the connection between the two sports has faded considerably. It’s increasingly rare to find riders who do both sports, which is unfortunate, according to both Emerson and James Wofford, another international champion eventer and former foxhunter. “There are two questions, really: Should eventers foxhunt?
with the hounds, you don’t have the chance to set them up for the ditch that’s coming. You just go.” It also teaches riders to stop micromanaging and stay out of the horse’s way, says Nancy Ambrosiano, a former preliminary eventer who is now president of the Caza Ladron Hunt in New Mexico and the MFHA board’s US
Foxhunters should try eventing to learn how to ride with a more independent seat and softer hands. And should foxhunters event?” says Wofford, whose father was MFH of the former Cavalry School Hunt in Fort Riley, Kansas, and whose wife, Gail, was MFH of the Piedmont Fox Hounds in Virginia. “The answer to both of those questions is: yes, absolutely.” Why Should Eventers Foxhunt?
Eventers, according to Wofford, live a very disciplined and predictable life with a regimented training schedule. Foxhunting, on the other hand, is highly variable. “The ability to cross the country without having walked [the course] — to canter up to something, assess it quickly and get through it safely — that’s good for eventers,” he says. “It’s a different skill than walking a course three times and planning out ‘five strides from this bank to that ditch.’” Meridith Hatterman, who is first whipper-in with the Bijou Springs Hunt in Colorado and has evented at the advanced level, agrees. “When you go to an event, it’s clear that a lot of people are learning to gallop in an arena. People just aren’t comfortable galloping at speed at fences and jumping out of stride,” she says. “When you’re galloping along
Pony Clubs liaison. “Eventers are so used to managing every footfall of the horse — particularly in the dressage and show jumping rings. You can’t do that when you foxhunt. It teaches you to trust your horse and let go,” she says.
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Why Should Foxhunters Event?
When asked why foxhunters should go outside of their comfort zone and learn some of the eventing disciplines — particularly dressage — Wofford didn’t skip a beat. “Let’s be serious here, folks,” he says. “Foxhunt-
What is Eventing? Eventing is the triathlon of equestrian sports. It comprises three phases: dressage, cross-country jumping and stadium jumping. Scores for the three phases are cumulative, with the horse with the lowest number of penalty points winning. For more information, go to the United States Eventing Association’s web site: www.useventing.com.
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