|
It's about the Hounds, Horses and Riding in Beautiful CountryOn a cool fall morning, the four beat staccato of hooves carry you out of the woods and into a field. As you crest a hill, trails through the heavy dew spread out in front of you, each created by one in the pack of foxhounds working together to find the scent that was strategically dragged for the hounds to follow. The tri-color hound strikes the scent and his cry rallies the rest of the pack, encouraged by the doubling of the huntsman’s horn. While this could easily be a tale from a century ago in England, members of the Long Lake Hounds experience it twice a week across a variety of locations in the west-metro.
|
Registration Now Open: Spring Hunter's Pace
Sunday, June 12th | Watertown | Click here for event flyer
A hunter pace is a competition where horses and riders follow a well marked trail. Prior to the event, Long Lake Hounds Masters ride the trail at the speed that the Field Hunter (trot/canter/gallop) and Hill Topper (walk/trot/canter) flights would go if they were hunting. The Masters pace time is the optimal time and considers the terrain and footing conditions. There will be 8-12 jumps spaced around the course, all of which are optional. Competitors go out in teams of two, three or no more than four to ride the trail. Each group of riders is timed. The group that comes closest to the optimal time for each division wins the competition.
A hunter pace is a competition where horses and riders follow a well marked trail. Prior to the event, Long Lake Hounds Masters ride the trail at the speed that the Field Hunter (trot/canter/gallop) and Hill Topper (walk/trot/canter) flights would go if they were hunting. The Masters pace time is the optimal time and considers the terrain and footing conditions. There will be 8-12 jumps spaced around the course, all of which are optional. Competitors go out in teams of two, three or no more than four to ride the trail. Each group of riders is timed. The group that comes closest to the optimal time for each division wins the competition.
New Clinic Announcement: HUNTING CLINIC AT COPELAND FARMS
Thursday, June 16th | 6:00 p.m. | 102 Kuntz Dr. Independence | Click here for event flyer
Long Lake Hounds (LLH) will be hosting a mounted fox hunting clinic at the beautiful Copeland Farms. This is the place to start for riders who want to learn the basics of fox hunting, which includes successfully and safely riding in a group at different paces.
Long Lake Hounds (LLH) will be hosting a mounted fox hunting clinic at the beautiful Copeland Farms. This is the place to start for riders who want to learn the basics of fox hunting, which includes successfully and safely riding in a group at different paces.
Who should come to the clinic?
Any rider that would like to go fox hunting but not sure where or how to start! All horses and riders must be comfortable with a walk, trot, and canter in the open and in the company of other horses.
What is the schedule of the clinic?
5:45 Check in and get assigned group
6:00 LLH welcome, introductions and very brief intro to fox hunting
6:15 Short demonstration of what a hunt looks like. We will lay a line for the hounds to work and you can see our staff horses ride to the hounds
6:30 Tack up
6:45 Participants will meet with their assigned field master and work on different situations of group riding. Liz Lund will be on hand to help give pointers over jumps, how to handle an anxious horse, or give exercises to get your horse hunt ready
7:45 Dismissed to untack
8:00 Meet and greet the hounds, snacks and social
THE DETAILS:
- Register. Registration is required for all participants (even those stabled at Copeland)
- $60/per person, paid by check or cash the day of the event
- Limited number of entries allowed, so register early to reserve your space
- A copy of your horses’ coggins is needed in order to register
- After you register you will be sent both a waiver for Copeland Farms as well as Long Lake Hounds. These 2 waivers must by completed before Thursday, June 16th.
- Please bring comfortable shoes as there will be some walking. Riders are expected to come neatly turned out in comfortable schooling clothes with an ASTM certified helmet and riding boots. If jumping, impact vest is required.
ABOUT LLH:
The Long Lake Hounds, founded in 1959, is Minnesota’s only hunt. The Long Lake Hounds is a “drag” hunt meaning it doesn’t hunt or involve live foxes. A fox scent is dragged ahead of our pack of foxhounds to simulate the path a pursued fox might take through the woods and over fields. The hounds, at the direction of the Huntsman, find and follow the scent, leading members and guests on a great ride over private trails and fields. Fox hunting is a group sport where we observe the hounds from horseback and not only get to see these amazing hounds use their noses but enjoy riding through beautiful fields and woods. For more information visit longlakehounds.com.
ABOUT LIZ LUND, Copeland Farms:
Through years of training, eventing, and teaching Liz creates a truly extraordinary clinic experience that is fun and friendly and has a rare gift of providing each participant tools and techniques needed to improve riding skills.
Any rider that would like to go fox hunting but not sure where or how to start! All horses and riders must be comfortable with a walk, trot, and canter in the open and in the company of other horses.
What is the schedule of the clinic?
5:45 Check in and get assigned group
6:00 LLH welcome, introductions and very brief intro to fox hunting
6:15 Short demonstration of what a hunt looks like. We will lay a line for the hounds to work and you can see our staff horses ride to the hounds
6:30 Tack up
6:45 Participants will meet with their assigned field master and work on different situations of group riding. Liz Lund will be on hand to help give pointers over jumps, how to handle an anxious horse, or give exercises to get your horse hunt ready
7:45 Dismissed to untack
8:00 Meet and greet the hounds, snacks and social
THE DETAILS:
- Register. Registration is required for all participants (even those stabled at Copeland)
- $60/per person, paid by check or cash the day of the event
- Limited number of entries allowed, so register early to reserve your space
- A copy of your horses’ coggins is needed in order to register
- After you register you will be sent both a waiver for Copeland Farms as well as Long Lake Hounds. These 2 waivers must by completed before Thursday, June 16th.
- Please bring comfortable shoes as there will be some walking. Riders are expected to come neatly turned out in comfortable schooling clothes with an ASTM certified helmet and riding boots. If jumping, impact vest is required.
ABOUT LLH:
The Long Lake Hounds, founded in 1959, is Minnesota’s only hunt. The Long Lake Hounds is a “drag” hunt meaning it doesn’t hunt or involve live foxes. A fox scent is dragged ahead of our pack of foxhounds to simulate the path a pursued fox might take through the woods and over fields. The hounds, at the direction of the Huntsman, find and follow the scent, leading members and guests on a great ride over private trails and fields. Fox hunting is a group sport where we observe the hounds from horseback and not only get to see these amazing hounds use their noses but enjoy riding through beautiful fields and woods. For more information visit longlakehounds.com.
ABOUT LIZ LUND, Copeland Farms:
Through years of training, eventing, and teaching Liz creates a truly extraordinary clinic experience that is fun and friendly and has a rare gift of providing each participant tools and techniques needed to improve riding skills.
2022 Membership Information Now Available
We want you! Membership for 2022 is now open and we are looking forward to welcoming you to LLH.
Our Mission
We are dedicated to preserving the sport of drag hunting in Minnesota. We train, care and love each of our unique hounds that are required for our sport to prosper. We welcome everyone who wants to share our passion for enjoying the beautiful country, riding their beloved horses and watching the hounds work as a pack. We are especially dedicated to offering an exciting experience for Pony Clubbers and juniors, people who have never tried hunting before and those who left the sport and want to come back. We welcome all types of horses and riders outside of the traditional English riding discipline, and we encourage people to watch and enjoy the beauty of the animals working together.
Follow Us on Facebook
for more up to date information |
|