Fox hunting is intrinsic to life in the English countryside, says Huntsman Andrew Marren. Where it is seen as novel, even posh, for rural Ontarians, fox hunting has been a way of life for Marren.
“In England fox hunting is interwoven with the countryside,” he said. “The countryside is shaped by years and years of hunting.”
Dating back to the 16th century, Marren said the fields, hedgerows, and forests of the English countryside have been designed for hunting. He said back home, it is as much sport as a social gathering enjoyed by people of all walks of life.
When Toronto and North York Hunt parades through Creemore this Saturday, it will be Marren’s second pass. Marren joined Toronto and North York Hunt, situated in Mulmur, in 2023. He came from the Montreal Hunt in La Chute, Quebec, North America’s oldest foxhunting organization, where he worked for eight seasons.
The Toronto and North York Hunt is the second oldest foxhunt in North America. It was established in 1843, when the Toronto Hunt was led by officers at Fort York. In the 1860s, offspring from the hounds kennelled there were kept downtown Toronto by businessmen who ran with them through High Park, Queen’s Park, and the Don Valley. By 1893 riders, including many ladies who rode sidesaddle, grew the club by inviting their golfing friends to help buy property in Scarborough. In 1930, most of the hounds moved north to Yonge Street in Aurora to a farm given by Lady Eaton to the renamed Toronto and North York Hunt. It moved again to Newmarket, and then to Mulmur.
In England, hunting parties would gather in towns and villages, as has been the case with Creemore. As residents and visitors caught on that the group would be passing through the village on Thanksgiving weekend, interest grew in catching a glimpse of the exuberant dogs, the majestic horses and their stately riders in their jodhpurs, tall boots and coats of red for the men, black for the women, all with the blue collar of the Toronto and North York Hunt.
The parade evolved out of the public’s insistence that the spectacle not be missed.
The ceremony of the parade replaced the hunt on that particular day, substituted by a meet-and-greet with the animals, and humans too. It’s fine by Marren who has made it his mission to make the Hunt more inclusive. He has been successfully using social media to share information about Toronto and North York Hunt, offering a behind the scenes look at life in the barn and kennels. Marren knows each one of the dogs by name and character. Although they are hunters by nature, they are well socialized and very friendly.
The pack is commanded by the huntsman and assistants, called whips, using horns and voice commands. They carry whips that are mostly used for auditory cues. The hunters do not carry weapons, the hounds sniff out and kill their prey, usually coyotes in these parts.
Marren says he began properly hunting at the age of six or seven.
“I loved it as a child,” said Marren. “The whole family hunted.”
As a young lad he was involved in the Pony Club where he learned about the organization, sport, care and culture of raising animals.
Marren attended agricultural college in England, where he studied equine business. He asked if he could keep a pack of hounds and was granted permission, although it often resulted in his being late for school, he admits.
He has since made a career of it. When asked what it is that keeps him in the role he offers, “It’s the most magical thing in the world to be out in the countryside watching the animals work and being out in nature.”
In 2012, Marren applied to be huntsman at the Hamilton Hunt Club. He planned to stay in Canada for a couple of years but never left. He said he enjoys a more relaxed atmosphere in Canada.
“There is a lot of pressure in England,” said Marren. “People take it very seriously.”
It is the huntsman’s job to liaise with landowners who allow access to the hunters, maintain the grounds and care for the animals.
Since coming to Mumur, Marren has introduced a little pack of basset hounds, with which rabbits are hunted on foot, even in winter.
He believes it is important to preserve the club’s 181-year legacy by making sure it remains an accessible and vibrant part of the community.
“We are here as part of the community,” said Marren adding that there are many opportunities for people to get involved. “You don’t have to be a horse- lover or super rich.”
There are events that are open to the public, and volunteer opportunities that include dog-walking and other farm duties.
This weekend is a busy one for the Toronto and North York Hunt, which will host its now annual black-tie Bunny Ball on Oct. 10 in support of the Old
Port Bassets and a Ladies Day Hunt on Oct. 9, which includes a breakfast in the clubhouse, with proceeds going to breast cancer research.
Having been absent for many years, Marren has committed to reviving the club’s presence at The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. The hounds will parade on Wednesday, Nov. 6 as part of the evening show at 7 p.m.
Trina Berlo photo: Huntsman Andrew Marren with the Toronto and North York Hunt’s pack of English foxhounds.