In the early 1990’s, Reed’s parents gave his two daughters a horse. The girls started taking lessons; Reed thought it would be a good thing as a father to take lessons as well. He loved riding but became bored with ring work and the horse shows his daughters enjoyed. One day, Reed, who owned a heating and air business, went to fix a boiler at the home of Bob and Barbara Polly which was going to be on a Tryon Homes House tour. The home was outstanding however what really stood out to Reed were the photographs around the house: photos of Bob with Herbert Hoover and with JFK but those that really captured Reed’s attention were of Bob foxhunting.

At this time Reed lived in Hendersonville, NC and didn’t know anyone who fox hunted. That summer Reed took his daughters to horse camp at Cherokee Farm in Tryon. He found out they leased horses at this farm. He made a quick decision. He went to Bob Polly’s house and asked if he could talk to him for a few minutes. Reed asked Bob if he could go fox hunting with him. Bob, who had been friendly before, became a bit standoffish but Reed persisted. Bob finally agreed he would come watch Reed ride his leased horse at Cherokee the next morning. Reed arrived at the farm in the dark. He had to go out in a field full of horses, find the one he had leased, load the horse into a trailer in the dark and drive him down to a road where Bob would be waiting to watch Reed ride. Bob agreed to take Reed foxhunting.. Reed later discovered Bob had taken some friends on a hunt who were less than adept riders. Embarrassed, Bob apologized to the Masters vowing never to let that happen in the future.

Reed rode with Louise Houghston who was leading the third flight. Reed decided to ride in the very back since he had never hunted. That was a mistake. Louise assigned Reed to get off his horse and open and close all the gates. By the time he got back on he had to race to catch up the field. “The worse thing was reversing in the woods,” Reed admitted. His leased horse did not like the change of order but Reed managed to handle him. He thought he had learned a lot that season. He noticed the Whipper-Ins. He thought that would be fun because you go where the Huntsman tells you to go in order to assist the Huntsman to view the game.

He ended up personally building  a home in Tryon. He purchased a Quarter Horse that used to race and told Louise and Bonnie that he would like to be a Whipper-In. “Not so fast,” Bonnie said. “First, I have a stack of books you need to read. Then you need to need to work with our Huntsman, Chip Anderson and walk the hounds with him 4 to 5 mornings a week. Chip will let me know when you’re ready."  Wow thought Reed. This is serious stuff. He read every book from cover to cover and couldn’t wait to start walking the hounds.

After he was made an Honorary Whipper-In Reed recalled a story where they were hunting in the Caroland Farms fixture. They were in Marlboro Bottoms below Jackson Grove Church. Reed was on the south side of Hooper's Creek and heard something over at the Pacolet River. He headed over toward Ken Feagin's place where he caught up to 3 hounds on a huge black coyote. Reed called Chip who had the main pack behind him. After Reed explained his find Chip replied, "Stop 'em." Reed asked, "You want me to stop the coyote or the hounds?" Chip barked, "The HOUNDS!!!"

Reed loved learning and listening to the hounds. One of his favorite hunt horses is Atticus Finch an OTTB who had a good speed rating. Reed bought him as a six year old after more than one person told him not to. It seems Atticus has terrible ground manners. "He bites, he'll kick but once you're on him he gets down to business." He still rides 26 years young  Atticus and is known to arrive at Tryon Hound Halloween parties as the Headless Horseman. A friend of his always held at Boy Scout Camp-Out on Halloween night at Fence which backed up to Reed's farm.  Reed would charge through the dark night Headless on his horse sending the boys diving into their tents with their own screams and howls of laughter.  No one howled louder than Reed. That friends, is Reed McNutt in a nut shell.