If you care too much
That the bird falls dead
You’ve missed the point
Of the hunt my friend
It’s not about
What’s in your bag
Or hard shots made
On which you’ll brag
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If You Care Too Much
Blog
The Handoff
The year was 1955. Buck Reed had returned home to South Georgia from the war in Europe ten years before and embarked on his career as an all-age handler of pointing dogs as successor to his father, Sam, who had then retired from the same trade, turning his string over to Buck. Sam sadly died a year later of a heart attack, victim of the near universal curse of his generation, cigarettes. Read more
Siblings
“Inheritance brings out the worst in people,” Ben Reach often reminded his friend Sam Nixon M.D. when the old friends discussed the inevitable deaths of their shared patrons (Ben’s clients, Sam’s patients). A prime example occurred when Minnie Blanton asked the curmudgeons to meet with her jointly about a change she wanted to make in her will.
Minnie was the widow of Buck Blanton, long time manager of Tall Pines Plantation, a showplace quail plantation just south of Thomasville. When Buck retired the plantation’s owner rewarded his long service by giving him a modest house and ten-acre curtilage on the edge of Tall Pines, subject to a buy-back option if Buck or a successor in his family ever wanted to sell it. Buck had left it to Minnie. Read more
Turn ‘em Loose
The senior judge
Six feet four
Sits astride his mount
Watches two black scouts
Lead up two pointers
Kneel beside them
Stroke their backs
Whisper in their ears Read more
Thanksgiving Mornings ~ Spices for Farmers
Thanksgiving Mornings
Had special meaning
For me
In my childhood
My father and I rose early
After breakfast of shredded wheat
With sliced bananas
Topped with thick cream
From the neck
Of a glass quart bottle
Of Mr. Gardner’s
Unpasteurized unhomogenized milk Read more
My Favorite Spot on Dixie
Many of us have a favorite spot on Dixie, now Livingston Place.
Mine is just east of the George Evans house. On it surrounded by a low white picket fence rest the gravestones of great Dixie bird dogs and retrievers, field trial and hunting, for Mr. Gerald, Mrs. Eleanor and Miss Geraldine.
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Leonard
I reported my first field trial in January 1995 and my last in January 2022, both at Chinquapin Farm, both the Florida Open All-Age Championship. Many in between all over the continent and every year the Florida. All but a few on borrowed horses. Read more
Revenge of the Cat Woman
Ben Reach had seen some strange rifts on the theme of inheritance greed since in 2011 “Portability” had come into the federal estate tax law.
Under “Portability, “a dying spouse could leave the surviving spouse his or her unused estate tax exemption, for the survivor to use against future gifts or bequests.
Because of “Portability,” some children were now encouraging single parents to marry poor (preferably penniless) candidates in questionable health in hopes of inheriting the benefits of their estate tax exemptions. Read more
Talkin’ to my Scout Horse
Whoa, Dan
My boot’s in the stirrup
Whoa Dan,
There goes our dog
Whoa, Dan
I spur him lightly
Rein him right slightly
He sees our dog Read more
Field Trial Hall of Fame 2024
The HOF results for 2023 are now reported, and before campaigns begin for 2024 I want to name two givers to the sport who are most worthy. They are not wealthy for both were career teachers. But they gave, and gave, unselfishly and effectively, motivated by a love of the game.
They are Brad Harder and John Russell. Brad taught horsemanship and related skills at Hocking College. John taught engineering at Western Kentucky University. Read more