By Barclay Rives | Nov 08 | Features

Follow the Hounds

A foxhunting marathon across the rolling terrain of Virginia's Piedmont

The inspiration for Virginia Hunt Week struck Rita Mae Brown while she was riding a tractor on her farm near the Blue Ridge Mountains in central Virginia. Brown, a best-selling author and master of foxhounds of the Oak Ridge Fox Hunt, wanted to share the gorgeous terrain with others. And so she approached masters of nearby hunts to join her in hosting a foxhunting marathon. In 2000, its inaugural year, Virginia Hunt Week included nine days of hunting with nine different packs. In 2007, the event grew to sixteen packs over seventeen days. Sadly, 2008 Hunt Week was canceled due to exorbitant gas prices, but we trust that Hunt Week will resume next fall. Perhaps it will eventually become Hunt Month, luring foxhunters from near and far for the thrill of the chase. Hallam Hurt, a doctor from Philadelphia who attends every year, explains why: “You get people with bajillions of dollars and lots of horses riding next to someone who can barely afford one horse. One hunt might serve mimosas in a big house filled with antiques, while another has Maw’s cookin’. We’re all here because we love it.”