![]() ![]() The huntsman hunts the hounds and is responsible for the welfare and the cleanliness of the kennels. The money raised comes from subs, caps, Hunt Supporters clubs, point-to-point races, sales and hunt races etc. They are also responsible for raising money to run the hunt, which includes the wages for hunt servants, food for the hounds, maintenance of the hunt premises and equipment, earth-stopping, damage to non-hunt property, repair to hunt jumps etc. They are responsible for the “hunt country” and overall policy. The committee, in their turn, appoint the Master (all friends together). The committee are elected by the subscribers. The Master is responsible for controlling the kennels, the season’s programme, and for showing good sport and is directly answerable to: The Hunt Committee If they are a member of MFHA they are bound by the rules of the Association and can be disciplined by them. Most Masters belong to the Master of Foxhounds Association, (MFHA) but this is by no means statutory. ![]() They are the people who have to dig in their pockets at the end of the year and pay any outstanding hunt debts! Hunting is so costly that most hunts these days have joint masterships, where up to four people may share the title and overheads. It has been known for slaughtered hounds to have been fed to their kennel mates. Most hounds only have a hunting life of six or seven years, they are then killed off, donated/sold to a mink hunt or maybe used to breed from. Usually no feed is given to the hounds the day before the hunt in order to heighten their sensibilities. It also enables sick or injured hounds to be rested without lowering the number of the hunting pack. More hounds are kept in the kennels so the huntsman is able to choose which hounds will make up the pack on any given day. Different hounds in a pack may have different scenting abilities – some better on grass, others on the the road etc. A much faster hound could be bred by crossing it with a racing type dog, but this would not be considered “sporting” and, after all, those who ride behind would not be too pleased if every fox was killed after only a minutes gallop!Ī pack of hounds may number up to 40 (20 couple in hunting terms hounds are always counted in pairs known as “couples”), and are made up of either all dogs, all bitches, or sometimes a mixed pack. The hounds are not bred for speed but for their stamina and scenting ability, so although the fox runs much faster than the hounds, the hounds superior stamina will eventually enable it to kill its quarry. The foxhound stands normally between 22 – 25 inches at the shoulder. The foxhound was originally bred to hunt deer and hares and despite years of intensive breeding they will still “riot” after these quarries. Much of this description also applies to other forms of hunting. To explain how the hunting of the fox is conducted, it is necessary to describe the role of the persons involved in the days “sport”. STRUCTURE OF THE HUNT : THE OFFICIALS AND RELATED ACTIVITIESįox hunting is the most complex of all the bloodsports. of packs in England, Scotland and Wales : 190 and 100 + unregistered packsĬub hunting : 4.00 a.m. ![]()
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