Posted on 12/28/2002 6:28:30 AM PST by Enemy Of The State
A fox hunt in England. Queen Elizabeth II has reportedly ordered Prince Charles to give up hunting Queen Elizabeth II has reportedly ordered her son and heir to the throne Prince Charles to give up hunting, which is opposed by a majority of British people and members of parliament. "The Queen believes that continuing to hunt when the majority of MPs and the nation at large abhor it, is a step too far," the Daily Mirror Friday quoted a a senior courtier as saying. "It would be out of the question, of course, for Charles to continue hunting if a total ban is introduced," the source went on. "But the Queen believes that even if there is only a partial ban, Charles would court disaster for his future reputation if he over-rode the will of the people." Charles, his sons William and Harry and his companion Camilla Parker Bowles regularly go hunting near Highgrove, the prince's residence west of London. Under a new bill put before the House of Commons on December 3, a permit may become necessary to practise hunting in England and Wales.
Queen orders Prince Charles to stop hunting
LONDON (AFP)
© 2002 AFP
Oscar Wilde once called fox hunting "The unspeakable in pursuit of the unmentionable." Guess even a gay caballero can't be wrong all the time.
I've been to a fox hunt several times. The fox is ALREADY IN A CAGE, and is released solely for the "sport" of catching and killing it. On one occassion, the hunters and dogs lost the fox within a few minutes, returning to release another. They are actually INCREASING the fox population by fox "hunting!"
By the way, they lost three foxes that day, and didn't catch one. Bad day? No way. We saw a rider leave his mount going over a hedgerow, landing on his @$$ in the mud from a good 6-8 feet. It looked worse than it was, as his pride suffered the most damage. But we sat in the pub and went through a fair number of pints laughing at him, and the escape of three condemned foxes.
I heartily recommend a trip to "follow the hounds" if anyone is ever in Britain. It's a load of fun, and make sure to bring your camera.
That's a great caption for post 47.
Simply outrageous.
Correction - "The unspeakable in pursuit of the uneatable." That first cup of coffee hasn't quite taken effect yet.
So, strela, do you usually have Bill Clinton on your mind before that first cup of coffee kicks in? ;-)
What are you talking about? I AM one of the hunters. I started foxhunting when I was a kid. I have never, ever seen caged foxes being released by any MFHA-recognized hunt.
The dogs are well trained and kept by the hound master/whipper in. The Hunt provides an industry centered around the nail, the shoe and the farrier (blacksmith), the tact, the saddle, the horse, the vet, the trailers, the boarding if you have to, the cloth for those silly coats, which are mimicked in fashion designs today, the hunt hats, much like foot-ball helmets, the jodhpurs have become silly too tight, but it takes a product and labor and sales to get them out so more jobs are there. Not to mention the food, liquor bought and keeping the ponds and fences, gates etc. in good repair
There is no reason not to hunt with a drag instead of game. It is wonderful for the horse and rider, providing the rider can stay on over the big fences, however even if he doesnt, the horse will go along and have a wonderful time while rider less.
It is mostly a tempest in a teapot from people who want everyone to behave as they think you should, instead of making the sport fair for all, they simply want it to stop. So many freedoms being taken away for a few dissidents. Tea time yet?
Well, since the fox is killed instantly by the hounds breaking its neck, it doesn't make much difference what happens to its body after that. Anyway, I don't know where you get the idea that the fox is ripped to shreds. The hounds lose interest pretty quickly after the fox is dead. They aren't cats.
We chase foxes on horseback and don't shoot them because a guy with a shotgun can't keep up with a fox who can run at 20-25 miles an hour. The horses and hounds can. In the American west, where there are long distances and an isolated coyote can be safely shot with a rifle, that's an efficient way to do it. Many of my friends shoot coyotes (or marauding foxes). In the UK conditions are different. Use of firearms is impractical because of the insane restrictions imposed by the British government and because it's a more crowded environment. In addition, the Burns Report and large numbers of veterinarians attest that shooting is actually more cruel because the foxes often escape after being shot and die slowly and horribly. The quick death of a broken neck beneath the jaws of a foxhunter may be better, if an animal must die.
Watching a foxhunt is not the same as living and working in the country.
Considering post #39,it appears he enjoys getting dressed up and stepping out for the evening.
How very true! There are already subdivisions in the county where horses are not allowed even in the washes and on old trails way away from homes. However what is good for the cat or dog owner when their pets run loose is not good for the horse and occasional hiker. Bam! Get off my land! People from the cities, they can be so short sighted and rarely ever stop and enjoy, they are always unhappy about something.
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