hearing from you. Hope to see you soon.

Mr. Jeffrey Blue, MFH  (540-687-5446) and Mrs. John Denegre, MFH (540-687-6069)