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Monday, February 17 2014 / Published in Sidelines Spotlight

What Does the Fox Say?

Illustration by Alex Long.

Illustration by Alex Long.

We aren’t sure what the fox says, but foxhunters say, “Tally Ho!” Learn all about the thrill of foxhunting from a rider who is hooked on the sport.

By Doris Degner-Foster

The “music” of baying hounds is heard throughout the woods. The riders move off at a gallop and you try to watch for jumps through eyes beginning to water from the wind in your face. Ahead of you and the field master, the huntsman is blowing his horn to encourage the hounds. You wonder vaguely how anyone can hold reins and a hound whip and still manage to blow a horn while riding a horse this fast. You are too busy to do anything else but hold on and keep up, and you try not to think about what might happen at this speed if your horse puts a foot wrong. The realization that you are smiling widely is suddenly clear as you taste mud in your teeth, kicked up from horses ahead of you. You have instantly become hooked on this sport.

I wish I could simply tell you about foxhunting, but the emotions get in the way and refuse to stay quiet. Foxhunters are an enthusiastic, passionate group who share a physical toughness, a love for animals and the land, and they just seem to have a kind of zest for life.

Everyone in the hunt field is on equal footing, literally and figuratively. Those riders who have kept up and are still on their horse at the end of a hard, fast run share mutual respect. Author and Master of Oak Ridge Hunt, Rita Mae Brown has said, “The great thing about hunting is someone worth a few million dollars might be riding right next to someone who makes twenty-three thousand dollars a year, and no one cares. Foxhunters cut across ethnic and class lines, all professions, all ages. It doesn’t matter how rich you are, you still have to ride the horse, and you can’t buy your way over the fence.”

The field of riders of Harvard Fox Hounds returning from an opening hunt. Photo by Lisa Jewel at artbyjewell.com

The field of riders of Harvard Fox Hounds returning from an opening hunt.
Photo by Lisa Jewel at artbyjewell.com

Families often ride in the hunt field together with the youngest members on ponies being ponied, or led from another horse by a parent. At the Devon Horse Show, there are classes where families compete together. Foxhunting is a sport anyone from kids to retirees can enjoy.

The sport of hunting with hounds has existed in the United States since the 1700’s. George Washington kept a pack of hunting hounds at Mount Vernon where Thomas Jefferson was often a guest. Hunting parties there are said to have lasted for weeks on end. At present, the Masters of Fox Hounds Association, the governing body of foxhunting in North America, lists 159 registered packs in the U.S. and Canada. There are also many unregistered informal packs, known as farm packs, throughout North America. Foxhunting is also known as fox chasing, which is a more accurate name since foxes are not hunted and killed, only chased.

The individuals riding with the hunt are led by a field master who keeps up with the action so that riders may watch the hounds and even possibly get a glimpse of the fox or coyote, an event in which it is proper to shout, “Tally Ho!” Foxes are chased in the eastern part of the U.S. and coyotes in the Midwest and western part of the U.S. The first field master follows the huntsman who, with the help of other staff members called whippers-in or whips, follows the hounds as they seek the scent line of the fox or coyote.

The first field is also known as first flight because it can seem like flying when galloping fast to keep up with the hounds. Most hunts have a second field, which moves along at a slower pace and doesn’t jump, and some hunts have an even slower group known as third field. Riding in second or third field is also known as hill topping and a good place to begin foxhunting. The second field master can often point out the action and explain what is happening if they are not too close to the huntsman or first field. Conversation is not allowed in the first field since it is a distraction to hounds and the huntsman, who is listening for the hounds to “open” or begin baying when they find a scent.

An advantage to foxhunting is that horses learn to carry themselves over uneven terrain at a gallop and to deal with any hazards on their own. At times, too much interference from a rider can actually be counterproductive.

An experienced hunt horse can be depended upon to think for himself and is well equipped to carry a rider over unfamiliar terrain at speed. Former world champion eventer Lucinda Green would often take her young horses hunting. Galloping in the hunt field as part of a young horse’s schooling can make him safer to ride in the cross-country phase of eventing. Horses learn to react quickly on their own if they come across unexpected situations, instead of waiting for instructions from a rider. In the hunt field, it is common to see a master or whipper-in galloping along on relatively loose reins as they are blowing a horn or talking on their radio to other staff members, leaving it up to the horse to pick the safest way over the terrain.

People who foxhunt are sometimes older individuals from varied backgrounds. Many have come into riding later in life or from other horse sports, and they all share a physical toughness, a deep love of the outdoors and a thirst for thrill. People in their 60’s, 70’s and even 80’s enjoy hunting. The option of riding in second or third field ensures a place for a rider of almost any skill level or ability. A sense of humor helps, too, especially during those times when mud is flying, or when one lands unexpectedly in the dirt.

With the love of nature, foxhunters tend to be conservationists. The most obvious reason being that if they were not, there soon wouldn’t be land upon which to hunt, but there is more than just that. A foxhunter cares deeply about the land and the wild animals there or they wouldn’t spend so much time out in it. It is common for hunt masters and staff to monitor the welfare of foxes on the land where they hunt. They sometimes put out dry pet food for them, occasionally with wormer in it to protect the health of the foxes.

