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Sasha Distan

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I shoot, I gut, I butcher. I raise animals and I'm OK with killing them. So it should come as no surprise that I like Hunting. And when I say Hunting with a capital H, and because I am, at least technically English, I mean Fox Hunting.

 

Fox Hunting is not a sport, but an integral part of the culture of the countryside where I'm from. Contrary to popular belief not everyone who rides in a hunt or supports it is rich, or a landowner, or votes Conservative. There are a lot of people poorer than me, some richer. A lot of people far less educated than me, many differently educated than me, some who make me feel stupid - and not just because of their attitudes. I've meet some wonderful, kind, empathic people through the Hunt, and some who are utter dick heads.

 

Because it is a cultural landmark of many, many people. The social-media sphere of the morally 'correct' would have everyone believe that everyone who supports Hunting is a murderer, an evil person who cares nothing for the land, the animals, the foxes. And yet they could not be more wrong.

 

Foxes are beautiful, glorious, cunning, irritating and essential creatures. But we took away their top predator, and they have no direct competition, and the weather is generally mild in our land. Foxes can decimate livestock: chickens, ducks, young lambs in the field, and there is only so much fences and gates can do. The hunting ban came into force 11 years ago, and since then drag hunts are the norm. People say we shouldn't bother anymore, but the hounds need to run, and the mere presence of Huntsmen, horses, and dogs in the fields wards off the fox and his wiles. After the hunt has come through, we won't see hide nor hair of a fox for weeks.

 

Today, I took our 14 months old Goblin boy to his very first Hunt meet. It was lovely, the horses shone, the Huntmaster smiled and waved, people cheered. A very VERY large and friendly foxhound came to sniff at Dashi, then the buggy, then rested his chin next to Goblin's face and my son stared and giggled at him. It was a beautiful moment, I wish I had pictures. I have every faith that big, unfamiliar, and fluffy dog would have posed no risk to my little boy at all. Dashi was rather in-awe of him.

 

Long may we continue to see the horses ride out in their splendour with the baying of the hounds. One day my son might ride with them.

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Reader1810

Posted

Interesting to be able to see the Hunt from a different perspective other than sensationalist headlines and stories...not that it would ever be my cup of tea, mind you.

 

As for goblin boy and the pooch? Obviously, you must go again.... :)

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jess30519

Posted

To see a full-on Hunt go by must be a very impressive sight. I doubt I'll ever get closer than reading about them in period British novels. Hunting here in Quebec is a mainly solitary endeavour, requiring much patience and the ability to sit still for long periods of time, and the goal is to fill the freezer for the long winter. Not the same thing at all! 

 

Plenty of foxes here, too, but farmers have long ago learned how to protect their flocks. Mainly, they serve to help keep the rodent population down.

 

I bet Dashi could outrun any of those foxhounds!

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JamesSavik

Posted

I'll bet you're a foxy hunter. ;)

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clochette

Posted

We don't have fox hunt around here but "chasse à courre" in the forest and having witnessed it once I can say it's truly impressive, all the rituals, the horses, dogs even the clothes - kinda like some costumes - the hunters are wearing.

I don't have anything against hunting - definitely not something I'd do (chopping a hen is as far as I can do) - but I understand the "need" to do it, to keep the balance in nature and it's been done for hundred of years so why not.

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Sasha Distan

Posted

I bet Dashi could outrun any of those foxhounds!

 

Maybe over a short distance, but not for very long. Those big chunky hounds can go all day long at the horses fetlocks, and still have energy to chase the fox. Dashi is good for a couple of miles, and then he has to have a sofa.

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Ron

Posted

Dashi is good for a couple of miles, and then he has to have a sofa.

This made me laugh, Sasha. I'm with Dashi, I can walk a few miles and then I need the sofa, too.

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dughlas

Posted

It's been many years since the Hunt rode where I live but it was a thrill to see.

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