Three beagle puppies have been stolen from a hunt kennels in Oxfordshire.

The 1½ couple of 11-week-old puppies were out in the grass yard at their kennels near Oxford, on Bank Holiday Monday, 30 May, when they were taken at about noon.

Their kennel-huntsman, who lives on the premises, was at the kennels at the time of the incident.

“The other beagles started to kick off in kennels so I immediately knew something wasn’t right,” he explained.

“I looked out towards the grass yard and could see two men but by the time I had got close they had climbed over the gate and escaped in a silver Ford Transit Connect that was waiting for them. “Unfortunately I wasn’t able to get near enough to see the vehicle registration details.”

“It looks like they just randomly grabbed whichever pups they could before they were disturbed,” continued the kennel-huntsman, who described the two men as wearing dark clothing with one in a baseball cap.

One of the stolen beagle puppies was by a stallion hound that has been successful on the flags

“There were two from one litter but the third was by one of our champion hounds,” he said.

“We have never had anything like this happen during all the seasons I’ve been here.

“My wife does everything with these pups including sitting up waiting for the bitches to whelp, weaning the pups and preparing them to go out to walk so she is understandably devastated, as am I.

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“There is no indication at this stage if animal rights activists are to blame, or whether they were stolen by opportunist thieves that just saw them in the grass yard as they were passing, however either way
it is terrible for all of us and we just want to get them back safely.”

The incident has been reported to the police but if anybody has any information regarding the whereabouts of the stolen beagles, please report to Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555 111.

Point-to-pointers will no longer have to go hunting to be eligible to race from this autumn.

The qualification rule is to be dropped from the 2016/17 season, but all those involved are determined to retain the link between hunting and pointing, and to ensure hunts do not lose out as a result of the change.

Currently, the rules state that horses must have hunted four times a season before they can be given a hunter certificate and allowed to run in point-to-points.

But the Masters Of Foxhounds Association (MFHA) revealed the rule change last week (24 May), citing that they are aware the current rule “is not adhered to”.

“The optimistic ‘guessometer’ would suggest that about 50% of horses that run in point-to-points have ever been out hunting,” said MFHA director Tim Easby.

“Whatever the reasons for not qualifying — and it is widely accepted that some horses benefit from hunting — some do not and some are downright dangerous.

“However, what is important is that whatever is put in place retains the link to hunts and hunting and is both safe and workable.”

Members of both the hunting and point-to-pointing worlds have stressed the importance of retaining close links.

Measures are in place to ensure that the long-standing connection between hunting and point-to-pointing is not lost, and that hunts do not lose out financially.

For a horse to be eligible to run in point-to-points, his owner (or lead syndicate member) must be a “bona fide” member of a recognised hunt.

A hunter certificate must also be signed by an approved signatory of a recognised hunt — but the horse does not need to have hunted for this to be done.

Area rates — the price at which hunts previously had to set their point-to-point subscriptions — will also be scrapped from the 2016-17 season to be replaced by guidelines.

British Horseracing Authority fees will continue as before, independent of the MFHA arrangements.

For more information and reaction to the news, see tomorrow’s Horse & Hound (2 June)

A hunting enthusiast is planning to walk 100km across France in three days during October with The Soldiers’ Charity to commemorate the Battle of the Somme.

Raising money for the Army Benevolent Fund, Richard Walton, from Somerset — who hunts with the Dulverton West and the Quantock Staghounds — has signed up to complete the Frontline Walk, which follows in the footsteps of those who fought on the Western Front.

“Hunts form a great community and there are very few organisations in existence today that still act as a community focus in modern society such as hunts did 100 years ago, so I am walking in memory of the members of hunt staff, gamekeepers, fieldsports employees, ghillies and the thousands of fieldsports enthusiasts that served our great country in World War I.”

Richard will be walking with his friend John Cavana, a former gamekeeper who now trains gundogs, and whose idea it was to take on this challenge.

Richard plans to wear “ratcatcher” with field boots for the duration while John will be dressed in keepers’ tweed.

“We are encouraging hunts to look back at their own history to find out more about their former members that may have served their country, been injured or perhaps given the ultimate sacrifice — it would be great to recognise the significant number who rallied for colours and who also shared the same passion for hunting and fieldsports that we do 100 years on. ”

The start of the walk will be at Lochnagar Crater in La Boiselle, France, which was created by a mine explosion on the 1st July 1916 – the first day of the Battle of the Somme, and will finish at the Menin Gate in Ypres, Belgium, with the Ceremony of the Last Post.

