The Season and Purpose
The hunt season lasts from October to March and the hunt goes out three days a week. Hunt territory is located in Fayette and Clark Counties, Kentucky—much of which is under conservation easement, and located in the Boone Creek National Historic District.
On a hunt, the hounds chase the scent of coyote. Only rarely do hounds actually see the coyote. The purpose is to keep the coyotes dispersed so they don’t travel in groups or bother livestock and pets.
The Fields
Iroquois offers three fields for following the hounds during a hunt:
- 1st Field: Typically walk, trot, canter, and gallop, jumping fences 3’ – 3.3’
- 2nd Field: Typically walk, trot, canter, and gallop—no jumping.
- 3rd Field: Typically walk and trot—no jumping.
The Fields
Iroquois offers three fields for following the hounds during a hunt:
- 1st Field: Typically walk, trot, canter, and gallop, jumping fences 3’ – 3.3’
- 2nd Field: Typically walk, trot, canter, and gallop—no jumping.
- 3rd Field: Typically walk and trot—no jumping.
Proper Turn-out
Proper turn-out for participants during a hunt demonstrates a respect for the landowner, hounds, horses, quarry, and fellow hunters in the field. This is important to the ongoing tradition sport, and you can learn more by reading such introductory books as Riding to Hounds in America by William P. Wadsworth, MFH.
Iroquois Hunt Colors
World wide, each hunt has distinctive “colors” on the collar and specific designs on the buttons of riding coats. Iroquois Hunt colors include robin’s egg blue piping on the coat collar, a robin’s egg blue vest worn under the coat, and unique buttons featuring its logo—the only hunt buttons in the world with a horse head featured in the design. Member riders must prove their proficiency in the hunt field before earning their colors, marking a proud rite of passage and accomplishment in the sport.
