The method is very different. The method used in fox hunting is nothing short of EXTREME ANIMAL CRUELTY, if it was about protecting other species why not just kill it outright instead of chasing it for miles and miles first!?! It's very different from a quick kill, with minimal suffering for the animal.

I can't remember who the OP was who said this - but they mentioned about the attitudes of the people who they had seen hunting and they way they treated their horses.

I am geniunely sorry for you witnessing that - like anything, there are people in this world (for whatever reason) that do not always conduct themselves as the rest of people (in thus case a hunt) would or should. For example, I was shopping in a supermarket the other day and a shop assistant was particularly rude to me - it would be wrong of me to label all supermarket assistants as rude, petulant and generally as thick-as-to-short planks, even though this boy was!

The majority of people who hunt would do pretty much anything for their horses - I certainly would. I owe my horses so much (particularly the one I used to hunt regularly on - I am completely endebted for what the little mare has done to me). However, of course, for a professional they are going to view their horse's slightly differently (although hopefully never as a machine, although of course it does happen) - they need to be 'useful' in so much as that they need to pay their way and do a job required - but that doesn't excuse bad handling of a horse.

So in short, not everybody that hunts treats their horse's badly or has bad manners - I really just wanted to get that across to people.

The hunting of foxes hasnt actually been banned, its just a ban on using dogs to hunt them.
I can see that its not a nice way for an animal to die (being ripped apart by dogs) but what people dont understand is now the terrier men must shoot the fox. They need to have a bloody good aim to kill it out right and now 90% of the time the fox runs off injured and dieing a slow death!
Like I said, I see that being ripped apart isnt a nice way to go but at least it was instant. Now its not garaunteed!

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Firstly I think fox hunting is a cruel sport and I'm glad it's no longer , would you like a pack of hounds rip you apart , Ive had plenty of whips at me from the hunt leader when I was younger for expressing my views
There is better ways in controling animals such as this without the cruel ways ,
Animals that need to be controled should be in a way that is not cruel and doesn't destress the animal in anyway , I live in the country and I have seen the damage animals can do around a farm ect ect , when you have the lively hoods of farmers at stake then something should be done , I hate any sort of having to kill any animal for reasons or another, but when you look at the damage that some of these animals do , and the costs involved ,
You have to look at both sides of the story
I've seen farmers ruined by tb and there whole lives go down the pan.
Theres a right and a wrong way of doing things .
If it has to be done then wait untill mating season and bringing up the young is over and done with

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I have been hunting a few times with my local hunt,its a lovely atmosphere everyone is so friendly helpful and nice.On the boxing day hunt a sabatour had a gas horn thing that he was pointing at us and sounding off!! These so called animal lovers were intentially scaring the horses and potentially endangering us riders.Not one person,however rich,was unpleasant ,snooty or un helpful.Its so easy for someone who has never been to judge and assume and come to the wrong conclusions.My husband also shoots,as do our boys.

I come from the west country and have lived in areas where there is fox hunting. I find that the people that are intolerant of fox hunting are urban dwellers. Foxes spread disease, kill livestock and are more than capable, and DO kill cats that are free roaming.

Fox hunting is an old fashioned but recognised means of keeping the fox population under control.

I haven't read all the way through this thread, but if there aren't already farmers posting in here, they should be - they can explain their position.

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I'm not against controlling the fox population, I'd rather there wasn't a need for it and that they could just be left be but I understand why it needs to be done to protect other animals such as sheep and chickens.

I am against the way it was done. It's very cruel to chase a fox for miles and miles which often results in it dying of exhuastion or it being ripped apart by numerous dogs. All animals have a right to a humane death.

keep moving them into suburbia ,pulling out the bins and spreading mange ,we dont want them in the country ,i dont think it was the countryside people that voted for the ban

The fox actually died quickly however when it caught by the hounds and this has been proved by various reports into the hunting of foxes with hounds - I agree, it may not be the prettiest way to go, but it was pretty instant.

Also in my experiances the animal in question didnt get very far,certainly not far enough to get exhausted.And it was very quick and carefully monitered.