Fox hunting season has officially begun as of Nov. 5 when the 17th annual season opening meet of the Fraser Valley Hunt convened at Kenan and Lynne MacKenzie’s home in Roberts Creek.
Fox hunting is a tradition that dates back hundreds of years – thousands according to some – with the purpose of clearing foxes out of farmers’ fields. These days there are some live fox hunts still in practice – mostly in Europe – but here on the Sunshine Coast, the only foxes being hunted are the MacKenzies themselves, who ride ahead, scenting the trail for the hounds to follow.
“The neighbours and the people on the Coast have been very supportive of the hunt,” Kenan MacKenzie said. “At one of our first hunts on the Coast, we shut down Gibsons Way right in front of Sunnycrest Mall. We had the mayor up in a hay wagon. The greet and everything went from there and we went all the way to Jim Greatbanks’ mansion. That wasn’t developed and we actually hunted down the bypass – it hadn’t been paved yet.”
Over 30 riders participated in the hunt this year, and “judging by everybody’s comments, I think we were successful,” MacKenzie said. “Nobody got hurt, nobody fell off – well, sounds like one person fell off – but otherwise it was a good day all the way around.”
This year featured a new huntswoman, Alysha Baxter of the Fraser Valley Hunt Club. The huntswoman is in charge of the hounds and leads the hunt with assistance from her whippers-in.
“This particular hunt is extremely special,” Baxter said. “Our host, Virginia [Mills], her father was extremely into our club and fox hunting in general. We carry on the grandeur of this particular hunt in his honour. We follow that tradition of old blood, go to as many lengths as you can, get the whole village involved and really treat it like a fox hunt.”
Mills was the host of the hunt luncheon, an elegant meal of roast beef and Yorkshire pudding served outdoors in the horse arena at the MacKenzies’. Part of the luncheon tradition is a competition to create the nicest luncheon spread. This year’s winner was Laura Peters, president of the Sunshine Coast Equestrian Club, which hosts the fox hunt. Peters won a bottle of Dom Pérignon.
“This is the most challenging terrain that we see in all of our venues,” Baxter said. “There are many factors. Scenting is a work of art. When you lay a scent it can be good for only six minutes or it can be good for six days. It depends on the weather, how many people have tracked back and forth on that scent and brought it in other directions.
“Because of the damp climate, it’s very favourable for keeping and holding a scent on the ground. But, when we have flash rains – like we did today – we had about our fourth run and I went to go cast my hounds – tell them where the scent is – and they couldn’t catch it. It’s because in about two minutes we had a torrential downpour. So even though the ‘fox’ was only about 150 metres in front of me, it had already washed away the scent.”
Baxter was successful in getting the hounds back on the scent, but reiterated that scenting really is an art.
Ray Wise, a veterinarian by trade and a veteran hunter in his own right, has been drag hunting – a fox hunt without live prey – for about 10 years. He said he averages about 15 hunts per season.
“Good sport, best hunt of the year,” Wise said. “Tremendous community support, lovely terrain, lots of jumps. Horses loved it, riders loved it. The fox hunt is paramount, and after good sport you always love good company, so we always enjoy a good meal and some drink. It’s camaraderie, it’s social, it’s fantastic. For sure it’s part of the hunt, but the hunt is what makes the after hunt events special.”
When asked what he found to be the most challenging part of the hunt, Wise said, “This hunt was forgiving, inviting and tremendous fun. I didn’t see it as challenging or overly difficult. It was tremendous sport.”
“The most challenging part was getting up at five in the morning to be here,” Baxter chimed in. “Yes,” Wise said in agreement, “the ferry ride.”
