Our Vision & Mission
Our Story
Founded in 2020, Wateree Hounds has quickly become the heart of Camden's equestrian community. What began as a vision to preserve fox hunting tradition has grown into a registered pack under the Masters of Foxhounds Association and a nonprofit organization dedicated to land conservation and community engagement.
With over 300 years of combined hunting experience among our leadership, we honor the timeless traditions of mounted fox hunting while maintaining a pack of American foxhounds—the very breed that George Washington hunted with at Mount Vernon. This connection to our nation's founding traditions runs deep, as we champion modern conservation efforts across Kershaw County's historic landscapes while preserving America's original foxhunting heritage.
Our Mission
We preserve and promote the cherished tradition of American fox hunting through the careful breeding and training of American foxhounds, the stewardship of historic equestrian properties, and the opening of trails that welcome the community while protecting natural habitats.
Our mission extends beyond the hunt field. We are educators, conservationists, and community builders, ensuring that Camden's equestrian heritage and America's foxhunting traditions thrive for future generations through public engagement, land preservation, and the celebration of sporting life.
Our Community
From our 70+ annual fox hunts to the prestigious Wateree Cup Polo Classic, from summer hound exercises open to all to our signature Sporting Week, we create opportunities for riders and supporters alike to experience the joy of tradition, the beauty of our landscapes, and the bonds of community that define the sporting life in Camden. Each time we take to the field with our American hounds, we continue a tradition that connects us not only to Camden's sporting heritage but to the very roots of American foxhunting itself.
