Emily B. Cornelius, recipient of the Hornor Foxhunting Scholarship, with Karen Kressenberg as they prepare to go cubbing with the Hillsboro Hounds

The Ann Eidson Horner Foxhunting Scholarship was recently given to Emily Cornelius who, as a result of this award, will be hunting this year with the Hillsboro Hounds in Tennessee. Emily is a freshman at Middle Tennessee State University and a member of Cedar Hills Pony Club and though new in the field, has shown enthusiasm and dedication to foxhunting.  Emily has raised and trained several American Quarter Horses and now studies Centered Riding when she is not hunting or at her college activities.

The Ann Eidson Hornor Foxhunting Fund was established in 2008 by Annie Mahr (nee Lou Bayly Hornor) in memory of her mother, for whom it is named.  Mrs. Hornor was raised in Markham, Virginia and hunted from age 4. Her husband, Colonel John “Jack” Hornor, a West Point graduate and career military officer, founded Mells Foxhounds in 1964 when he moved to North Alabama and was one of the first to bring the sport to the area. Karen Kressenberg, a former Master of the Mells, is the administrator of the Fund which is to be awarded annually. The purpose of the fund is to enable a junior rider who otherwise would not be able to afford this experience to foxhunt for a season. This is accomplished by the Fund paying a selected junior’s hunt dues for one year.

Annie Mahr commented “Mom and Pop both were especially interested in nurturing young riders, which I think is evidenced by the photograph Karen and I have of the first Mells opening meet field …. it is almost all kids!!”

For more information on how to nominate a young person for the award, or to make a donation to the fund, please contact Karen Kressenberg at 5260 Campbellsville Rd, Pulaski, TN 38478.  Karen can also be contacted through email at kkressenberg@bellsouth.net.  Nominations should be received by August 1st for consideration in that year’s award.