CAZENOVIA — On Sunday, Sept. 12, the Limestone Creek Hunt (LCH) kicked off the formal hunt season with the traditional Parade of Hounds through the Village of Cazenovia.
The foxhounds, along with 20 mounted riders, paraded from Emory Ave. to Sullivan and Albany streets before rounding the corner by the Brae Loch Inn and continuing south on Forman Street to Lorenzo State Historic Site. Also participating in this year’s event was longtime hunt supporter Eleanor Chard (née Case), who was driven in an antique convertible Volkswagen by LCH Honorary Member Roger Gates, of Clinton.
Chard, who will turn 100 in October, was awarded the designation of LCH Honorary Member a number of years ago.
“This was in recognition of her many years of being one of the major landowners in a prime area that had been very welcoming to us crossing her property,” explained LCH Joint Master of Foxhounds Barb Lindberg. “Eleanor was one of the landowners that helped bring LCH into the Cazenovia territory from our former area around Troop K Road [in Manlius] — which obviously became very built up — many years ago. She would often come to our hunt social events.”
According to longtime Cazenovia resident Jody Reynolds, Chard is also notable for having driven her classic yellow 1967 Jaguar E-Type through town every summer.
Chard and her ex-husband purchased their 200-plus acre property on Cobb Hill Road with the goal of starting a turkey farm. The couple raised 5,000 turkeys annually for around 16 years before deciding to go their separate ways. After selling a small amount of their land and finalizing their divorce, Chard returned to college to earn her master’s degree and Ph.D. (all but dissertation). She went on to teach literature at five different universities, three in Florida and two in New York. After marrying Thomas B. Chard, who resided in Florida but had local connections, Chard began summering in Cazenovia on her Cobb Hill property.
Chard recalled that Edward Thompson, the LCH master at the time, approached her about the possibility of permitting the hunt to use her property.
“I said ‘Oh, I’d love that. That would be great,’” Chard said. “The area around the Cavalry Club [on Troop K Road] was getting very developed and they weren’t going to be able to have their hunts. They cover a lot of miles and pretty much need empty farmland for it to work. Limestone Creek Hunt was one of the better-known drag hunts. They call them that because it isn’t a fox they are chasing, it’s a bag scented with pregnant fox urine from the Rosamond Gifford Zoo, [which is named after my aunt]. They drag that over the territory and that tells the hounds where the path is for the hunt that day.”
Within the past few months, Chard sold both her Cobb Hill property and her antique Jaguar and relocated to the village.
During this year’s Parade of Hounds, spectators also witnessed LCH Huntsman Doug Russell at the head of the pack of hounds.
Behind the huntsman and hounds were the masters of foxhounds, who led the members of the hunt.
Following the parade, the participants gathered in the meadow by Lorenzo for the traditional Blessing of the Hounds, an annual event during which the LCH pack and horses are blessed to mark the opening day of the season.
After the blessing and the traditional “stirrup cup,” spectators were able to catch a glimpse of the hounds in action behind Lorenzo.
According to Lindberg, a “stirrup cup” is a traditional drink — usually alcoholic and often sherry or port — that is offered to riders before the hunt begins.
“It is a parting drink offered when the riders are already mounted and, hence, already have their feet in the stirrups,” she explained.
This year, LCH is celebrating its 82nd anniversary.
The organization is devoted to educating people about the traditions of foxhunting, the working of hounds, the appreciation and stewardship of nature, and the conservancy of land.
According to LCH, the term “foxhunting” is somewhat of a misnomer.
Traditionally, English farmers encouraged hunts to use their properties in order to rid the land of foxes that killed chickens and young lambs.
In America, however, the fox is not considered the agricultural pest that it is in England.
Rather than a pest eradication technique, the hunt is now about preserving traditions and educating people about the ancient sport of hunting animals with hounds.
For many American hunts, like LCH, the activity of foxhunting could more accurately be termed “fox viewing.”
“The thrill of the sport is to watch and listen to the hounds try to find the scent left by the animals in question and to follow the scent for as long as they can,” LCH wrote in an Aug. 30 press release. “Upon occasion one will even be treated to a view of a fox or coyote as they exit the area — sometimes quite nonchalantly. The hounds are trained to obey commands given by the Huntsman’s voice and also by horn.”
Riding in any hunt is by invitation only, not for exclusivity but instead to ensure that participants are appropriately prepared for the experience.
“The misconception that only the landed gentry participate is quite false,” the press release states.
In order to operate, LCH relies on cordial relationships with multiple landowners and the Cazenovia Preservation Foundation.
Throughout the year, the non-profit organization holds a number of activities, including trail rides, six hunter paces, trail workdays, hunt clinics, and educational activities. All of the events are designed to aid in the education of future foxhunters, while also promoting conservation, preservation and land stewardship.
To learn more about the local hunt, contact LCH President Jenny Coughlin at 315-655-5997, visit limestonecreekhunt.org, email at [email protected], or look for Limestone Creek Hunt on Facebook.