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Richard is no stranger to fundraising efforts, having been the mastermind behind the CountryCoats2Syria campaign earlier this year, for which more than 30,000 garments were collected from the hunting and fieldsports communities and sent to help those affected by the conflict in Syria.

To make a donation to Richard and John’s cause, click here.

The Grove and Rufford justified their long journey down from Nottinghamshire to claim both the doghound and bitch hound championship titles at the South of England hound show at Ardingly yesterday (9 June)..

Their well-known stallion hound and former Harrogate hound show champion Magnum 12 landed the doghound title while Berry 13 — a full sister to Bellman 13, the doghound champion at Ardingly in 2014— claimed the bitch championship.

“It took us just under four hours” explained a delighted huntsman Paul Larby, who was joined by his wife and a small but enthusiastic group of supporters.

“We travelled down on Wednesday night and kennelled the 11 couple of hounds at the Old Surrey Burstow and West Kent kennels and it’s been well worth it.”

Presiding over the doghounds were judges Dominic Jones MFH from the South Dorset and Tom Lyle, joint-master and huntsman of the Dartmoor.

In the heat of the afternoon, it was the turn of the Warwickshire’s Charmian Green MFH and Luke Neale MFH from the Puckeridge.

“Magnum was quite outstanding however the local champion from the East Sussex and Romney Marsh also moved incredibly well,” explained Tom Lyle after the doghound championship.

Of the champion bitch hound, Charmian Green MFH said: “There were two lovely bitches in the championship however the winning bitch just oozed quality and she was particularly nice.”

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Hounds from 12 packs were put in front of the judges and although the Grove and Rufford took the two main titles back to Nottinghamshire, there was a good spread of prizes in the other classes.

There were successes for the Heythrop and Thurlow as well as local packs the East Sussex and Romney Marsh, the South and West Wilts and the Hampshire Hunt.

For a detailed analysis of all classes and full results from the foxhounds and beagles classes, see the four-page report in Horse & Hound, 23 June.

Everybody who is invited to their hunt’s puppy show is there for a reason — be it in their capacity as a puppy walker or perhaps as somebody who hosts a meet or organises a fundraising event.

On the day though, aside from the hosting hunt staff, masters and visiting judges, it’s usually possible to identify several different groups of people sitting around the railings.

We take a look at some of those that can be identified during proceedings — it might come as a surprise to know what is really going through their minds as hounds are put before them…

1. Puppy walkers

The most-treasured of all guests on puppy show day, they tend to position themselves in the front row of seats around the edge of the ring so they can get a good view of the hounds that they walked in action (and perhaps try to lip-read what the judges are saying about the opposition). Although of course they don’t want to distract their former charges when they enter the ring, they are secretly delighted to be greeted by their beloved hounds, knowing that they still remember where they spent much of their early months of their lives.

2. Visiting hunt staff

The bowler hatted and dark suit-clad members of hunt staff automatically head to a certain place around the puppy show ring where they assemble to form their opinion on the hounds and catch up on hunting news — or gossip — from other packs.

3. The older generation

For those who aren’t perhaps as agile as they once were, whose hunting days are perhaps confined to following in a car or whose involvement is limited to sponsoring a hound, these much-valued members of the hunt can still be a part of the day and remained involved. If the truth be told, their experience means they are better judges of hounds than many of those who are still actively hunting, although they tend to sit quietly, observing rather than making too much noise, while getting slightly frustrated at those who continue to talk all throughout the judging.

4. The budding photographer

These can be seen in all sorts of places trying to get unique images for the hunt’s website or calendar: crouching down low to get a hounds-eye view or even climbing on high to get an overhead shot like nobody else’s — their efforts know no bounds!

5. The gossipers

The last day of hunting — which is quite often the last time hunt supporters saw each other — is usually a distant memory by the time the puppy show comes around. As a result there is a lot to catch up on with people you spend many long days with throughout the season but rarely see over the summer months. The gossipers don’t usually bother to sit down, they stand at the back keeping half an eye on proceedings but making up for lost time catching up with friends. Some can even make it back into tea afterwards barely noticing that the judging has taken place!

6. The once-a-season judges

A good number on the guest list will attend just the one puppy show per season and ensure they get involved from the onset. Some will have a natural eye for conformation and come up with the same result as the judges while others — a bit like racegoers who back horses on names or on the colours of the jockey’s silks — will purely go for what takes their fancy. This is especially true where a particular hound shows real character in the ring or is easily identifiable such as being the only hairy one among a litter of smooth-coated siblings.

