The tradition of draghunting is hundreds of years old and omitting hunting for living quarry is much older than a German law from 1934. No animal shall be harmed during a draghunt.

The following rules apply mostly in Germany where the draghunt is a composition of the best traditions from Germany, France, and England, i.e. we hunt English, behave French and honor the riders in German tradition.

All riders wear a secure helmet. In Germany the riders wear a red hunting coat but not in the cubhunting season. At these times dark coats are worn. It is a good tradition to wear a vest. In France most riders wear a blue, green, or black coat, in general, you will not see red coats in France. In England at some hunts also the master and equipage wear red coats, the guests wear dark coats. The breeches should be white or yellow, the boots black (men with brown top), the shirt white, and most importantly one should wear a plastron (here you find a sketch on how to tie the traditional plastron) and white gloves.

The hunt starts at the meet, the hunting horn musicians ring "Wecken der Jagdreiter bzw. Réveil" . It is a "faux pas" to wear spurs at the meet or at the " Schüsseltreiben".

A "kicker" should wear a red knot in his tail.

The riders mount after the signal  "Aufsitzen", or when the master of hunt or huntsman is mounted. The riders form a semicircle in front of the master of hunt or huntsman. 

One decides in which field one wants to ride and greets the field master (without handshake). In the first field it is an obligation to surmount the hurdles. In the second field one should be able to bypass the hurdles, the third field with young horses and beginners does not jump at all. The amount of riders in a field should not exceed 20.

After the signal "Die Hunde" the (male) participants put off their helmets. The dogs and the whips or equipage are admitted in the semicircle. The fanfare of the pack is rung. Never ride too close to the dogs. Only the whips are allowed in their vicinity. The horses should face the dogs.

The host (wears a white-black-white cuff on his left arm) gives an address, he greets the whips and announces the details of the hunt (amount and length of lines, amount and types of hurdles [usually 90 +/- 10 cm x 6-10 m], condition of the ground), planned checks. Furthermore, he introduces details about the fields and the officers of the hunt (vice master of hunt: black-white-black cuff left, master of hounds / master of foxhounds / huntsman: white cuff right, whips on duty: whip with open lash and green cuff left, other whips: whip with closed lash, field master: green cuff left, closing whip: red cuff left, guide of spectators: yellow cuff left and yellow flag).

To the signal "Aufbruch zur Jagd bzw. le départ pour la chasse" the hunt moves off to the first line.

When the pack is securely on the line, the master gives the signal "Gute Jagd".

Each rider stays in his position and in secure distance to the other riders, especially in front of hurdles. The crossing of ways is very dangerous and should be strictly omitted. Considerateness (before, during and after the hunt) is of uppermost importance.

For the recreation of the hounds and horses the hunt is interrupted by checks. At each check the hounds must be provided with water for them to drink and wet their noses. In case of longer checks the horses should stand protected. At the main check the hunting horn musicians may ring "Das ganze Halt", thereafter "Absitzen", and eventually "Zum Essen" . The continuation of the hunt is indicated by the signals "Aufsitzen" and "Aufbruch zur Jagd bzw. le départ pour la chasse" .

At or during the last line, one takes off the right glove, waves it in the air and shouts "Halali". Here the Halali is rung, first "l'hallali sur pied" till everybody arrived at the Halali, then "l'hallali par terre", also a couple of times.

Thereafter, everybody meets at the halali-place, eventually with a burning fire, and the riders form again a semicircle.

As a reward for the hounds and horses the riders dismount and take off their helmets and the "curée" follows.

In order to omit trouble on the place, only then and to the signal "Bruchverteilung", the branches (from a tree present at the halali-place, usually oak, from Hubertus-day on [3rd of November] pine tree) are distributed. In order to omit accidents the riders should go to the master of hunt without the horse. Often the horse eats the branch, so one should never use potentially harmful material like pins or wire with it. At the handing out one replies to the wish "Waidmannsheil" of the master of hunt,  with a sincere "Waidmannsdank".

After all branches have been handed out an experienced participant addresses a few words of thank to the host, the master of hounds or huntsman and his whips. The address is closed with a triple "horrido" to which the hunt responds with "joho".

At the end the master and whips are bid farewell with the signal "Verabschiedung der Master bzw. l'adieu des maîtres" . 

The hounds are lead off and loaded, the horses are examined for injuries. After taking care of and loading the horses the "Schüsseltreiben" is celebrated which is a  gregarious meal and sometimes also music and dancing.