Robert Ogden (Huntsman) and Hounds of the Essex Hunt during the Essex Hunt meetat Bedfords Farm, Good Easter on the 12th March 2014
The latest figures released by the Ministry of Justice show 110 people were charged and 56 found guilty of an offence under the Hunting Act 2004 during 2013 — but just 6 people allied to registered hunts have been convicted.
The figures — which exceed the previous high of 92 in 2009 — have been labelled misleading by countryside campaigners.
A Countryside Alliance spokesperson said that “these figures were further evidence that the Hunting Act is flawed, as so many of the cases brought under the Hunting Act do not actually involve hunts and could have been prosecuted under other legislation.”
This news-in-brief was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (17 July, 2014)
Love them or hate them, hound parades are an essential part of a huntsman’s summer.
There is the work involved in finding suitable horses, out of the season, that aren’t going to jettison the staff upon unloading the hounds, plus the polishing and scrubbing required of hounds, horses and human — all for 30mins in the ring.
It could seem tiresome but for the tremendous roar that invariably greets hounds as they enter the arena and the positive PR.
It may be the only time some spectators ever see hounds and often the sole occasion that hunt supporters and farmers see hounds off the hunting field. It is therefore beholden on the huntsman to give a good display and show pride in the hunt.
Horse selection is crucial. My first major parade, during the millennium and riding a borrowed, very smart show hunter, was just before the prize-giving at Burghley horse trials — a highly charged cauldron where support for hunting is never in doubt.
Unfortunately my appearance bore more resemblance to an overseas entry in the Texan rodeo championship. Hounds ignored their rookie master’s impromptu display and performed their duties admirably.
All I could hear were the whooping cheers of the crowd in time with every buck. Mercifully (and miraculously) I didn’t hit the deck on my debut at a four-star event. Ever since I have tried not to let vanity inform my choice of horse.
At the two largest shows in the south-east, up to nine packs converge for the cavalcade of hounds. It is an impressive sight.
There has to be a lead huntsman, a role which Mark Bycroft of the Old Surrey Burstow and West Kent carries out with his customary humility and not a little showmanship.
Friendly hunt rivalries abound. I plant my most vocal hunt supporters around the ring to cheer our hounds, but Mark always seems to find a veritable opera chorus to greet him.
With Mark, one never quite knows what will happen next. Hedges appear for the gallop-round, a panto “fox” is holloaed away then “hunted” by 300 sprinting children, 120 couple of slightly confused hounds and dozens of bemused hunt staff, all madly encouraged on the tannoy by a running, breathless Mr Bycroft.
With the necessary frivolity over, like the front rank of a cavalry regiment, the huntsmen then remount and present the massed hounds to the show president. No wonder the hound parade is the most popular display.
An engaging commentator is essential. A dry hunt history delivered in stentorian tones is guaranteed to send the crowds running to the shops.
However, after introducing the masters and hunt staff, the commentator’s role is to give a flavour of the excitement of hunting, its place within the fabric of the countryside and what is required to safeguard its future.
The hound show season is now in full swing and the Festival of Hunting, featuring the 126th Peterborough Royal Foxhound Show took place on 16 July.
Over the past decade the Festival has become a mecca for the whole hunting world, combining the premier shows for foxhounds, old English foxhounds, harriers, beagles, basset hounds, bloodhounds and draghounds, with classes too for terriers, the ever-popular inter-hunt relay and showing classes.
Ringside criticism of even the most unbalanced hounds is mild compared to the brick-bats reserved for the judges. Are they too fast, too slow, indecisive or inconsistent?
Worse still, a judge could be slain with many of the above, as illustrated by Captain Ronnie Wallace’s comment to a young judge, now one of the finest in the country: “You took far too long to come to the wrong decision.”
What is certain is that at a show, the only place to judge a hound is in the ring.
It was a privilege to step into the hallowed Fitzwilliam enclosure at Peterborough for my first time as a judge. I hope we got it right.
For full Peterborough report and results, see next week’s issue of H&H, out 24 July.
TIGER ATTACK Cuddy Champion at the The Scottish Horse Show , Ingliston Country Club 2014
Photograph by John Grossick 0771 046 1723
If you’re feeling out of the loop on the equestrian sport front this week, take a look at our picture desk’s pick of photos across the disciplines to get you up to speed on what’s been going on.
We’ve got pictures of the top-class action in Aachen, The Peterborough Festival of Hunting, the glamourous Gold Cup at Cowdray and showing from the Scottish Horse Show.
The puppy show season has peaked and the hunt horses have returned from their summer sojourn to the kennels. Mounted hound exercise has begun, bringing, as always, an air of excitement of the season to come.
The Duke of Rutland’s puppy show ran smoothly, with an agreed good doghound entry although, I think it would be fair to say, the bitches did not quite reach the same standard.
They were judged by Dominic Jones MFH from the South Dorset and Joe Townsend, huntsman for the Hurworth.
I have enjoyed the pleasure of a number of judging engagements this summer. The first was the Essex and with it, my first visit to that county. Prior to my departure, I was issued dire warnings by Peter Collins, the Quorn huntsman, as to what to expect from the locals. He is an avid fan of a television program called TOWIE, so I traversed the M11 with some trepidation.
