Join the Hunt! - History of the Hounds

One of the most exciting aspects I found about the fox hunt was the interaction between the riders (specificially the Master of the Hounds and Whippers-in "Whips") and the hunt itself. Commonwealth Fox Hounds maintains a pack of Crossbred hounds, and have recently revitalized their breeding program and by infusing some additional PennmaryDel bloodlines into the pack.

Breeding a pack of hounds that measures up to the Association standards is no easy task. The MFHA Foxhound Kennel Stud Book has been in existence since 1907 and keeps track of all hounds bred by member hunts in the United States and Canada. There are three hound classifications: English, American and Crossbred. The English hound is a hound whose ancestors are in the English Foxhound Studbook. American and English hounds must have less than one sixteenth outcross blood in their pedigree to be considered pure. Some of the best known varieties of American hounds are the Bywater hound, the Walker hound and the July hound. Crossbred hounds are a cross between English and American hounds. Crossbred hounds are the most popular in the United States. (from MFSA)

Join the Hunt!

Are you ready for the excitement of tradition, riding the great outdoors with family and friends, and building a relationship with your pony, horse, hounds and exceptional riders? If you are, then foxhunting is for you.

My first experience with foxhunting was photographing the Hunter Pace at Woodpecker Farm in October 2006. Sponsored by Commonwealth Foxhounds (based in the Fredericksburg, Virginia area) the Hunter Pace is a low-key event judged upon (but not limited to) Best-Turned-Out Pair, Best-Turned-Out Individual, Fast Time Over Fences, Fast Time On the Flat, Optimum Time On the Flat, Junior and Senior, Optimum Time Sr./Jr.Silver Fox, Handy Hunter Course and Junior and Senior Pairs Class.

My first adventure photographing an actual hunt was the Blessing of the Hounds and the Opening Hunt at Ingleside Winery in November 2007 (also sponsored by CFH), and was more than I could have expected. What CFH and my friends didn't expect was that I wasn't content following the hunt by car, and followed the hunt on foot. It was for me, without a doubt, the epitome of shooting equestrian sport.


Coming soon: Foxhunting...The Hounds! In the meantime, please visit http://www.commonwealthfoxhounds.org/ for more information