A group of hound dogs lead the fox chase after last year's Blessing of the Hounds at Windward Farm. Tabitha Johnston

SHEPHERDSTOWN — Plans are in motion for the return of the Blessing of the Hounds ceremony at Windward by Lost Acre on Nov. 3.

The ceremony will mark the beginning of the fox chasing season for the New Market — Middletown Valley Hounds, Inc.

“We started doing it at Windward Farm in 2009,” said Master of Fox Hounds Kate Byron, mentioning the land of seven surrounding farms are also used by permission for the hunt. “Sixteen years — it’s pretty amazing!”

Back in 2009, Byron’s family owned Windward Farm. The farm was sold a few years later to Reed Mayer and Misha Van Mecl who, much to the relief of the New Market — Middletown Valley Hounds, were happy to continue hosting the event.

“When we bought Windward Farm from Kate and her family, she had asked if they could continue hunting here, and we said, ‘Of course!'” Van Mecl said. “That’s the last thing we would ever want to do, is stop a tradition that’s been happening here.”

Rev. Gayle Bach-Watson presides over the Blessing of the Hounds at last year's ceremony. Tabitha Johnston

The first Blessing of the Hounds that Van Mecl and Mayer hosted was in 2022.

“I’ll never forget the first time I saw it taking place,” Van Mecl said. “I had just come back from a wedding and was in the barn covered in hay and animal excrement — just gross — and all of these people started showing up! It was a bit of a drizzly Sunday morning and I was left wondering, ‘What’s going on? What’s today?’ And then I realized that it was the Blessing of the Hounds!

“I was mortified, because I was really unprepared. But I did stand and watch it, and it was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen,” Van Mecl said.

The inviting atmosphere of the ceremony sprouted an idea in Van Mecl’s mind and, the very next year, she established a Hunt Brunch to be held in conjunction with the event. According to Van Mecl, part of the purpose behind the Hunt Brunch is to allow the public to learn more about fox chasing in the modern day.

“I think it’s really neat, to show this to so many people like our family that don’t know about this sport,” Van Mecl said. “This is such a fascinating culture!”

A group of attendees socialize together at last year's Blessing of the Hounds on Windward Farm. Tabitha Johnston

According to Byron, fox chasing is the modern term for fox hunting, which used to involve chasing and killing foxes. Today, the sport does not include any brutality and, in fact, provides much enjoyment for all involved: the hounds, the equestrians and, even, the foxes being chased.

“Foxes are extremely clever. There is no coincidence that the phrase is, ‘Sly as a fox.’ They will often play with us, as we follow their scent!” Byron said, mentioning that whole families often participate in the chase. “Sometimes, we are only able to find old trails with a fox’s scent on them — that’s not usually the case, as this is a very foxy area! But when that happens, we still have a wonderful time together, exploring the land with our hounds and horses.”

Van Mecl noted that many community sponsors are helping to bring the event to life this year. Monarch Beauty Lounge will be sponsoring the wine toast, during the Blessing of the Hounds. The Hunt Brunch will feature food by Gypsy Soul Catering, a cake by Bistro 112 chef Paul Stearman and a coffee cart by Amy & Alex’s Homemade Ice Cream & Coffee, with specialty coffee drinks being made in the first hour of the event and freshly brewed coffee being offered throughout the rest of the day. A large tent with seating will be set up at this year’s event, since there is limited seating in the historic house built in the 1830s on the property, the James Marshall Byron Home.

“It’s so cool to have it incorporate the house now,” Byron said of the event. “We never did anything like that, when my family lived here.”

Tickets to the Hunt Brunch can be purchased online, at https://windward.farm/product/huntbrunch/.