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What is Lure Coursing?
Table of Contents Introduction
The following information was taken from " Dog World Magazine". The sport of coursing-the pursuit of swift game by swift hounds- has been done sine the days of the ancient Egyptians. Not just a pleasurable pastime of the Pharaohs and other royalty, coursing also provided food for the table and eliminated predators. Although the need for it as a means of survival was eliminated with the advances of civilization, it continues to flourish as a modern-day sport because of its timeless appeal. Coursing remains the same breathtaking spectacle it has been for thousands of years, and it is filled with the excitement of beautiful hounds exerting themselves to the limit. In lure coursing, the lure is several
white plastic bags tied to a line attached to a machine made from a starter
motor. (see photo) The object of lure coursing is to
test the hunting instincts and abilities of the dogs. It is done according
to the rules set forth by the AKC and the ASFA. The AKC awards qualify
coursing Which hounds are eligible to lure course? Only sighthound breeds are allowed to
run in AKC and ASFA lure field trials. These include the:
Afghan hound,
Basenji,
Borzoi,
Greyhound,
Ibizan hound,
Italian Greyhound,
Irish Wolfhound,
Pharaoh hound,
Rhodesian Ridgeback,
Saluki,
Scottish Deerhound and
Whippet.
In the case of the ASFA, the Italian Greyhound runs in the Miscellaneous class,
which allows the rarer sighthound breeds to lure course, and also includes:
Sloughi,
Azawakh,
Chart Polski,
Cirnecho D'ell Etna,
Galgo Espanol,
Magyar Agar
and the Peruvian Inca Orchid. The hounds are judged on such things as: speed, agility, follow, endurance, enthusiasm and overall ability. In order for the judges to tell them apart when they are running, the hounds wear either a bright yellow, pink or blue coursing blanket (jersey). Of the three dogs running in each course, the judges give a numerical score reflecting how each hound placed. Then, the dogs must be cross-course judged. That means if there are two courses of three dogs run, the judges must rank the scores as though all six ran in the same course. The Field Committee is comprised of the following: Field Chairman, Field Secretary, Field Clerk, Huntsmaster, Lure Operator, Inspection and Measuring Committee and the Paddock Master. Although all of these functions are important in the overall success of a trial, I will only discuss the roles and responsibilities of the Judge(s), Lure Operator and Huntsmaster. For a complete listing of the roles and responsibilities of each, please go to: http://www.akc.org/registration/rules Although the Judge is not officially apart of the Field Committee, his/her responsibilities are included below. Judge(s): Each stake is judged by one or two judges- one is the norm. The Judge, before beginning his/her assignment, shall walk the course and verify with the FTC that an approved course is properly setup and free of hazards. Without going into much detail the judge performs the following: a. Scores the course: See
Scoring
The judge can stand in the middle of the field, on the sidelines, in a bleacher (if provided) or in a chair depending on where they think they will have the best vantage point to score from. Lure Operator: I can not stress the importance of a good lure operator. The lure operator not only controls the lure, but he/she is also responsible for your dogs safety out on the course. A bad lure operator can not only ruin a run for your dog but can ruin your dogs lure coursing career or worse. The following is a brief list of the Lure Operator's responsibilities: a. Makes a pilot run of the
lure before the first course of the day
The lure operator usually stands atop a ladder or in a bleacher (if available) for maximum visibility. Huntsmaster- Just like the lure operator the Huntsmaster has a very BIG responsibility when it comes to the scoring and safety of your hound. The lure operator probably has more responsibilities than any of the other Field Committee positions. The following is just a brief list of their responsibilities: a. Shall call up a new course
when the previous is completed
The Lure Operator shall stand in close proximity to, but not in front of, the handlers and hounds. See other Lure Coursing Questions ...
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