Draghunting and Bloodhound Hunting

[Rhiellie]

I am interested in having a go at either Draghunting or Bloodhound Hunting. I know that it is similar to Fox Hunting but without Mr Foxy being killed and that it is following a scent, but I would like to know if anyone has had a go at this and what it is like, I have heard that it is hard work and you need to be fit but I would like to know the sort of milage covered, sort of horse needed and what is the minimum level of riding ability needed etc.
I would appreciate any info on this.

Thanks

[CobNut]

There is a very good website for the Masters of Draghouds and Bloodhounds Association (I think that's what they're called). You should be able to find it fairly quickly if you do a Google search on "Draghounds Bloodhounds".

Alternatively, if you buy a Horse and Hound, the "fixtures" pages include details of bloodhound and draghound meets, as well as foxhounds, staghounds and beagles. I don't think they give contact details, but you can always do as I did: simply go to the place named for a meet about an hour before the off, look out for a horse lorry or trailer, and follow it in to the meet. You can then ask around for the secretary who will happily give you details of future meets, and perhaps join up with some followers to see what it's like from the ground before trying it mounted.

As I understand it, these "artificial" hunts are a LOT faster and more furious than foxhunting, and I've heard it suggested (although I cannot comment whether it is true or not) that you really need to be mounted on a TB or 3/4 TB to keep up.

Do let us know how you get on if you decide to go out, won't you?

[LindaAd]

I've never been foxhunting or draghunting, but I've read a fair bit and I think CobNut's right - they go much faster because the hounds don't have to cast around to find a fox, and then they never lose the scent, they just go.

[Yann]

I have a friend who rides with Bloodhounds on a regular basis, it does indeed sound fast and furious but a lot of fun. From what I can gather they use a runner as the 'bait' and lay a series of trails or 'lines' to follow. She has a TB but I know other people with ponies etc. have been along and taken part so I don't think absolute speed is a particular requirement, more a case of having a fit horse that will go boldly across country. Will go and watch one sometime soon, it sounds very exciting and nothing gets killed:)

[CobNut]

My understanding is that bloodhounds will be slower than draghounds, because bloodhounds hunt the "clean boot" - a runner who carreis no artificial scent, and they must pick up his scent and follow his trail in the same way that foxhounds must pick up and follow the scent of the fox, whereas draghounds follow an artificially enhanced scent.

(Incidentially, I read an account of drag hunting written in the 1850s, in which it was suggested that the word was a corruption of "drug hunt" - the "drug" being the concoction of ingredients which produced the artificially scented trail. The meet attracted serious opposition from disruptive "antis" - being rent-a-mob thugs hired by the tenant farmers to keep the hunt off the land they farmed if at all possible. Plus ca change ... )

[Casper]

our drag hunt is set on the same groung as the fox hunt but is a lot safer than the fox hunt as the trail has been planned, this doesn't take from the hunt though because only one person knows the trail:D and another advantage is that there is no waiting around in the cold, they can also plan it around the best jumps and one jump is in a river that you can go through while the pack goes on the bridge:D :D :D there is also quarry hunts, that i have never been on, which involve a quarry man they are a new thing in Ireland.