Foxhunting
Foxhunting has been a popular sport for nearly 500 hundred years, although today it probably has as many supporters as it does opponents. In order to understand the issue from “both sides of the fence,” it is important to have an understanding of exactly what foxhunting and its different types consist of, and of the history surrounding the sport in general. Foxhunting is steeped in tradition and social class values, and, right or wrong, the fact that our history is so unquestioningly linked to it means that it has helped to shape our cultures to varying degrees.
Foxhunting by definition is the hunting of red foxes using hounds and typically hunters on horseback. Originating in the United Kingdom in the late 16th century, foxhunting involves the chasing, grounding or treeing and often the killing of a red fox or similar quarry. Foxhunting began as a method for farmers to kill what they considered pest and nuisance animals- namely red foxes and coyotes or other feral canids. Foxes often practice surplus killing, which consists of the animal killing more livestock or poultry than it could possibly eat in one feeding. Often, a red fox will kill up to a dozen chickens in a single night, though they typically only escape with one bird. Naturalists argue that this is because a fox is regularly interrupted in its kill, whereas if left undisturbed the fox will eventually remove, store, and eat all of the animals it kills. Because of this surplus killing, rural citizens in England took readily to any form of eliminating the pest, and thus the sport of foxhunting was born.
Foxhunting involves the specialized training of hounds from birth to pick up the scent of foxes and follow them as long as possible over varying and often difficult terrain. Riders on horseback follow closely behind, led by a Master of Foxhounds and a number of other staff members, junior hunters, and spectators. Usually tracking and chasing lasts from between 20 minutes and 2 hours, with the end result being the escape of the fox, the loss of the scent, or the grounding, treeing, capture, and possible killing of the animal. When captured directly by the hounds, the fox is often killed by the dogs, although highly trained canines will simply harass the fox until the hunters catch up to the hounds and capture or kill the animal.
Not all foxhunting involves horses, but nearly all types utilize scent hounds to track the animal. Sometimes hunters follow on foot or on all-terrain vehicles, depending upon the location of the hunt. Foxes are quite intelligent and use their cunning to escape hounds by running through water to disguise their scent, or by walking on fences or other high points that often leave the dogs helpless in finding the scent. In the United States and in European countries where foxhunting has been declared illegal, the artificial scent of a fox will be laid down over a set course, with the intended effect being the successful tracking of the entire scent course by the hounds. Additionally, many groups actually protect fox habitats and the animals themselves in order to preserve the hunt for many years. In this manner, a single fox may be hunted numerous times without ever becoming injured or killed.
Foxhunting on horseback requires extremely skilled riders and horses. The chase often leads to spectacular jumps over streams or creek beds, fences, and other obstacles at moderate speeds. In fact, this type of sport has given birth to numerous other equestrian traditions, such as the steeplechase and even dressage disciplines. Foxhunting also requires skilled hounds that will only track foxes and not become lost or interested in the scent of any other animals. Without question, the sport requires athleticism and skill from nearly everyone involved- especially the fox! However, even for the most experienced fox, the hunt does not always end well. Some versions of foxhunting involve using foxhounds to flush the fox out of hiding and into the sights of hunters waiting with rifles. Some hunt groups also maintain a small number of terriers and bring them on the chase in the event the fox goes to ground and cannot be flushed out. In this case, the terriers will enter dens or other subterranean hideouts and kill the fox.
Because of the fact that the fox is often killed, many opposition groups have sprung up to decry foxhunting, stating that it is unnecessary and cruel. Proponents of foxhunting argue that the sport is necessary to cull fox populations, but opponents quickly counter that the amount of foxes killed during foxhunting events are small in comparison with other methods. In Australia for instance, foxes have become a menace to ecologies since they were introduced to the country for the sport of foxhunting in the middle of the nineteenth century. Considered an uncontrolled pest, foxes in Australia are killed by the hundreds of thousands using various methods- all of which may or may not be considered as cruel as foxhunting methods.
Foxhunting is a social tradition, and there are hundreds of groups all around the world that are dedicated to the sport and its preservation. For this reason, the groups have a vested interest in maintaining appropriate habitats and populations of foxes. However, these groups are often seen as being exclusive to the wealthy and upper class, as foxhunting requires vast resources in order to maintain the hounds, horses, and land required for the hunt to occur. Many see this as being wasteful, but others see it as a means of providing thousands of jobs worldwide that are needed to support the sport.
Regardless of personal opinions on the sport of foxhunting, there are many hunt groups that practice conservation and mercy to the quarry, be it the red fox, coyotes, hares, or any other pest. This means that any equestrian who so wishes can become involved in the sport without the moral dilemma caused by taking part in hunts that result in the death of the fox. Foxhunting provides a chance for humans, dogs, and horses to exercise, bond, and have fun in a group setting that tests the skills of all parties involved. When looked at in this light, it’s no wonder that foxhunting is one of the oldest sports involving horses that is still in practice today.
