I’ve been interested in going Fox Hunting for a long time but figured it was more of an East Coast/Europe thing that I would never have a chance to participate in. I was wondering if anyone here on the BB knew of Fox Hunts in California (preferrably Northern).
TIA
Santa Ynez Valley, a bit south of you,
I’ve got to put in a plug for Red Rock Hounds, just north of Reno. http://www.redrockhounds.com/
They’re a great group to ride with if you’re just trying the sport out–nice little B&B you can stay right across from the kennels, terrific livery horses, great companionship, and incredible country. I make it from Monterey in five and half hours, so you could probably get there from the Bay Area in no more than four.
I’ve heard only good things about Los Altos Hounds, too, and hope to hunt with them one of these days, but I don’t think they’re quite as well set up to accommodate newbies as Red Rock is.
Seriously, go. You won’t regret it.
Down south, there’s also West Hills Hounds and Santa Fe Hunt
http://www.westhillshunt.com/
http://www.santafehunt.com/home.htm
Los Altos Hounds !
I am a newbie to fox hunting and my mare is too. The Masters and members at Los Altos Hounds could not be any nicer to us. They have also been super supportive and given enough direction the times we’ve been out that we had a safe, fun time. I have only been able to go out a couple of times but the places I have been able to go with them have been amazingly beautiful and all the accommodations well thought out.
I haven’t been with Red Rock but I hear wonderful things about them as well.
Enjoy !
West hills hunt in chatsworth also.
I understand there’s one in Marin county as well, though I have no personal knowledge of it.
[QUOTE=poltroon;4811666]
I understand there’s one in Marin county as well, though I have no personal knowledge of it.[/QUOTE]
I am pretty certain that is Los Altos. They ride in Marin too and there was an article about them in a Marin magazine a while back.
I saw a picture on here last year of someone hunting in CA at a fixture in Sloughouse (near Rancho Marietta). That is close to the area where I grew up and I was just wondering what hunt has fixtures in that area.
That’s Los Altos Hounds
[QUOTE=iechris;4813322]
I saw a picture on here last year of someone hunting in CA at a fixture in Sloughouse (near Rancho Marietta). That is close to the area where I grew up and I was just wondering what hunt has fixtures in that area.[/QUOTE]
I third the nice feedback about Los Altos Hounds. Don’t let the name fool you - they go all over the place from Central CA to Northern CA.
I’ve done many events with Los Altos Hounds and would love to try foxhunting someday. But for now, I’ve joined in several Hunter Paces and Team Chases. What a great group! Very welcoming and always encouraging newbies.
The Hunter Paces are a great way to get starte with them. Meet the members, have a blast “trying out” some cross-country obstacles and enjoying a potluck afterwards. There’s even a Hunter Pace they do every summer with an “Intro To Hunter Pace Clinic” in the morning, then lunch, then the actual Hunter Pace. I always go to that one.
Let me know if you want more info, I can share the schedule and I’d love to meet you at one of the events someday.
Fox hunting is an activity involving the tracking, chase, and sometimes killing of a fox, traditionally a red fox, by trained foxhounds or other scent hounds, and a group of followers led by a master of foxhounds, who follow the hounds on foot or on horseback. Fox hunting originated in its current form in the United Kingdom in the 16th century, but is practised all over the world, including Australia, Canada, France, Ireland, Italy, Russia, and the United States. In Australia, the term also refers to the hunting of foxes with firearms similar to spotlighting or deer hunting. The sport is controversial, particularly in the UK, where bans were introduced for Scotland in 2002, then for England and Wales in November 2004. Proponents see it as an important part of rural culture, useful for conservation and pest control, while opponents argue that it is cruel and unnecessary.
I have been trying to get out with Los Altos since Ginny Hunter was the MFH. Whenever I contact them, they are super helpful. I did go to their polo clinic a few years ago and had a blast. I think they hunt near Sacto, Gilroy and Marin. The kennels are south I believe.
I’m interested in this too, but in Southern California (I’m in Burbank). I would need a place where I could rent or borrow a horse, because although I think my guy would be ok eventually, I wouldn’t want BOTH of us to be out there for the first time 
Southern California hunting with bloodhounds
My family owns a bunch of bloodhounds that we use for police work. We were thinking of hosting a drag hunt at our nonprofit ranch as a fundraiser for domestic violence programs. Do you think people would be interested?
What a fun idea!! If I wasn’t on the east coast, I’d go in a heart beat. I understand some hunts in England use the same type of hound. They send out a cross country runner early in the morning and then release the blood hounds and then follow on horse back. I believe they are called a clean boot hunt. If you go to Horse and Hound bulletin board you may be able to ask how they arrange it to make a successful day.
Best of luck, and I’m sure like many others here, and I’d love to hear a report on how it works out.
Thanks for the great ideas and the encouragement! I’ll definitely post an update. Also, our ranch’s website is www.flipflopranch.com If you subscribe to the newsletter then you can keep up to date with everything going on.
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