Goshen Hunt
1212 Buckystown Pike,
Adamstown,
Maryland 21710
Established 1957.
Recognized 1960.

Howard County-Iron Bridge Hounds
18821 Windsor Forest Rd.,
Mt. Airy, Maryland 21771.
Established 1930.
Recognized 1985.

With huntsman Robert Taylor on a brief trip to see his ailing and aged father in England, it looked as if the Goshen Hunt (Md.) was about to miss a day’s hunting. But Howard County-Iron Bridge (Md.) MFH Roger Scullin volunteered to fill the day for us with their meet at Pleasant Prospect on Dec. 8.

We had seen two solid days of rain, leaving the footing deep, so our hosts decided that the best course was to avoid the cropland and hunt the state-owned Patuxent River Valley that separates the territories of Goshen and Howard County-Iron Bridge. Before the meet, I jokingly said to their huntsman, Allen Forney, that he could go ahead and hunt both sides of the river since we wouldn’t be using our side.

The day began with a quiet draw through the covert on the north side of the river, with little scent evident. Jt.-MFH Garrick Steele, leading the field, remarked that with the blue sky and warming weather (temperatures in the 60s) we couldn’t expect much. About that time a hound opened and was quickly honored by almost all of the pack. With the huntsman cheering them on, a chase ensued through the woods, heading straight for the river.

The heavy rains of the past spring and summer have wreaked havoc on the banks and crossings of our part of the Patuxent, so we didn’t really relish going that way. But this fox surely knew his way, and off we went. We found a suitable crossing, and we spent the next hour chasing in Goshen territory while listening to some outstanding hound music. These hounds can really sing!

When hounds finally came to a loss and couldn’t recover the line, Forney lifted them and took them back to the north side of the river. The field found a suitable crossing and made its way back as well.

Forney drew once more, working the wooded covert above the river. After a short while, hounds struck again. This time there seemed little doubt as to where we were heading. Just as his predecessor had done, this fox headed straight for the river and Goshen country! Again we searched for a good crossing since we weren’t quite in the same position as before.

Having found a suitable site, Steele led on. As the fourth rider in line, the bank had become somewhat eroded when the author got his turn. My horse lunged toward the top of the bank, but the bank collapsed and sent us sliding back into the river. At the same time, it seemed his hindquarter also sunk. Sensing a horse coming over with me on top, I leaned as far forward as possible and spurred vigorously. The horse responded with a lunge to the left, only causing me to lose my cap, quickly retrieved!

Off we went again, but this time much deeper into Goshen territory, within sight of the kennels. Hounds chased this fox for better than an hour before giving him best. Forney collected hounds, and we headed for the trailers. It’s amazing how much farther they seemed at a walk than at the gallop.

What a great day to watch this pack of hounds and their huntsman work. Howard County-Iron Bridge’s hounds are Crossbred, but to me they seem a rather unique type.

MFH Scullin is an acknowledged master hound breeder and has worked for decades to produce the type hound that, in his view, best suits his territory. He’s used a significant mixture of Penn-Marydel blood from the leading Pennsylvania hound breeders, with doses of straight American hound blood adding to the major Crossbred lines.

One of their principle sires, Miller, is out of a Goshen bitch and is in turn the sire of our best stallion hound, Midas. The result is a wonderful pack of hounds with great voice and real “packability.”