The nights are getting cooler, the crops are being harvested, and foxhunters throughout Virginia are donning their tattersall and tweeds as cubbing begins. For those of you unfamiliar with Foxhunting, cubbing takes place before the formal (official) season begins. During these first few weekends, the young foxhounds, or entry, are taken out with veteran foxhounds to start learning the ropes of tracking scent, running with the pack, and learning to recognize the different commands of the horn and huntsman. On the cusp of fall last weekend, I was privileged to witness this time-honored tradition from Foxhall Farm in bucolic Flint Hill, Virginia. On that particular Saturday morning, it was chilly and overcast-a perfect morning for a Barbour jacket and bean boots. Horses and riders alike were well turned out and appointed, and the excitement was palpable. It was an ideal morning for cubbing because of the cooler weather, which helped the ground to hold scent longer, making it just a little easier for the young hounds. Seeing the staff ride out, and the huntsman blowing beautiful notes, I felt envious and eager to join the field- And in that moment, I understood how the young entry felt too.
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