Page 64 - The Hunt - Winter 2024

advantage of a roofed structure to work with, I envisioned an extravaganza that would make the trip to Cheshire really worth the effort.”
Word got out about Duff’s plans, increasing the draw for 2024 by 50%. The guest list included riders from Virginia, Maryland, Arizona, California and even Spain for an event coincidentally hosted on International Women’s Day. “Everybody loves their own hunt country,” says Phoebe Fisher, co-master of Mr. Stewart’s Cheshire
Foxhounds. “Nothing’s more fun than sharing that.”
A Montgomery County native, Fisher came to the area 30 years ago. She had her first experience with Cheshire when she was 13 years old. “I was told to stay right with [the late foxhunting icon] Mrs. Hannum,” she recalls. “I even remember what fence I fell off at.”
As the organizer for the Vixen Hunt, Wilkoski takes great pride in the day.
“I don’t usually take a deep breath until 11 a.m., when I know the rest is up to the hunting gods and the hounds,” she says.
Once the ladies set off, unmounted followers were able to ride around the country in a hay wagon driven by Jamie Hicks of Kennett Square’s Meadow Springs Farm, who also graciously donated his time to the setup and takedown of the event.
Vickie Manning was part of the field this past March. The owner of Greenville’s
62 THE HUNT MAGAZINE winter 2024-25