Foxhunting is an equestrian sport where a group of riders on horseback follow a pack of hounds as they track a fox through varied terrain and wilderness. The sport originated in England in the 16th century and has been practiced in the United States since the 17th century.
A typical foxhunt begins with the huntsman and his pack of hounds assembling at a meet, which is usually a crossroads or field. The hounds are then released to follow the scent of a fox, which has been laid by the huntsman or another member of the hunt. The riders then follow the hounds, trying to keep up with them as they gallop through fields, woods, and over fences.
The goal of the hunt is to kill the fox, but this is not always achieved. Sometimes the fox will escape, and other times the hounds will lose the scent. In either case, the hunt ends when the hounds are called off by the huntsman.
Fox hunting originated in the 16th century in the form which was practiced legally until 2005 in Great Britain, but it also takes place all over the world, including in Australia, Canada, France, Ireland, Italy, and the United States. In Australia, the term also refers to the hunting of foxes with firearms, similar to spotlighting or deer hunting. In much of the world hunting in general is understood to relate to any game animals or weapons (e.g., deer hunting with bow and arrow); in Britain and Ireland, "hunting" without qualification implies fox hunting (or other forms of hunting with hounds-beagling, stag hunting, mink hunting, drag hunting, or hunting the clean boot) as described here. The sport is controversial, particularly in the UK, where its traditional form was banned in Scotland in 2002, and in England and Wales in November 2004 (law enforced from February 2005), although certain modified forms of hunting foxes with hounds are still within the law, and shooting foxes as vermin also remains lawful.
- Horses: Foxhunters typically ride sturdy, athletic horses that are able to gallop over varied terrain.
- Hounds: The hounds used in foxhunting are a type of scent hound called foxhounds. They are bred to track the scent of foxes and to bay (bark) when they have found one.
- Huntsmen: The huntsman is the leader of the hunt. He is responsible for keeping the hounds in line and for calling them off when the fox is killed.
- Field: The field is the group of riders who follow the hounds. They are responsible for staying safe and for following the rules of the hunt.
Foxhunting - General Information
Foxhunting
Foxhunting - Hounds
Foxhunting - Hunter Pace
Foxhunting Photographers - United Kingdom
Foxhunting Photographers - United States
Foxhunting Associations - United States | International (click here)
California
Georgia
Maryland
Massachusetts
North Carolina
Virginia
- Bedford County Hunt, P.O. Box 65, Goode, VA 24556
- Farmington Hunt Club, 5926 Wesley Chapel Road, Free Union, VA 22940
- Glenmore Hunt Club, P.O. Box 396, Staunton, VA 24402-0396
- Middleburg Hunt, P.O. Box 1025. Middleburg, VA 20118
- Oak Ridge Fox Hunt Club, VA
- Rappahannock Hunt, P.O. Box 315, Sperryville, VA 22740
- Rockbridge Hunt, 61 Hark To Loop, Glasgow, VA 24555
Foxhunting Associations - International United States (click here)
Foxhunting Associations - Australia
Foxhunting Associations - Germany
Foxhunting Associations - Ireland
Foxhunting Associations - United Kingdom
- Albrighton & Woodland Hunt, UK
- Bedale Hunt, Little Fencote, Northallerton, North Yorkshire DL7 9LP UK
- Belvoir Hunt, UK
- Berkeley Hunt, UK
- Bicester with Whaddon Chase Hunt, UK
- Blankney Hunt, UK
- Border Beagle Hound Club, UK
- Braes of Derwent Hunt, Kennel Cottages, Pickering Rd W, Snainton, Scarborough YO13 9PL UK
- Burton Hunt, Riseholme Lane, Lincoln LN2 2LE UK
- Chiddingfold, Leconfield & Cowdray Hunt, Petworth, West Sussex GU28 9LR UK
- College Valley and North Northumberland Hunt, The Kennels, Mindrum, Northumberland TD12 4QR UK
- Cotswold Hunt, UK
- Cotswold Vale Farmers Hunt, Bozard Lane, Gotherington, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL52 9SB, UK
- Cottesmore Hunt, 35 Stapleford Rd, Whissendine, Oakham LE15 7HF UK
- Croome & West Warwickshire Foxhounds, UK
- Duke of Beaufort's Hunt, UK
- Dulverton West Fox Hounds, UK
- Dumfriesshire and Stewartry Hunt, 25 Sydney Place, Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire, DG11 2JB UK
- East Devon Hunt, UK
- East Down Hunt, The Kennels, Drumgooland Road, Seaforde UK
- Essex & Suffolk Hunt, Kennels, Ipswich IP7 5RR UK
- Fitzwilliam (Milton) Hunt, UK
- Glamorgan Hunt, UK
- Grafton Hunt, UK
- Haydon Hunt, UK
- Heythrop Hunt, UK
- Hurworth Hunt, The Kennels, West Rounton, Northallerton DL6 2LN UK
- Isle of Wight Foxhounds, UK
- Kent Hounds, UK
- Kimblewick Hunt, UK
- Kincardineshire Hunt, UK
- Lauderdale Hunt, Trabrown, Lauder TD2 6PZ UK
- Ludlow Hunt, UK
- Meynell and South Staffordshire Hunt, UK
- Mid Devon Foxhounds, Factory Cross, Chagford, Newton Abbot TQ13 8HG UK
- Morpeth Hunt, UK
- New Forest Hounds, UK
- North Cotswold Hunt, UK
- North Shropshire Hunt, UK
- North Staffordshire Hunt, Hill Chorlton, Newcastle, Staffordshire ST5 5JF UK
- Old Berkshire Hunt, UK
- Old Surrey Burstow & West Kent Hunt, UK
- Percy Hunt, UK
- Pytchley Hunt, Fox Cottage, Naseby Road, Haselbech, Northamptonshire NN6 9LQ UK
- Pytchley with Woodland Hunt, UK
- Quorn Hunt, UK
- South Devon Hunt, Denbury, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ12 6EG, UK
- South Dorset Hunt, UK
- South Notts Hunt, UK
- Southdown & Eridge Hunt, Ringmer, East Sussex UK
- Thurlow Hunt, UK
- Tynedale Hunt, UK
- Vale of White Horse Hunt, UK
- Vine and Craven Hunt, UK
- Warwickshire Hunt, UK
- Wilton Hunt, Barford Park Farm Downton, Salisbury Wilts SP5 3QF UK
- Zetland Hunt, UK