Our Hunt

Our fox hunting season runs September to March through the winter months. There are three main seasons:

Roading: June – August.  Members and guests are invited to join the huntsman exercising the older hounds and introducing the younger hounds to the sport.  Roading usually begins with riders on foot.  Later in the summer riders use this opportunity to introduce their horses to the hounds and begin conditioning for hunt season.  

Length of ride:  1-2 hours

Capping Fee for Non-Members: None

Attire: ASTM certified riding helmet (if riding) and weather appropriate riding clothes such as light colored britches and polos.

Cubbing: September – October.   Cubbing focuses on teaching the young hounds about hunting and gives riders and horses an opportunity to gain experience and get fit for the formal season. Members and guests accompany the huntsman who is training new hounds and exercising seasoned ones at a faster pace. This is a great time to watch the new hounds learn the skills they need to chase our quarry (fox and coyotes). The duration of the hunting day may be short if a good learning experience has been provided to the younger hounds.  

Length of ride: 1.5 -2 hours.  

Capping Fee for Non-Members: $50.  

Attire: ASTM certified riding helmet, “Ratcatcher Attire” (stock or regular tie, and tweed or colored jacket) or polo if the temperature at any time during hunt is 70∘ or above, light colored britches, brown field boots (black field or dress boots if you do not have brown) or paddock boots and half-chaps.

Formal Hunt Season: October – March.   During the formal season both hounds, horses and humans are fit enough for a full morning of hunting. 

Length of ride: 2 – 3+ hours. 

Capping Fee for Non-Members: $50.  

Attire: Black ASTM certified riding helmet, shirt with white stock tie and plain pin, canary vest, tan britches, black dress boots, black or white gloves, and black coat.  Female staff members and masters and men with their colors may wear scarlet coats.

The hunt itself consists of several moving parts: the hounds, the staff, and then the field.

The Fox Hunting Field – Members & Flights

The Huntmaster or “The Master of the Hounds,” is considered the leader of the hunt. This person commands the hounds using their voice or a horn. The whipper-ins are staff members who assist the hunt master by bringing stray hounds back to the pack. These two groups of people will usually ride out first to allow the hounds to catch a scent. They always have right-of-way whenever they interact with the rest of the field.

The field can be broken into different groups called “flights.” The 1st flight will try to stay closer to the Huntsman and hounds. This flight is much faster-paced and jumping is usually mandatory. The 2nd flight follows further behind at a more moderate pace, and the 3rd flight is the slowest flight, usually riding at no more than walk/trot maybe canter and doesn’t jump. The number of fields for our hunt is dependent upon how big the field is and where riders feel most comfortable riding. 

Each flight is led by a field master. The field master communicates with staff members via walkie talkie in order to keep track of the hunt. A field master will be familiar with the territory and will be able to guide their flight to assist in the hunt as needed and provide good sport for their field.