It's fun living in the heart of Virginia's horse & hound country where you're in good company because so many people are horse-crazy. You don't even have to own a horse to be a part of this unique global community: just nurture a "jones" for genus Equus. Horsepeople are different, but most of them are quite nice.

What does all this have to do with the Rappahannock Hunt? Well, it was a horse-crazy person who decided to build a steeplechase course on his farm in order to revive his hunt club's annual races, which last ran in 2008. On Saturday, March 7, Rappahannock Hunt kicks off the 2020 Virginia Point-to-point season at The Hill, a picturesque farm that lives up to its name, in Boston.

Boston, Virginia that is. The unincorporated community on State Route 522 has the distinction of straddling two counties, Culpeper and Rappahannock. Larry Levy was already hooked on hunting in 1986 when he purchased The Hill, and his land has been a vital and much-appreciated part of Rappahannock Hunt's "country." Levy still rides to hounds, trains a couple 'chasers to support the sport, and now he's hosting the races.

It takes months of preparation, hard work, and dedicated volunteers to put on a day of racing. Over the years, loss of open land, inclement weather that results in horses being scratched from their races and spectators, especially general admission, opting to stay home cozy and dry, and the odd March or April blizzard are just a few reasons why some hunts dropped off the Virginia Point-to-point circuit. For a hunt to resurrect their races after so many years is quite extraordinary. Many reasons leap to mind: nostalgia; point-to-points are a great way to celebrate the end of winter, the onset of spring, a way of sharing why rural enthusiasts live where they do, in spite of the "inconveniences" and because of them — open land means horses, great views and a way of life that gladdens heart and soul.

Hunting and point-to-point racing are quite patriotic and very American. Founding father George Washington was an accomplished horseperson and kept hounds at Mount Vernon. They accompanied him near and far. Whenever hounds took off in full cry on a scent, Washington was right there, cheering them on from the back of his horse.

Horse people are different, and their passion is unbridled when it comes to their sport or discipline. Foxhunters tend to enjoy watching and participating in point-to-points and hunter pace events, not to mention dabbling seriously in other outlets in the world of equestrian competition. But racing cross-country over fences is the ultimate 'craic' (Irish thrill) for many enthusiasts. The spectacle alone is incredible, as fans of Downton Abbey can testify.

"The races have been around since I was a kid. I thought it would be fun to have them at my place and benefit Rappahannock Hunt," Levy said. "I have the ideal site for a course, and the tailgate parking and spectators are higher up with a full view of the course that runs one mile and 120 feet. Timber horses go twice around the outside and one time on the inside circuit. Hurdle horses will jump a course that's 1¾ miles. Good distances for the first races of the season. But I was thinking like a country boy, and it all got a bit more involved than I thought it would. Easy turns and footing are both important for safety reasons. When I found a wet spot on the course, we ended up putting in one-thousand feet of drain tile, which fixed it."

This all got underway about six months ago when Levy called Oliver Brown, senior Master of Foxhounds.

"I've known Larry for 50 years or more. He hunted with me when I hunted the hounds, and that was quite a while ago [1979-2000]," Brown said. "Ever since he bought The Hill, he was all for hunting. He's very enthusiastic and supportive. But when Larry called me and said, let's build a racecourse and have the races again, I wasn't sure how to react. It took a little while for it to settle in. I was surprised at first, and then I started to get excited."

The rest, as they say, is sporting history in the making. Brown, his son Michael O. Brown, MFH-Huntsman, and R. Augustus Edwards III, their joint-MFH, used their powers of persuasion to get new and veteran members on the race revival bus. Aside from unseasonably wet and often warm-ish weather (whatever is up with Mother Nature?), Rappahannock Hunt has received support from within their ranks as well as from the (horse-crazy) community and local businesses.

It's a testimony to the passion and dedication of people who love living in the boonies, who support open land and rural traditions. It's thanks to the landowners who make the sacrifice in profit to protect their properties from being subdivided. It takes enthusiasts like Levy, who put The Hill into conservation easement about ten years ago to preserve his glorious home views for future generations.

Celebrate the rites of spring: Rappahannock, March 7; Warrenton, March 14; Piedmont, March 21; Orange County, March 29; Old Dominion, April 4; Loudoun, April 12; Blue Ridge, April 19; Middleburg, April 26. Local meets that run under rules (National Steeplechase Association) include Middleburg Spring Races, April 18, at Glenwood Park, and the Virginia Gold Cup Races, May 2, at Great Meadow.

For information: rappahannock hunt.com

For the calendar, results, standings and much more: centralentryoffice.com

Info about NSA racing: nationalsteeplechase.com