Michael Laughlin’s Mill Race Farm served as the fixture for the Edisto River Hounds 16th annual Blessing of the Hounds, Opening Meet and Stirrup Cup on Saturday afternoon.
Father Garrett Clanton of All Saints Anglican Church officiated the Blessing of the Hounds.
“It’s a good day for a fox hunt, and we’ve welcomed friends and their families,” said D.J. Newell, Edisto River Hounds, joint Master of Hounds. “Among the things that we’re renowned for are safety and education. We enjoy for people of all ages, who are involved in all riding disciplines, to come out and go ride with us. We place an emphasis on teaching people to hunt in a safe environment.”
this is a fun event, recommended for the Augusta GA area readers.
Traditional fox hunting is illegal in England. I wonder if these folks use a real fox. I’d think that the animal rights groups would go nuts over this, even if the fox isn’t killed.
no there is no fox hunting, it’s all for show. not even a fox chase I’m pretty sure
Yes, they actually chase (and only occasionally catch and kill) a real fox. Here in the US (especially in our south (which includes South Carolina-from the article and Virginia, which includes “hunt country” as a designated area).
In the US, usually once the fox has “gone to ground” the chase ends but sometimes the dogs do catch the fox.
The “animal rights people” (most of whom have no problem with murdering the unborn) do object but we have laws which protect the hunts from being disrupted by these crazies!!!
The Woodford Hounds (Kentucky) will hold their 28th Opening Meet and Blessing of the Hounds On Saturday the 27th at the Shaker Village at Pleasant Hill. We chase foxes and coyotes and the hounds do catch and dispatch several every season. We always used to have an Episcopal priest perform the blessing. Since 2004, it’s been an Anglican priest or occassionally a Presbyterian or Methodist from one of our hunt countries.
Why the joy in blessing an event of hunting a creature of God? Really? I understand the need for eating meat, but making a spectacle of it and blessing the hounds so they can be successful in their kill? Really?
And the comment from Ky, why even point that out? Please. Fox hunting is an outdated and cruel sport. If anyone can’t realize that, well, they need to pray more.