Fox Hunting Clubs Start 2009-2010 Season Everyone who foxhunts expects to make a full day of it, or perhaps spend the night and hunt again the next day. The traditional sport of mounted fox hunting, or riding to hounds, runs from September through mid- March in the Mid-South. Cub hunts throughout September and October are informal and take place very early in the morning to beat the heat. Formal hunts begin after Opening Meet and the Blessing of the hounds. Many hunts welcome guests and some have joint meets with other hunt clubs during the season. The Blessing of the Hounds is a formal event, by invitation, and is the official beginning of the foxhunting season. Riding members turn out in formal hunt livery and the horses are braided and immaculately groomed. A priest or minister in full vestments asks God’s blessings to be bestowed on hounds, horses, riders, and even the quarry. Then the hounds are cast and all enjoy a great day of sport. Usually non-riding spectators are transported on Tallyho wagons to watch the pageantry and observe the hunt. When the hunt is over, the riders and spectators sit down to a great feast called a Hunt Breakfast, usually in the early afternoon. After opening meet, hunting days are more workmanlike, without the braiding, although riders are still in formal hunt attire. Weekend and holiday hunts are usually formal (scarlet and black coats) and midweek hunts rat catcher (tweed coats). The hunt breakfast is not to be skipped and is just as sumptuous. Depending on the fixture (location of the days hunt), it may be a potluck tailgate or hosted by a member. Since it takes thousands of acres to fox hunt, many hunts have multiple fixtures that may be in miles away from each other, sometimes even in different states. The hound kennel may be in Tennessee or Alabama, but the day’s fixture may be in Mississippi. The members of the hunt club come from all directions and may be spread out hundreds of miles. Everyone who foxhunts expects to make a full day of it, or perhaps spend the night and hunt again the next day. Runs may be long or short depending on scenting conditions and, of course, the fox or coyote; when hunting wild game one never knows. The jumps are either post or rail or coops set over barbed wire. There is usually a second field available for non-jumpers, but a fit horse is absolutely necessary for both jumping and non-jumping fields. For more information about Fox hunting visit the Masters of Fox Hunting of America (MFHA) website, www.mfha.com. The Opening Meets and Blessing of the Hounds for Mid-South Hunts are: Beech Grove Hunt, of Beech Grove, TN. October 31, 2009 (always the last Saturday in Oct.) www.Beechgrovehunt.com. Chula Homa Hunt of Vicksburg MS. Nov. 14 2009 www.chulahomahunt.com. Hard Away Whitworth Hounds of Greensboro AL. October 31, 2009 www.hardawaywhitworthhounds.com. Hillsboro Hounds of Cornersville, TN. October 31, 2009 www.hillsborohounds.com. Longreen Foxhounds of Rossville, TN (opening meet at Como. MS.) November, 14 2009; call Susan Walker 901-754-1172. Mells Fox Hounds of Pulaski, TN. November 21, 2009 www.mellsfoxhounds.com. Moreland Hunt of Madison AL, November 14, 2009; hunting by invitation only. Oak Grove Hunt Club of Moscow, TN. (opening meet at Strawberry Plains Plantation, Holly Springs, MS.) November 14, 2009. www.oakgrovehuntclub.com.