The Genesee Valley Hunt (GVH) Race Meet enjoyed what those in the know considered nearly ideal weather – a gray day of temps in the low 60's with a passing morning shower. Ideal weather, that is, for horses galloping over a 1 1/2 mile undulating turf course, canines competing in various flavors of competitions or accompanying their owners threading through crowds of strangers in lieu of being left home for the day, and delicious tailgate … [Read more...]
Valley Horses: The Race Is On! The Hunt Is On!
Apparently there are rumors going around that The Race or The Hunt has been cancelled due to the heat and hard ground from lack of rain. I always have to smile a bit at this time of year when I am asked when The Hunt is. By this, people usually are referring to one of two events. The first is the Genesee Valley Hunt (GVH) Opening Meet on the last Saturday in September at about 7:30 a.m. when staff, hounds, and hunt subscribers process … [Read more...]
Valley Horses: GVH Horse Trials Foster Team Spirit
This year’s Genesee Valley Hunt (GVH) Horses Trials on Nations Road in Geneseo added a new element for its 62nd annual competition – the Donald T. Holland Memorial Team Challenge. Donald Holland was a longtime supporter of both the Genesee Valley Hunt and eventing. A man of not just words, but action, he even organized these very horse trials for several years. This year, local Olympian Darren Chiacchia (pronounced Cha-Cha), who earned a team … [Read more...]
Genesee Valley Hunt an important tradition
Established in 1876, the Genesee Valley Hunt has only gotten better with age. Major Austin W. Wadsworth was the first Master of the Hunt and when he took over, the pack of hounds were brought each time by members of the hunt. This caused chaos as the hounds would not hunt together and would only answer to their own master. As a result, he developed his own pack of cross-bred hounds and within fifteen years, the Genesee Valley Hunt was considered … [Read more...]