The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-02-14
TRAINING OF FOX HOUNDS
Much Care Must Be Expended Be-
fore Young Dogs Can Be
Trusted.

A pack Of hounds at the meet, properly
turned out, is as pretty a sight asa man:
could wish to see.
To the keen hunting man on the opening
day, it is a subject fraught with the great
est interest. To the master and hunts
man the criticism which their pack then
HAS to undergo causes the greatest anXi-
ETY., in spite of all the care and attention [
which for months past they have devoted I
to their charges.
1t is one Of the most ludicraus sights on |
earth to see some ten or twelve couples |
out for the first time They break land |
run in all directions, tumble over one /
another, get tangled in their couplings, |
and frequently by the same means upset |
the huntsnlan or his men. Daily prac-
tice, however, makes them keep together, |
and near the huntsman, to whom they
soon instinctively fly for protection from
the deadly sting Of the lash which checks
their, straying propensities. BY degrees
the couplings are taken off. At last after
their exercise has been frequently EXTEND
ed to several miles on the public roads
and through the villages near, so that they
may learn not: to chase cur dogs,
cats, other temptations to the youth
full mind, they are put to harder Work
by going out from the horses.
It being by this time close upon July,
road. exercise is necessary, not only for
them, but for the seasoned hounds us
!, rest from hard work. will have generally
put on a good deal Of superfuous flesh,
| besides letting their. muscles get. flaccid
| and their feet soft. This latter is most
important matter, for all the great au-
thorities, from Peter Beckgord down
| wards, make a great point Of hardening
the pads of hounds feet by plenty Of exer
else on the road. From this time till
/ clubbing begins hacks are required two
or three times a week to ride with long,
| slow trots-hound pace Is six miles an
hour-in the early hours Of the hottest
I part of the summer. The trips extend as
time goes on up to twenty or twenty five
miles in a morning. :.
| These long rides serve many purposes.
Besides schooling hounds, it is necessary
for the huntsman to visit the keepers in
the district. to ascertain what cubs they
have in their coverts. and confer as to
their management; to keep in friendly
touch with the farmers, and to arrange
to kill the cubs in places where there are
complain Of depredations among the
poultry. These rides also teach the young
hounds their way about the country, sc
that they may find their way home If left
out after hunting. 1t is also essential fol
any new member Of the staff to learn the
Elie Of the land.
The commencement Of this sport varies
from the last few days of July to the be
! ginning of September, or even later.
The question Of the cost Of maintaining
, a pack of hounds depends, Of course
;, largely upon the style in which thing
: are DONE Few packs, for instance at
i tempt to vie with the magnificence il
!: which Lord Lonsdale turns out the pacl
) which he controls. He probably spend
; $4,000 year.
! The principal item in the feeding bill
is oatmeal Of which sixty couple o
$ hounds, the number required for hunting
: four days. a. week, will eat close upol
: | e50O worth in a year. Meat, prineipal
Il horsefiesh, will cost them e75. These az
9. the chief items, besides which are Goals
: straw, medicine etc, ETC., for which an
: other E1OO must be allowed.
1; No fewer than twenty horses Will be re
|: quired for the staff, II they are 10 haNs
> las the hl1ntsman and first whip shout
:. have. two horses each out in every hunt
"a ing day. This is apart from the master
own stud altogether. Allowing the kee
of each horse at 10 shillings week. tn