Kennel Staff
Michael Edwards and Alan Foy are the full time staff who take care of the hounds. As you may have guessed, they clean the kennels and feed the hounds daily.

Sounds easy but there is a lot more to their job than chores. Hounds, like people, have individual personalities, tend to gain or lose too much weight and sometimes have unique health issues. Just like human athletes, they develop aches and pains. However, unlike humans, they can't ask for help when they need it or verbalize their emotions as effectively as humans.

Michael and Alan have to know each hound's personality as well as their physical dispositions to effectively manage them in and out of the kennel. The staff must know which hound tends to be dominant, which lean towards shyness, which groups get along well, which groups do not play well together, etc. For instance, some hounds are always active while others tend to lay around when they are turned out. So Michael and Alan are constantly watching for the slightest change in a hound's behavior or physical state in order to take action. The staff tries to catch illness or lameness in its early stages so they can treat the problem before it becomes a serious one.

FEEDING isn't to be taken lightly. The staff members must stand during this time in order to allow the thinner, less aggressive hounds in first to eat, then gradually allow the other hounds into the yard to get to the feed trough. Maintaining a proper weight and nutritional balance is a daunting task but a necessary one. Without a properly fed and maintained hound, you will have a poor performance from these athletes. As the saying goes, "The hounds must be happy in the kennel before they can go out and show great sport in the hunt field."

During the summer, hounds are exercised twice daily and are taught to work as a pack, to answer the horn and the commands of the Huntsman. They are also taught to become accustomed to the horses and riders. All of these duties are required to maintain a pack of hounds.

IROQUOIS is lucky to have such a competent kennel staff. We thank Michael and Alan for their hard work, dedication and love for the hounds.

A Kentucky Tradition
Visitors, by appointment, are welcome at the Iroquois Hunt Club Kennels presently located on the Miller Trust Farm. The converted tobacco barn houses 64 active hunting hounds and 19 retired foxhounds plus a few neighborhood strays that are up for adoption. Hounds were moved from the kennel owned by the hunt club several years ago when it was discovered that Blastomycosis was in the soil. The hunt decided to move the hounds to higher ground to protect their health until a vaccine is developed.

The everyday routine of each hound includes several hours of playtime in 20 acres of fenced pasture and woods that surround the south side of the barn. They sleep restfully at night, cozily piled on top of each other. It has been said that hounds must first be happy in the kennel before they can perform well when hunting. Everyone who visits the Iroquois hounds in their kennel can't help but smile at the sight of such happy dogs.

 Iroquois Hunt Club - 2439 Grimes Mill Rd, Lexington, KY 40515