What is Lure Coursing?
Click here to watch a video on Lure Coursing.
Lure Coursing:
Is a humane sport which attempts to imitate the coursing of the rabbit
or hare by sighthounds but without the hare. The sighthounds chase an
artificial lure, usually a white kitchen garbage bag, sometimes tanned
rabbit skins, or fake fur strips.
To set up the "lure" coursing course a line composed of braided fishing line
(usually 100 pound test 'trolling' line) is passed around a series of
pulleys staked to the ground within a large field (at least 5 acres).
The lures (most clubs use at least two lures set 10 feet apart on the line -
this reduces contention among the hounds at the end) are attached to the
main line and the whole system is driven from a lure machine, a device
constructed from a 1955 to 1962 Ford starter motor mounted in a frame. This
particular type of starter motor has a long drive shaft upon which is
mounted a drive wheel that rather resembles two very sturdy pie plates
welded back to back -- the line runs in the groove between the plates.
Since the starter motor is DC the normal power source is provided by deep
cycle 12 volt marine batteries, by 2 or 3 car batteries in parallel, or by
jumper cables running to a running car or tractor. The lure machine must be
capable of driving the lure at speeds up to 40 miles per hour. Control of
the lure is provided by using an on-off type thumb-switch (connected to the
low-current side of the starter solenoid). One such switch can be made out
of a door bell switch mounted in a grip made from a bicycle handle bar grip.
It is important to have a lure machine configuration that provides enough
speed to keep the lure safely in front of the fastest hounds. Lure machines
used in terrier trials or made with AC washing machine motors lack the power
to accelerate the lure quickly enough.
The competition within a breed consists of allowing the hounds to run in
braces or trios (provided that there are two or more hounds per breed)
within each stake in the breed, twice. Solitary breed entries usually run
alone although, with permission of the handlers, solitary entries with
similar running styles may be grouped to run together - but they will be
scored separately by the judge(s). For example if there was only one Pharaoh
Hound and only one Ibizan Hound entered at a trial the handlers might be
given the option of having those two run together.
In order to individually identify the hounds for purposes of scoring they
are clothed in a coursing blanket. The blanket colors are intense pink,
yellow or cyan. The blanket color is assigned to the hounds by random draw.
Depending on the trial each hound receives scores from one or two judges for
each run. The final placement within the stake is determined by adding
together all of the hound's scores and comparing that score with those of
other hounds in that stake.
Who Does What?
Handlers (usually the owner) hold the hound at the starting line and
retrieve them at the finish line.
Judges sit in the field to rate the performance of the hounds.
The Lure Operator controls the mechanized "bunny".
The Hunt Master ensures that the hounds, handlers, judges and lure operator
are ready. The Hunt Master starts the hounds and indicates when the handlers
should retrieve their hounds.
The Paddockmaster ensures that the hounds "on deck" are ready for their
turn. Paddock Masters are generally in charge of making the event go
smoothly for all involved.
At a competition, hounds of the same breed run in trios with traditional
greyhound style racing blankets. The hounds are judged not on time, rather
on enthusiasm, ability to follow the lure, speed, agility and endurance.
So what would you commonly see at your first practice?
Traditionally, for a practice hounds run their first time as a single
(second and third runs may be in pairs or trios). There is a small fee at
which time you receive a number for your turn. Events are held in large,
outdoor, fenced fields with places set aside to walk the dogs and to lounge.
When your turn arrives, you bring your hound with a slip collar to the
starting line. Hold your hound tightly as the lure is brought to the
starting position. The lure operator will call out, "Hold your hounds!"
before moving the lure.
The slip collar is placed on the hound (all other collars must be removed)
and the hound is positioned to the side of the handler facing the direction
that the lure will start.
The hunt master calls out "Judges are you ready?", then "Lure Operator are
you ready?" and "Handlers are you ready?". When all handlers give a positive
verbal response, the hunt master signs to the lure operator to start the
lure. When the lure is of sufficient distance from the hounds, the hunt
master yells, "Tally-HO!!!" and the handlers slip the hounds!
The hounds chase the lure for the duration of the course and the handlers
pay special attention to not stepping on the line. If there are problems
during the run (such as the hounds losing the lure), the lure operator may
stop the run. Depending on the circumstances, the dogs may rerun immediately
at the starting line, take a break and go again later, or start the run in
the field where it stopped.
After the completion of a successful run, the handlers are told to "Retrieve
your hounds!". The leads are placed on the hounds and they are walked on the
other side of the field to "warm down".
What are Sighthounds?
Sighthounds are dogs that traditionally were used to chase game by sight
rather than track game. The animals are normally called "hounds", a
shortening of the term "sighthound" or "gazehound". That is, dogs that hunt
by sight (course). In French this type of dog is called "levier", in German
"Windhund" and in Russian "borzoi".
Although the exact definition of sighthound is a topic that can generate an
enormous controversy, in general they are dogs that hunt by sight and are
specialized for rapid running.
Currently the breeds commonly accepted at North American lure coursing
events are:
Afghan Hounds
Basenjis
Borzoi
Greyhounds
Irish Wolfhounds
Ibizan Hounds
Pharoah Hounds
Salukis
Scottish Deerhounds
Rhodesian Ridgebacks
Whippets
Lure coursing is a performance event developed in the early 70's by Lyle
Gillette and other California sighthound fanciers who hunted jackrabbits in
the open field, which risked the harm caused by barbed wire fencing. They
invented lure coursing as a safer, more controlled sport for sighthounds
that would recreate the physical requirements of open field coursing,
allowing them to continue testing the functional abilities of their
sighthounds. The hounds chase plastic bags on a course laid out to simulate
escaping game.
The hounds will run the course twice, a preliminary run and a final run.
Scores from both runs are added for a combined total score. Hounds are
awarded placements and points based on where they finished and the number of
hounds they competed against. The hounds are running not only for fun and to
keep their natural abilities alive, but also for titles.
Follow 15
Enthusiasm 15
Agility 25
Speed 25
Endurance
Tip:
Allowing small fluffy dogs that resemble lures to run loose on the coursing
field is inadvisable.