Fox Hunting Photos

[AKCH]

We don’t actually hunt a fox but the club still follows all fox hunting traditions. Makes for a fun ride. We usually have anywhere from 50-70 horses depending on the weather and the location of the hunts. Such a blast and wanted to share photos from our last one.
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First time over this log was easy. Second time we were over achievers. The photo below was the second time through.

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[Polydor]

Fun! Looks like. Beautiful day for a ride. Where about is this?

P.

[AKCH]

I put a quick video from the weekend. Went out on cross country with some friends.

https://youtu.be/mAafpIhYx5Q

[skydy]

You don’t hunt with hounds then?

[RiderInTheRain]

Looks like beautiful country! Would love to see some photos of the hounds too!

[AKCH]

No our Fox Hunting club does not use hounds, and we don’t chase a fox either. We still dress up in hunter gear, braid etc. We have hunt masters and follow all the same rules-except we have pre-arranged cross country routes that our hunt masters leads us on. We still gallop in big groups through the country side cantering and galloping for 2-3 hours but definitely no hounds and no actual hunting of an animal. We have a prize at the end of each hunt for the best dressed horse and rider combo and offer a fox tail as a prize. That’s the extend of that though.

[skydy]

@AKCH

No our Fox Hunting club does not use hounds, and we don’t chase a fox either. We still dress up in hunter gear, braid etc. We have hunt masters and follow all the same rules-except we have pre-arranged cross country routes that our hunt masters leads us on. We still gallop in big groups through the country side cantering and galloping for 2-3 hours but definitely no hounds and no actual hunting of an animal. We have a prize at the end of each hunt for the best dressed horse and rider combo and offer a fox tail as a prize. That’s the extend of that though.

That sounds fun but what you are doing is not “hunting” in any sense of the word, without hounds.
A hunt by definition hunts with hounds, they may hunt scent (aka drag hunting) while not hunting the actual animal, but hounds are required if you are a “hunt”. You have a prize, that is a fox tail, for best dressed?

Calling yourselves a “hunt” and saying that you “follow all fox hunting traditions” is silly. The basic “tradition” of hunting is hounds! You are not “hunting” in any sense of the word, and out of respect for the tradition (and basic meaning of the term) you really should think twice before calling yourselves “fox hunters”.
“Mock hunting” or “pretending” perhaps?

Nice that you are having fun riding together across country though, nothing wrong with that.:yes:

[AKCH]

@skydy

That sounds fun but what you are doing is not “hunting” in any sense of the word, without hounds.
A hunt by definition hunts with hounds, they may hunt scent (aka drag hunting) while not hunting the actual animal, but hounds are required if you are a “hunt”. You have a prize, that is a fox tail, for best dressed?

Calling yourselves a “hunt” and saying that you “follow all fox hunting traditions” is silly. The basic “tradition” of hunting is hounds! You are not “hunting” in any sense of the word, and out of respect for the tradition (and basic meaning of the term) you really should think twice before calling yourselves “fox hunters”.
“Mock hunting” or “pretending” perhaps?

Nice that you are having fun riding together across country though, nothing wrong with that.:yes:

LMAO you are the prime definition of a keyboard ninja. You had such an “educational” response that made me giggle. I would love to redirect you to the Calgary Hunt Club I am part of and send them this post. Thanks Kido Yazaemon aka:skydy. Hopefully your keyboard didn’t catch on fire when you typed up your response.

[skydy]

I’m sorry if I’ve offended you. Perhaps I am behind the times and you will bring me up to date on how you are able to “follow all fox hunting traditions” without hounds, which are the basis of fox hunting. I don’t mean to be obtuse but I don’t understand why you say you are hunt when there are no hounds. Perhaps calling a riding club a “hunt” is a thing and this is just the first I’ve heard of it?

In the western U.S. hunts pursue coyote. There are drag hunts everywhere. The quarry needn’t be fox, or even live, but hounds are essential or a “hunt” it is not.

