On the Buckle

LP

Release the Hounds

by Whitney Weston

We have all seen paintings depicting pastoral scenes of smartly dressed riders on beautifully groomed horses that tell the story of foxhunting. But what actually is involved? Does the fox always get the short end of the stick? For centuries this tradition has captivated rural communities who enjoy outdoor sport, friends, horses and the beauty of nature while riding through challenging terrain and jumping fast across the countryside.

The Sandhills is home to the Moore County Hounds, which is the oldest hunt in North Carolina. The Moore County Hounds was founded in 1914 by Jim and Jack Boyd, with only a pause during World War I, and continued under the leadership of Mr. and Mrs. Moss in the late 1930s. The original kennels that housed the hounds were located at the Weymouth house just down on Connecticut Avenue in Southern Pines. In the 1940s, William “Pappy” Moss purchased land a mile from town and built Mile Away Farm and the Moore County Hounds Kennels, which is where the hounds currently reside. The Walthour-Moss Foundation was established after Pappy Moss’s death to ensure preservation of more than 4,000 acres of protected woodland. This is where the hunt continues to this day, and where, in addition, other equestrians and drivers enjoy the sandy trails.

Fox hunting with hounds dates back to the 16th century in England, and continues today with some modern adjustments. Traditionally, fox hunting involves a pack of scent hounds chasing down a red fox, followed by a large group of unarmed riders on horseback and on foot, until the fox is found and then killed. While this form of hunting gives rise to controversy, it has been traditionally viewed as important to the rural community culture and a form of pest control. This tradition remained mostly unchanged in England until 2005 when it was banned.

In more recent years, the tradition lives on in the form of drag hunting and trail hunting, where foxes are not involved at all, but rather an artificial scent or urine is dragged along the countryside to mimic the path a fox might take. In the United States, the red fox is not considered a pest, so it is common practice to leave a fox alone once it “goes to ground” or retreats into a hole. In some hunts, especially on the East Coast and our area in the Sandhills, coyotes are prevalent and considered a threat to natural fox populations. In this form, coyotes are often seen as fair game, but this can vary between hunts.

The sport developed around red foxes as the predominant prey. They are mostly active at twilight, live in burrows in the ground called “earths” and can run up to 30 miles per hour. Coyotes are bigger and faster than foxes, running up to 40

miles per hour. Althought faster than foxes, coyotes tend to be easier to chase as they travel in a straight line whereas the fox runs in a zig-zag pattern. In the northern U.S., some hunts chase bobcats.

Fox hounds are specially bred and trained to follow commands and track the scent of the prey. There are two main types of packs, the English foxhound and the American foxhound. There is a unique pack of Beagles followed by horseback in Virginia, the only one of its kind in the U.S.

The horses used in hunting are called “field hunters.” They are usually thoroughbreds, draft breeds or crosses. Yet there are no breed requirements or restrictions, and even ponies are allowed! These horses must have stamina to be ridden for hours on the hunt, enjoy galloping and jumping in a herd of many horses, and be brave and steady on their feet over logs, fences, ditches, mud, sand and road crossings. The horses are separated into different “flights” or “fields” where first flight is made of the fastest and bravest horses to pave the way for the others while following the hounds. The “HillToppers” bring up the rear of the hunt, often choosing a more leisurely pace, and might not jump obstacles. This is a great way for inexperienced horses and riders to enjoy the hunt and learn procedure.

There are many ways to get involved with the hunt and see for yourself how an early morning with horses, hounds, and friends is good for the soul. Head to moorecountyhounds.com for more information and schedule. They hold a yearly fox hunting clinic that is free and open to the public before hunt season begins. If you have a horse and are interested in joining them, be sure to sign up for the group trail ride and jumping lesson to acclimate yourself and your horse to the hounds and procedure. Happy Hunting! PL

Whitney Weston is a professional horse trainer with more than 30 years of riding experience and competing at the international level of eventing for 15 years. She trains out of her Southern Pines farm through Valkyrie Sporthorses, and runs Southern Pines Riding Academy.

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