Mr. James Ritchie, Jr., MFH

Jim grew up showing Hunter Jumpers in Roanoke, Virginia. After law school, Jim and his wife, Evelyn, settled in Greenville, SC. As soon as he could, he began fox hunting with the Greenville Hounds; however, when Evelyn was in the late stages of her first pregnancy, she insisted that Jim start wearing a baby beeper in the field in case she went into labor. Jim, always practical, decided this might be a good time to take some time away from foxhunting.

Jim was soon busy raising his growing family, serving as a SC State Senator and Majority Whip, and building his own law firm, Ritchie & Associates, which specializes in equestrian law. After a 25 year break from horses, Jim decided it was time to get back in the saddle. A year later he joined the Tryon Hounds, and in 2023 when Dean McKinney retired as a Master (but still rides as as an Honorary Whipper-In), Jim was asked to take Dean’s place as Joint Master.

Jim’s favorite horse was Statesman, an 18-hand Cleveland Bay “super star”. Evelyn had never been a horse girl but she does enjoy the social side of the Tryon Hounds. At the first Hunt Breakfast she attended, Dean introduced himself to Evelyn. Dean smiled broadly and said, “We are so pleased to have Jim hunting with the Tryon Hounds. And he’s so well mounted!”

Evelyn, who has a wickedly dry sense of humor, cocked her head and with an ironic air said, “Thank you???” Her remark was one for the books.

It meant so much to Jim when he received his colors from the Tryon Hounds. “They Tryon Hounds sets the standards for traditional hunting, and it is a joy  to support and be a part of this wonderful group of foxhunters.” Having a passion for conservation, he appreciates thatTryon Hounds still hunt on private lands with 8 different fixtures nestled all around rolling farm land, rivers and ponds in the beautiful hills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

His favorite recent memory was riding with fellow Joint Master, Nelson Minnick, at Caroland Farms when a grey fox suddenly appeared on the trail not 50 yards away. Tally ho!

Mr. Nelson Minnick, MFH

Nelson was rather late to become an equestrian. He may not have had many
opportunities to ride when he was young but he certainly enjoyed riding in a western
saddle. He was drawn to sales at an early age from going door to door to sell tickets to
the Boy Scout exposition, expanding his paper route from 50 subscribers to over 120 or
selling books for three years during the summer in Texas to pay for his education.
He moved on to bigger fish once he was married with a family. He wound up living in
Huntersville, just north of Charlotte, where his then wife Pam homeschooled their
daughters. As part of their lessons, both girls joined a 4H club. One day the Club had a
guest speaker from the Yadkin Valley Hounds. Soon the girls and their mother decided
fox hunting was the coolest thing around. The young girls shared a horse and fox
hunting became their weekly Physical Education course. Nelson supported them in
every aspect but remained on the sidelines.

When the family moved to Hendersonville they joined Tryon Hounds with the all the girls riding to the hounds. Nelson was attending most functions and got to know the riding members who were constantly encouraging him to take some lessons and give it a try. He did and absolutely loved it. By 2005, the entire Minnick family was riding with the Tryon Hounds!

He ended up serving on the Board as Treasurer, Vice President and twice as President. Back when the Hunt had their own horse show, Nelson along with a group of volunteers would prepare barbeque for all the Exhibitors including making their own home made hush puppies. In addition, he headed up the Tryon Hounds Hunter Pace that the club sponsors twice a year with typically over 125 riders f rom all across North and South Carolina and Tennessee as well. When asked how he did all that with a demanding career he replied, “It’s my pleasure to serve and work with so many talented people. They make my job a lot easier.” He also credits one of his mentors, Bonnie Lingerfelt for instilling the importance of fundraising in him. “Bonnie is so astute at implementing ideas into events.” He points out that is expensive keeping 40-50 hounds in the kennels.

In 2022, Nelson was tapped to be Joint Master along with Bonnie and his other fine mentor, Dean McKinney. When asked what he thought the most important message was about the Tryon Hounds Nelson beamed and said, "Tradition! Just think about it. Thanks to Carter Brown the Tryon Hounds are celebrating 100 years. I think he would be proud of all of us."