Fox hunting is a sport in which the players consist of a combination of people on horseback and a pack of hounds. While the “fox” can actually be any type of animal that is pursued in the hunt, such as a fox, deer, or coyote, it is the elusive fox that gives the sport its name. According to the Masters of Foxhounds Association (MFHA) “It is a union of humans and animals in the beauty of nature’s setting. Man is an observer mounted on a horse, the vehicle that allows him to follow and observe the hounds as they hunt the fox. The scenario unwinds before the fox hunter's eyes and ears with the sound of the huntsman’s hunting horn as hounds give chase. The fox or coyote maneuvers, circles and runs through the country cunningly evading the hounds.”

Fox hunting originated in Great Britain, and became popular in North American during colonial times. Northern Virginia reports that the oldest written record of an organized fox hunt (conducted to benefit a group of hunters rather than a single owner) dates back to 1747. Reportedly, the organizer was Thomas, Sixth Lord Fairfax. George Washington’s diaries also quite often mention hunts that were conducted near Washington, D.C. The first U.S. president reportedly owned his own pack of hounds.

The earliest established foxhound club was the Montreal Hunt in Canada 1826. In the United States, the Piedmont Foxhounds were established in Virginia in 1840. Both packs continue very successfully to this day.

In 1907, the Masters of Foxhounds Association was formed. Its purpose is to “set and maintain high sporting standards among its membership, encourage foxhunting, approve and register territories on official maps of fox hunting countries, settle disputes in regard to the same, register eligible foxhounds in a Foxhound Stud Book and improve the breed of foxhounds.”

In the United States today, the sport of fox hunting has evolved to where the actual chase is more important than the kill. In fact, the hunt ends when the “fox” retreats to a hole in a grown, otherwise known as an “earth”. Sometimes, the hunt actually ends when the hounds lose track of the animal’s scent. In either case, the fox is unharmed and survives to be chased another day.

The actual animal selected for the chase varies widely, and often depends on the geographic location. Coyotes are often used because of their abundance as well as their strength, size and speed. Other animals of choice may include red and gray foxes and bobcats.

Organized fox hunts exist in about 35 states, with over 170 organized clubs in North America. The terrain covered in the fox hunts varies from and dunes to forests to mountains. The events can involve a pack of hounds owned by a private individual or a “subscription pack”, or one that is owned by a club.

Fox hunters usually wear a shirt and tie covered by a hunting coat, breeches, black leather boots and a protective hat. According to the MFHA, the hunting gear was chosen in the early days because of practicality. The heavy boots and breeches were chosen to protect from injuries from branches or brambles, and the ties could be used as bandages if there was an accident.