Weekly Spotlight on Members

Spotlight on Tryon Hounds Members, past and present as part of our Centennial Celebration

Mr. Don West - Professional Photographer and Road Whip

Don Camera IMG 4626 After retiring from the State of South Carolina, Don began photography as a hobby. He hired a college photography instructor to give him instruction and tips on using a digital camera. In no time he became adept and began photographing a variety of subjects. He remembered seeing the Tryon Hounds at the Block House Steeplechase and wanted to photograph the action of foxhunting since he had always been intrigued by the sport of fox hunting. Don had hunted with hounds all his life; initially with beagles as a kid and later deer hunting with hounds in eastern NC. He contacted the Tryon Hounds and asked if he could attend a hunt and take photographs. 

He was invited as a guest and rode in the car with Anita Williamson who was Road Whipping for the Tryon Hounds at the Meadows of Campbell Creek fixture in 2011. He enjoyed an exciting morning in the beautiful countryside listening to the music of the hounds. As a bonus he also met a lot of nice people, enjoyed a traditional Hunt Breakfast and took a few photographs.

He decided to join as a social member. When Joint Master Bonnie Lingerfelt saw some of Don’s stunning photographs, she asked him if he would take photographs and help her publish the Tryon Hounds calendar the Hunt used as a gift to landowners and as a fundraiser. It was lucky for the Tryon Hounds that Don agreed. He said the opportunity to photograph the action, the beauty and pageantry of the sport was a plus! The social activities and the down to earth members made him feel welcome. He has helped publish 15 calendars since. Many of his phenomenal photographs have appeared in magazines including “Chronical of the Horse” and the national foxhunting magazine “Covertside”.

DonWest 25During a hunt in 2013 the hounds went across the river and out of country (hunt area) so Don assisted with stopping the hounds. He was later asked to be a Road Whip along with his already established role as the official photographer. His motto is … the safety of the hounds first and photography second.

Road Whips are responsible for following the hunt by car and help the Huntsman keep the hounds safe and in the area being hunted. Don and other road whips track the hound’s GPS collars to learn the location of each hound and report to the huntsman by radio when necessary.

When Beth Blackwell was hired as the new Tryon Hounds Huntsman the Hunt’s President at the time, Becky Barns, had enticed a reporter to come write an article about the Tryon Hounds new Huntsman and she wanted Don to provide the photography. Beth had only been in town one day when Don and the reporter showed up at the kennels for the interview. As soon as Don saw Beth, he introduced himself and began photographing her and managed to get some excellent shots. Don later apologized to Beth for the ambush and assured her he wanted to work with her to insure he did not disrupt the hunts. Don also told her he had heard she did not like to be photographed and jokingly said “You have to get over that” Beth responded, “That’s what the Masters said”. To this day Don doesn’t know if Beth got over being photographed or just tolerates him.

Don is always the first one to arrive on hunt day and the last one to leave and never without all the hounds accounted for. We suspect Beth admires him for his dedication even if he stalks her like a one man paparazzi. Don has since retired as their official photographer to concentrate fully on being a Road Whip to the hounds.

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Ms. Shanna Mauldin – Honorary Whipper-In

shanna1As a kid, Shanna was bird hunting off horseback when she witnessed a foxhunt hacking by in formation, and at that moment, she knew it was something she wanted to do someday. Years later, Shanna was eventing on a hot off the track thoroughbred that wasn't working for her. She met a couple whose wife was eventing and also fox hunted. The husband, Darren Haeusler, was from Australia and turned out to be the Huntsman for Whiskey Road Fox Hounds in Aiken, SC. He liked what he saw in Shanna's OTTB and offered to give her a mentorship and membership with Whiskey Road Fox Hounds in exchange for her horse. She took the deal.

The couple took Shanna under their wing.  Shanna had never fox hunted before and was thrilled to finally have the opportunity. They taught her about turnout and the etiquette of foxhunting. Darren rode her horse like the wind - a perfect match and a good deal for all.

"I learned so much from them," Shanna said. "There was no such thing as a blank day. We were always on game, we did not know that it was any other way. We were all in our late 20's, having a blast."  At this time, Shanna lived in the coastal area of SC so the drive to Aiken every weekend was long "but so worth it!" Later on, was approached to help start a hunt closer to home. While she hated leaving Whiskey Road, it was an opportunity she could not pass up. In 2006 she became a founding member and staff for the Lowcountry Hunt.  “It was a painful time,” she admits. “We had to get the territory, build a pack of fox hounds, find sponsors, build kennels ---it was exhausting. But we got it done! "

In 2010 she was blessed with having a daughter, Sophie Martin.  When Sophie was several months old, Sophie in her car seat, was a regular passenger in the hound truck. A young lady that rode Shanna's horse and when without a horse, would truck whip and keep an eye on Sophie. One time Shanna got an urgent call from her on the radio, "You need to get back to the truck right now. Bad diaper! Bad diaper!”

shanna2When Sophie was 5 she got a pony of her own and began hunting off a lead line with Lowcountry Hunt and Middleton Place Hounds. "I no longer had a name," Shanna quipped. "I was simply 'Sophie's mom'." Sophie grew up learning to crack her whip, blow a hunt horn, and ride her pony to the hounds. "And outfitting her was the best, with all the tiniest hunt habits," remembers Shanna. "We maneuvered through quite a few ponies, each one teaching her more about hunting."

One fond memory was when Shanna brought a new hunt horse home. Six year old Sophie ran out of the house full of eager excitement to meet the new gelding. As Shanna was taking the him off the trailer, Sophie said, “Oh mommy, you have a beautiful new horse. What’s its name?” Shanna replied, "Hudson." Sophie grinned and said, “Husband? What a cool name!”

In 2020, Shanna and Sophie moved to a farm in Tryon and the Tryon Hounds became their new family. They were so happy and welcoming, especially Beth Blackwell, who took Sophie under her wing, making Sophie into a Junior Huntsman."

Shanna's favorite memory with Tryon Hounds the opening hunt in 2023. "The Mercer line of hounds were screaming," Shanna exclaimed. "My horse, Hudson, was bearing down when suddenly he stopped and planted his feet. "I was trying to see what he saw. Then I saw something sitting at the base of a tree. It looked like --a cat?...Then I realized it was a bobcat. It took my breath away." Still engrossed in this private viewing, Beth Blackwell  called in on the radio wanting to know where Shanna was. Shanna whispered back, " Tally Ho...bobcat...and he is heading straight for the pack!"