I was greeted by a fine cross-section of the rural Essex community and a fine pack of hounds. Their coats shone like guardsman’s toecaps, difficult to achieve so early in the summer. They looked as well if not better than any I have seen this year.
The welcoming and attentive audience was, as far as a naive northern lad can tell (without closer inspection) free of breast enhancements and spray-on tan.
My co-judge was James Barclay, whom it was my pleasure to assist. Mr Barclay comes from the area and was a swift and confident appraiser, as one would expect from someone whose family is as steeped in hunting lore as they.
Being a large-framed fellow he also provided, on what was a sunny day, a liberal amount of welcome shade.
From the rolling wheat fields and hair extensions of Essex, my next engagement was the domicile of footballers and white Range Rovers: the apparently endless grassland of Cheshire.
Again, the guests didn’t fit with the modern-day caricature of that fair county — no tattoos that I noticed, nobody proclaiming undying love to bygone girlfriends, and nobody dripping with gold and diamonds.
The only concession to the modern parody was the prizes. Never have I seen, outside Garrard’s, such an array of silverware in one place — it would warrant high-level security. The cups and mementos laid out on the table would have rivalled the trophy room at Old Trafford. Small wonder one sensed an air of competition among the puppy walkers.
The 126th Royal Peterborough Foxhound show has just been held. In the doghound championship, it would have been nice to see Patrick Martin finish his distinguished hunting career with a Bicester champion, but it was not to be, pipped as they were at the post by VWH Steptoe 13.
Access to the finest stallion hounds, for even the smallest kennel, is given freely and generously and this has resulted in the very high standards now attained in the modern foxhound.
Many of the smaller hunts can now compete very well with the larger and more established showing packs. I doubt this munificence is equalled in any other field of animal breeding.
Drama overtook proceedings during the harrier judging after what can only be described as a fracas reminiscent of the football terraces, in the collecting ring. Yes, at Peterborough — is nowhere sacred?
A group of school children from Nottingham recently enjoyed a tour of the Belvoir kennels, escorted by Sarah McCorquodale MFH. In the Duke’s room, which functions as a mini museum, a rather moth-eaten and greying fox maskalways gives rise to much debate.
One diligent youth took time to read the small print about the exceptional hunt during which the Dukes hounds were joined by the Quorn, before overtaking their fox at Welby Holt. Duly impressed, a serious young face turned to Lady Sarah and asked: “It must have been tiring, were you on that hunt?” The date was 22 December, 1884.
John’s column was first published in Horse & Hound (24 July, 2014)
The hunting world has welcomed the RSPCA’s plans to change the way it carries out prosecutions.
Backlash surrounding expensive hunting cases has lead to a review, the results of which are due next month.
“The review will include a consideration of cases the RSPCA has prosecuted, including those involving hunts,” said an RSPCA spokesman. “Where the RSPCA receives complaints alleging illegal fox hunting, it will investigate them. A prosecution will only be brought where there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest to do so.”
In 2012 the charity was heavily criticised after it spent £326,000 on a case against the Heythrop (pictured above). The RPSCA won, but at the time the judge questioned the “staggering” amount of money spent by the organisation.
Last year, former attorney general Dominic Grieve suggested an independent review into the prosecution policy following a number of costly, high-profile cases. This was undertaken by Stephen Wooler, former chief inspector of the Crown Prosecution Service.
Tim Bonner, director of campaigns for the Countryside Alliance said the organisation was “glad” the RSPCA was “reconsidering its prosecutions policy”. “This is not just about hunting,” he added. “The charity’s increasingly political stance coupled with its dual role as an investigator and prosecutor concerns many people, so we look forward to seeing the full results of the report. We are currently working with the RSPCA to tackle fly-grazing and hope a return to the charity’s animal welfare roots will lead to us working on many more such projects in the future.”
Ray Goodfellow, chief legal officer of the RSPCA, added: ”We strive to be a reasonable and fair-minded prosecutor and this independent review will provide an effective external measure of our performance and highlight any areas of potential improvement. “We are committed to providing accountability and transparency in this very important area of our work which we recognise has a considerable impact on people’s lives, as well as for the animals we seek to protect.”
An anti-hunting activist has been charged with aggravated trespass, assault and harassment of a North Wales hunt employee.
The charges relate to an incident on 28 January and footage that Chester-based Judi Hewitt took and posted online of the Flint and Denbigh Hunt’s countryman Rob Smith using a terrier to flush a fox from underground to a waiting gun, in accordance with the Hunting Act. No date has yet been set for the court case and Ms Hewitt has not entered a plea.
Joint-master of the Flint and Denbigh hunt Jeremy Reed said: “Rob was keeping to the letter of the law and had the full permission of the landowner. We understand that people do oppose fox management but we believe Ms Hewitt went too far.”
Tim Bonner of the Countryside Alliance added: “It is important that hunts realise that they can take action over harassment from activists. If hunts help themselves by collecting evidence and are willing to make a statement we can support their complaints.”
