Whoa down — again
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The Sept. 17 editorial "Whoa down" struck a good chord with me.
Thanks to the author and thanks to the Times-Democrat for printing it.
I only hope that our non-hunting residents took a moment to read it, and, further, that they consider contacting one of the many hunts in our area for information and tips about seeing this historic sport firsthand.
In Virginia and in other states in the country, the extremists, or, as I label them, the vocal minority, have created an uproar in the "hunting with hounds" community in an attempt to either ban or severely regulate and restrict many aspects of the sport.
As one of many sports that rely on hounds, foxhunting is the crown jewel in the hunting with hounds domain, and, as the "Whoa down" article so clearly stated, the foxhunters are "...helping preserve a graceful way of life in Fauquier County."
Foxhunters are often more concerned about the welfare of their hounds and horses than themselves. A visit to a hunt kennel to watch the huntsman and staff walking the hounds to prepare for the season, grooming the hounds to prepare for a show or working with the puppies to introduce them to the pack will confirm this.
A visit to a day of hunting will reveal that, after a day of riding, before any of the field grabs the first cold drink or snack, the horses are washed, wrapped, fed and tucked away, and the huntsman doesn't rest until the last hound is accounted for and resting in the kennel. The welfare of the animals is always at the top of the list — right beside preservation of the land.
Foxhunters cherish the land on which they are allowed to hunt and take great care to leave nothing behind but footprints. They work hand in hand with the gracious landowners who allow them access and help with the care and preservation of the land whenever they can. They help repair fences, clean up trash left by others, clear trails in the woods and let the landowners know if anything looks amiss.
In fact, "preserving a graceful way of life" may be an understatement.
While it is certainly true, I believe that the more important mark foxhunters are leaving is that their values of care and compassion for animals and preservation of the land are being passed on to the youngsters just entering the sport.
Youngsters not yet in their teens ride with many of our local hunts and are learning these values firsthand with their feet in the stirrups. Our next generation is being instilled with values that will ensure our "graceful way of life" will, indeed ,be preserved long after we are gone.
So whether you are new to Fauquier County or whether you are a long-timer who has never seen fox hunting firsthand, contact a local hunt club and check them out. Watching the hunters prepare their horses, watching the huntsman gather the hounds and watching the whole group trot off into the early morning sun on a crisp autumn day is a great way to temporarily get rid of the stress of the job, the commute, the elections, the city, and so on.
And if you happen across a hunt crossing the road you are on, slow down or stop, take a deep breath and enjoy the sight of a sport that carries on traditions that are hundreds of years old.
In doing so, you may become one of those who are helping preserve a truly "graceful way of life."
Jim Gehris
Warrenton
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