Virtually every acre of Virginia's piedmont region is within the territory for one of dozens of foxhunt clubs in the region.
Though it originated as a way to control predators in England and Ireland, and across Europe, modern "foxhunting" could be better called "fox chasing" because in today's United States, hounds rarely - if ever, harm a fox.
Most often, mounted followers get to see the fox safely dashing away ahead of the hounds, or sitting on a hill watching hounds searching for the line (scent trail.)
Foxhunting arrived to the American colony with the British settlers in the 1600s, and hunting with hounds has remained part of life here since those colonial years. One of Virginia's early land grant holders, Lord Fairfax was an avid foxhunter who owned thousands of acres in Virginia's piedmont region. George Washington, too, was an ardent foxhunter who rode to hounds throughout northern Virginia and kept a pack of hounds at his Mount Vernon estate in the formerly rural countryside just west of Washington DC.
Old Dominion Hounds formed in 1924, originally kenneled near Flint Hill. Since 1944, Old Dominion's hounds -- nearly 100 of them (they're counted in 2's -- so, 50 couple) have lived at the ODH kennels at historic Henchman's Lea in the village of Orlean.
ODH territory is about 10 by 10 square miles centered on Orlean. Landowners in the territory are treated like royalty, with the club's 100 subscribers acting as a vibrant, vigilant "neighborhood watch" system.
If a landowner has not given the hunt permission to hunt your land, the members of the hunt will not enter your property even if the fox has led the hounds there. (By Virginia law, the hunt's staff (the huntsman and sometimes an assistant) may go in to a property, but only to call the hounds out -- "retrieve.")
Another benefit of living in hunt country for Old Dominion landowners -- ODH staff and subscribers help owners and land managers create and maintain walking and riding trails, help keep creek and river crossings viable (and create new ones), help with fencing and gates. We also assist new landowners by answering farming questions, recommending local service providers, and making introductions around the community through our many social events.
The club hosts an annual landowners' picnic as another token of thanks, and landowners are invited to many open events held year-round. The Old Dominion Point-to-Point races are held the first Saturday of April. In addition to a variety of riding subscriptions, Old Dominion offers an active social subscriber option for non-riders to be part of the action.
On behalf of Old Dominion Hounds,
Matt Neiswanger
Though it originated as a way to control predators in England and Ireland, and across Europe, modern "foxhunting" could be better called "fox chasing" because in today's United States, hounds rarely - if ever, harm a fox.
Most often, mounted followers get to see the fox safely dashing away ahead of the hounds, or sitting on a hill watching hounds searching for the line (scent trail.)
Foxhunting arrived to the American colony with the British settlers in the 1600s, and hunting with hounds has remained part of life here since those colonial years. One of Virginia's early land grant holders, Lord Fairfax was an avid foxhunter who owned thousands of acres in Virginia's piedmont region. George Washington, too, was an ardent foxhunter who rode to hounds throughout northern Virginia and kept a pack of hounds at his Mount Vernon estate in the formerly rural countryside just west of Washington DC.
Old Dominion Hounds formed in 1924, originally kenneled near Flint Hill. Since 1944, Old Dominion's hounds -- nearly 100 of them (they're counted in 2's -- so, 50 couple) have lived at the ODH kennels at historic Henchman's Lea in the village of Orlean.
ODH territory is about 10 by 10 square miles centered on Orlean. Landowners in the territory are treated like royalty, with the club's 100 subscribers acting as a vibrant, vigilant "neighborhood watch" system.
If a landowner has not given the hunt permission to hunt your land, the members of the hunt will not enter your property even if the fox has led the hounds there. (By Virginia law, the hunt's staff (the huntsman and sometimes an assistant) may go in to a property, but only to call the hounds out -- "retrieve.")
Another benefit of living in hunt country for Old Dominion landowners -- ODH staff and subscribers help owners and land managers create and maintain walking and riding trails, help keep creek and river crossings viable (and create new ones), help with fencing and gates. We also assist new landowners by answering farming questions, recommending local service providers, and making introductions around the community through our many social events.
The club hosts an annual landowners' picnic as another token of thanks, and landowners are invited to many open events held year-round. The Old Dominion Point-to-Point races are held the first Saturday of April. In addition to a variety of riding subscriptions, Old Dominion offers an active social subscriber option for non-riders to be part of the action.
On behalf of Old Dominion Hounds,
Matt Neiswanger