7. Regular hound judges

These are the back-seat drivers of any puppy show and tour all over the country to look at hounds, hoping to spot the next Peterborough champion before anybody else has realised its’ potential. Can be seen studying pedigrees and will monitor every move a hound makes, often commenting to those around them and pointing their pen at anything they think the judges should be seeing. Although they are never slow to point out something they have an opinion on, they are also quick to praise and know that “the judge is always right”!

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8. The hounds

Talk of puppy show characters wouldn’t be complete without mention of the hounds. Outside of those being judged, the favourites of the day — for children in particular — are often the latest litters of whelps that sit cutely watching proceedings from the grass yard. Those being judged however all display a variety of characteristics too, just like the people watching. There is usually the odd shy one that needs gentle encouragement to face the crowds. In addition each pack tends to have at least one over-enthusiastic member of the young entry that charges around the puppy show ring from one end to the other, barely stopping on the flags to show themself off fully to the judges. However on the whole the majority will be well settled in the ring having been given plenty of practice ahead of the big day so will know what’s expected of them, rightly making the hunt staff and puppy walkers proud while giving hope for the future of hunting.

The Masters of Foxhounds Association (MFHA) has announced it will be conducting an independent inquiry into activities that suggest breaches of the Association’s rules have taken place at the South Herefordshire Hunt.

This follows the release of footage by the League Against Cruel Sports (LACS) taken at the hunt’s kennels in Wormelow, Herefords, by an independent group backed by LACS.

LACS claims the video shows fox cubs being kept in cages in the kennels. It also says that fox carcasses discovered during the undercover filming at the kennels were later removed for examination.

West Mercia Police confirmed they questioned a 37-year-old male and a 27-year-old female from Hereford on 28 May in connection with suspected animal cruelty. Another 37-year-old man from Abergavenny was also later questioned. They have all been released on police bail.

The South Herefordshire Hunt recently confirmed to its members that all salaried staff have been suspended and an internal enquiry launched.

A statement from the MFHA, which represents 186 packs of foxhounds in England, Wales and Scotland, said: “The South Herefordshire hounds are being looked after by other hunts which are members of the Association.

“The inquiry will be chaired by The Rt Hon. Sir John Chadwick — a former Appeal Court Judge — and will include Bill Andrewes, an experienced former master and hunt chairman, and Pauline Tolhurst BVSc, MRVCS, a practising veterinary surgeon.”

Continued below…

The Countryside Alliance said: “The Countryside Alliance is aware of a police investigation involving activities at the South Herefordshire Hunt kennels. We cannot comment on any criminal allegations, but welcome the independent inquiry set up by the Masters of Foxhounds Association. The allegations have nothing to do with normal hunting activity, and there is no place for such behaviour in registered hunts.”

A statement from LACS said the footage has been released as part on an ongoing League investigation.

In the statement, LACS CEO Eduardo Goncalves said: “We hope those administering the law, and the people of the UK, accept once and for all that there is no justification for the cruelty that seeps through every aspect of fox hunting.”

The first of the major hound shows took place at the South of England Show on 9-10 June at Ardingly, West Sussex.

The Grove and Rufford claimed the honours in the doghound and bitch hound championships, making their four-hour journey from their kennels in Nottinghamshire worthwhile while the Old Berkeley and the Stoke Hill and North Dartmoor packs landed the championships during the judging of the beagles.

Don’t miss the full report from the show in the 23 June issue of Horse & Hound magazine. Purchase photos from the South of England Hound Show here

Four eight-week-old basset hound puppies have been stolen from their kennels in South Kilworth, Leics.

The two couple of hounds belonging to the Westerby Basset Hounds were taken by two youths seen running away from the kennels with the puppies in their arms on Tuesday evening (5 July).

“A man from the local butcher’s contacted our kennel-huntsman Mark Luxton to inform him that one of his employees had seen two scruffy young lads – aged around 12-13 years – running down the road away from the kennels with the puppies,” explained senior-master Teddy Cripps.

“Mark had not long left the kennels, which are by his house, and we think they must have been watching his movements,” she continued.

“As soon as Mark received the phone call he returned to the kennels and drove down the lane from Walcote in the direction these lads had gone and searched around the surrounding area. I telephoned a farmer at Swinford, who also got into his vehicle and had a drive around, but sadly we had no luck finding them.

