For the past few years at least (and possibly always, but I only know about the past few years), our Blessing of the Hounds has been the night before Opening Hunt, at someone’s house. Gather, bless, eat a luscious potluck.
I’ve noticed that lots of hunts “back East” have their blessings just before a hunt.
How do you do yours? Do you know why it’s done that way?
Just wondering…
We had our opening hunt this morning and we do it at the hunt.
We hack the hounds over a hill under a beautiful tree, behind a bagpiper. At the end of the hill is all the riders, tally ho wagons etc.
Then the JtMFH/huntsman welcomes everyone, gives a little history of the hunt, introduces all the staff, and then we have a minister that reads a hand painted scroll with the blessing of the horses, hounds, and riders, and tells the story of St Hubert while everyon is presented with a small St Huberts medal.
Then the scroll is presented to a special member of the hunt who has shown dedication over several years etc.
then someone reads a special hunting poem and we all move off.
Our Blessing of the Hounds is essentially a religious ceremony. Any socializing is at the Breakfast after the Meet.
We meet at our kennels, and as a group - huntsman and hounds in front, Master and staff, then the field, trot out smartly down the road to the green. Alongside the road are old homes, very lovely trees, and farms. Very formal - horses braided; you’ll see top hats, shads, etc. Haven’t seen any sidesaddle riders lately but Oooooo - I’d love to see them!
Lining the road are car toppers, residents, guests, landowners.
We arrive at the Green, and everyone, including nonriders - are offered a stirrup cup and a copy of the rite.
The Masters welcome one and all, and express thanks to the landowners and residents for their support. Sometimes someone will be recognized for some reason.
The Priest then starts the rite, which includes a blessing for the safety of the hounds, riders and horses. The riders and guests respond at various points during the rite.
After that we move off back down the road - and go hunting. Following us is a procession of car toppers who all seem to have a great time (and beat us back to the Breakfast!)
This year the Master gave us all a St. Hubert medal, which I thought was a very kind gesture.
last Saturday and at the same time for several years now
with hopefully every one mounted on time for the opening hunt, medals are passed out and empty stirrup cups retrieved, the huntsman brings the hounds up from the kennels to the front of the clubhouse and they are blessed, last minute reminders from the field master and they move off.
then we do a repeat for the local basset hunt who move off in the other direction.
a catered brunch after
scroll down for pics from 2 years ago
http://www.bridlespur.com/
I perceive that many do it on opening day these days, but way back, we used to have the blessing at the Thanksgiving Day meet. Stirrup cup, blessing of all involved in the sport, huntsman on foot w/pack in front of minister, whippers-in giving potential troublemakers in pack the evil eye so they don’t try anything silly. Then, go hunting, in theory keeping the day short (4 hours) so everyone has time to get home and enjoy their turkey late afternoon/early evening-- or, in my experience once, much later, if the menfolk have put the turkey in the Weber grill and then gone off to visit friends, not quite processing that one needs to tend the grill for indirect cooking and add coals periodically.
We do it at opening meet right before we move off. We’ve had the same minister doing it for over 30 years.
Our Blessing of the Hounds ceremony was at the club house, with the riding members mounted. Hounds, Master and Whippers-In up front near the Minister, who is the Vicar of one of the in-town (Episcopal) churches. Also attending were social (non-riding) members, landowners and other ‘friends’ of the hunt.
The Vicar gave a brief history of the Hunt, a brief history of the Blessing of the Hounds tradition, then offered several prayers for the Hounds, the riders, the landowners, etc.
Stirrup cups were offered to all attending, then the hunt moved off to Opening Meet. Formal tea following.
Rick in VA
Ours is at Opening Meet. Our hunt is very casual, but we are asked to braid and turn out formally for this. After the blessing, we run a screaming hot drag. The drag ends with a rendevous with the Tally Ho wagons, and we have a champange break. After hunting, we have a catered breakfast with all the trimmings, sponsored by the MFHs.
It’s a fun day-as much a part of the holidays for me as T’giving and C’mas.
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