Hounds and Hares
A novice's first glimpse of our hounds in their element
by Dennis J. Smith
(Page3)
Seeing the first several courses raises my anticipation of the remainder considerably. I'll try staying on the hare this time, in an effort to possible observe the take. Problem. If I do that I'll miss the opportunity to observe the hounds in pursuit, which is why I think I came. At the next level is the desire to compare the Salukis with the Afghan Hounds. The Greys and the Whippets. Of particular interest are the Pharaohs and Ibizans, whose antics in the gallery, mostly their ability to leap straight up into the air while watching the others during the first course, drew my attention. While having bodies which are obviously that of sighthounds, their different heads make them unique. This event is obviously the real article. Another classic case of believing one understands something based on the purely intellectual or academic activity of reading and study. Seeing the anticipation of the group looking for the next hare reminds me of this folly. The differences are to be see and heard.
We've now made three passes on the field with no sign of additional hares. Through the mumblings of the gallery I hear several remarks of someone seeing more "sign". My eyes tell me that with such lush cover, we should be awash in hares. Nothing. The conversation with the gentleman on my left reverts to discussing our respective dogs and what it was that caused me to venture some 10,000 miles to do what I'm doing. I ask how long one usually waits between hares. His response is "either minutes or days". Again, the unknown factor in open field coursing. The best dog in the world requires a hare to course. Also, there are "good" hares and "bad" hares. Everyone is searching for that rare "really good" hare which will permit one's dog to fully showcase his talents. I'm told that many events come and go without this wish being satisfied.
By 4 PM, we've gotten in only six of the required twelve courses and the dwindling light becomes the major concern. Damn all the recent rainy weather and an apparent downcycle in jackrabbit populations anyway. The past several courses were all as exciting to me as the first ones. A whippet and two greyhounds got lucky on a good hare and had a great long course, the whippet emerging the winner. In another one, a young black & tan Afghan bitch surprised the entire gallery by staying with a brace of proven Salukis throughout another long course and just missing the take. The three Borzois and the Irish are all, unluckily, in the last three courses, and it would appear that I'm not going to have the pleasure of seeing them run with the sun headed into the mountains. I'm beginning to get torn between my wanting to see all the remaining courses and getting into a hot shower and then putting my legs up. I know I've not walked this far over this much uneven ground since Boy Scouts. Mentally, however, I remain as fired up as I was early this morning. Simply having the opportunity to see these hounds off lead in pursuit of prey has more than made the exertion worth it. With all the talk in the publications and between people in a variety of media, not nearly enough of us really appreciate how special it is seeing our dogs at their bred for tasks. We can read narratives, watch films and articulate the concept all manner of ways. If you haven't been in a field, smelling the morning and hearing the dogs working themselves into an anticipatory lather, you can't truly understand.
So many of these breeds are known only to us as companions around the house or on walks, as participants in shows or obedience classes or as pictures in books. The sighthounds do all of these things well because they're intelligent creatures who will do what they must to repay the domestic kindness we show them each day. After you've seen them focus their entire being on a rapidly departing jackrabbit and put all those special gifts they were born with to use as they were intended, they take on an entire new aura. These dogs have a purpose in life and this is it. To permit them to pursue prey is something we can give back which I now know is appreciated much more by them than endless grooming or chasing a plastic lure. I've heard all the excuses: the dirt, tangled hair, possibly injury and even barbarity and fears of killings impact on the dogs behavior. Believe me, the sight of a young hound returning to it's master, exhausted after a long course, with prize in tow, will tell you in no uncertain terms why this dog was placed amongst us.
Several people attempted to explain to me the judging system in place for OFC. Measures, in the judge's opinion of speed, agility, working the hare and several other categories including the take. The numbers are worked together with ultimately a winner, second and third awarded for each course. I forget already how the overall events winner is decided, but at this point in my novice life, I don't really care. Simply spending a day in the field with this group and viewing what I had was sufficient for this day.
Still trying to put it all in perspective as the lights of Los Angeles come into view, my immediate concern is my tired body. On the other hand, experiencing what I did today, I feel as if I'd been admitted to a small select group. I'm a Sighthound owner in a western country who has had the privilege of being part of an activity which permits us a unique view of our hounds, along with a tie to history. No guns, no telescopic sights or other technology. Man (and woman) and hound, as it's been done for centuries and as it's still done in many of the nations of origin. A pure and fair contest. Some dogs make the take. Some do not. Most return healthy. A few receive injuries. A different day, a different field would most likely yield different results. Sort of like life. Mine is now certainly more full for having been there. The next time, and believe me, I'm going back, I'll take a few items I neglected to take today. Good field boots, a small backpack with some food in it,…… and my Afghan Hound.
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