Zorra

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Fox hunting seems a small matter to overseas visitors but for the British it is a national obsession. When Prince William chose to go hunting in 1999,it upset many who saw his mother, Princess Diana, as a champion against cruel sports. But to others William’s actions gave support to a part of British life in danger of being outlawed.

Fox hunting isthe pursuit of a wild fox with a pack of hounds. The hunters -usually called the field- normally ride on horses, and include the huntsman, his whippers-inand the hunt followers. The hunt followers are controlledby a ‘Field Master’.

It is his job to make sure that the hunt followers, or ‘field’, are kept far enough away so that the hounds can do their job.

Riders wear traditional costume. Black boots,white or khaki jodhpurs, a white collarless shirt, a white stock and a coat. Only the huntsman and the hunt staff are allowed to wear red coats.

Everyone else must wear black. There is even anorder to the number of buttons on the coat. Huntsmen and whippers-in have five buttons, field masters have four, and hunt followers have three.

There are normally 30 to 40 hounds in a hunting pack,traditionally counted as 15 to 20 ‘couples’. They are bred for speed, intelligence, and ‘nose’ – their ability to follow thescent of a fox. Nine years of age is considered old for a hound. When they canhunt no more, they are shot. Hounds do not make good pets.

Each hunt has its own special area called the hunt country. The hunt meets at an agreed place, often a country pub, and moves off toa draw, a particular woodland orplace where foxes are likely to be found.

When the hounds smell a fox, they will chase it until they lose it or they catch it. If they catch it, the fox’s life is over inseconds. Critics of hunting say the chase is cruel, although most admit that the fox is not left to suffer. Supporters of hunting say that normally it is sick foxes that are caught, while the...