“The tri-coloured puppies were out of our own bitch called Echo by East Lincs Voyager and were due to go to their puppy walkers very soon,” explained Teddy.

“They left just one bitch puppy from the same litter behind and this has caused a knock-on effect in the kennels, unsettling the other hounds.”

Continued below…

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This is not the first time that thefts have taken place at hunt kennels. Just two weeks ago two lurcher puppies were stolen from the Westerby Basset’s kennel-huntsman’s kennels, which have not yet been recovered, and on 1 June we reported that three beagle puppies had been stolen from their kennels in Oxfordshire.

The Westerby Basset Hounds keep 25 1/2 couple of hounds and are the only pack of English Basset hounds in the country. They cover an area between Lutterworth and Market Harborough, extending to parts of Rutland and Northamptonshire.

If anybody has any information regarding the whereabouts of the stolen basset hound puppies, please contact Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555 111.

The Wales and Border Counties Hound Show — one of the most popular hound shows of the season — took place at the Royal Welsh Showground at Builth Wells on 30 June.

The classes for the Welsh Foxhounds were particularly well-supported with hounds from 14 packs taking part, and proved very popular with a large crowd in attendance.

There were championship victories for the Plas Machynlleth and the Irfon and Towy Hunts in the Welsh ring and the Coniston enjoyed continued success in the Fell hound classes.

Although the North Cotswold, Bicester with Whaddon Chase and Duke of Beaufort’s all took their share of the major honours in the English Foxhounds classes, the Albrighton and Woodland more than held their own, taking the first class of the day with the unentered Grocer.

The ribbons were spread well across the competing packs in the beagle classes although it was the Park Beagles that enjoyed championship success.

For the four-page report from the show see the current issue of Horse & Hound magazine (7 July 2016)

View further images taken at the Wales and Border Counties Hound Show here

Set in the cream of the Fernie Hunt country, Blaston Hound Show took place on Sunday 26 June at Blaston in Leicestershire.

The annual show is in its 14th year and continues to grow in popularity, with 19 packs of hounds competing for the honours this year.

It was a particularly successful day for the Grove and Rufford and the Meynell and South Staffs in the modern foxhound classes, while the Percy and the Wynnstay took the major honours in the Old English classes.

For a detailed report and full results see the current issue of Horse & Hound magazine (14 July 2016)

Click here to view further images taken at the Blaston Hound Show

With some justification, the hunting community could be accused of being behind the curve on matters of health and safety. The list of recent deaths and serious injuries, partly due to wearing traditional hunting caps rather than safety headgear, makes uncomfortable reading. Other equestrian sports have made big strides in recent years to improve safety while striving not to compromise their essence.

Why is it that when a rider falls badly while wearing a traditional hat, some people comment: “Well at least her hat stayed on”? Even a traditional hat should be fitted so it doesn’t come off.

Coroners and medical professionals are becoming increasingly damning of the traditional hat. If insurers follow suit it would sound the hat’s death knell.

Meanwhile, hat manufacturers have been developing a traditional-looking BSI kitemarked hat aimed at the hunting market. It isn’t as elegant; however — unlike many other hats — as long as it is properly checked, it doesn’t have to be discarded after a fall on the head.

Hunts rightly shy away from “nannying” their members, preferring to encourage personal responsibility. However, we do look out for each other greatly and the Corinthian spirit should be tempered if someone insists on carrying on after a heavy fall.

Different types of injuries can befall those up front, without the hurly-burly of the mounted field to contend with. Those at the business end often attest that the lack of chinstrap is hugely beneficial when riding through woodland. For others, it is a no-brainer.

Several masters and a few huntsmen now hunt in kitemarked headgear, however most agree that adult body protectors and air jackets would seriously restrict the flexibility required in the hunting field.

Vanity counts for naught

Like most other masters and huntsmen I will probably reach for my traditional hat this coming season, but for how much longer? Glance at nearly every mounted field and you will see the tide turning. Tradition, elegance and vanity mean for naught if you are being fed and changed by a loved one for the rest of your life.

The countryside is a place of gradual, though sometimes dramatic, evolution. Unless our insurers insist on instant change, over the next decade the traditional hat will become a relic on the tack room top shelf.

It is a contradiction of our times that we are in many ways risk averse, yet push human endeavour to the limit. Managing risk is key. Even the highest standard of head protection can’t eliminate risk, as the achingly tragic events in the Cotswolds showed at the end of the season.

