Middleton Place Hounds - Closing meet & Fox hunt w/VIDEO

On March 8 in warm and sunny conditions the Middleton Place Hounds began their closing meet at the traditional place, the Historic Middleton Place Greensward. With the previous meet rained out due to several inches of rain, rider and "follower" turnout was strong, and the feel of springtime was in the air. Founding Master Hunter Carol Rivers was not riding and she took a few minutes to chat with Lowcountryoutdoors.com about her 35 years of leadership with Middleton Place Hounds, adding that "fox" Bill Green also had 35 years of experience with the Middleton hounds. This fox hunt does not involve a live fox (or guns), rather it involves Mr. Green dragging a fox-scented rag through the course ahead of the field of riders. Jamie Green (Bill's son) is the Huntsman and he will join other hunt staff called whippers-in in directing the hounds to the trail. The huntsman and the staff wear a pink (or scarlet) coat, but the only other riders wearing a pink coat will be gentleman members who have two years in good stead with the group. The field of riders is regimented with the master hunters in the first field, followed by all other experienced riders, and finally the hilltoppers - riders that are new to the hunt. The meet consisted of four legs of hunting, with each leg punctuated with a pause to greet the "followers" in the field, who travel via auto caravan to designated locations. A grand social occasion takes place in the woods when riders are offered a "stirrup cup" of nourishment after their brisk-paced ride, usually port wine or champagne. Followers also serve up appetizers for both riders (cheese, shortbread, etc.) and horses too (apple slices). The third leg of the hunt offered a bit of drama when a white-tailed deer was pushed from its cover for the followers to see, just ahead of the hounds. Most of the hounds stayed on the "fox" scent but a young puppy named "upright" found the deer trail and left the pack, which prompted the whippers-in to crack their whips and give chase. "Upright" came back to the pack that was now stopped, and most of the riders offered him a hearty "good boy" for being smart enough to let that deer go. The last leg of the hunt was in an area known as the "fox den," which is a convenient finishing point  - leaving the now hot and sweaty horses a short "hack" (or ride) to the horse trailers and water stations. The followers headed back to the Middleton Greensward banquet hall, and were soon joined by the riders for a late "breakfast" and final bit of fellowship before the formal fox season ended. My photos show riders ready to start the hunt at the historic Middleton Greensward, the fox hounds in the woods, followers from Bray's Island Mac James, Charlene Harris (with Foxy) and Darby James, and Hunstman Jamie Green blowing the signal - Tallyho!

My one-minute video allows my readers to hear and see the exhilaration of the hounds running through the woods followed by the bounding field of fox hunters.