This story was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (31 July, 2014)
HH-prize-winners presentation by Polly Portwin to Meath-Foxhounds-Passion-Passive-by-Exmoor-Belfry-08-winners-of-The-Horse-Hound-Perpetual-Challenge-Cup-for-the-Best-Couple-of-Unentered-Bitches.jpg
TWO hunts from Northern Ireland — the South Tyrone and the Killultagh, Old & Chichester — plus the Cork-based United Hunt Club were first timers at the Irish Masters of Foxhounds national hound show held against the impressive background of Stradbally Hall, Co Laois on 6 July.
This is the senior of Ireland’s two official hound shows with rings devoted to foxhounds, harriers and beagles.
Some 19 packs entered the foxhound classes with Captain Ian Farquhar MFH (Beaufort) and Jacky Thomas MFH (Glamorgan) judging the doghounds and Messrs Richard Sumner and Matt Ramsden MFH (Bedale) taking on the bitches.
Leading photographer and hunting historian Noel Mullins reflected that the Irish were hunting as far back as 2,000 BC as is seen in the early law tracts that governed Ireland from pre-Christian times to the 17th century.
Hounds hunting by scent were known in Irish as ‘Cu Selga’ and when an Irish Chieftain went to visit another it was customary for him to take his hounds and horses along so to challenge his host as to which pack and horses were the better.
Packs in Ulster may not claim the exalted status of warrior chieftains but they came to raid none the less – and with some success.
Huntsman Mark Casserly of the Killultagh took a ribbon in the novice unentereddoghound class which was won by the South Tyrone Belfast (North Down Shylock 11–Fitzwilliam Beverage 10) ably shown by their huntsman Ryan Carvill.
Ireland has more packs of Old English than Great Britain and the Co Limerick Saxon took first place in the morning class restricted to hounds of that type.
The open classes felt the absence of the Tipperary; Ireland’s only four-day-a-week country that consistently produces quality foxhounds. Bereavement unavoidably caused them to stay at home.
Nonetheless, the famous Meath kennel has hounds of enviable stamp and the judges gave them the unentered couples class.
Huntsman Sam Stanniland showing Kilkenny Chancer took the unentered championship placing the Meath in reserve with their Exmoor-sired Partner well-produced by joint huntsman Kenny Henry.
The Meath, Kildare, Island and Ballymacad battled throughout the morning with Kildare Monty 13 winning the doghound championship and their Pluto 12 taking reserve.
Duhallow Traveller 10 took the Old English stallion hound special in front of the host hunt’s Laois Power 11.
The Horse & Hound Perpetual Challenge Cup for the best couple of unentered bitches was presented by H&H hunting editor Polly Portwin. This went to the Meath for their Passion and Passive (Exmoor Belfry 08–Pansy 07) — pictured above. Photograph by Noel Mullins.
The afternoon bitches were of higher quality than the morning’s doghounds.
The South Tyrone took the first two placings in the novice unentered class but in the open couples they had to settle for second behind the Meath with a useful couple in Passion and Passive (by Exmoor Belfry 08).
South Tyrone Beauty became the unentered champion in front of the Kildare sired Kilkenny Chariot.
As in the morning the Old English class was taken by the Co Limerick with the Galway Blazers and Louth sharing the places.
However the major afternoon classes became the stamping ground of the green coated Ballymacad Hunt whose hounds were beautifully shown by huntsman Kevin Donohue.
Taking the couples, two couples and brood bitch classes, the Ballymacad captured the bitch championship with Sapling 11 with the unentered South Tyrone Beauty in reserve.
The home bred Duhallow Lilac 11 took the Old English special in the brood bitch, the reserve going to Louth Secret 11 sired by Hurworth Rustic 07.
Show Chairman David Lalor MFH (the Laois) said:“Most hunts went home with a rosette or two to conclude a fun day in what is almost the centre of Ireland. The show goes from strength to strength — long may that be so.”
