Trailhounds

[gonetoearth 5,144]

Maurice Bell used to run a trail at his 'Day in the Dales' show at his kennels in Hawes, Cumbrian wresteling too. The trail was set so as the hounds left the show ground, they would run a circle round the hills giving full view for the full duration and finishing back by the spectators. Was a great watch.

As his show was held in May most of the hounds were shaved down to combat the heat. Don't know if he still does it, ain't been back in about 10 years.

just trying to imagine you and ss in Cumberland wrestling attire

[neil cooney 10,416]

I always wondered were they ever used as a lurcher cross. IMO they'd have the stamina of a Saluki, but I could be wrong, and the fact they run silently but obviously have a strong hunting instinct I'd have thought they might have been worth trying as a lurcher cross.

It's a sport that has to be seen to be believed. Especially near the finish line.

The condition of these hounds would also supprise a lot of people.

[dave a 24]

I always wondered were they ever used as a lurcher cross. IMO they'd have the stamina of a Saluki, but I could be wrong, and the fact they run silently but obviously have a strong hunting instinct I'd have thought they might have been worth trying as a lurcher cross.

It's a sport that has to be seen to be believed. Especially near the finish line.

The condition of these hounds would also supprise a lot of people.

there was a dog in cork 10 or 12 years ago,3/4 greyhound 1/4 drag dog,was as good on foxes as anything i saw and was quiet when running.

[Bosun11 537]

Maurice Bell used to run a trail at his 'Day in the Dales' show at his kennels in Hawes, Cumbrian wresteling too. The trail was set so as the hounds left the show ground, they would run a circle round the hills giving full view for the full duration and finishing back by the spectators. Was a great watch.

As his show was held in May most of the hounds were shaved down to combat the heat. Don't know if he still does it, ain't been back in about 10 years.

just trying to imagine you and ss in Cumberland wrestling attire

 

Well mind you don't get a little 'movement' with that imagination!!

 

I'll have you know we look the feckin nuts in our frilly undies an John L's!

 

Though SS might give it a miss next year, he has a strong yearning for that Turkish wresteling, says it's the oil...!!

[thefootman 17]

There is some draghunting with trailhounds in Co Cavan but it would not be as big as in Cork or Kerry. Up until about ten years ago there was a big draghunting scene across Cavan, Monaghan, Fermanagh and Armagh using foot harriers. The same dogs were hunted over the winter and raced in the summer. Towards the end of the 90s lads started buying up trailhounds from Cork and Kerry to race. The trailhounds were all faster over the drag trail than the harriers and with a few exceptions they were all next to useless on a live hunt. It led to a split among the Northern lads as a lot of lads wanted to keep our drags as a sort of part time pastime and confined to dual purpose hunting hounds. Most people were like myself, just wanted to run their hounds over the summer to keep them fit for winter and if one of them showed a bit of spark to train it up a bit more, but at the back of it all live hunting was the hounds main purpose. A lot of lads quit the drag hunting scene as they couldn't be bothered paying big money for a trailhound that was no good for live hunting and they got fed up of all the fighting.

 

Despite all that you would have to say that the trailhound is an impressive animal and the lads do a lot of work to get them right. They are bred down from the fastest of fellhounds. In general they don't give tongue on the drag. They have been bred down to be silent as it is thought that giving tongue will slow them up. They are clipped down as soon as the weather warms in ealy summer to ensure they are as cool as possibe when running the drag. They are fed up on the best possible diet with each man having his own tricks. The hounds are trained by walking up to 5 or 6 mile a day and regular practice drags. From an about six months old the trailhounds are taught to race to a bucket of food and as they come to the end of the drag eacher owner will have the food ready and then call their hound in over the last few fields. Thats when they really start to move.

[Cupid Stunt 18]

A couple of video clips

 

http://www.lhi.org.uk/applications/console/av_console.asp?mediacategory=212

[cúagusgiorraí 57]

There is some draghunting with trailhounds in Co Cavan but it would not be as big as in Cork or Kerry. Up until about ten years ago there was a big draghunting scene across Cavan, Monaghan, Fermanagh and Armagh using foot harriers. The same dogs were hunted over the winter and raced in the summer. Towards the end of the 90s lads started buying up trailhounds from Cork and Kerry to race. The trailhounds were all faster over the drag trail than the harriers and with a few exceptions they were all next to useless on a live hunt. It led to a split among the Northern lads as a lot of lads wanted to keep our drags as a sort of part time pastime and confined to dual purpose hunting hounds. Most people were like myself, just wanted to run their hounds over the summer to keep them fit for winter and if one of them showed a bit of spark to train it up a bit more, but at the back of it all live hunting was the hounds main purpose. A lot of lads quit the drag hunting scene as they couldn't be bothered paying big money for a trailhound that was no good for live hunting and they got fed up of all the fighting.

 

Despite all that you would have to say that the trailhound is an impressive animal and the lads do a lot of work to get them right. They are bred down from the fastest of fellhounds. In general they don't give tongue on the drag. They have been bred down to be silent as it is thought that giving tongue will slow them up. They are clipped down as soon as the weather warms in ealy summer to ensure they are as cool as possibe when running the drag. They are fed up on the best possible diet with each man having his own tricks. The hounds are trained by walking up to 5 or 6 mile a day and regular practice drags. From an about six months old the trailhounds are taught to race to a bucket of food and as they come to the end of the drag eacher owner will have the food ready and then call their hound in over the last few fields. Thats when they really start to move.

 

very good, thanks for that

 

A couple of video clips

 

http://www.lhi.org.uk/applications/console/av_console.asp?mediacategory=212

 

excellent thanks

[welshwizard 33]

Just watched those vids, absolutely outstanding. Why can't we get something like this in North Wales. If you don't get excited by this, you are not alive.