Drag hunting is just a front for illegal hunting in a lot of cases, see the brutality handed out to hunt monitors on a regular basis, all in the name of tearing a fox apart, oh sorry I mean tradition!
I don't thinks this a good generalization, certain not when an emotive off forum subject is being, discussed with tolerance, because it does negatively impact a walker true interests.
Not many here seem to look on the horse rider as an ally.
The debate and conclusion of the Fox Hunting issue caused a great deal of ill feeling in country communities, which will take the loss of a generation before it has much chance of healing. But anyone expressing strong views should be aware of how the realities are, if you are a keen equestrian the drag hunt is the only opportunity to ride in open country in the way that can only be created by the willing support of a large number of landowners. There are landowner's, who support the ban on fox hunting, so it would seem likely that a hunt would want to maximize the area in which it wants to operate. There is a hunting season, so this sort of open country riding will not give year round coverage to the keener riders, hacking is the out of season option and the bridleways are where this takes place.
If I were to make an analogy with walking, hacking is what we do most of the time but some of us go off and climb rocks, even snow and ice climbs, throw in a few precarious bivouacs and if we are unlucky get killed. The drag can give the horse rider the equestrian equivalent. Of course a fox may break cover, but it is the responsibility of the Master to ensure that his huntsman keeps the hounds on the drag scent. Now I don't know how effective these officers of the hunt are in managing this, but I do know some people, who could tell me. As this topic has made me realize this, I am going to bend a few ears.
One thing I am sure of, if the horse industry is to keep this valuable sort of open country riding, then it must obey the rules and laws. All interests need the willing support of various occupiers of this land to fully benefit from leisure resource of the countryside.
Walkers certainly do not need the animosity associated with anti-hunt activists, especially if it is attracted by association with erroneous propaganda.