The Woodbrook Hunt Club is the oldest fox hunting club west of the Mississippi River, according to author and horseback riding enthusiast Joy Keniston-Longrie. She gave the history of the club to about 50 members of the Lakewood Historical Society during a recent meeting at the Lakewood Library.
The author explained that the club doesn’t actually hunt foxes. Instead, a rider drags a fox – scented sack (or some other animal scent) across the ground. The hounds follow the scent thinking they are chasing an animal while the riders follow behind.
Keniston-Longrie’s new book, Woodbrook Hunt Club, is available from area book stores (Amazon.com link), at the Lakewood History Museum and other sites.
The book not only covers the history of the club from its beginnings but goes all the way back to the introduction of horses to the area by natives. Packed with photos, the book shows the buildings where today’s club started, the various names it used from the beginning and the community leaders who were principals in the club.
Before the speaker got started, Becky Huber, president of the Lakewood Historical Society, told the crowd attending the meeting that as a result of recent fundraising activities the museum would remain open at its present site in the Lakewood Colonial Center.