Is real hunting dead?

[Vindicated]

An ex-hunter told me that real fox hunting died the day it became and equestrian sport and no longer a field sport. He argues that modern hunters have no interest in the hounds or the actual hunting, but just riding there horse's around the countryside.
He maintains that hunting has been ruined by modern horse people who care nothing for the hunt or the countryside and proper hunting finished before the ban.

Any truth to this?

 

[rosie fronfelen]

An ex-hunter told me that real fox hunting died the day it became and equestrian sport and no longer a field sport. He argues that modern hunters have no interest in the hounds or the actual hunting, but just riding there horse's around the countryside.
He maintains that hunting has been ruined by modern horse people who care nothing for the hunt or the countryside and proper hunting finished before the ban.

Any truth to this?

None whatsoever---

 

[Echo Bravo]

Half/half I'd say, with some people, but the true hound follower 100%

 

[EAST KENT]

How about an apprenticeship of three years following on foot/bike? At ground level you learn a Hell of a lot,on a horse ..well just tagging along behind the rest.Nothing learnt about hounds and scent that way in my opinion.It was always hound work that interested me anyway,and the ways of foxes avoiding them.

 

[tootsietoo]

I see foxhunting (ie foxhounds hunting a trail etc) as two separate activities. There is the equestrian sport, and the hound work. It just so happens that the hound work has the side effect of often creating a great ride across country. Many of the mounted field go hunting for that, or the social chit chat and a day out, and don't have that much interest in hounds. But then there are some of the mounted field, and all the foot followers and car followers who are there purely to watch hounds work with their huntsman. They're both valid reasons for going hunting, and I think most packs need the mounted followers to pay for their upkeep!

I came to hunting originally from a horsey perspective, but what has kept me hunting is the amount there is to learn about hounds and hunting. TBH I think anyone who is really into their horses, cross country and jumping would probably go eventing/show jumping/drag hunting because there is a lot of down time standing around getting cold out hunting!

 

[{51248}]

Was there ever really a time in the past when everyone who went hunting did it just because they liked hounds or liked the core of the hunting ? I always though people went hunting because they liked riding.

 

[SusannaF]

Having read a bunch of stuff about the history of hunting, it's always had an equestrian sport element. Apart from perhaps the days when the hunters just stood in a pavillion and servants drove the deer past. But people were also hunting par force on horseback then. With dogs.

 

[Alec Swan]

What was it Jorrocks said? Something along the lines that:

Some 'unt to be seen,
Some 'unt to get away from their wives,
and Some 'unt to follow 'ounds.

It's always been this way, and probably always will.

Alec.

 

[Enfys]

What was it Jorrocks said? Something along the lines that:

Some 'unt to be seen,
Some 'unt to get away from their wives,
and Some 'unt to follow 'ounds.

It's always been this way, and probably always will.

Alec.

Excellent.

In response to the original question, No, I don't think so.

 

[wench]

I go to go "hunting".

Annoys me the people that just go to go as fast as possible on their horse and get in everyone's way!

 

[EAST KENT]

The main players are hounds and hunt staff,the rest of `em just get in the way!

 

[Festive_Felicitations]

Well I hope to go hunting for the first time mounted on Sept 4th, and while I'm looking forward to the riding aspect, I'm also looking very much forward to seeing the hounds work.

I don't think anyone who follows mounted will deny that it is fun, however that doesn't stop you from also appreciating the hounds.

 

[burge]

I would say that anyone that is interested in hound work has a go at Beagling. Infinitely cheaper (our cap for a visitor is £5). There is no 'field master' so basically you can be where suits you best to see any action. You also don't need a horse as you go on foot so everyone is the same.