> Before ~1900 the activities were not only expensive (e.g. the Season, the hunt) Hunting on horseback has always been elite, because horses have always been

> Before ~1900 the activities were not only expensive (e.g. the Season, the hunt) Hunting on horseback has always been elite, because horses have always been an expensive preserve of the elite. But great numbers of country-folk that are far from elite follow the hunt on foot; it's especially a Boxing Day custom. Well, at least that was the case 30-40 years ago - things may have changed. As far as fishing goes, coarse fishing in canals and so on has deep working-class roots. It's fly-fishing for salmon and trout that was (and remains) the preserve of landed gentry and their guests/customers.