Our Club

Green Mountain Hounds is dedicated to the sport of fox hunting, fostering a spirit of camaraderie and a deep appreciation for hounds, horses, and riding through the countryside. Whether you’re an experienced hunter or new to the sport, we invite you to join us for thrilling hunts, warm gatherings, and lifelong friendships.

History 

The second iteration of the Green Mountain Hounds was founded in 1999 out of the desire to put fox hunting in our own backyard. Suki Flash introduced Elaine Ittleman, Christa Kemp, and Katherine Dudley to fox hunting with North Country Hounds in 1996. After a few years of rising at 3am to get to the 8am hunts in the Upper Valley, Elaine said “We should start our own hunt. How hard can it be?” In 1999 Elaine, Christa, and Katherine traveled to Virginia to apprentice for a week with Albert Poe and to take home a pack of hounds from the Loudoun West Hunt. Dee Mackey, the huntsman, gave us 7 hounds to form what we then coined, the Few Hounds Hunt. As the pack grew to more than a few, we connected with area members of the original Green Mountain Hounds to ask permission to reinstate the name. We received resounding approval and so it began with Masters of Foxhounds Registration in 1999 and Recognition in 2001. 

John Teal of Huntington, Vermont offered the first fixture for our hounds to hunt. John marveled at our undertaking. As a member with colors of the Millbrook Hunt he knew what was involved to establish and grow a hunt club. He couldn’t have been more encouraging. To recognize his early support we chose teal green and gold for our hunt colors.

Elaine Ittleman, with the devoted support of her husband Frank, became the Master and Huntsman of the club. She housed the hounds at her home where she and Frank cared for them for 10 years. Elaine built a pack of enthusiastic, strong hunting hounds and a club of devoted, joy filled followers. She then asked Terry Hook to join her as a Joint Master. His assistance in managing the pack and the club was a welcome and well received addition. 

Elaine breaking her leg while hunting precipitated the hounds moving to a new kennel at The Equestry in New Haven, the stable owned at that time by Kate Selby. Kate volunteered to hunt the hounds while Elaine’s leg healed. The shift suited Elaine, so Kate held the horn and kept the kennel for the next 10 years. When Elaine decided to step down as Master of Foxhounds she and Terry offered the role of Joint Master to Christa Kemp. She held that position from 2017-2021. When she stepped down she nominated Martina Lussi who held the role for the  2022 and 2023 seasons.

In 2018 Kate Selby stepped down from the huntsman position. The kennels were moved to Wishful Thinking Farm with Jill Wade stepping in as Kennelman, Meghan Welch taking on the role of Huntsman, and Chris Dayton the role of First Whipper In. 

In 2024 the club created By-Laws and chose a Hunt Committee governance model. The membership elected Chris Dayton, Roger Pedersen, Peg Racine, and Krista Oldroyd with Anna Paritsky serving as Hunt Secretary and Deirdre Quinn serving as Hunt Treasurer. That committee appointed Christa Kemp Master of Foxhounds. The club currently has 8 couple of hounds in kennels, an honorary staff of 6 whippers-in, a dedicated fox, and loyal, enthusiastic club members of all ages.

photo Eric Schneider

People

Honorary Huntsman:  Meghan Welch

Honorary Fox: Betsy Cartland

Honorary Whippers-In: Chris Dayton, Elaine Ittleman, Deirdre Quinn, Peg Racine, Roger Pedersen, Terry Hook, Emma Welch

Master of Foxhounds - Christa Kemp

Former Masters: Elaine Ittleman, Master Emeritus; Terry Hook, Master Emeritus; Martina Lussi

Hunt Committee: Chris Dayton, Chairman; Anna Paritsky, Secretary; Deirdre Quinn, Treasurer; Roger Pedersen, Peg Racine, Krista Oldroyd