Goals

The Norfolk Hunt Foundation, formed in the fall of 2021, has as its mission, to support the traditions of Riding to Hounds (Foxhunting). The Norfolk Hunt Foundation supports the relationship that exists between horse and rider and the preservation and maintenance of land on which the walking and riding public can enjoy access. We seek to give the next generation a love of the sport of Riding to Hounds and the preservation of access to nature with horses.

photo courtesy of Ruth Baltopoulos copyright © 2021
The history of Riding to Hounds in New England began two decades before Henry Ford invented the Model T. In the late 1800s vast land areas of New England were still open fields from agricultural land clearing of the early 1800s. in 1895, when the Norfolk Hunt Club was formed in Dedham MA as a drag hunt, the forefathers of the hunt club rode the open lands of the Charles River Valley (Dover, Medfield, Sherborn, South Natick, Millis, Walpole) in pursuit of the virtual fox. A scent was laid by dragging a rag at the end of a rope, scented in fox. Some hours later, hounds and huntsman, followed by a field of riders dressed in scarlet coats jumping over stone walls re-enacted the sport of European ancestors Riding to Hounds in search of live prey.

Since 1895 there have been five generations of riders keeping the tradition alive at New England Hunts. The sport lives on in New England with the Myopia Hunt Club in Hamilton MA, Old North Bridge Hounds in Concord/Carlisle MA, the Nashoba Valley Hunt in Groton MA, Tan Heath Hunt Club on the border of MA and CT, Wentworth Hunt in southern NH, Green Mountain Hounds in VT, North Country Hounds. in VT, and Norfolk Hunt Club in Dover MA. The Norfolk Hunt kennels, built in Dover MA in 1903, are the oldest kennels in America still in current use.

Most Riding to Hounds in New England is Drag Fox Hunting. Drag Hunting is much like the sport of live fox hunting whose origins began in Europe centuries ago. In drag fox hunting no live animals are hunted. Rather, a scent laid by a human fox (a runner in the woods and fields) is later followed by foxhounds and huntsman, with mounted riders following the hounds. Thus the vision of scarlet coats jumping over stone walls, re-enacts the traditional sport of Riding to Hounds. The fox hounds are trained to follow only the special scent laid down by the human fox to create the pageantry of the hunt and use lands where permission to ride has been granted.

The Norfolk Hunt Foundation supports the preservation of open space that is open to the public for the riding of horses in general and Riding to Hounds in particular. It will support youth and young adults in Riding to Hounds so that there will be a next generation of riders to participate. It will support re-enactments that occur spring and fall in New England. The Norfolk Hunt Foundation will support care and facilities for the health and well being of the hounds in the re-enactment of fox hunting from ages past.

Donations

The Norfolk Hunt Foundation provides a vehicle for donations to support activities closely aligned to hunting to hounds, especially focused on land preservation for riding and education of youth to create the next generation of hunt participants.

Support Hunting to Hounds.

Donations can also be mailed to:

Norfolk Foundation Inc.
16 Nason Hill Lane
Sherborn, MA 01770

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The Norfolk Foundation Inc. a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (EIN 87-2355612).
(DBA the Norfolk Hunt Foundation)
Dedicated to Fox Hunting and Riding to Hounds.

Many photos courtesy of Ruth Baltopoulos
Other images and text Copyright © 2021-2024 by the Norfolk Foundation Inc. All rights reserved.
Contact: mnewman@dragonnorth.com 617 821-4608