The fall season heralds a multitude of festivities, including football, harvest celebrations, and a jammed pack school year. For horse owners, it also marks the beginning of an exciting tradition: fox hunting season. This sport originated with the tracking of foxes using scent hounds, with riders following on horseback through the countryside.
In addition to those who ride for pleasure, fox hunting involves a professional staff dedicated to ensuring the safety of horses, riders, and hounds. The master of foxhounds serves as the overseer of the hunt, holding the final authority in the field. Huntsmen are responsible for directing the hounds and typically lead a group of riders known as a “flight.” They also carry horns for communication, while whippers-in help keep the pack of hounds together.
Over time, modern hunts have evolved primarily into sporting events, with hounds now tracking scent trails rather than engaging in kills. While some consider fox hunting is controversial, it does offer benefits, such as promoting land conservation. To gain deeper insights into the traditions of fox hunting, Susan Walker, Board Director of Longreen Foxhounds—a fox hunting group based in the Mid-South—shared her thoughts by answering a few questions about the sport.
How can people get involved with fox hunting? People do not realize fox hunting exists. They typically Google search it and find results from all over the world. If someone comes to the area who rides, he/she can go to the local tack shop. Tack shops should have a list of local foxhound groups. The person can contact the huntmaster listed to learn more.
Seasoned fox hunters can find groups in almost any state on www.mfha.com, Masters of Foxhounds Association of North America. It will have a list of recognized fox hunt groups listed in US States and even in Canada.
How can people support fox hunting? Social members (non-riders) are welcome to follow in the car and participate in after-hunt gatherings. Social members can also be included in an email list to receive announcements and reports. People can even donate to local fox hunting groups, which help support the upkeep of the hounds in terms of feed and veterinary care.
There are options for adopting a retired hound, which makes an excellent house pet. Potential new owners consult with the hound master over multiple visits to ensure a good match. This option also includes young hounds that can be adopted. Some fox hunting groups conduct educational talks and demonstrations for interested groups, including youth and adults in schools, libraries, youth organizations, and more.
What are the benefits of fox hunting? For horses, it gets them out of their stalls and the riding ring, putting them in a more natural state of mind. It also helps desensitize horses to high stimulation. For the hounds, it promotes their natural behavior of finding the scent of the quarry, along with the baying cry that holds the pack together. Seasoned hounds can even recognize when a young hound pursues unwanted quarry, such as deer (it produces a different cry).
Longreen Foxhounds also rarely account for their quarry since they enjoy encountering the same quarry repeatedly. At the beginning of the season, Longreen takes out a small group of hounds so the quarry learns the game and stays in the county. We also promote rider and horse safety. Everyone who joins Longreen Foxhounds for their first few hunts must start in the third flight (walk and trot only) for safety reasons.
Additionally, Longreen Foxhounds promotes land conservation. We hunt in the Delta, which has massive agricultural fields with small covers and ditches. We want the land that consists of pastures and trees to be conserved to protect it from development and keep it in its natural state. We encourage these landowners to place their land into conservancy, not only to protect it, but also to provide potential tax write-offs for the owners.
Fun for All
Fox hunting is not only about the chase but also about the vibrant culture and camaraderie it fosters among riders and social members. The events hosted by fox hunting groups throughout the U.S. and Canada are much-anticipated social gatherings that blend adventure with tradition, where participants share stories, laughs, and the exhilaration of the hunt. Riders of all levels find joy and connection through the sport, forming bonds not just with fellow hunters, but with their horses and the hounds too.
Engaging with both horses and hounds, in a natural setting, offers numerous benefits for physical and mental wellness. Riding and maneuvering through varied landscapes improves core strength, balance, and coordination, while also providing a sense of freedom and escape from the everyday. The relationships formed with the horses and hounds amplify emotional well-being, as they draw individuals into the moment, fostering mindfulness and connection with nature. Fox hunting as a whole embodies a tradition offering an enriching experience that honors the past while revitalizing participants with a sense of vitality and community spirit.
For more information on fox hunting in areas near you visit www.mfha.com, Masters of Foxhounds Association of North America. To learn more about Longreen Foxhounds, please visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/191105447582516.
Kyla Szemplinski, MS, is an Extension Agent I and 4-H Agricenter Youth Development for UT TSU Shelby County Extension. She serves Shelby County, Tennessee equine community, and can be contacted at the Shelby County office at 901-752-1207 during normal business hours Monday-Friday 8am-4:30pm CST.