Many hunters who own land have set up conservation easements through the Land Trust Alliance where the land continues as farm or ranch land permanently and cannot be developed. This is especially helpful on tracts of land that are under intense development pressure in the eastern part of the U.S. The landowner continues to own and manage the land subject to the restrictions contained in the conservation easement.

The social aspect of the hunt is very important as it heightens the excitement when others are also present to see the fox or coyote, and to watch the hounds working the line of scent. The experience is often relived during the hunt breakfast, a meal eaten after the hunt regardless of the time of day. Hunt breakfasts can range from elaborate affairs in manor houses with crystal, silver and china to tailgate picnics in the field. Regardless of the setting, even when people are from different generations and backgrounds, sharing the thrill of the hunt and laughing together about mud spattered faces has been the basis for many lifelong friendships.

About the writer: Doris Degner-Foster lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma and rides with Harvard Fox Hounds when she is not interviewing interesting individuals in the horse sport. She also enjoys writing fiction and is working on a middle grade book series about teenagers who ride horses and solve mysteries. Doris also writes the “Notes From The Field” blog on the Sidelines Magazine website – don’t miss it!

 

Harvard Fox Hounds hunt club following hounds. Photo by Michael Foster

Harvard Fox Hounds hunt club following hounds.
Photo by Michael Foster

 

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Tagged under: Alex Long, Doris Degner-Foster, foxhunting, sidelines-magazine, What Does the Fox Say, What is Foxhunting

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Marie Meyers has been around the world because of Marie Meyers has been around the world because of dressage, but it’s her farm in Moorpark, California, that has captured her heart. The farm and the business that thrives there represent Marie’s lifelong journey—a journey made up of good friends, spectacular horses and relationships made to last.

Marie was raised in Southern California, and spent her childhood playing just about every sport under the sun, but she didn’t discover riding until she was 14 years old. “I loved animals so much, so I started taking lessons. I did jumping at first, but I was very bad at that, for sure!” Marie laughed.

After some time, Marie moved on to take lessons at Foxfield Riding Academy and began riding dressage. “I fell into dressage by accident,” Marie said, “At the beginning, I thought it was extremely boring, but then I got hooked. By the time I graduated from high school, I had plans to travel to England to work for Franz Rochowansky, a former head of the Spanish Riding School.”

In 1988, Marie’s hard work paid off, and the pair was selected as alternates for the 1988 Summer Olympic Games. “They didn’t take the alternates that year, so we didn’t go to Seoul, but the experience, the training and the European Tour afterwards set me up for the 1990 World Equestrian Games in Stockholm, Sweden,” Marie said.

In addition to having success representing her country, Marie was busy with her life—marriage, a business, teaching lessons and clinics. 

Learn more about Marie in this month's edition of Sidelines Magazine. Click the link in our bio for more 🦄

📸Photos by Lindsey Long Equine Photography, www.lindseylong.com

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We are starting a ‼️new series‼️ here on o We are starting a ‼️new series‼️ here on our socials where we share some of the lovely stallions, and their breeders featured in each month's magazine. Our first feature on this #STUDSunday is...

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Contact Cheryl Maye at (703) 431-9096 for more information
https://www.mayeshowponies.com/more-info/stallions

You can find ALL of the stallions featured towards the back of the magazine in the equestrian gallery. Keep a look out EVERY Sunday for a new handsome STUD muffin🧁 and don't forget to subscribe to get your very own edition of Sidelines Magazine, the magazine for horse people, about horse people 🦄

📸  SAS Equestrian
‼️ROB JACOBS COLUMN‼️ The purpose of this ‼️ROB JACOBS COLUMN‼️

The purpose of this month’s column is to help the young equestrians of our sport develop and maintain healthy friendships within the industry. Cultivating healthy relationships with other members within the industry is not as easy as one may think. As a young equestrian, it may be difficult navigating friendships at the barn and at horse shows. Typically, kids have friendships within the barn they ride at but also friendships with others from different barns in their area. 

Initially, it may seem as though making other friends in the sport would be easy and ideal; after all, there is the common interest of horses. However, because of the natural therapeutic benefits of horses, the sport has a history of attracting all types of people, with a wide range of personalities. This can be both an advantage and a drawback. We are now in an era that acknowledges the growing need to discuss and manage one’s mental health. 

One thing I have learned is that we are likely to notice mental health challenges at an age younger than most people may think. Some of the friendship dynamics I have observed over the years have caused me to pause and really think about the future of our sport. Without looking for a source to blame for the cause of this, i.e. social media, parents, school, teachers, etc., I think if all adults involved worked to encourage, affirm, love, and respect our youth, the likelihood of them developing authentic friendships with their peers may increase.

Both humans and horses were designed to have connected relationships. These relationships allow a greater sense of security when one experiences challenges in life. Cultivating the quality and authenticity of these relationships requires intentional work. 

Thank you Rob for providing your helpful insight on developing healthy relationships. Check out his tips in his column you can find in the link in our bio.
Never miss a story by subscribing to Sidelines Magazine🦄 

Photo by Blenheim Equisports

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