Every hunt has those members at its core who concur with Surtees that, “all time is lost wot is not spent in ‘unting — it’s the sport of kings, the image of war without its guilt, and only five and twenty per cent of its danger”. To protect that freedom and excitement, we may need to protect ourselves from unnecessarily foreshortening our enjoyment.

Our nearest and dearest

A recent near-fatal head injury out with our hounds has provoked many hunt subscribers, including my wife, to abandon their traditional hats. Even my most traditional colleagues now send their children out hunting in body protectors and BSI kitemarked hats.

My eldest son will be out hunting more next season, largely off the lead rein trying to join his daddy. It is unimaginable that he would wear any of the flimsy hats I used to wear as a child. These make better hanging baskets than head protectors.

During our annual (entirely legal) rabbit hunt at the end of the season on ponies and with a bobbery pack of terriers, he rode up to me, aged six, and advised that if I didn’t make quite such a din blowing the horn we might have more luck. I don’t consider myself a particularly noisy huntsman, but he may have a point. It is their future, not just our own, that must occupy our thoughts.

Ref: Horse & Hound; 14 July 2016

There was drama in the inter-hunt relay at the Festival of Hunting on Wednesday (20 July) when a horse and rider crashed out through the metal barriers surrounding the ring.

Natasha Fountain and her 16.2hh, 19-year-old gelding Jay, representing the Cambridge University Drag Hounds team, were both unharmed in the incident, in the first round of the competition at the East of England showground at Peterborough.

“The photographs make it look far worse than it actually felt,” explained Natasha. “It was just a difference of opinion and we simply ran out of space.”

“I was still committed to turning for the third fence but the exit to the ring was directly in line with the first two fences and he napped towards the exit!”

“He was incredibly clever and although it might appear that he got his legs stuck, he managed to somehow flick his legs out and in the process I just plopped off gently onto the floor beneath him.”

“He’s brilliant in a crisis and I knew he wouldn’t tread on me,” added Natasha, who has owned the part-bred Appaloosa for 13 years.

“The paramedics rushed up to me to ensure I was ok and the vets checked Jay over straight away. Apart from a tiny scratch on one fetlock there isn’t another mark on him and he’s absolutely fine today.”

Inter-hunt relays are known for entertaining the crowd and often provide thrills and spills throughout the highly competitive contests, in which two teams of four riders jump a mirror-image course with time penalties added for fences knocked down.

The fastest against the clock usually goes through to the next round of the knockout event.

Sadly for Natasha, the incident meant she was unable to complete her round. Her team mates came to the rescue but by that time it was too late for them to be competitive and they were knocked out.

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The winners of the senior hunt relay were the Holcombe Hunt team; captain Paul Conway riding Wacko, Mark Dickson-Bradley on Whinny, Sarah Lundy riding Georgio and Rosie Hurst on Ted. The junior competition was won by the Cottesmore Foxes.

The Holcombe had a very successful day, taking home plenty of ribbons in the harriers classes, following on from their successes at the Great Yorkshire Show at Harrogate the previous week.

Run in conjunction with the Great Yorkshire Show (GYS) at Harrogate, the hound show takes place over two days, with the beagles and harriers classes held this year on Tuesday, 12 July and the foxhounds on Wednesday, 13 July.

As well as bringing together packs from all over the country, this is the last major hound show in the run-up to the Festival of Hunting at Peterborough (20 July).

Thirteen packs of beagles were put before the judges where the championships were claimed by the Cheshire and the Newcastle and District.

The Holcombe had a particularly successful day, taking both the doghound and bitch hound championships in the harriers ring, while the VWH pretty much swept the board in the foxhound classes.

Tale a look at the gallery to see some of the highlights of this year’s hound show and don’t forget to buy the latest issue of Horse & Hound, on sale from 21 July for a detailed report and full results.

To view further images taken at the Great Yorkshire Hound Show visit — here

A presentation was made to equestrian photographer Jim Meads at the Festival of Hunting to mark his 70^th year of photographing the Peterborough Royal Foxhound Show.

Sir Philip Naylor-Leyland MFH, chairman of the show committee, presented Jim with a bronze fox on 20 July, in recognition of his commitment to the show, to applause from the crowd gathered around the show ring.

Lord Annaly, a former master and ring steward at Peterborough for many years, who made the announcements during the presentation, said: “Both myself and many of those around this ring hope you will continue to return for a number of years to come.”

Jim, who recently celebrated his 86th birthday, told H&H: “My first visit to the show was in 1946, the first show after the war.

“In 1948, 1949 and 1950, I had to get a special 24-hour pass out from the Royal Air Force in order to attend.

