Mrs. George Hughston, Jr. (Louise), MFH

A memorial tribute to Louise Hughston

Louise was a nurse by profession and her family had a horse farm in Spartanburg, SC. When Arthur Farwell retired as Master of the Tryon Hounds, Louise was tapped to become a joint Master. Louise and Bonnie were a team from the start. Louise instantly picked up Bonnie’s love of the hounds after Bonnie confided that the current kennel was full of “hounds gone wild.”

The first thing they did was to bring in Robert Ashton as their new Huntsman and with him came some of his American hounds. They rebuilt with an eye for breeding and soon had 15 Couples (or pairs).

The two women recognized each other’s strengths. Louise was a treasure trove of information on what a traditional hunt should be and she recognized that Bonnie had an uncanny sense of business and marketing skills and knew she would be the one who could reorganize the hunt. While Louise went after new members, Bonnie assembled a Board that was responsible for the financials, the buildings, and the social events with creative fundraising ideas including launching the Tryon Hounds Fall Steeplechase.

Ivey Sumrell first hunted with the Tryon Hounds in 1972 as a young college student. “Back then they rode road flat out,” Ivey recounted. “Louise was leading first flight. I had ridden before but had never hunted so I stuck close to Louise. We were on River Road near Carriage Row when Louise exploded into a gallop. We continued at full gallop 4 miles to Scrivens before we stopped. Louise turned to look behind her and I was the only one there. What a hoot!”

Dean McKinney, who would one day become a joint Master of the Tryon Hounds, was fond of saying “Louise Hughston could cuss you out with a smile on her face. Everybody loved her.”

Louise is missed by so many but we know she is still watching over her precious Tryon Hounds. You will be hearing more memories of Louise including how she got her nickname as “The Big Weezer.”

Mrs. Charles Lingerfelt (Bonnie), MFH

How could someone with no connection to horses take one ride that would catapult her into a lifetime in the hunt field?

Bonnie's first hunt horse Fred.  With Smithtown Hunt.

“It’s simple,” Bonnie said. “I hunted with Master Dr. Arthur Fredericks at Smithtown Hunt!”

Bonnie believes her greatest contribution over her 55-year riding career has been mentoring others and supporting the centuries-old traditions of foxhunting. 

She recalls her very first ride with the Smithtown Hunt on Long Island. Their strict Master, Dr. Arthur Fredericks —an equine veterinarian who hunted until age 91—was small, wiry, and famously formal. If a braid was not perfectly done, you were dismissed from the field.

When Bonnie arrived that day, she was astounded to see 100 riders mounted in the field. Master Fredericks led them on a drag hunt that included a jaw-dropping 54 fences. Bonnie was a natural, continuing to learn from some of the best of the best. Dr. Fredericks also introduced her to live hunting with the Cheshire Hounds, the Piedmont Hounds, and the Middleburg Hounds—and she was completely hooked.

While taking lessons with Harry deLeyer (the famed horseman who turned his $80 plow horse, Snowman, into a legend), Bonnie’s path took another turn. Harry knew of ideal foxhunting horses for sale in Landrum, South Carolina. The Holmbergs (C.W.(Bud) Holmberg and Bonnie (now Lingerfelt)) and Harry DeLeyer flew into Fairview Farms and met Anthony (Tony) Wallace, the farm’s manager and professional horseman. Like so many others, they were captivated by the area. Not only did they buy horses—they decided to relocate.

Bonnie on her favorite hunt horse, SpikeAt that time, the Tryon Hounds had only five members. Rebuilding the club became a central focus for the new arrivals. Then-Master Arthur Farwell asked Bud to serve as Joint Master, and the work of reviving the Tryon Hounds began.

Over the years, Bonnie hunted with Tryon Hounds huntsmen Spencer Bumgardner, Robert Ashcom MFH, Charles “Chip” Anderson, Jordan Hicks, and Beth Blackwell. She led First Flight for 10 seasons, served as President of the Tryon Hounds for 11 years—during which she launched the Tryon Hounds Fall Steeplechase—and in 1993 became Joint Master with her dear friend Louise Hughston.

Today, Bonnie’s devotion to the sport is every bit as strong as when she first followed Dr. Fredericks out with the Smithtown Hunt in New York.