Hunting | Drag Hunting | Fox Hunting: harleyequestrian



Fox hunting is usually undertaken with a pack of scent hounds, and, in most cases, these are specially bred foxhounds. These dogs are trained to pursue the fox based on its scent. The two main types of foxhound are the English Foxhound and the American Foxhound. It is possible to use a sight hound such as a Greyhound or lurcher to pursue foxes,[51] though this practice is not common in organised hunting, and these dogs are more often used for coursing animals such as hares. English Foxhounds are also used for hunting stag, otter, or mink. Hunts may also use terriers to flush or kill foxes that are hiding underground, as they are small enough to pursue the fox through narrow earth passages. Horses Used A mixed field of horses at a hunt, including children on poniesThe horses, called hunters, ridden by members of the hunt, are a prominent feature of many hunts, although others are conducted on foot (and those hunts with a field of horseback-mounted riders may also have foot followers). Horses on hunts can range from specially bred and trained field hunters to casual hunt attendees riding a wide variety of horse and pony types. Draft and Thoroughbred crosses are commonly used as hunters, although purebred Thoroughbreds and horses of many different breeds are also used.[citation needed] Hunters must be well-mannered, have the athletic ability to clear large obstacles such as wide ditches, tall fences, and rock walls, and have the stamina to keep up with the hounds. Dependent on terrain, and to accommodate different levels of ability, hunts generally have alternative routes that do not involve jumping. The hunt may be divided into two groups, with one group, the First Field, that takes a more direct but demanding route that involves jumps over obstacles while another group, the Second Field (also called Hilltoppers or Gaters), takes longer but less challenging routes that utilize gates or other types of access on the flat. Drag hunting Drag hunting is a sport in which a group of dogs (usually foxhounds or Beagles) chase a scent that has been laid (dragged) over a terrain before the hunt. The scent, usually a combination of aniseed oils and possibly animal meats, is dragged along the terrain by a volunteer for any distance up to several miles to a designated finish line before the hounds are released at the start line by their owners. The hound first crossing the finish line wins the race. A variation is that the hounds are followed by a group of participants on horseback and, without a designated finish line, the hunt ends when the dogs catch up with the volunteer. Drag hunting is not a blood sport in that no animal is hunted or killed and as such may become more popular in jurisdictions where blood sports, such as fox hunting, have been banned. In the United Kingdom, where fox hunting was banned in February 2005, drag hunting has often been advocated as an alternative sport . A number of former fox hunts have announced the adoption of drag or 'trail' hunting. It is also popular in areas where hunting in the traditional sense could not exist, for example, it is possible (but sometimes unsafe) to drag hunt on land close to busy roads as the scent is laid where it is safe for the hounds to go. Drag hunting is a popular sport in South-West Ireland, particularly South Kerry and Cork.
Welcome to Harley Equestrian inc Harley Racing. Visit our online shop and find products for both horse and rider. We cater for all forms of equestrian sports from Hunting, National Hunt Racing, Flat Racing, Dressage, Showing through to Eventing. We specialise in the supply of all equestrian related goods from children starting out at Pony Club right through to the needs of the Professional Rider. Equestrian Products from these Manufacturers Aerborn Airowear Albion Ariat Bates Australia Black Country Caldene Champion Charles Owen Colin Cook Collegiate Colorspin Coolsport Cuddly Pony Dalmar Dever Saddlery Dublin Equilibrium Products Eskadron Gatehouse GFS Good Hands GPA Griffin NuuMed Harley Harry Hall Horseware Hows Racesafe Ideal Jeffries Kincade Korsteel Kyra K Le Chameau MacWet Mark Todd Mears Neue Schule New Equine Wear Ornella Prosperi Pikeur Polly Products Polypads Prestige Italia Pro Equine Prolite Puffa Roma Royal Rider Saxon Shires Sprenger SSG Stubben Take Out Tally Ho Toggi Tredstep Veredus Weatherbeeta Wintec Woof Wear
Our extensive retail premises near Woodford Halse Northamptonshire is open seven days a week and we hold a vast range of equestrian products for the horse and rider. We also have a fully equipped saddlery fitting service on site and offer a mobile service within a 25 mile radius of our premises. Click here to view pictures of our equestrian store. You can also order direct over the phone using contact details above.
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