Again, there is nothing wrong with dressing up and having a good ride across the country in company but in my experience that has always been called a riding club.

[xeroxchick]

Not trying to be negative about your trail ride, but yeah, that is not following the traditions of fox hunting and quite frankly makes me very sad. The hound work is the most important part.

[RiderInTheRain]

I agree - the hound work is the most important part of hunting. And I say that as someone who very much came to hunting thinking of it as really just an excuse to ride at speed in open country. But I had the good fortune to join a small hunt who encouraged my interest, got me hooked, and encouraged me to become quite involved. Now, as a very amateur whipper-in of a few seasons, I’ve come to appreciate that the hounds are really the stars of the show and the rest of us just along for the ride to appreciate their hard work, instinct, and skill! There is something that is just magic about hearing the hounds voice on a good line (whether it be wild game or drag) that raises the hair on the back of your neck, makes the honest hunt horse underneath you tremble with excitement, and sends a shot of adrenaline through both of your hearts that just can’t be duplicated in a cross country ride.

I think any that efforts to keep open spaces available for riding and get folks out to enjoy them on horseback are worthy and I’m glad you and your club are having those experiences. Your photos and video make it looks like a really fun group and time. I was in your area last year for a family wedding and didn’t know such a group existed! Looks like fun to either ride or spectate should I find myself there again in the future

[Polydor]

I had friends out on that ride . Looks like a blast!

P.

[skydy]

Riding across country is fun and I’m all for it. :yes: However, when someone says “here are my fox hunting photos” one really does expect to see hounds.
“We’re following all fox hunting traditions” ? No, obviously not. They are missing the very basis of why the “traditions” exist IE. hounds.
It is great to ride across country and have fun, but it will only confuse others when people call what they are doing “fox hunting”, when it clearly isn’t.
The sport is an old one OP, and it shows a lack of respect for the traditions you seek to follow, when you take it upon yourself to redefine fox hunting, as you have here.

I think it’s great that you are doing what you are doing, and it looks like a very good time, but it is not fox hunting.

[trubandloki]

I will leave the discussion about hunting to others.

OP, I enjoyed your photos. It looks like a fun time out riding - hunting or not hunting.

[Equibrit]

Somewhat delusional. Makes nice cocktail party chat though.

[babecakes]

I agree it’s not fox hunting, better try on the eventing post. I was naïve on my terminology too when I was young. I said I rode for someone when in reality they just let me ride their horse .

[Equibrit]

More like it; https://youtu.be/9u2Ox-nOxss

[skydy]

@babecakes

I agree it’s not fox hunting, better try on the eventing post. I was naïve on my terminology too when I was young. I said I rode for someone when in reality they just let me ride their horse .

It should have occurred to me after the OP’s “keyboard ninja” response to my post, that the OP was young. I was thinking that perhaps OP was an adult being mislead about what activity he/she was participating in.

I know what a ninja is, but not how it translates to keyboards. It must be derogatory, but since I’m not a ninja, keyboard or otherwise, I’m amused enough by my “ninja” status that I won’t google to find the definition.

[AKCH]

Absolutely the hunt master is never passed. I think what you are looking at is one of our other field masters who make sure everyone stays together and no one gets left behind. We usually have 3-4 of them in each hunt.

As for the Fox Hunting rules we are not in the UK folks. I think you need to relax and take a deep breath and appreciate what other clubs do to try to put together something that is done in another country. This is the way it’s done here and they can’t beat people over the head for not showing in a hunt coat if they don’t have one, or using/not using certain types of leg wraps.

Please take a deep breath and appreciate it for what it is. Some of you are jumping on the attack train for no good reason. This IS what fox hunting is here in Canada and with this club-they do the best that they can to engage new and current members to be part of what is a tradition in the UK(and obviously on PAR with what it should be there being it’s where it’s originally from). This is a fabulous club and they do an amazing job.

[trubandloki]

@AKCH

As for the Fox Hunting rules we are not in the UK folks.

I do not believe most of the people commenting here are from the UK either.