THE BLUE RUN 



Contrary to the usual preference of Southerners, the members of the Blue 

 Run find that the English hound, with his better manners and more level 

 appearance is best suited to their purposes. This only tends to prove the 

 opinion so strongly upheld by those Masters who have given the English 

 foxhound a fair trial in America and who contend that if properly handled 

 in the field, better sport can be obtained by its use than by using the native 

 product. 



From the middle of September until May the Blue Run hounds go out 

 after fox or on the drag on one advertised day of the week, while frequent 

 bye-days are arranged to suit the convenience of the members and the 

 exigencies of weather conditions. The country is rolling and in places quite 

 mountainous, many small streams and ditches, interspersed with plank, stone 

 and post-and-rail fences, affording interesting jumping. 



There is a great deal of woodland and very little of the country hunted 

 over is under cultivation, which condition seems to rather disprove the con- 

 tention of many southern Masters that English hounds are useless in a 

 heavily wooded country where much of the hunting has to be done without 

 the aid of a huntsman. Scenting conditions are excellent and the Master, 

 who carries the horn himself, is able to show very good sport. Of course, 

 the going is very trappy, and a half-bred horse of quiet disposition and the 

 best of manners is the one best adapted to the country and proves the most 

 satisfactory. 



The farmers are very well disposed toward the Hunt and are often to be 

 seen in considerable number at the meets. Gordonsville and Orange, both 

 within half-a-dozen miles of the kennels, afford excellent accommodations 

 for visiting sportsmen, who are always welcome in the Field. 