Results — Doghounds (Capt I Farquhar MFH, J Thomas MFH) — unentered.— 1, South Tyrone Belfast (North Down Shylock 11–Fitzwilliam Beverage 10); 2, South Union Carling (Tipperary Captain 09–Crunchie 12); 3, South Tyrone Benburb (North Down Shylock 11–Fitzwilliam Beverage 10). Old English, unentered.— 1, Co Limerick Saxon (Parker 08–Belvoir Saline 09); 2, Louth Larkin (Lodger 10–Lonely 11); 3, South Union Lomax (Muskerry Lomax 08–Lollipop 11). unenetered couple.— 1, Meath Parson and Partner (Exmoor Belfry 08–Pansy 07); 2, Kilkenny Chancer (Kildare Chaplin 07–Dorothy 11) & Dustman (Dancer 10–Dutiful 12); 3, South Union Cardinal and Carling (Tipperary Captain 09–Crunchie 12). unentered ch.— Kilkenny Chancer (Kildare Chaplain 07–Dorothy 11); res.— Meath Partner (Exmoor Belfry 08–Pansy 07). entered.— 1, Island Postman 12 (Afghan 09–Pinto 07); 2, Killultagh Old Rock & Chichester Boulter 13 (Oakley Casper 05-Blankney Puzzle 06); 3, Duhallow Charger 11 (Linesman 05-Waterford Cherokee 07). entered couple.— 1, Ballymacad Samson 11& Safeguard 11 (Sabbath 06–Bonfire 08). 2, Island Buster 12 (S&W Wilts Vanguard 08–Bunny 10) and Paragon 12 (South Dorset Panther 08–Pickle 07); 3, Meath Beaufort13 & Bellamy 13 (Exmoor Belfry 08–Gravy 10). stallion hound.— 1, Kildare Pluto 12 (North Tipperary Imlic 10–Plenty 05); 2, Meath Lodger 09 (Middleton Ranald 05–BSV Lavender 04); 3, Island Paragon 11 (South Dorset Panther 08–Pickle 07). Old English stallion hound.— 1, Duhallow Traveller 10 (Linesman 05–Trinket 07); 2, Laois Power 11 (Waterford Ali 04–Ormond Polly 07). ch.— Kildare Monty 13 (Westmeath Monitor 09-Duke of Beaufort’s Durance 08); res.— Kildare Pluto 12 (North Tipperary Imlic 10-Plenty 05).
Bitch hounds (R Sumner, M Ramsden MFH) unentered.— 1, South Tyrone Beauty (North Down Shylock 11–Fitzwilliam Beverage 10); 2, South Tyrone Benefit (North Down Shylock 11–Fitzwilliam Beverage 10); 3, South Union Crystal (Tipperary Captain 09–Crunchie 12). unenetered Old English.— 1, Co Limerick Chalice. (Safeguard 09–Chalice 09); 2, Co Galway Daisy (Doctor 11–Pastime 10); 3, Co Galway Dancer (Doctor 11–Pastime 10). unentered couple.— 1, Meath Passion and Passive (Exmoor Belfry 08–Pansy 07); 2, South Tyrone Benefit and Beverage (North Down Shylock 11–Fitzwilliam 10); 3, Co. Galway Dancer and Daisy (Doctor 11–Pastime 10). unentered ch.— South Tyrone Beauty (North Down Shylock 11–Fitzwilliam Beverage 10); res.— Kilkenny Chariot (Kildare Chaplain 07–Dorothy 11). entered.— 1, Ballymacad Sapling 11 & Sable 11 (Saturday 06–Kildare Saintly 08); 2, Co Galway Tardy 12 (Limit 08–Tanner 07); 3, United Hunt Club Tangle 12 (Brosna Tonton 07 – Saintly 08). entered couple.— 1, Ballymacad Sapling 11 & Sable 11 (Saturday 06–Kildare Saintly 08); 2, Meath Baffle 13 (Exmoor Belfry 08–Gravy 10) & Sandwich 12 (Cottesmore Haulage 07–Cheshire Sandwich 08); 3, Kilkenny Dutiful 12 & Durable 12 (Dungeon 08–South Dorset Saucy 08). two couple.— 1, Ballymacad Ribbon 13 (Bosco 08–Duke of Beaufort’s Riddle 09), Sapling 11, Sable 11 (Saturday 06–Kildare Saintly 08) & Billis 11 (Bilco 0 –Bounty 08); 2, Kilkenny Dutiful 12 & Durable 12 (Dungeon 08–South Dorset Saucy 08), Cheerful 13 (Kildare Chaplain 07–Worry 08) & Subtle 11 (Dungeon 08–Tedworth Staple 08); 3, Meath Baffle 13 (Exmoor Belfry 08–Gravy 10), Pickle 13 & Pillow 13 (North Shropshire Pirate 09–Paleface 07), & Sandwich 12 (Cottesmore Haulage 07–Cheshire Sandwich 08). brood bitch.— 1, Ballymacad Sapling 11 (Saturday 06–Kildare Saintly 08); 2, Kilkenny Dutiful 12 (Dungeon 08–South Dorset Saucy 08); 3, East Down Rascal 08 (Planter 04–Rustic 05). Old English brood bitch.— 1, Duhallow Lilac 11 (Linesman 05–Trophy 07); 2, Louth Secret ’11 (Hurworth Rustic ’07 – Stable ’06). ch.— Ballymacad Sapling 11 (Saturday 06–Kildare Saintly 08); res.— South Tyrone Beauty (North Down Shylock 11–Fitzwilliam Beverage 10)
Rex Hudson, former president of the Masters of Basset Hounds Association (MBHA), died on 22 July, aged 85, just a week after driving himself to the Festival of Hunting at Peterborough.
Rex started hunting with basset hounds in 1955 and went on to become secretary of the association in 1969. He continued in this role until his retirement in 1994. Shortly afterwards was appointed as president of the MBHA in recognition of his long service. He was president of the association until 2003.
The 37th Dunster Country Fair Hound Show took place on 30 July on Dunster Lawns in West Somerset. With Dunster Castle overlooking the show and the Bristol Channel just a moment away, the setting is one to savour (pictured above).
