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This incredible fall weather has brought me back to the time when I use to fox hunt in New England. There is really nothing quite like galloping on a powerful horse through the woods with the red, orange and gold leaves and filtered light.

Fox hunting these days is not about chasing a real fox, but instead it consists of a scent that is expertly dragged to follow a course, which is full of different obstacles. Foxhounds are now specifically bred to follow and track this scent and not the real fox. Many of the top hunt clubs in America have specially bred lines of foxhounds that compete in conformation and field. 

During a hunt, first comes the hounds following the scent, then the lead horsemen, known as the field master, then the rest of the riders that can consist of large groups. Often hunts are divided by skill, age and horse experience. To describe the trails, they can be narrow like a walking path, an open field or more like a dirt road. As you move along, you encounter obstacles such as streams, logs, thickets and so on to traverse or jump. 

If you have a spirited horse, they can be quite a handful. The horses are often moving fast, and you never know when a “fence” will appear. Obstacles can spook a horse, and off you go. Horses are notorious for either going straight sideways or just slamming on the brakes. Yet you must be in rhythm with the horse and cue them for the jump and be prepared for any hesitation. If you hesitate, they hesitate.

Courses can be many miles long, up to 20. Most of these events start at dawn. On our hunts, the breaks consisted of stopping at some little quaint cottage in the woods, and several people would bring out refreshments — except it is not coffee and croissants, but instead sherry!

Do not let the outfits of English riders fool you. The elegant breeches, boots, jacket and cap are all part of the traditional ensemble designed for function and to give you some protection. The saddles are beautifully crafted from leather (and now synthetic material) and are designed to provide optimum contact between you and the horse, but just about zero emergency support. English horsemanship has been around much longer than Western and is considered the traditional method. 

When you ride English, it is all about your contact with the horse, your legs, seat, balance and hands. Let us just say that you do not have anything to grab unless there is an unbraided mane on your horse. 

To this day, I have a love for well-made saddles. My preference for English was a handcrafted, individually numbered, Passier hunt saddle that was made in Germany. This was paired with a matching rolled-leather snaffle bridle. The English style is beauty through simplicity. The rolled or thin leather is so complementary to the animal that I even buy the dress collars for our dogs.

My horse was spirited. At 16.3 hands at the withers (a hand is four inches in width) he was taller than many Quarter Horses. This is a breed not typically known for hunter/jumper capabilities, but this boy had it all. His father was fast — a AAA-rated running horse at the quarter mile — and had passed this along. This is one of the highest ratings for Quarter running horses. Some racing horses have been clocked at up to 55 miles an hour. This breed also has a great deal of Thoroughbred in their history that lends to stamina. Hesitation was never a problem, but instead speed and catching “big air” over the fences was our challenge. 

Quarter horses are truly an American breed, having been created by crossing imported thoroughbreds with native mustangs. They are one of the most popular of purebred horse breeds and are very versatile.

One great experience was participating in the fall pace event at the Norfolk Hunt Club in Dover. Mass. Here, you are paired with another rider and must complete the course at a given time that is not necessarily the fastest. It is the time that is appropriate for the course. Norfolk is one of the oldest clubs in the country, and it is rumored to be a place Prince Charles frequents when in America. 

I was paired with the current champion so it seemed like it could be a win, but unfortunately as we galloped through the woods, her horse spooked, and she fell off. But what an experience we had! 

If you would like more information, Norfolk Hunt Club has a fascinating section on the history and the dogs: www.norfolkhunt.com.

Jane Laulis is an avid pet lover. She hosts a pet talk radio show and is involved with pets from research to retail, nutrition to pet food manufacturing. She lives on the coast with her scientist husband, ocean faring dogs, indoor cats, exotic snakes and a charm of hummingbirds. She may be reached at [email protected]

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