London, GB | Formerly of New York, Buenos Aires, Fife, and the Western Cape. | Saoránach d’Éirinn.

Horse & Hound in Montreal

A splendid afternoon is the best way to describe it. Last Sunday up in St-Augustin-de-Mirabel it was the annual hunter trials of the Montreal Hunt Club – the oldest hunt in the New World. Club treasurer Annette Laroche suggested swinging by the Club sometime and as it happens a good friend had just moved to Montreal. So when Raymond Côté (seen in the previous post jumping on the beautiful white mare Frimousse) sent an invite to the hunter trials, I knew it’d be foolish not to take the opportunity to visit the beautiful land of Quebec for the first time in many years.

Hunter trials are basically an equestrian competition to test the field hunter horses in a series of jumps, but, as Annette explained to us, it’s also simply an excuse for the club to get together, be social, and have a good time.

The most interesting competition we got to see that day was the jumping in pairs. The riders demonstrated a real skill, more easily appreciable to lay spectators such as ourselves than in the single rider jumps. It was interesting picking up on their little methods: the trois-deux-un leading up to the jump, spotting each other to ensure the correct positioning, and the playful whelp of joy after touching down again. And indeed the joy was infectious: while the skies were grey, the spirit on the ground was quite merry.

The prizegiving.

La belle Frimousse!

Important as riding is, the Club de chasse à courre de Montréal is, after all, a hunt club and the running of the hounds was a helpful reminder thereof.

The hounds respond to the huntsman’s horn calls.

The hounds were enjoying themselves immensely.

After the demonstration with the hounds, Annette took us over to the stable to meet her horse Roby, currently recovering from a bit of leg trouble.

After meeting this fine, endearing horse we had to head back into Montreal. But a good time was had by all, largely thanks to the cheerful hospitality of our Québécois hosts. It is both fascinating and reassuring that this most English of traditions has been so comfortably (and heartily) adopted by these sons and daughters of France. The Montreal Hunt Club is plainly in good shape, and we wish it every continued success in the fields. Bonne saison de chasse!

Published at 9:02 pm on Wednesday 1 October 2008. Categories: Canada Hunting Quebec Tags: , , .
Comments

Splendid weekend, indeed!

— Alessandro 1 Oct 2008 11:48 pm

Thanks for posting the lovely pictures Andrew. It was great to meet you and your friends. Till next time !

Annette

— Annette 3 Oct 2008 10:04 pm

Thank goodness the political correctness of banning fox hunting in the UK has not reached any of the Commonwealth countries.

Wonderful Post!!

— Peter Kraus 8 Oct 2008 6:49 pm

Wonderful photos. We had our Hunter Trials here in the ‘Nati this weekend, and it is always such a pleasure to attend.

— NBS 13 Oct 2008 1:13 pm
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