- Good resources include the following, which is of course not a comprehensive list, by any means! This is a good time to get more
suggestions on the subject. . .
- - The traditional standard little pamphlet, Riding to Hounds in America, by Wm. Wadsworth -- this is the main source on which Pony Clubbers are
tested in the foxhunting portion of their Quiz competition. - - The online resource, the Masters of Fox Hounds Association web site, www.mfha.com, and its tabs of info off the top of the first page such as
"About Foxhunting." - - Individual hunts, especially the ones that have been around for many years, also often have excellent and locally specific information, such
as Chagrin Valley Hunt Club, in which one gets an interesting view into
the specific preferences of the hunt, such as the note that for THAT
hunt, full-seat britches are not correct in formal attire, and that both
ladies and gentlemen wear patent-topped boots. Other hunts vary, so check their web sites and see what you can find out! - - The Rita Mae Brown hunting/murder mystery novels have done a great deal to expand readers' understanding of the traditions and techniques of foxhunting, in no small part because Brown is actually a Master of Foxhounds herself in Virginia and very well educated in the sport.
- - Deep Run Hunt Club used to have a locally produced booklet that was excellent as well, "Saladin Speaks," although I don't know if one can still find it! -- They used to hand it out to all new members, but in recent years they've been giving out the Wadsworth book instead.
- - Over the holidays I bought a really interesting book online, called Foxhunting: How to Watch and Listen, by Hugh J. Roberts, MFH from Derrydale Press. It's a very detailed discussion of exactly what's happening in the course of the hunt, what the hounds and staff are
doing, and how one can figure it all out. Really interesting, although with a rather quirky writing style. - - Michael Clayton's Ronnie Wallace: A Manual of Foxhunting
- -"On Hunting," by British philosopher Roger Scruton. Well written, thoughtful and humorous essays on the sport, development of young people, and the responsibilities of society. http://www.amazon.com/Hunting-Roger-Scruton/dp/1587316005
- - In the old-writing category, there's Hunting Sketches, by Anthony Trollope (this is also available as an online book now, thanks to
Project Gutenberg) - - and a batch of total classics you mostly have to order from used book shops in Britain:
- - Arthur O. Fisher, Master Toby's Hunt
- - Leo Tolstoy, Wolf Hunting Scenes from War and Peace
- - Richard Clapham, Foxes Foxhounds & Foxhunting
- - Frederick et al, Foxhunting: Vol 7 of the Lonsdale Library
- -Peter Beckford, Thoughts on Hunting
- - Siegfried Sassoon, Memoirs of a Foxhunting Man
- - John Charlton, Twelve Packs of Hounds
- - RS Surtees, Handley Cross, Hawbuck Grange, Jorrocks Jaunts & Jollities, Mr Sponge's Sporting Tour, Plain or Ringlets
- - Willoughby de Broke, Hunting the Fox
- - C.F.P. McNeill, M.F.H., The Unwritten Laws of Foxhunting - With Notes on The Use of The Horn And The Whistle And A List of Five Thousand Names of Hounds
- - Nimrod's Hunting Reminiscences
- - And just for grins, here's an amazing little sporting library auction listing I found online on the PBA Galleries web site.
"Comprises: Goldschmidt. Bridle Wise: A Key to Better Hunters - Better
Ponies. [1927]. * Edwards. My Hunting Sketch Book. [1928]. * Gay. Rural
Sports. 1/1550 by Wiliam Edwin Rudge. * Lloyd. Hounds. 1934. *
"Sabretech." A Gentleman and His Hounds. 1935. * Goldschmidt. Skilled
Horsemanship. [1937]. * Hatch & Keene. Full Tilt: The Sporting
Memoirs of Foxhall Keene. (Covers mildew stained.) 1/950 by the
Derrydale Press. [1938]. * Berry, Brock & Koch. Hunting by Ear: The
Popular Sound-Book of Fox-Hunting. Book & two 78-rpm phonograph
records in two-part box, as issued. [1954]. * Self. Irish Adventure: A
Fox Hunter's Holiday. [1954]. * Hull. Thoughts on American Fox-Hunting.
Slipcase. [1958]. Together, 10 volumes. Illustrated. Cloth &/or
boards.…"
