They Ride to Hounds Near Solon-

Foxhunt Now Part of Local Scene

By Tom Irwin, Iowa City Press-Citizen, Friday, November 29, 1964

Any Iowan strolling through the woods near the Coralville reservoir area near Solon would expect to find natural beauty, wildlife or perhaps even a bushy-tailed fox.

What the stroller would not expect to see would be traditionally jacketed, helmeted riders mounted on hunter-jumper horses, riding to hounds in pursuit of that particular fox.

The fox wouldn't be surprised at all, however, because he's gotten used to such goings-on lately. He vanishes in the distance leaving the bewildered passer-by to rub his eyes in wonderment as the magnificent thoroughbreds flash by. Members of the hunt shout things as they pass-things which to a non-foxhunter, sounds like some sort of foreign language.

The Newport Hunt of Newport Township, headed by Mrs. Fritz Coester, of Route 2, has been riding to hounds (never to THE hounds) now for about two years. In foxhunting circles, Mrs. Coester is known as Betsy Coester, M.F.H.

"M.F.H." means Master of FoxHounds, and the hard-earned title is honored internationally.

Mrs. Coester's M.F.H. Classification is registered with the Masters of Foxhounds Association of America in Boston.

She organized the Newport Hunt as such in 1962. Betsy, originally from Maryland where she says she grew up with horses, moved here with her physicist husband in 1951. The couple and their four children live on 100-acre farm northeast of Iowa City. Mr. Coester, now with the Argonne laboratories in Illinois was a professor of physics at the U of IA for several years.

He commutes to Iowa City on weekends and shares his wife's love for quality horses, but has little time to spend on them because of his nuclear research activities.

The organized foxhunts used to originate from the Coester farm, but this year leave from Sugar Bottom stables operated by Mr. and Mrs. Donald Coulter.

Coulter, 28, says he has learned a lot about formal foxhunts since working with Mrs. Coester. He and his wife, Linda, are both "honorary whippers-in" of the hunt.

The Newport Hunt whether cubbing or hunting in earnest, fulfills a definite purpose. Mrs. Coester describes it as the enjoyment of riding, the thrill of the chase, the enjoyment of good country and good company, and the schooling of horses.