Just a handful of the 31 packs entered were unable to attend on the day, however all three of the country’s staghounds packs competed against each other. The show is often seen as a warm-up to the West of England Hound Show at Honiton on Thursday, 7 August (full report in H&H magazine, on sale 14 August).
Prizes in the foxhound, staghound, harrier, beagle and minkhound classes were split across a number of different packs with the overall supreme championship going to the Devon and Somerset Staghounds (DSSH) Destiny 09, who had earlier won the staghound title.
Dulverton West’s unentered doghound Harrier, was awarded the champion foxhound title, while the Cotley’s Bedale 12 took the harrier equivalent.
Chilmark and Clifton Foot Farquhar 13 claimed the beagle championship, with the Devon and Cornwall’s Brushford securing the minkhound title.
The Dunster Country Fair salver awarded to a professional huntsman gaining the most points throughout the day was awarded to the Devon and Somerset Staghounds. They also were awarded the Eric Green Cup for the kennels scoring the most points throughout the day.
Full results
Foxhounds – judged by Diana Scott & Ian Pearce MFH Single unentered Dog hound
1st — Dulverton West Harrier 2nd — Cattistock Ranter 3rd — Dulverton West Harlequin
Single entered Dog hound
1st — Mendip Goshawk 2nd — Dulverton West Pelican 3rd — West Somerset Lancombe
Champion doghound — Dulverton West Harrier Reserve — Mendip Goshawk
Single unentered bitch hound
1st — Cattistock Radish 2nd — Dulverton West Happy 3rd — Silverton Laughter
Single entered bitch hound
1st — South Tetcott Gaylass 2nd — Dulverton West Pencil 3rd — Lamerton Alpha
Champion bitch — Cattistock Radish Reserve — South Tetcott Gaylass
Beagles — judged by Ian Cunningham MH & Nikki Hancock Single unentered dog hound
1st — Taw Vale Trojan 2nd — West Somerset Winston 3rd — Chilmark & Clifton Valesman
Single entered dog hound
1st — Chilmark & Clifton Farquar 2nd — SH&ND Commander 3rd — Chilmark & Clifton Falcon
Minkhounds — judged by Patcrick Comber & James Batchelor Pure bred dog hound for the Vincent Salver
1st — Culmstock Captain 2nd — Culmstock Ceasar 3rd — Pembrokeshire & Carmarthenshire Tristan
Pure bred bitch hound for the Vincent Salver
1st — Culmstock Maiden 2nd — Pembrokeshire & Carmarthenshire Tosca 3rd — Culmstock Marvel
Couple pure bred, either sex for the Vincent Salver
1st — Pembrokeshire & Carmarthenshire Cedric & Cecil 2nd — Culmstock Captain & Merlin 3rd — Culmstock Sunset & Maiden
Champion pure bred minkhound — Culmstock Captain
Part bred dog hound
1st — Devon & Cornwall Brushford 2nd — Courtenay Tracy Palmer 3rd — Courtenay Tracy Poacher
Five couple The Transatlantic Cup for the five couple pack class
1st — Lamerton 2nd — Taunton Vale Harriers 3rd — Devon & Cornwall Minkhounds 4th — West Somerset Foxhounds
The Peter Sheppard Memorial Challenge Cup for the beagle pack class
Chilmark & Clifton Foot Beagles
It is that time of year when new masters are getting their feet under the table as they nervously settle in before autumn hunting begins. Joining the mastership is a challenge in difficult times, but continuity is so important and finding good people is one of the hardest things packs of hounds have to achieve.
I can remember wondering if I was going to be up to it, but I had field-mastered on and off for the season before, and therefore was perhaps less nervous than some.
It is daunting to begin with and while many good people gave me advice, which helped hugely, it was Brian Perring — our senior master for many years — who came forward with the best suggestions.
He wrote down 10 points and said if you follow those you will not go too far wrong.
So for all you who are starting out in the job I hope they help you as much as they have me.
Brian Perring’s top 10 tips
1Time spent on reconnaissance is never wasted — the biggest problems for me have always come from the person you thought you should have warned but didn’t. You must get round to see everyone; you will get a gut feeling and learn to know who must be contacted and warned.
2 It may be stating the obvious, but the hunt is as good as its last visit. It is easy to think you should not have jumped into that field of cows, but it is the end of the season and you will not be back for seven months, and by then the farmer will have forgotten. I can assure you categorically that he will not. In fact, he never will forget. You must see him that night.
3 Never assume, never presume — if there is somewhere you are allowed to go for the first time in a long while and the land owner says it is fine only if you make sure the gate at the bottom of the drive is closed, make sure it is closed. Even with everything else you have to do, go and make sure, or send someone you trust completely.
4 Never be afraid to grovel — this you will find is a necessary part of the job. An MFH uses four words more than any others, “please”, “thank you” and “sorry”. Out of these, and depending where you hunt, “sorry” is perhaps used most. Never be afraid to grovel, and then grovel some more.
5 Personal cards will always be remembered — we may live in the age of the email, but there is no substitute for a hand-written card or letter saying thank you or sorry. It will be remembered and, although time consuming, it is worth it.
