AIKEN, S.C. (WJBF) – People in Aiken gathered Thanksgiving morning for the Blessing of the Hounds.
The ceremony is done as a way to pay homage to the various traditions of foxhunting, the heritage of Aiken`s historic hunt culture, and to the hounds themselves. A local clergyman officiates the event each year.
“Every year when we start the formal season, we always have a blessing of the hounds to protect hounds, horses, and riders and also the lands in which we hunt. And it’s been our tradition here at Aiken hounds for 111 years,” said Larry Byers, senior master of the Aiken Hounds…