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Long Run Hounds
History
at the farm in Harrods Creek
so hounds wouldn’t have to be hauled from Long Run. The
Camargo Runt in Cincinnati and the Green Spring Valley Hunt
in Baltimore drafted some cross bred hounds to Nash and he
started to build his own private pack which Judge Dalton
hunted when the Hunt’s fixture was in Harrods Creek.
Over time two packs of Long
Run Rounds were being developed, the Dalton American and
Black and Tan pack and the Nash tricolored crossbred — They
were two distinctive packs. Dalton liked the cry and keen
scenting ability of the black and tans. They were fast and
very keen but sometimes hard to see against the winter
landscape Nash’s tri-colored hounds were eater to spot, more
manageable but were slower in hunting. Both packs showed
good sport in their separate countries.
In April of 1963, the first
Long Run point to point and Hunter trial was held at the
Dalton-Dumesnil farm. This became an annual event and
eventually developed into strictly a hunter horse trial and
as a picnic which was held at a fall date. This event was
used to thank the farmers and landowners for per mission to
ride over their land. Lowry Watkins had a saying, “that you
can’t shoot pool without a pool table” and it certainly is
true of a foxhunter and his need of country. The farmers day
hunter trial and picnic was an event in which all members of
the hunt participated, either showing their horses or helping
to feed the spectators. This event went on for some 22 years
and was finally replaced by an annual farmers-day fish fry
sponsored by Bud Waits and held in the hunt country In the
summer. This summer event attracted mare landowners and was
easier to arrange than the horse show.
A member of the hunt, Mr. and
Mrs. Thomas Bullitt, lived on a 1200 acre estate in the
heart of a suburban area. Part of the estate was to be
developed as a shopping center but before any construction
could take place Mr. Bullitt and Judge Dalton decided to
have a Long Run Drag Hunt on the property. Long Run always
had hunted live native foxes so it was not certain the
hounds would honor a laid scent line. In any case it was
arranged for October 19, 1967.
With whip Harry Castleman in
a pick-up truck dragging an artificial scent, the hunt was
on at the famous Oxmoor estate. The hounds took up the scent
and raced off alter Castleman with some twenty riders in
pursuit. It was an exciting, although brief ride and the
hounds did catch up with Castleman who ended up in a tree.
This was the first and last drag hunt for the Long Run
hounds.
A big and attractive addition to
the hunt was the building of a one room hunting lodge on the
Dalton-Dumesnil farm in 1967, complete with large stone
hearth and fireplace and a bathroom. It offered convenience
and comfort following a day of sport.
In the fall of 1966, Judge
Dalton applied for registration of the Long Run Hounds with
the Masters of Foxhounds Association. Registration was
granted in October 24, 1966. As previously mentioned,
registration is a trial period for a hunt before formal
inspection and final approval for recognition.
Robert Nash and his wife
Sissy had always been interested in hounds and had ridden
since childhood. Their good friend C. Hayden Edwards had
introduced them to beagling and learning the intricacies of
hound work and the running of a quarry by scent. In 1957 he
proposed them for membership in the Oldham County Hounds
where they foxhunted until 1961 when they joined the Long
Run Hounds as one of the founding members in the fall of
1967, Judge Dalton named Nash as his Joint Master of Hounds.
Judge Dalton continued to hunt both packs of hounds while
Nash served as Field Master. Both worked on land owner
relations and Improving accessibility to the country.
Early in the season of 1968,
Robert Y. White, MPH of the Chagrin Valley Hunt and Mid-West
District Representative of the MFH Association made an
inspection of the Long Run kennel and country and gave a
favorable recommendation and report. Recognition was granted
the Long Run Hounds on December 17, 1968.
No one was more pleased at
the recognition of the Long Run Hounds than Lowry Watkins
who for so long had encouraged and worked to have a
Louisville hunt recognized.
Foxhunting and riding to hounds
represents a distinct way of life. The thrill of the chase
is only surpassed by the exhilaration of riding over a
beautiful countryside and drinking in the sights and sounds
of nature. Riding gives a sense of physical well being and
satisfaction. “The best thing for the inside of a man is the
outside of a horse.” Under the leadership of Roscoe Dalton,
the membership of the Long Run Hounds had many long days of
enjoying the companionship of the hunt and the excitement of
the chase.
Slowly the Long Run Hounds were
developing into a first class pack. Also, the members were
learning the traditions and courtesies of a first class
field of hunters. Horses were becoming handier and being
property turned out for each meet Dalton and Nash worked
closely as a team when drawing covers so that the field was
not left out nor overrunning the line. The Whips did service
acting as the huntman’s eyes and ears. There were four
honorary Whips in the early years, Ed Dumesnil, Stuart
Dalton, Walter Millard and Harry Castleman. Also, in the
early years there were no hunt paid employees, since
Dalton’s farm hand helped at the Long Run kennel and Nash’s
Don Terry and his son Charlie helped in Harrods Creek. The
dues did increase to $200 a year but the capping fee stayed
at $5.00 and remained at this level until 1976.
Long Run had an excellent
rapport with the neighboring older hunts of Camargo in
Cincinnati and Iroquois in Lexington and was invited to a
joint meet of the Hunts at Cincinnati on November 15, 1969.
Long Run in turn played host to Camargo and Iroquois the
next year on November 21, 1970 where there were 75 riders in
the field. It was the highlight of the season with a stirrup
cup at the Long Run Lodge and dinner at the Old Stone Inn in
Simpsonville following the hunt.
Young riders were not
forgotten. The local Pony Club was allowed to send two
designated members to each meet and a Pony Club day was held
each fall.
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