Little Red Pepper's First Hunt
The Fraser Valley Hunt Club has been organizing drag scent hunts in British Columbia every fall and winter for almost 50 years. A local horse and hunt enthusiast hosts the opening hunt for the club each fall from his farm on the upper slopes of Mount Elphinstone on the Sunshine Coast. This story begins in early November when the core group of dedicated hunters arrive from the Fraser Valley by ferry with several trailers of horses and one of hounds.
Amid the crowd of horses milling about on the lawn the field master in a red jacket and dark helmet on a dancing athletic bay is a striking commanding presence. The hounds released from their trailer run throughout the crowded space with their noses to the ground dodging horses and people alike. A woman in a green jacket the huntsman snaps her long whip in an attempt to keep them away from other riders and the priest who stands on the edge of the crowd. Another woman dressed in hunter green rises in her stirrups and presses the curled brass of a horn to her lips. At the resulting sound all is suddenly quiet. The priest steps up to the huntsman for a whispered exchange and then takes the microphone to say a short prayer and bless the hunt. The last of the riders mount up glasses of sherry are distributed for a solemn toast the field master shouts short instructions then nods to the keeper of the horn who sounds a threenote blast and theyre off!
Those of us in the hilltop group the dozen remaining riders who might just crest the hilltop as the fast group vanishes ahead over the next one have been instructed to wait and proceed at a quieter pace so the junior and beginning riders can experience the day safely. This group looks even more chaotic. No fancy dress here just jackets and jeans on a cadre of kids and moms mounted on a motley crew of horses keen to be part of the event. Our slower start is a good plan as
