NEWS
HOUND SHOW 2012
The Irish Masters of Foxhounds Association annual Foxhound Show will take place on Sunday, 1st July 2012 at Stradbally, Hall, Co Laois (by kind permission of the Cosby Family) commencing at 10.30 am. The Show Schedule, Conditions and Entry Forms may be downloaded from this site, along with a useful guide to what the judges are looking for.
Exhibitors should note entries close on Monday 18th June 2012.
The Irish Hunting Hounds website: www.irishhounds.ie represents the interests of all registered hunting packs in Ireland. This website serves all the associate members of the HAI. If you have an interest in hounds and hound breeding, it is worth visiting. You will find over 100,000 hounds on the useful database.
HAI Punchestown Day, Tuesday April 24th 2012
HAI and Punchestown have again joined forces to stage HAI Punchestown Day on Tuesday 24th April, 2012. The first day of the National Hunt Festival.
As in previous years the day’s racing will have a hunting theme with several packs parading during racing.
This years line up includes the Stonehall Harriers from Limerick on their centenary year, .as well as fox hounds and foot packs.
With the first race set for 3.40 pm and a cracking card including the Ladies Cup over the bank course it has all the makings of a great day out.
Tickets at a very attractive price of only €20 will shortly be available for purchase by credit card on the HAI website or by cheque from HAI . The special HAI ticket includes entry to the race course including the reserved enclosure, all day access to the HAI Pavilion to relax, meet hunting friends and enjoy the entertainment with live music and interviews throughout the day. As if all that was not enough all HAI patrons will get a €5 drinks voucher for refreshments during the day.
Hunt secretaries and others wising to make bulk bookings should contact HAI by phone at 085 1100645 or e mail: hunting@hai.ie
NEW IMFHA CHAIRMAN
The new IMFHA Chairman is Rupert Macauley, huntsman and master of the West Wicklow Hunt, formerly a Kildare Hunt master.
Check out the MFHA Online Stud Book Foxhound Kennel Stud Book for useful information.
Eurojust and Europol Held Joint Conference on Animal Rights Extremism
In July 2011, Europol, the European Union's official criminal intelligence
agency, and Eurojust, an EU agency dealing with cooperation in
cross-border investigations, held a joint conference at The Hague to
discuss "the phenomenon of increased violence committed by some
extremists in the name of animal rights."
The two organizations issued a joint press released afterward saying:
The phenomenon of increased violence committed by some extremists
in the name of animal rights is a growing cause for concern. In a major
conference organised by Europol and Eurojust 58 experts from law
enforcement and prosecution authorities, plus representatives from 35
private sector organisations, met last week at Europol's new
headquarters in The Hague to discuss the issues behind this new
trend. While the defence of the rights of animals and their welfare is
legitimate and fully supported by European Union institutions, the
increase in violence by extremists remains a concern for all of the
conference participants. An example is the increased use of Improvised
Explosive Devices (IEDs) and Improvised Incendiary Devices (IIDs).........
SOME FACTS ABOUT HUNTING TO BE CONSIDERED...
Fields sports are a huge industry - The most recent study of the socio-economic impact of hunting done by David Scallan of University College Galway found that Hunting with Hounds contributed €34.2 million to the economy in 2007. It also found a similar figure for Game Shooting and a much larger figure for Hare Coursing.
Somewhere in the region of 300,000 people are involved in hunting with hounds in Ireland. That is a lot of votes. It should also be emphasised that hunting with hounds, in particular mounted hunting, supports a significant amount of employment in the form of farriers, feed merchants, suppliers of equestrian equipment, for example, as well as those directly employed by hunt clubs. Many hunt kennels also provide a valuable service to farmers for the disposal of fallen stock.
*Make your local politicians and councillors aware of these facts*
"BAD LAWS ARE THE WORST SORT OF TYRANNY"
How the animal rights movement brought about the UK ban. Read more...
HUNTING, WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT and the MORAL ISSUE
Download this interesting booklet, full of useful information on wildlife management and the effect hunting with hounds has on it. Download here...
Today Horses.... Tomorrow Cows....
Commentary by Dennis Foster
There are no horse processing plants operating in the United States today. Good news for the horse? Hardly. Read more...
Animal Rights versus Animal Welfare - a look at some of the main issues. Read more...