6 Summer visits — do your summer visiting and remember to find out the name of other family members.
7 Keep a black book of all your contacts in one place — be organised: file them meet by meet ensuring you don’t forget land owners, tenants, game keepers or pony paddock owners.
8 Learn subscribers’ names — debatably more important than hound names. Hunting couldn’t survive without landowners on one side and subscribers and members on the other.
9 Ring farmers in the evening to thank them and to prevent any issues getting out of hand. Solving a problem that night will save you an awful lot of time later.
10 Always remember — you are in the entertainment business, so entertain. Smile as much as possible; I am not good at this — apparently! Look as though you are having fun and the field will think they are as well. Although it can be stressful, it is supposed to be fun, and showing good sport to the field is what it is all about. Jumping 5ft hedges with a 6ft ditch away isn’t everyone’s idea of fun; jumping five or six 2ft rails with hounds running can be just as much fun for all the field.
There is one final thing that he didn’t write down. He said “leave your country in a better state than you received it and you will have succeeded…”
I do hope this has been helpful to some of you and I wish you luck for many seasons to come. If you can stay a minimum of five seasons it will help your hunt so much.
It is hard work, with no pay and many difficulties, but I can assure you that it is both a great honour and also the best fun, and if you are field mastering then I make you this bet: you will never want to go second again.
Richard’s column was first published in Horse & Hound magazine, 7 August 2014
The Countryside Alliance (CA) has warned that the Conservative Party risks jeopardising 500,000 votesif it fails to pledge to repeal theban on fox hunting in its manifesto for the May 2015 general election. At the same time they have called for a cabinet post dedicated to rural affairs.
At the moment pro-hunting MPs are reluctant to put the issue to a vote, fearing they would not have enough support for victory without an overall Conservative majority and a party pledged to repeal.
The CA says there is a constituency of about half a million people whose support depended on a pledge to abolish the controversial Hunting Act. A poll of the association’s members last year found 13% were planning to vote for UKIP next year.
Sir Barney White-Spunner, chairman of the CA said: “We would like to see a commitment to repeal, tempered with a realistic view that we need some sort of legal framework in which hunting would operate in the future.”
The hunting world is mourning the loss of Col the Hon Nick Crossley, who died on 8 August aged 81.
Having ridden from an early age, he enjoyed success in military races during his career. After retiring from the army he lived in North Yorkshire and started a distinguished career hunting hounds.
As well as being a master of the Goathland and Derwent, he was part of the Middleton mastership from 1971 to 1997, successfully hunting the doghounds for much of that time.
A noted hound breeder and judge, he was president of Peterborough Royal Foxhound Show in 2012 and of the Hunter Improvement Society (HIS) in 1992. Having recently acquired a new horse, he was still riding regularly. There will be a private family funeral.
Our kennels, built with a true Victorian industrialist’s bounty, were pioneering in their design with airy lodges and low yard walls so the hounds don’t feel like inmates without a view.
Sadly the dirt track that would have once passed the kennel gate is now a busy rat-run connecting two towns and therefore quite unsuitable for hound exercise.
Boxing up for exercise each day is required — an all too frequent feature in the routine of an increasing number of hunts.
Young hounds aren’t robots — nor are older hounds for that matter — and they don’t learn much on exercise if packed in like sardines behind their master for mile after mile as cars whizz past the nervous hunt staff and their charges. Fortunately we don’t have to travel far in order to reach quiet country lanes where you barely see a car for hours.
Hounds enjoy bicycle exercise (probably more than the creaking hunt staff), sidling up to say “hello” and nudging our hands. For the most part, hounds are creatures of habit and most huntsmen could close their eyes and point to the position of each hound in the pack as they jog down the road.
Towards the end of the summer, the front rank of ebullient young hounds is joined by a group of older hounds, reasserting themselves as they know what time of year is just around the corner.
Away from the hunting field, a sunny morning with hounds cycling through the lanes on the Pevensey Marsh is hard to beat. That is, until a flash monsoon arrives, as happened recently while we were exposed on the last “hill” before Normandy, in just a light-weight kennel coat, miles from the lorry and barely able to see a yard in front.
As August progressed, bikes were eventually exchanged for faithful horses and summer duties have become focused firmly on the start of autumn hunting.
By now most hunts will have started as the end of harvest is likely to be a little earlier than the last few seasons. Hounds don’t understand such details, so exercise and education should be channelled to enter the hunting field, whenever that may be, fit and eager but hopefully not having boiled over. Like much in life, timing is key.
Then the excitement can begin. Early morning trail hunting makes the most of the crisp autumn dew and gives the young hounds the best opportunity to tune in while re-affirming the education of last season’s young entry.
Slipping away unnoticed
I have many fond memories of following hounds by bike. When away at school, a Friday evening 5p payphone call in the boarding house corridor to George Adams at the Fitzwilliam kennels, just outside Peterborough, would reveal the location of second horses on the Saturday.
