Argument on Boxing Day about watching ‘The Hunt’

[Pompomdaisies]

My parents have recently moved to a new area a few years ago where they participate in watching the Boxing Day hunt. I’ve always been dead set against fox hunting and I did make a comment about how I thought it wasn’t ethical, even though they’re supposedly following a scent, not the fox itself.

Previous to moving they didn’t have these views and where we grew up this wasn’t a ‘thing’.

They got really upset with me and acted like I was spoiling their day, just because I made my views clear (for context we are staying with them over Christmas and I didn’t want to go, or take my DC to it)

This is an easy one, OP......your parents go and watch; you don't.
Everyone is entitled to their own view, and their actions will therefore follow.
You can't ask your parents not to do something just because you disapprove.

I am completely against hunts even those that use scent. I would make my feelings clear and just say you aren't going.

They're the unreasonable ones for to be involved in such a horrendous spectacle.

Luckily it'll soon be banned and the bloodthirsty hunts will be no more.

And bollocks to anyone who claims that trail hunting isn't really a bloodsport.

Oh well tough shit for them if their day is ruined, if it has its because they know they are weirdos. Let them go and enjoy watching pathetic wankers get their weird kicks from it.

I just find it strange as they never had these views previously before moving here, in fact the opposite. They said they like watching the horse riders dressed up in their nice clothes and seeing the dogs and horses. Anyway I’ve clearly rattled a nerve as they seemed upset that I’d mentioned anything.

Just don't go. Opinions are like arseholes, everyone has one, but you don't need to show it.

They're part of a new community, they want to get involved. Let them. You know you aren't going to agree, so just let them crack on and dont you be the one who ruins christmas

Strange to be cool with people doing something so ethically abhorrent.

If they want to go, let them - what was the purpose in being argumentative about it?

There's nothing wrong with trail hunting if its done to rule and well managed. You can train a pack of hounds to follow or avoid the scent of anything (I have gundogs). Accidents were sadly more common place when the ban first came in, but are rare now. Unfortunately there are rogues and criminals in every walk of life. I never did have the stomach to see or support foxes or worst still, stags killed by hounds, so I never hunted. Its much more efficient to just shoot the animals that are a nuisance. I'm with your parents, I absolutely love watching the hunt ride out - it used to be amazing to walk along a country lane and come face to face with the hounds and horses. They have probably changed their mind if they have moved and are active in a rural community, and understanding how rural economy and socialistion works. Sadly hunts a rare sight now and devastating to the ever shrinking rural economy. Those who oppose trail hunting will conveniently ignore the barbaric halal slaughter houses, happily purchase Danish bacon etc, but God forbid a load of horses and hounds chase a consenting adult laying a trail on a quad bike!

How refreshing to see your correct and well explained post! I suspect the earlier posters had absolutely no understanding of modern day hunting. Well done 👏

I would never go and watch the Boxing Day hunt.

@Timeforaglassofwine I remain to be convinced that unintended killing by hounds is as rare as you suggest. I hope you are correct though.

Indeed, I think the 'if' in 'hunting is perfectly fine if done in accordance with the law' is doing some seriously heavy lifting...I thought it was pretty much an open secret that foxes 'accidentally' get caught up in trail hunts 'surprisingly' often.

And the idea that the rural economy is going to be 'devastated' by a trail hunting ban is complete nonsense. In the year 2025 virtually nobody's livelihood is dependent on it. I live in a small market town from which the local hunt rides on Boxing Day and I can guarantee that virtually nobody of working age will care if it goes, it's a complete irrelevance to the vast majority.

I love the way you not only manage to defend the barbaric toffs, but also sneak some racism into your post. Bravo!

🤣🤣 racism is a bit of a stretch when I'm stating facts. Are you suggesting Halal is ethical or that the Danes are a marginalised race? Country folk are of course all toffs - you've clearly never seen our farming equipment held together with bits of baling twine.

Like I said, there are sadly rouges, to put it politely, in all walks of life, who give everyone else a bad reputation. It's a shame, not only from an ethical point of view, but also for those working hard to build the reputation of the country sports their livelihood and community so desperately depends. One step forward, two steps back.

That reminds me of the men that bought Playboy "for the articles" ....

Well said! I’m an equestrian myself, but I’ve never hunted as it’s a bit fast and wild for my tastes. I do however have friends that trial hunt and they have never, ever hunted a fox!
That said, I don’t doubt that there are the odd rouge hunts.
I appreciated the analogy I saw on Facebook- Not everyone drives while drunk, but should we ban everyone that has a license just in case?

Around 50% kill rate apparently and thats the known stats, I imagine its higher.

The ‘rouge hunts’ genuinely made me laugh, because the first time I encountered the local hunt when I lived in Leicestershire, what struck me was how made up the women were!

That’s utter bollocks! There is zero way that stat is possible. Kill rates were nowhere near 50% pre ban 20 odd years ago! Stop spreading misinformation to feed your agenda.

It really is an incredible thing to watch with the sights and sounds. It’s not fox hunting. That hasn’t existed for a long time. You don’t even say or possibly even know if it was a fox hound pack or a clean boot bloodhound pack where there is absolutely zero chance of a fox being caught. As a pp said, yes there were some accidents when the ban first came in with dogs who had been trained and had experienced chasing foxes and very old school hunt folk resistant to change. These dogs and people are now mostly dead or retired or chosen to bow out as they didn’t like working to the new rules. I’d like to see statistics for this year as I’m sure the antis are pulling data from years ago although 50% is a complete joke. You’d not even get that in a real fox hunt. Our local pack is entirely transparent. They wear head and body cams and publish the footage. The people on it would shoot from the roof tops if a fox was killed and never be back. Lots of people commenting on something they have no knowledge of

Living in the market town doesn't necessarily give you the insight into the loss in economy. Talk to the whippers in, kennel staff, grooms, farmers paid to host, it would be devastating to have a total ban. The satellite jobs, such as farrier, horse vets, livery yards, breeders, horse dentist, trainers, saddlers are also being chipped away. Equestrianism is getting smaller and more and more expensive, but attracts and supports all walks of life.

Perhaps the following will assist :

• Drag Hunting:
• Scent: Artificial, non-animal (e.g., aniseed, synthetic).
• Trail: Pre-laid, announced route, known to organizers, avoids wildlife habitats.
• Hounds: Often foxhounds or specific draghounds.
• Legality: Generally legal and considered a sport, with low risk to wildlife.
• Trail Hunting:
• Scent: Animal-based (fox urine, hare carcasses).
• Trail: Intended to mimic a fox's path, often through natural habitats, but high risk of hounds veering off to chase live quarry.
• Hounds: Often foxhounds.
• Legality/Intent: Created after the fox hunting ban, often used as a smokescreen for illegal hunting, confirmed by leaked videos.
• Clean Boot Hunting:
• Scent: Natural human scent from a runner (the "clean boot").
• Trail: Follows the human runner's path, not an artificial or animal scent.
• Hounds: Bloodhounds, which are excellent scent-trackers but slower than foxhounds.
• Legality/Intent: A distinct, legal activity that predates the ban, focused on the skill of the hounds following a human scent.