"Tot" Goodwin calls in hounds after a good day's sport.
Photo by Erik Olsen - www.erikolsenphotography.com
Table of Contents / Foxhunting
By Lauren R. Gianninin
Born Jefferson Goodwin in Georgia and known as "Tot" around the hunting world, he spent two decades whipping in and winning many prizes in equestrian competitions. In 1990, the masters of a hunt founded in the Carolinas two years earlier convinced Tot to help them train their pack and establish a breeding program. Tot took to his assignment with his trademark enthusiasm and passion for hounds and hunting: he even brought some of his own, whose bloodlines are part of the foundation of today's pack. Tot became a permanent fixture as huntsman at Green Creek/Greenville County Hounds. In 1997 he added a new title to his curriculum vitae when he became master of foxhounds.
Tot is well-respected for his ability to hunt a pack heavily influenced by July bloodlines as well as for his talents and skill for training hounds and field hunters. Over the years he taught many youngsters about the art and science of hunting. As the first black master of foxhounds and one of several huntsmen, he serves as a great role model for horse-crazy African-Americans. Tot feels that hard work, honesty and determination can overcome any obstacles in your path. The leader of the pack understands his hounds very well and, like a good parent, knows how to channel their drive.
Sidelines: How did you get started hunting?
JTG: I hunted ever since I could walk. My dad and everybody had night hounds and beagles - it was in the family. My brother Bennie, who was 20 years older than me, used to work for Mr. [Ben] Hardaway. We went out on foot with the hounds. I was 19 when I got a job grooming horses for Mr. Hardaway. I guess I was about 20 when I learned to ride to go foxhunting. I had my own pack ever since I met Mr. Hardaway, and I got my first professional huntsman job when I came here 18 years ago.
Sidelines: Who influenced you as a huntsman?
JTG: Mr. Hardaway, of course - but about 30 years ago I met Elsie Morgan. She was huntsman for the West Waterford in Ireland and I met her here when she came over to visit. I went over to visit her and whipped in to her. She taught me a lot, no doubt about it. She had a great influence on her hounds and they really listened to her and knew exactly what she wanted. No doubt about it, the Irish are crazy when they ride cross country, but Elsie was great with those hounds.
The most important thing I learned from her: get the hounds to like and respect you. You can't go overboard with them. You have to know when to back off.
Sidelines: Who was your most memorable hound? Most memorable horse?
JTG: I loved a hound named Simon - he was a Crossbred with a lot of July. Simon was always out there working. He was always giving good sport, and he always came through for you. When the scent isn't good, some hounds don't want to try, but not Simon. July hounds are real hunters.
My greatest horse was Bubbles - I lost her in that fire. [In 2001 Tot lost six horses and a pregnant foxhound: at the time he said that they were like his children and part of his life, because they'd been together so long.] Bubbles was a Thoroughbred and looked like a warmblood. She had huge feet like a Clydesdale, a big Roman nose. The hounds loved her. No matter who rode her, hounds went right to her. One of the whips was riding her one day when we lost the pack, but they found Bubbles. When the whip came in all pleased with himself, I told him, "It's the horse, not you!"
Sidelines: What kind of foxhounds are you breeding now?
JTG: We have young Crossbreds with a lot of July - they're puppies of a hound called Willie that we picked up in Kentucky. They can be hard to deal with, because they're really shy. You got to have a lot of patience, but they have drive and cry like you wouldn't believe. We have a lot of coyote - they're really taking over down here. That's one reason why I went back to July. I learned it from Mr. Hardaway - 70 per cent of the hounds in his pack back then were July hounds. They're such great hunters, and they can be hard to break off deer. They're too smart sometimes. They really like to run something that can run, like coyote, fox and deer. I've got 40 couple in my pack and they're pretty much deer proof.
Sidelines: What's one of your best hunting memories? Anything left on your list of 'things to do'?
JTG: A few days ago [before Christmas] we ran a red fox about 20 minutes from the time hounds jumped him till we put him to ground. That fox was 40 feet in front of the pack the whole time - oh my God, it was something, believe me! He made it to his own den. I've been running this family of fox for about 10 years. I hadn't hunted that area in a long time, but we happened to go back in there the other day. It was about the most exciting 20 minutes I've ever seen.
Hopefully, I'll hunt for another 10 years at least - and it won't be long enough! I'm finally learning how to do it right. I got hooked when I was eight and hunting my beagles. I'm so grateful to be doing what I love. I got to travel and see a lot and that's where you learn your lessons: you see things you might not like, but you take away what you do like. It's been great and I want to keep on hunting hounds as long as I can.
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