Foxhunting Life with Horse and Hound

At home with Cathy and friendCathy Eising has a twenty-month-old foxhound out of her mother’s rescue foxhound, and she works at his training diligently. She writes:

“I am seeking advice on how to raise the foxhound as a family dog, especially off-leash training. Will he ever stop chasing wild things and pay attention to me outdoors? I have done a lot of obedience with him, and all areas are coming well except off leash outdoors. He needs to run and I can't walk fast enough or long enough for him to get properly exercised, so I need to trust that he will come when called under all circumstances (including around deer). I'm very dedicated and work with him every day.”

Paul Striberry on Valentine  /  Erik Olsen photoA reader who we’ll call Easy-Does-It asks Foxhunting Life for advice on how to get her horse to exit the trailer slowly and safely, as opposed to ejecting itself like an equine cannonball.

We went to Paul Striberry, Lilla Mason, and Robinson Duncan for their expert advice. All agreed that this is a problem that needs fixing, yet each individual took a different approach. While the three recommendations are mechanically different, each is sensible, thoughtful, and promises success. Which all goes to reaffirm that there is more than one way to skin a cat! Or civilize a horse.

Bernice Melrose, who lives in Australia, purchased this wonderful photo about three years ago at auction.

“It’s a beautiful vintage photo,” she wrote, “and I would love to know more about it if possible.”

During the off-season is a good time to think about clothing and tack you may be needing next season. Here's one expert's overview of foxhunting style. Specific guidelines may also be found under the Resources dropdown menu above; click on Attire, Tack & Appointments. We'll be talking more this month about some lesser-known yet fascinating aspects of foxhunting attire.

While each equestrian discipline has its own specific requirements for riders’ attire, I am going to desribe the correct terms, style and fit of foxhunting attire. And although specific hunt clubs may dictate individual modifications, there are generally acceptable standards.

Andrew Clarke on his neice's pony, Happy, the latter being the only foxhunter in the photo“As a foxhunter husband, I've never heard why it's called a Hunt Breakfast when it's usually the afternoon when the hunt breakfast is served,” writes a mystified Andrew Clarke from Ontario.

Surely there are many practicing foxhunters equally mystified by this question. For the answer we turned to our resident etymologist, author-editor Steven Price.