Essence of a Western Fox Hunt

troutstreaming · April 8, 2007

I am never sure if these are 'Sport' enough for that crowd, so thought that I would tell the story of a Fox Hunt in this venue this time.

Before the hunt the Fox Hounds see all of the increased activity around the hunt club and get worked up:

This particular Hunt Club uses a fox urine soaked towel dragged over trails by a western garbed crew - note that this is not the rolling groomed hills of England:

The Fox Hounds are intent on follwing the scent:

They are tended by the master of the hunt and the whipper-in's -

And followed by the field:

With obstacles in the Pacific Northwest tending more towards downed trees than stone fences:

During the course of the hunt the field will gather and regroup, allowing all to catch their breath:

Have a nip:

Or a snack:

Happy trails:

Many thanks to Poulsen Photography for allowing me to share these images here as well as allowing me to accompany the hunt. More of my images from this Hunt can be found here: http://www.troutstreaming.com/gallery/2684635/3/142144825

The full gallery from the event here: http://www.poulsenphoto.com

Comments and critiques welcome.

ian408 · April 8, 2007

Fascinating. I'm not sure that we've seen anything from a fox hunt before.
Thanks for taking us along (wonderful work too).

Chrissiebeez_NL · April 9, 2007

while i have fundamental moral and emotional problems with hunting animals for 'sport', i think you have some good shots and i can imagine it's hard to take the pictures with all the fast moving horses and dogs.

edit: sorry for the misunderstanding.. i just read on your website you're sportsclub uses an scented towel to do the trail. i think this is very good and i'm glad to read this. my opinion about the pictures still stands

troutstreaming · April 9, 2007

Chrissiebeez_NL wrote:

while i have fundamental moral and emotional problems with hunting animals for 'sport', i think you have some good shots and i can imagine it's hard to take the pictures with all the fast moving horses and dogs.

edit: sorry for the misunderstanding.. i just read on your website you're sportsclub uses an scented towel to do the trail. i think this is very good and i'm glad to read this. my opinion about the pictures still stands

Glad to see in the edit that you found the description that mentioned that this was a 'drag' hunt. This Hunt Club maintains many of the traditions, but hunting live animals is not one of them. In picture two of the series the two gentlemen in the western attire are dragging a scented towel through the woods to create the scent trail for the hounds to follow. The ride therefore does not have quite the same flavor as an actual hunt would (or so I imagine, as I have never seen an actual hunt). The 'drag' team and the master of the hunt decide where the hunt will be going on any particular day, but the field (and the hounds) do not know, so that there is some mystery involved in the days events. The hounds do work the scent and are certainly excited to be outside and running through the woods and you can see the dynamic of them tracking and pursuing, while the field trails behind. Typically they choose routes that take them out for two to three hours before returning to the Hunt Club for food, drink, and socializing. This gallery has a few more images of the hunt club 'breakfast': http://www.troutstreaming.com/gallery/2535551#P-1-15

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Phyxius · April 9, 2007

This clyde is awesome looking and from this perspective he makes the other horses look tiny, especially the Fjord.

The little girl jumping the log is very cute, but this portrait of the palomino is terrific!!

schmoo · April 9, 2007

Thanks for the great story! I have always wanted to participate in a hunt but never really felt I was a good enough rider. It looks picturesque enough even without an English countryside. Never knew foxhunting was popular in the Pacific NW!

troutstreaming · April 9, 2007

Phyxius wrote:

This clyde is awesome looking and from this perspective he makes the other horses look tiny, especially the Fjord.

The little girl jumping the log is very cute, but this portrait of the palomino is terrific!!

Thanks for the kind words - I could not figure out a way to work the 'portraits' in to the storyline, but could not leave out the Palomino, especially as that was a grab from the drag team who we normally do not see to shoot. I also wanted to throw in the wide angle portrait just for something different.

Those darn Fjords have their ears permanently glued back, did not manage a decent head shot of one in four outings... The hunt master's horse is very photogenic, almost always looking alert and interested and he certainly has a presence.

Thanks for looking,

ShepsMom · April 9, 2007

Wow, great set of shots. Thank you for sharing it with us.

livinginoz · August 29, 2007

troutstreaming wrote:

Thanks for the kind words - I could not figure out a way to work the 'portraits' in to the storyline, but could not leave out the Palomino, especially as that was a grab from the drag team who we normally do not see to shoot. I also wanted to throw in the wide angle portrait just for something different.

Those darn Fjords have their ears permanently glued back, did not manage a decent head shot of one in four outings... The hunt master's horse is very photogenic, almost always looking alert and interested and he certainly has a presence.

Thanks for looking,

i know i am coming to this posting late, however, i was looking for some pictures of jumping horses and came across it. i was delighted to see the fjord in there, since i own one. and the size comparison is fun to see. as for their ears back, they will often work that way, listening to what the riders are telling them. i have many fjord photos in the "mystuff" link.

fun photos