The Essex Foxhounds Masters Chase is always a fun fall happening at Natirar in Peapack, with races for everyone, whether you have a stick horse or a thoroughbred, and lots of tailgating.
But Covid has taken another competition from us, as the chase was just cancelled. Essex Joint Master Jazz Merton explained, “Fox hunting has been incredible lately; we are so, so fortunate to have been able to get outside enjoying the countryside sport in these difficult times, where quarantines, social distancing and avoiding big group gatherings have kept us from our normal activities.
“The Natirar race day that benefits the Countryside Alliance of the Somerset Hills is a very family-oriented day,” she said. Explaining the cancellation, Jazz added, “We just felt that the family tailgating experience would be too risky with the exposure and would potentially compromise our safe enjoyment of this wonderfully social celebration of our sport.”
Instead, Essex is offering a chance for riders to enjoy another hunter pace as they have added one Oct. 25 to the schedule at Cedar Lane Farm on Homestead Road in Oldwick. For more on Essex, go to www.essexfoxhounds.org.
Other paces this fall include the Monmouth County Hunt’s themed outing starting at their hunt kennels, 50 E. Branch Road, Allentown. The final pace in its series Nov. 1 offers thoroughbred challenge awards and a tailgate contest. All jumps have go-arounds.
There are three divisions, with the fee $55 for adults and $35 for juniors. Both English and western riders are welcome, with protective headgear, of course. For more information, go to this link
The Spring Valley Hounds’ hunter pace is Nov. 1 in Allamuchy, Warren County. There are six divisions, including a “fossil” section for which the ages of the two riders on a team must add up to 110. The fee is $50 per rider. Teams go out from 9 a.m. through 12:30 p.m. For details, go to http://www.springvalleyhounds.com/hunter-paces.html
There’s a grand prize of $500 for the best performance in two of the three Spring Valley paces this year.