What a weekend! Completely over the top and wonderful. Fantastic weather, even a bit on the warm side for November hunting – and quite a change from what it was the year before, the original date of this joint meet.
As the 17 Chagrin Valley people and 19 horses arrived on Friday, our hosts in the various locations were waiting for us – with open arms and open stalls. All settled in easily, quickly and quietly, just in time for the bi-ped travelers to freshen up for the most dazzling “Welcome to Ligonier” dinner party at Mr. & Mrs. Douglas Dick’s extraordinary home, Whose Woods, hosted by Cathy Brentzel and Laura Dick. Fabulous food, great talk, interesting people. Some stayed and played late, while others slipped away and into their beds for a good night sleep before Saturday’s opening hunt of the weekend.
Saturday morning at 9:30, the stirrup cup was served in the stunning vistas of Mrs. George Tippins’ farm, Stonewood. The Rolling Rock hounds were the pack of the day, and the country to be hunted was what was called the “tenderloin” of Rolling Rock country. The unseasonable weather was definitely “sans waistcoat,” and the hounds had their work cut out for them: warm and sunny, and dry, dry, very dry leaves covering the woodland paths. One of the RR Masters Sophie Mellon estimated there were 70 riders in the field, from 7 different hunts – and murmurs of “a record-breaking number” were heard all around (making at least one of the Fieldmasters a titch more nervous than he was already.) But the hounds were called and away we went: up hillsides, down deep into ravines, across open fields and then down into more ravines. The views were 360, and breathtaking. A quick run here and there kept all riders and hunters on their toes and on the alert. After three and a half hours or so, it was time to celebrate a grand day out with the hounds and enjoy a delightful Hunt Breakfast hosted by Ligonier Equestrian Center, Jennifer Long and Heather McClean.
Oh, but wait…the partying was just beginning! Back to the barns to clean and feed our trusty steeds, and then it was time to slip into tails, tuxes and black gowns (no, just pick one…), and hustle your bustle over to MFH Fritz Teroerde and his lovely wife Ulla’s elegant country home for a pre-Ball cocktail reception. Their home is a visual delight - filled with interesting paintings by Western PA artists, with a wonderful collection of leather-bound hunt books lining the shelves of the library.
An hour later we were on the road again. This time to the Hunt Ball at the Rolling Rock Club. Chairperson Caroline Imbriglia created a smashing event and filled the beautiful old clubhouse with flowers, music, delicious food and beautiful people. Following drinks and a delectable game dinner most all of the 250+ guests took to the dance floor to try and cha-cha-cha away the cal-cal-calories! Again, this was a night that could have gone on into the very wee hours of the morn - if we had not been hunting in the morning. (However, I heard tales of those who did…both!)
Sunday proclaimed another Day in Paradise, though not quite as warm as the previous morning. It was Chagrin’s day to hunt our hounds and so we offered a stirrup cup to all, before the hounds were away at Dr. & Mrs. Donald McGraw’s West Wind Farm. Once again, we started up and down the hills of Ligonier – high on to hilltop vistas, and deep into craggy ravines. Huntsman Headdon’s voice and horn echoed in the fresh air and the CVH hounds spoke throughout the fixture. Nearing the end of the morning, the hounds decided to go for it - and away they went on a fast sprint that gave the fields of riders a flat out gallop and a fabulous finish to a wondrous hunt weekend.
Hounds were gathered and we hunted for home, where we found that Mr. & Mrs. Thom Smith had laid out the most sumptuous Hunt Breakfast waiting for us. Then back to pack and take to the highway.
But did the weekend really have to end? Unfortunately so. Still, the memories will linger. Many thanks to our Rolling Rock Masters: Mrs. Mellon, Mrs. Henderson and Mr. Teroerde, as well as all our Hosts and Friends for their gracious welcome and creating a Joint Meet that will be talked about for many seasons to come.
