Evening star., 1926-12-05
Elusive Fox Furnishes Sport for Capitals Relocated Ride


ELL Mrs. r. E. Smith, Miss Madeline
Aleshire. Miss Elizabeth Jackson.
Miss Harriet Kincheloe and Walter
Tuckerman and his children.
TT was a gala day the first Saturday
in November. when the Washing
ton hunting season for the 1926-27
season was inaugurated. All those
who rode in the first run were clothed
in their most formal fox-hunting toGs.
Red coats reflected the flame of the
autumnal sun as the first "Hark-
away" of the season was cried and
the hounds, straining at their leaShes,
were freed and sped away after the
racing fox.
The notes of the huntsman's horn.
the excited shouts of the hunters, the
baying and barking of hounds. and
the pounding of steel-shod hoofs over
frozen ground will resound in Wash
ington's open country stretches from
now until the beginning of the next
base ball season.
IT ever there was an autocrat of
hunting, the master of fox hounds is
that selfsame gentleman. He is die
tator of what to do and what not to
do when following the shrill-tongued
pack. This dignitary rides about 100
yards behind the hounds. The field
follows close behind the masters
steed. but never passes him. 1t is
exceedingly bad form to ride in front
of the master of fox hounds. either
in a drag or livefox hunt. Whenever
the master passes a danger spot or
negotiates a particularly hazardous
jump. he warns the rest of the field
concerning the pitfall ahead. by
special cry.
Plans are now about completed for
the enlargement of the Washington
Riding and Hunt Club at Twenty
second and p streets northwest. More
than half a million dollars will be
expended in these improvements. The
remodeled club. when completed. will
have a show ring large enough to
| hold important national and interna-
| tional horse shows in our National
Capital. Potentially, Washingtonians
will see the leading military riding
teams give exhibition drills and per
form marvellous feats of horseman-
ship. The new arena. with a seating
capacity of 5000, will feature an
indoor polo field, 100 by 200 feet in
dimensions. where local and intercity
| polo matches will be stag aged through
out the Winter.
| Washington thoroughbred and
! hunting horse enthusiasts intend to
make our City of Legislation the
equine capital of these United States.
| The national conventions of the Horse
Breeders Association. the get-together
assemblies of the National Steeple
| chase Association and the roundup
meetings of various horse clubs will
convene regularly in Washington in
| the years to come. The Washington
| Riding and Hunt Club. with its new
facilities and replete clubrooms, aims
to become the leading establishment
of its kind in this country.
There are many members of the
Riding and Hunt Club who. although
they do not hunt, are habitues of the
bride paths. This roster includes Mr.
and Mrs Engene Meyer, jr. Col.
Robert NJ. Thompson, Assistant At
torney General and Mrs. William
Donovan, Assistant Secretary of the
Navy and Mrs. Robinson, Admiral and
Mrs. Grayson and Drs. Simpson and
Wells
1t is only five-minute canter
from the Riding and Hunt Club to
the privacy and beauty of Washing
toms superb bride paths. You can
ride beside the peaceful Potomac.
amid the songs of cheery-throated
birds and the ripple Of placid water
yours to enjoy to your hearts con-
tent. The far-f1ung 1000 acres of
Rock Creek Park, with many miles of
riding trails. bring all the aspects OF
wilderness solitude to cityside borders.
Hills and valleys. woods rich in the
colorful foliage of Autumn or brill
liantly arrayed in a new dress of green
and the refreshing air of one of Gre
atoms most wonderful parks rest
tired minds. The rhythmic movements
of the horse provide conservative
exercise for bodies which sorely need
some such exercise in the open air.
x
ANY story of Washington's fox
~ hunting would be incomplete un-
less some illusions were made to the
hounds which make such outstanding
sport possible. There are two types OF
foxhounds, the English and the Ameri-
can. The American hound traces its
stock back to Virginia foundation. He
is much faster animal than his Eng
lish cousin-a keener, racier. more
energetic dog than that which British
!fox hunters follow. The English
ihound is probably better for drag
hunting, but the American excels in
live-fox hunting. The typical Ameri-
can foxhound is % to 81 inches high
and weighs from As to So pounds.
being little lighter than the average
English hound lie is a docie. affec-
tionate animal that can be broken and
trained to do most anything which
any educated dog can do. good
hound sells for $50 to 500, while par
ticularly enthusiastic hunters and
breeders pay as high as $500 apiece
for their best hounds.
Foxhound pups" learn the tricks
of their trade from their experienced
parents and older brothers and sisters.
The youngsters are taken out with
we'll -schooled older hounds on trial
runs. Gradually the distances and the
severity of the courses are increased,
until finally the young animals gain
as great skill. proficiency and endur-
ance as that of their dams and sires.
In addition to the pack of some 80
American foxhounds now maintained
at the Riding and Hunt Club. two
other celebrated packs are kept on
nearby estates in Maryland and Vir-
ginia. A. j. Cummings is the owner
OF a pack of approximately 80 trained
foxhounds. while Mr.. s. j. Henry
keeps about as many American hounds
on his country estate.
! The horses prayer-a composition
of DR.. Rowley, one of the members of
the Washington Riding and Hunt
Club-zis an appropriate climax to this
simple story of District fox hunting:
ITO thee, my master. l offer my
prayer. Feed me. water me and care
for me, and when the days work is
done provide me with shelter. a clean.
dry bed and a stall wide enough for
me to lie down in comfort
Always be kind to me. Talk to
me. Your voice often means as much
to me as the reins. Pet me some
times. that l may serve you the more
gladly and learn to love you. Do not
jerk the reins and do not whip me
when going uphill. Never strike, beat
or kick me when l do not understand
you.
And finally. oh. my master, when