Source: Keswick Hunt Club & Fox River Valley Hunt
Purpose: Attract youngsters and new faces to foxhunting
How it Works:
At the MFHA’s July 2024 Symposium in Charlottesville, Mia Valdez of the Keswick Hunt and Caelinn Leahy of Fox River Valley shared proven ways to draw youngsters and new faces to foxhunting. Their overarching advice is to directly address the concerns these potential participants may have, as well as the obstacles that confront them. Once they are engaged, the camaraderie and thrill of the sport will keep them!
Here are some of the challenges to drawing in young and new foxhunters that Mia and Caelinn addressed:
- Massive expense of engaging in any horse sport
- Shrinking demographic of people engaged in any form of hunting
- Urban lifestyles that are not horse or nature-oriented
- Ever-expanding competing extracurricular options
- Anti-hunting sentiments and ignorance of all forms of hunting
- Limited number of peers available to bring them to the sport
With these daunting challenges in mind, the young ladies shared these solutions:
- Reduce fees for younger members
- Find reasonably priced sources of safe horses
- Provide hunting camps and other educational events
- Have your juniors invite and engage new prospects
- Use your puppies: they are a huge draw
- Be welcoming: everyone is hungry for camaraderie
- Occasionally invite prospects to ride with staff and in the front of the field
- Include young members in state legislature visits
- Hold junior meets with knowledgeable and personable field masters
- Build ties with local lesson programs and horse professionals
- Emphasize open space and land conservation successes of hunts
If you would like more details, Mia and Caelinn are eager to share their guidance on this vital effort. Call the MFHA office at the number below to connect with them.
Engage new folks and they will come! A day of hunting will make them stay!
For more information about this practice, contact the MFHA at 540-883-0883 or office@mfha.com.
Entries posted with “Notes” are for information and education and represent the views, opinions, conclusions, recommendations and experiences of the submitting parties. Their inclusion does not constitute endorsement or warranty by the MFHA of the accuracy, applicability, fitness or completeness of the postings.