After lunch I would slip away with a spare set of clothes and a packed dinner and cycle beyond the city to find hounds. Despite signing out for “Town” and returning, bike and boy, caked in mud, I was convinced my ruse fooled the benevolent Housemaster, until he eventually informed me that unless the centre of Peterborough had reverted to a swampy fen I was obviously hunting and he hoped hounds were hunting well.
Quite rightly, a little more honesty was demanded. George and his staff were always very friendly and helpful, particularly when we ended up miles from anywhere, with my curfew fast approaching.
For hunting folk, the beginning of the season is a time of great anticipation of fine sport to come, young hounds to enter, friends to meet again and new subscribersto welcome.
One thing is for certain, it simply can’t be as wet as last year. Surely.
Our farmers were wonderfully supportive and deserve a more sympathetic winter, for their prosperity and state of mind if nothing else.
This column was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (28 August, 2014)
John Cook, terrierman of the Lauderdale Hunt, has been cleared of an offence under the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002.
He faced the prospect of becoming the first person to be convicted under Scotland’s anti-foxhunting laws, but was cleared on 5 August of releasing a fox from a sack in front of a pack of hounds.
Witnesses failed to identify whoever was alleged to have released the mammal, and all charges were dropped.
A spokesman from the Scottish Countryside Alliance said: “I think this was an unfortunate case in that the witnesses were genuinely mistaken at what they saw, in that it was not a fox and Mr Cook was not in charge of the hunt.”
Autumn hunting is a gentle introduction for young hounds, new hunt staff, horses and followers to the forthcoming season.
Having to face the unexpected teaches you to improvise to get out of trouble, in turn making you a better rider. In addition, you will be permitted to cross beautiful, privately-owned countryside that you would not normally be able to access.
If you’re going autumn hunting for the first time, take a look at our list of dos and don’ts:
Do
Sew the ribbons at the back of your hat up — you will be taken for a member of hunt staff or a master otherwise!
Wear a hairnet if you are a lady.
Find the hunt secretary on arrival, pay your agreed cap and ask who your field-master for the day is. Stay close enough to listen to any instructions for the day at the meet.
Turn your horse to face hounds when they pass and turn your horse towards the covert where the hounds are working.
Listen to those in front, informative instructions and observations will be passed down the line.
Remember that everyone is out only because of the good will of the farmers and landowners, so smile, breathe and remember to thank those who have welcomed you.
Don’t
Overtake the field-master or worse still the huntsman and his hounds.
Be afraid of quietly asking questions about what’s going on. Those that are not forthcoming with reciprocated conversation are likely to be nervous or concentrating.
Forget to say “Goodnight” when you leave, irrespective of timing, it’s just tradition.
If you wan’t to find out more about autumn hunting — including what to wear and what to expect — don’t miss our Ask H&H article in this week’s issue of Horse & Hound magazine (4 September 2014)
A member of the Blackmore and Sparkford Vale Hunt has been released on bail after an incident in which a hunt saboteur was hospitalised following a collision with a horse.
He was arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm, but was later released pending further police enquiries.
The female protester, known only as “Nid”, was treated at the scene following the meet near Charlton Horethorne, Somerset, on Thursday 28 August.
It was later reported on the Dorset Hunt Saboteur Facebook page — of which the female saboteur is a member — that she had sustained a number of broken ribs and a suspected punctured lung.
“This was an unfortunate accident and we were of course concerned to learn of these injuries but are relieved to hear the person involved is making a recovery,” a hunt spokesperson told H&H.
“The hunt is giving every assistance to the police to ensure this will quickly be resolved.”
This year marks the centenary of the Great War. The transformation inflicted upon this country as a consequence of that campaign was immense. As the lamps went out all over Europe, little did people realise the huge changes that were to come. No echelon of society would be spared.
The impact on hunting was also extensive. In the context of war it may appear trivial, but it was nevertheless a fact. The curtain was about to come down on a way of life and nothing would ever be quite the same again.
Lord Robert Manners and Tommy Bouch were masters of the Belvoir Hunt when the declaration of war was announced on the 4 August. They were, to their credit, amongst the first to answer their country’s call, landing in France to rejoin their regiments a week after war was declared.
Tommy Bouch continued to fund the hunt in absentia and the 1914-15 season must at first have seemed pretty normal. After all, the consensus was: “It will all be over by Christmas.”
The reality of war, however, was soon brought home to the members of the Belvoir Hunt, when Robin Welby — only 19 and the son of hunt Chairman Sir Charles Welby — was killed in late August during the retreat from Mons.
In October came the demise of “first flight” Major R A Markham from Sysonby, serving with the Coldstream Guards; and on Christmas Eve 1914, Sir Montague Cholmeley, of the Easton Estate. These were all early casualties destined to be top of the list on the memorials erected after the war.
In the absence of the masters, Cyril Greenall of Carlton Hall (Sir Gilbert’s cousin), CJ Philips of Old Daly Hall and Sir Geo Whichcote of Aswarby Park took the helm, as all were past military age. At the outset, hunting days were reduced from six to four, necessitating the dispersal of Bouch’s private pack.
The local press reported that 35 horses from the Woolsthorpe stable were commandeered by the army within the first month.
