No, I’m not talking about the Rita Mae Brown books. I’m talking about non-fiction books that are good ole educational and reference material for Foxhunting such as “The Science Of Foxhunting And Management Of The Kennel”. Since there aren’t many out there, what are some of the “gems” you’ve discovered on the shelves. I’m well aware of the few good reads about Melvin Poe and the books that focus on the historical aspect of the sport but there doesn’t seem to be much (I only found another title apart from the one I just listed) about the substance behind the sport. Just wondering what else might be out there that I haven’t been able to find.
My BO/Trainer used to fox hunt and she has an extensive equestrian library, I’ll ask her if she has some titles.
In the meantime, I’ve seen two rentable DVDs at BarnSweetBarnDVDs:
http://www.barnsweetbarndvds.com/?action=films%2Fsearch&truncation_operator=1&filter_search_for=fox
One was filmed in Ireland and the other is Britain, but they look interesting. I’m not a fox hunter but they’re in my queue to rent later on 
Eileen
Someone needs to make things like that for the American crowd. I think there might be a small market but enough to make some money.
I’d also be interested in such recommendations…especially interested in how hounds are trained and managed, and books about the hunting aspect itself - habits of the quarry, strategy for different terrain and conditions… if there are any such books. Maybe most people learn that stuff by personal experience?
It would seem that many learn by personal experience as the older reference material isn’t published anymore. I got lucky having found that the bookseller actually reprints copies of older books like the one I gave in my initial post.
I imagine there are some very interesting antique books. Where did you get that one you mentioned?
It’s available directly from Borders. I had no idea they actually reprint books. They have a series of historically significant but out of print texts that they duplicate for those who have interest in older books that are no longer published otherwise.
My personal fave is 'Hounds for a Pack by the Comte de Vezins (sp). Also Beckford’s Thoughts on Hunting. Mackay-Smith’s ‘Foxhunting in North America.’
If I remember when I get home tonight, there is a link to free downloads of all sorts of marvelous books from 19th and 20th centuries.
Also check out Derrydale Press, they specialize in hunting and sporting books. Here is a random link, might be some better links out there.
This publisher has a good selection; http://www.readcountrybooks.com/
The Unwritten laws (!!)
http://www.readcountrybooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=8&products_id=81
“This extremely scarce and unusual little book was first published in London at the turn of the 19th century. Its author intended it to be of benefit… “ to those with a lamentable amount of ignorance with regard to what you may do and what you may not do out hunting.” Its content remain as relevant to foxhunting today as yesteryear.”
And of course; http://www.jorrocks.com/books
USA; http://www.huntingsociety.org/foxhunting.html Has a section on books.
just my 2 cents…
Try contacting Jenny Young at Horse Country Saddlery here in Warrenton, Va. She’s in charge of the book (new/antique/used) section and really knows her stuff. They sell all manner of horse/hunting/training/everything books!
I like Foxhunting in North America too. Classic!
I forgot to ask Trainer, but it looks like you got some good recommendations and sources. Probably the same ones she’d come up with.
Eileen
Don’t forget beagling!
I’ve got a lovely book called “Thoughts on Beagling” by Peter Wood. 1938. Very enjoyable read. Beautifully illustrated, only light foxing.
Another good one is “Beagling and Basseting, A Primer for the Field”, by james Fagan Scharnberg 1973. Another good one. 
This one has a terrific picture of Melvin Poe with his cow horn, and photos of all the basset and beagle packs that existed in the US in the 70’s.
Lex - remember you have an open invitation to cap with Ashland Bassets as my guest.
JS - check out the Read Country Books link - lots of stuff for you !
Oh boy. I just heard my wallet unzipping itself. Sigh…
I just did a quick search on the Open Library
and with the keyword “fox hunt” there are 35 scanned books (all old - Pre 1920’s)
and 190 book titles.
keyword “fox hunting” brought back 212 scanned books and 769 book titles.
They do have 27 scanned Nimrod books, (he was the Andy Beyer of his time for the 1800’s hunting scene)
worth a look at esp. if you want to see older out of print books.
Here’s an antique…
Hunting by Scent by H.M.Budgett. Its a study of scent, very interesting, very out of print, very hard to find, I have a copy to sell. :yes:
That Open Library is pretty nifty but you really need a big monitor to enjoy it. Found all sorts of good titles there that I wish I could print out.
Speaking of hound training and Budgett’s book
You might want to check out Full Cry: A Hound Blog, which features a lot of information on training foxhounds and beagles for hunting pack work. The blog is fairly new (has been up since July) and so far has focused on the Iroquois Hunt and the Clear Creek Beagles in Kentucky, but there is also some stuff from England. There also is a post that discusses Budgett’s Hunting By Scent, as well as links to a fair number of hunts and to hunting texts available for free online.
Regarding the OP’s query on training, the most relevant posts to date regarding training appear to be the following, and several of them include video.
Hound’s Life: Summer Walk:
http://houndwelfare.wordpress.com/2009/07/05/hounds-life-summer-walk/
Hund’s Life: In Dog We Trust:
http://houndwelfare.wordpress.com/2009/07/15/in-dog-we-trust/
Becoming Leader of the Pack:
http://houndwelfare.wordpress.com/2009/08/04/leader-of-the-pack/
Lord Henry Bentinck on training:
http://houndwelfare.wordpress.com/2009/07/19/guest-blogger-lord-henry-bentinck/
The post about Budgett on scent is at:
http://houndwelfare.wordpress.com/2009/07/27/theres-nowt-so-queer-as-scent/
As for hard-to-find antique hunting books, you might try John and Judith Head’s sporting bookshop in Salisbury, England, at http://www.johnandjudithhead.co.uk. I do know they are out of Budgett, unless they’ve found another one, because we bought it!
Happy hunting!
40 years ago, I was taught that the cornerstone of the sportsman’s library consisted of:
Beckford’s “Thoughts on Hunting”
Vyner’s “Notitia Venatica”
Radcliffe’s “Noble Science”
Beaufort’s “Foxhunting - Theory and Practice”
and, for those of us benighted colonists - Wadsworth’s “Riding to Hounds in America”
And, for my money, these are still the ones to read first.
Except for this last, all these were published in the 17 and 1800s, but when it comes down to a pack, a fox and horses trying to keep up, not a lot has changed.
Many of these books can be found in reprints for not lots of money.
