thumb|Photo postcard published in 1916 by photographer E.C. Eddy, showing a draghound pack in Southern Pines, North Carolina

Drag hunting or draghunting is a form of equestrian sport where mounted riders hunt the trail of an artificially laid scent with hounds.

Description

Drag hunting is an equestrian sport where a field of mounted riders chase a pack of hounds who follow or 'hunt' a trail of an artificial non-animal based scent. The primary difference between fox hunting and drag hunting is the hounds are trained to chase a prepared scent trail laid by a person dragging a material soaked in aniseed or another strong-smelling substance and not an animal-based scent mimicking a fox hunt, as in trail hunting.

Drag hunting soon became popular with the British Army, with the Household Cavalry establishing a pack in 1863 and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and the Royal Military Academy Woolwich both establishing packs in 1870. The motivation of the British Army's interest in the sport was it was seen to provide excellent preparation for beginners and those who were about to enter the cavalry divisions. alternative to hunting animals with hounds in Great Britain. A trail of animal urine (most commonly fox) is laid in advance of the 'hunt', and then tracked by the hound pack and a group of followers; on foot, horseback, or both.

Hound trailing

Similar to drag hunting, but in the form of a race; usually of around in length.

  • Masters of the Draghounds and Bloodhounds Association website, mdbassociation.co.uk, retrieved 24 August 2017.