In the times before William The Conqueror “beasts of the chase” were hunted by groups of men mounted on horseback in the name of protecting livestock and farmland.

These groups were made up of all different Nimrods(people who hunt), each taking a set role. With the Master Of The Hunt commanding the actions of the Huntsmen, and the Whippers-in and Terrier Man keeping the hounds in check; the fox hunt has remained a sport that tightly maintains age-old traditions.

Traditions embedded in the fox hunting sport have a greater level of depth than simply wearing “Pinks” (scarlet hunting coats) and shouting catchphrases. It is understood that even in these modern times of cities and environmental destruction, there are 750,000 foxes in Britain- this number doubles every Spring and the implication of this is more fox burrows in soil where forest plants should grow and more foxes that need to prey on other species to live. This in turn, causes major environmental imbalance, creating the need for poisonous bates, traps and inhumane methods of biological control. Working in a team with horses and hounds, and knowing the land and the other animals which inhabit it, Nimrods take it upon themselves, as the fox’s only natural predators, to control the fox population in the most humane way possible.

Although there is much scrutiny surrounding the fox hunt, the above reflects the arguments made by the British aristocracy in defence of the sport. Prince Charles, William and Harry have all been very public in supporting traditions laid down in royal generations before them, the family annually participate in the Beaufort Hunt.

Many hunts similar to the royally endorsed Beaufort Hunt happen globally in countries such as the USA and Australia. And while all these places differ in terrain, the same traditions are upheld to show the value of humanity working together with the land in a natural ritual.

BLK1 Article: ELLEN CROSLEY

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