Ms. Susan Haldeman
Sue was always drawn to horses but never had the opportunity to have one while growing up. She devised a plan: get a job and buy a horse. At the age of 30 she bought her first horse --- Frank, a Quarter Horse/Thoroughbred cross. Next came her first farm which was in Unionville, PA in the Brandywine Conservancy. Sue was excited to join Mr. Stewart’s Cheshire Foxhounds riding with the legendary lady and Master Mrs. Nancy Hannum from 1990-2017. Many of the hunt members there also rode in steeplechase, 3 day eventing or were flat horse trainers. During Sue’s time there Olympian Bruce Davidson was the Field Master for a while. After years of chipping ice off her water buckets she decided it was time for a change. She and her husband John had both gone to Duke University in NC and had enjoyed the state. They found some beautiful land in the heart of the Tryon Hounds hunt country in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Best of all the winters were mild and the members of the Tryon Hounds were warm.
Sue and Messi, whipping in for Tryon HoundsWhen asked how the two hunts compared they proved vastly different. Mr. Stewart’s Cheshire Foxhounds had thousands of acres of open land. They had a huge influence on conservation. They hunted three days a week and rode four or more hours at a time. Additionally they had mounted hound exercises all summer. Members were allowed to bring novice horses out to get their mounts used to the hounds. But they were much less formal. There were no “colors”. “You could use a folded up towel as a saddle pad if you wanted,” Sue said laughing. “Often we would ride by a farm and shout out to anyone who happened to be there to jump on their horse and join in on the fun. It was very egalitarian."
The Tryon Hounds is much more traditional. They value the history of the hunt. They hunt only a couple of hours twice a week because their territory is smaller and less open. None the less their fixtures are stunning with rolling hills, rivers and ponds and the ever present scenic Blue Ridge Mountains in the distance. She found many new friends in the Tryon Hounds who are from all over. It is a welcoming group who are very active in social activities and fundraising. The weather is lovely too. Sue finally found relief from the ice.
Hunting with Michael and CaylinOne of her favorite hunting memories was when she was on a new horse, Hill Topping with her two young children. They were on a hill where that had a fantastic viewing of a fox fleeing the music of the hounds. The fox looped back and hid underneath a coop. When the hounds raced past the coop, the fox darted out and went the opposite way. A family memory to cherish forever.
Sue served as President for 3 years years and rode as an Honorary Whipper-In for 3 years and now is a Field Master for second flight. She is co-chairing the formal kickoff to the Centennial Celebration “Sporting & Country Life Art How & Gala” --- so save the date: November 8, 2025 at the Tryon Fine Arts Center.
Roberta joined TH in 1994 and was awarded colors on Thanksgiving 1997. She became the Honorary Secretary in 2004 and has been serving in that position ever since. She became the Saturday Hilltopper Field Master while still riding her Tennessee Walking Horse Just Jack. Later when leading the field on Dean’s hand me down OTTB Flashman, the Masters asked her if she would be willing to lead a Saturday only jumping Second Flight. For the first couple of years, it was like the First Flight, jumps were not optional but she made sure to keep her obstacles 2’ 6” and under. However, when Jen Hicks suggested she make jumps optional and Roberta followed her advice, the size of the field tripled! She still leads Second Flight on Saturdays and loves it!