Drag hunting

Drag hunting, or draghunting, is a form of equestrian sport, where mounted riders hunt the trail of an artificially laid scent with hounds.

Photo postcard published in 1916 by photographer E.C. Eddy, showing a draghound pack in Southern Pines, North Carolina

Description

Drag hunting is conducted in a similar manner to fox hunting, with a field of mounted riders following a pack of foxhounds hunting the trail of an artificial scent. The primary difference between fox hunting and drag hunting is the hounds are trained to hunt a prepared scent trail laid by a person dragging a material soaked in aniseed or another strong smelling substance.[1][2]

A drag hunt course is set in a similar manner to a cross country course, following a predetermined route over jumps and obstacles. Because it is predetermined, the route can be tailored to suit the riding abilities of the field. The scent, or line, is usually laid 10 to 30 minutes prior to beginning of the hunt and there are usually three to four lines, of approximately 2 mi (3.2 km) each, laid for a day of hunting.[1][2]

Like fox hunting, in the United Kingdom and Ireland the drag hunting season usually starts in mid-October and continues through autumn and winter, finishing in the spring.[1]

History

Drag hunting first became popular in the 19th century when Oxford and Cambridge universities both established packs of drag hounds.[1]

Drag hunting soon became popular with the British Army, with the Household Cavalry establishing a pack in 1863 and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and the Royal Military Academy Woolwich both establishing packs in 1870. The motivation of the British Army's interest in the sport was it was seen to provide excellent preparation for beginners and those who were about to enter the cavalry divisions.[1]

As it does not involve the hunting of live animals, drag hunting remained legal in England after the passing of the Hunting Act of 2004.[3]

Hound trailing
Main article: Hound trailing

Hound trailing uses specially bred hounds to race over an approximately 10 mi (16 km) course, with the hounds racing along a drag line.[1]

Hunting the clean boot
Main article: Hunting the clean boot

Hunting the clean boot uses packs of bloodhounds to follow the natural trail of a human's scent.[1]

See also

References
  1. Nicholas Goddard and John Martin, "Drag hunting", Encyclopedia of traditional British rural sports, Tony Collins, John Martin and Wray Vamplew (eds), Routledge, Abingdon, 2005, ISBN 0-415-35224-X.
  2. Masters of Draghounds and Bloodhounds Association, "What’s Drag Hunting?", mdbassociation.co.uk, retrieved 24 August 2017.
  3. Emma Griffin, Blood sport: Hunting in Britain since 1066, Yale University Press, New Haven, 2007, ISBN 978-0-300-11628-1.
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