A conversation with Richard Emmott, Huntsman
Richard moved to Hamilton from Yorkshire, England in April of this year and recently talked with the Essex County Trail Association about working with landowners, training hounds, and how the hunt is part of the local community here and abroad.
-What brought you to the North Shore?
After 20 years of hunt service in England, I was looking for a new challenge. I had explored the possibilities of America and Australia, and was introduced to the Myopia Hunt by my friend Jim Meads, well known hunting photographer and publisher of hunting photographic books. After coming on interview in November, I simply fell in love with the set up and the country side.
-As huntsman, how do you interact with the landowners who make the hunt possible? (here and back in England)
In England, we hunted across working farms with stock and crops. Because of our service to the landowners we got to know them intimately. All across England, the hunt is the fabric of country communities. Here, I am meeting landowners steadily as we move into formal hunt season for Myopia so we can work with them to keep the countryside open. It's such wonderful countryside and I've enjoyed meeting so many welcoming landowners and supporters of the hunt. But having met so many people in a short period, I sometimes forget a name!
-What do you do for ECTA Trails and Open Areas?
Mowing open fields and helping wherever we are needed to maintain trails is a big part of what we do every day. Mowing normally starts in July and we mow both public and private properties, including parts of Bradley Palmer, for all to enjoy. We build, repair and trim jumps through poison ivy, angry bees and deer flies (which nobody warned me about!!!).
-What is a "drag" hunt?
A drag hunt is where hounds hunt an artificial line and no live quarry is involved. The huntsman has a secret recipe for scent which the hounds find irresistible. Before a hunt, I lay a line for the day. We try to achieve as much voice when the hounds hunt the line as possible, to provide good sport for the field [riders] and followers.
-What is your favorite thing to do on the ECTA trails (besides hunt of course)?
My passion after foxhounds is keeping and breeding border terriers, and I love to take them out on the trails and across the schooling field for a romp.
-Tell us about the hounds.
Hounds' natural instinct is to hunt a live quarry. So, it's quite difficult to get them to hunt an artificial line. We've set up a breeding program to breed puppies each year and introduce them to the drag from the start so they understand to hunt that instead of live quarry. I brought a dog with me from England, Colonel, who is now drag hunting after seven years of hunting live quarry. He's taken to it very well and is a significant part of the future breeding program.
-What do you miss most about England?
I'd have to say I miss my family most of all. I'm gob smacked that the local community here have been so welcoming to me, so I've not really missed anything else about England (except of course a proper English fry-up for breakfast).
-Your parents are visiting in September--where will you take them?
Mum and Dad loved Crane's Beach and visiting the Crane Estate so much they joined The Trustees of reservations on the spot. They followed us when we hunted through Appleton 's the first Saturday of their visit so now they really feel a part of the community.
Read a recent article about Richard in the April/May 2008 issue of Hounds magazine. Richard Emmott, New Huntsman of the Myopia Hunt, Boston, Massachusetts 
For more information on the Essex County Trail Association, please visit www.ectaonline.org.
