The mornings are cooler, huntsmen have sharpened up young entry and riders pull out their scarlet and black coats. From Canada to Georgia, formal hunt season is underway. Many hunts included the traditional Blessing of the Hounds observance at the start of the season, a tradition dating back centuries, and echoing the request for protection and good fortune from St. Hubert, patron saint of hunters. Enjoy this gallery of timeless images from eight different packs.
New Market-Middletown Valley Hounds, Maryland. Photo by Malcolm James Harkins IV.
Myopia Hunt Club, Massachusetts. Photo by Sophiea Bitel.
Iroquois Hunt, Kentucky. Photo courtesy of David Traxler.
Caza Ladron, New Mexico. Photo by Amy Lin Engle.
Rockbridge Hunt, Virginia. Photo by Charlie Lyons.
Huntingdon Valley Hunt, Pennsylvania. Photo by Lori Corless Russell.
Longreen Foxhounds, Tennessee. Photo by Brooke Ballenger.
Rose Tree-Blue Mountain Hunt, Pennsylvania. Photo by huntsman and MFH Sean Cully.
Oak Ridge Fox Hunt, Virginia. Photo by Eric Christenson.
