Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1960-03-24
RedLand Hunt Rides
After Willy Reynard

Upper Montgomery County echoes to the cry of
the hounds and the quaverng notes of the hunters
horn each winter hunters, carrying a tradition
started centuries ago in England and Ireland, gallop
after Wipes fulva or brer Fox.
Catching and killing him isn't the goal. It's the
chase, old boy the bully chase, repete with centuries
of customs and etiquette.
Typical of fox hunting organizations is the Red
land Hunt oldest County hunt founded in 1882 by it's
present Joint Master of Fox Hounds Thomas T. Mott
ST., of Sandy Spring. Sharing NTH honors is Rich
ard Henry Hutchinson jr., of Brookevie.
Unlike the other two hunts in the County-Poto-
mac Hunt and the Goshen Hunt-Redland Hunt is
private pack" group. That means persons who ride
to the hounds-never dogs-do so by subscription
The MFIs own the pack and the family subscription
of $3.50 year is only token of Hunt recognition
No elections are held.
The other two hunts have permanent quarters
while Redland doesn't 1t hopes to soon, however.
Redland huntsmen chase willy Reynard over seven
square miles of more or less open country east of
Georgia ave., extended, around Brookevle and up to
Etchison Anywhere from 10 to so riders are likely to
turn out for day of hunting.
Their mounts are big hunters, rugged of wind and
limb They may stay out four hours, leaping over
fences, fallen logs and Flooding through mud and icy
streams. It's no sissy's pastime
The day is started with one of the sports numer-
GUS traditions. It's called the stirrup cup" or light
lunch and nip. When all mounted and ready to co.
the Huntsman-George Wilson in the case of Red
land-"casts" the hounds
Whips or whippers-in ride the flank of the
van to keep the hounds grouped together When they
get to the covert" or woods the whippersn get be-
hind the hounds to press the hunt They carry whips
with six-foot leather strands foot-long handle.
The Huntsman carries horn Most are cattle
or buffalo horns in America but some Hunts prefer
the English bugle. The Huntsman tootles standards
calls to bring in the hounds for getting away"
meaning they're after the fox in full tongue.
Hutchinson compares the cry of the pursuing fox
hound to that of dog, but thinks there's
sweeter music" to fox hounds song.
When and if the hounds corner and kill their
quarry the hunters in for special kind of loot.
The first woman hunter to get there is awarded the
brush, or tail, while the first male hunter gets the
mask head The next four riders are each present
ed pad, or foot. All the hounds get is food when
they get back to the kennels
Hunters attend breakfast" when they return
That this may be o'clock in the evening makes no
difference. It's still breakfast" Actually the event
is large buffet at one another of hunters homes
There's something especially British about a
breakfast Maybe it's the scotch whisky the tradi-
tonal pink jackets by the men. Perhaps it's the
fluffy white Stocks wrapped twice around the neck,
sported over the mems stylish vests wastcoas. 1t
could be the riders hard-hat derbes made by CAV
anaugh of England.
It doesn't make any difference if one of the riders
"came cropper," or bought piece of land" thrown
from horse) And it's disgrace if hunters do their
chasing in cars. This is called "hiltopping"
While the wife may decide to go it a-horse, hus-
band can keep to the comfort of car, following the
route of the hunt on the nearest road They wait
hitops for hound sounds and take off mady in what
they hope is the right direction This breed of fox
hunter wears attire considerably less formal and sell
dom, if ever, comes cropper.
Some hunters harbor wish that they never will
catch up to certain foxes because of the good sport
they provide Certain foxes have been known to climb
many half-adozen trees in almost dsdainful re-
gard of the hounds and their masters.