Guy Cooper, Our Huntsman

Born in the United Kingdom in 1968, Guy grew up in rural Wales where he developed a love for animals, particularly dogs and horses. This love is still with him today, as strong as ever.

Guy’s introduction to foxhunting came when the Master of the local Carmarthenshire Hunt of Wales brought his pack of hounds to the tiny, local school Guy attended to teach the children about hunting. Guy was eager to learn more and, at age 8, attended his first fox hunt. Soon

Guy could name all the hounds in the kennel. Noticing Guy’s interest, the Master granted “permission” for the boy to help the huntsman in the kennel. From there on school holidays were spent with hounds and hunting, with the occasional day of school missed!

Guy remained involved with the Carmarthenshire Hunt throughout his school years until he joined the Royal Navy. He completed a tour of 11 years, serving aboard the now-retired Polaris nuclear submarines, HMS Repulse and Renown. Guy met his wife, Heather, on the hunting field. He applied for honorable discharge from the Navy in 1997 and tried running his own business. But he soon realized that his heart was in hounds and hunting. He and his family moved to Ontario, Canada, where he took over as huntsman to a new pack, the Beaver Meadow Foxhounds. Guy hunted this new pack for several seasons, getting it recognized by the Masters of the Foxhounds of America and building up a reasonable membership.

He accepted an appointment as huntsman to the Bear Creek Hounds in Moreland, Georgia in January 2002.  Once again, aiding in the preservation of the sport of foxhunting, Guy was instrumental in getting yet another pack of hounds recognized by the MFHA when the Bear Creek Hounds were recognized in 2003.  Under the auspices of Guy, the Bear Creek Hounds have proven to be an extraordinary pack in Georgia.  Guy credits the success of the Bear Creek Hounds to “My wife for all her tolerance of my ways and to the staff that do such a good job of supporting what we do; and of course it is an immeasurable help to have a Master that is passionate about the hunt itself and the hounds.   Without the trust that exists and the support, we wouldn’t have got past square one.”

In his spare time, with the complete support and encouragement of Hal and Linda, Guy has pursued aviation (his second passion) as a means of recreation and holds a U.S. commercial Pilot certificate for both single and multi-engine aircraft.  In addition he has an instrument rating which allows him to undertake flight without any outside visual reference.  “I never really considered aviation either as a pastime or second career, but with Mr. Barry’s support I took the plunge and began learning.  The joy of flight is a real tonic and there are few things more rewarding than hearing the wheels squeak gently onto the tarmac after a perfect flight!”  to another assignment.