It was not until 1915, when trench warfare set in and the casualty list rapidly grew, that the catastrophic reality began to emerge. On the Western Front, Jack Cox, son of Bicester huntsman Charley, who had served at Belvoir with credit, was killed on his first night in the trenches, as was newly appointed second whipper-in, Arthur Laytham.
To the great sorrow of the community, the popular Lord Robert Manners MFH, the Duke’s brother, joined the list of the fallen while commanding a battalion of Northumberland Fusiliers at Villoret.
Hunt servant heroes
Many hunt servants across the country exchanged scarlet for khaki, and were to perform gallant deeds for which they were deservedly rewarded. George Castle from Badminton, Tom Singleton, Dumfriesshire and Fred Kinch, who was to give the Percy long and faithful service, were all awarded the Military Medal. Our own future Belvoir huntsman George Tongue received a well-deserved DCM during the closing weeks of hostilities.
Harry Maiden, a member of that famous line of hunt servants and former star pupil of Frank Gillard, was not so fortunate. In 1908 he accepted a lucrative position as huntsman to Prince Kamel Pasha, when Turkey decided to side with Germany, he found himself with a pack of hounds, no master nor money to maintain them and interned for the duration.
Following the armistice, a number of established hunts went to the wall, while others considered possible amalgamations. Tommy Bouch resumed his position, finding on his return a shortage of horses and men.
The hound list had been reduced from a pre-war 100 couple to a mere 40, many of which were not up to much work. In his own words: “The sick, the lame and the halt.”
As we all know, the casualty figures were unimaginable. Those who returned sound of body and mind could scarcely believe their fortune. They were determined to enjoy themselves and hunting field enjoyed a final encore, but the lavish Downton Abbey era was well and truly over.
Three hunts have been facing legal proceedings in the past month, although two cases have been dropped and the other has been adjourned.
Tom Holt, joint-master of the Middleton Hunt, appeared before Scarborough Magistrates on 3 September, charged with an offence under the Hunting Act 2004.
The 28-year-old is accused of hunting a wild mammal with dogs in West Knapton, near Malton on 19 February.
Mr Holt pleaded not guilty and the case has been adjourned until 25 September.
Meanwhile, charges under the Protection of Badgers Act against three men connected to the York & Ainsty South Hunt were dropped on 8 September.
The case, brought by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), follows on from an allegation made by hunt saboteurs that the accused were interfering with an active badger sett during a meet at Escrick Park, near Selby, North Yorks on 28 December 2013.
“This case was based on completely spurious allegations made by animal rights activists, but there was no credible evidence that the sett was being used by anything other than foxes,” said the Countryside Alliance’s Tim Bonner.
“The three men were carrying out legal hunting within the terms of the Hunting Act.”
The CPS has also confirmed that all charges relating to members of the Melbreak Hunt — including their huntsman Edward Liddle — have also been dropped following an offence that allegedly took place under the Hunting Act and Dangerous Dog Act in Buttermere, Cumbria on 9 March.
Tim Bonner said: “Mr Liddle and the Melbreak cooperated fully with the police inquiries from the start and there was never any evidence that Mr Liddle had been in breach of either act, therefore we were surprised when Cumbria Constabulary chose to pursue their inquiries. It was even more inexplicable when the CPS then chose to bring charges against Mr Liddle.
“There was no chance that the case could ever have proceeded to a conviction and all it has achieved is a waste of police and court time and tax-payers’ money, and has put Mr Liddle through a completely unnecessary process.
“The Melbreak has operated within the law since the Hunting Act came into force and has huge support from the local community. We are very confident that their activities are entirely legitimate.”
This news story was first published in H&H magazine on 18 September 2014
John King, the premier sporting artist whose work was published frequently in H&H for many years, died on Monday of last week (Sept 8) aged 85.
A keen and bold horseman across country, John rode after hounds in the many hunting countries he illustrated brilliantly in oils, water colour and pencil sketches. He was also an accomplished sculptor.
John King sometimes accompanied former H&H Editor Michael Clayton in the hunting field to produce illustrations for Michael’s weekly hunting column “Foxford’s Hunting Diary”. They produced a book illustrating hunting throughout the UK, “The Golden Thread”, published in 1984.
Born in West Tytherley, Hampshire, in the house he occupied most of his life – and in which he died – John King switched from an intended career in farming to become a sporting artist. He hunted with the Hursley, and rode in point-to-points, and was much influenced by the sporting artist Lionel Edwards who lived nearby and was a family friend.
Prolific and highly talented, John King held one-man exhibitions in London of his work which included military ceremonial occasions, and superb portraits of horses and hounds. He became a major illustrator of hunting throughout the British Isles from the 1950s, and he achieved commissions to paint hunting, racing, polo and family portraits in the United States, South Africa, Belgium, Holland, Germany and France.
John King is survived by his wife, Maryrose, his son David and daughter Fiona, and three grandchildren. A funeral is taking place at St Peter’s Church, West Tytherley on Saturday (September 20th) at 2.30 pm.
This news story was first published in H&H magazine on 18 September 2014