“I’ve only missed one show since 1946 and that was in 1969 when I was playing cricket for the Queen Mother’s cricket team. National Hunt jockey David Nicholson had a fall the day before the foxhound show and broke his leg so I had to captain the team on a tour to the Isle of Wight, and missed the show.”

Jim, who has written a number of books and photographed more than 500 packs of hounds, has visited America 186 times where he enjoys a great relationship with many masters of hounds. According to Jim he has “loved every visit” to the country.

Married to Pauline for over 60 years, Jim was once H&H’s in-house photographer. He fondly recalls receiving a call from Michael Clayton in 1973, explaining that he was to become the editor and asking Jim to be his photographer.

“I’ve been lucky enough to have several images featured on the front cover, the first back in 1958,” Jim said.

“Also, it was on the cover of an issue featuring one of my images that the first ever bar code was printed.” 

A hunt saboteur has been convicted of causing a breach of the peace on two occasions while following the Fife Hunt.

Kevin Newell, 33, received a 90-hour community payback order at Dundee Sheriff Court last Thursday (21 July).

The court ruled that Newell caused alarm and distress to those legally participating in the hunts in north-east Fife in November 2015 by following the hunting pack, behaving in an intimidating manner with his face covered with a snood or balaclava.

Detective Inspector Colin Robson said: “We understand that fox hunting is an emotive issue that can be very divisive, however this is no excuse for any offence being committed.

“We police hunts in Fife to ensure the safety of everyone participating in or observing the events, and to ensure they take place legally. This applies equally to those who oppose hunting and those in the pack taking part.

“There is a right to peacefully and lawfully protest in a public place and a procedure for legally hunting with dogs. In this case, Newell’s behaviour was unacceptable and it should send a clear message to anyone intending to disrupt a hunt in this way that we will take action.”

Clarinda Foster, a joint-master of the Fife, told H&H: “We have been experiencing ever-increasing threatening and intimidating behaviour by activists over the past couple of years.

“This has been a long process with many witnesses giving statements to the police and being cross-examined in court, however the result has made all the effort worthwhile.

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Tim Easby, director of the Masters of Foxhounds Association, welcomed the news, saying there is “no place in society for those who attempt to disrupt legal activities”.

He told H&H: “It is very important that hunts continue to report anti-social, illegal and disruptive behaviour — it’s only by making official complaints that these people will be brought to account.”

There was something for everyone at this year’s Festival of Hunting at the East of England Showground on 20 July.

Most people went home with a touch more colour in their cheeks due to the soaring temperatures and credit cards may have been a little lighter too after a trip around the shops that were offering a wide variety of tempting goods.

For those who wanted to watch the various types of hounds being judged there was plenty of action in all of the rings, however the greatest crowd assembled to watch the 128th Peterborough Royal Foxhound Show.

The inter-hunt relay competitions entertained spectators all day resulting in popular wins for the Holcombe Hunt in the senior competition and a victory for the Cottesmore Foxes in the afternoon’s junior contest.

Don’t miss the 5-page report in 28th July issue of the magazine with further coverage from the beagle and harrier classes in 4th August issue.

We take a look back on some of the many memorable moments from this year’s show and see why the 2017 Festival Of Hunting is not to be missed…

A small business has become the victim of an online bullying campaign after posting a picture of a foxhound on its website.

East Yorkshire-based AK Wedding Photography was set up by Kristy and her husband Alistair ahead of Alistair’s retirement from the Royal Marines. Alistair completed  almost 11 years of military service and twice served in Afghanistan.

“I innocently posted the picture of the Holderness hound in February following a visit to one of their meets,” explained Kristy.

“It was a lovely picture and has received numerous positive comments but out of the blue on Saturday we started to be targeted by anti-hunting activists.”

“They are trying to ruin our business because we showed a picture of a foxhound and we have been subjected to a lot of online abuse.

“The worst part is they have accused us of not returning a deposit to a bride who cancelled her wedding because she was anti-hunting.

“But we have only ever had one cancellation during the five years we have had the business and that was over a year ago and that had nothing to do with the bride’s view on hunting. The couple booked their wedding three years in advance but then split up and decided not to get married so we gave them their deposit back.

“It is outrageous that anyone can make up lies and say whatever they like online, often using false profiles to try to damage a business and reputation in this way.”

The couple decided to make it known that they were being bullied and as a result previous clients of their photography business have posted positive comments on their Facebook page to counteract the negative reviews that have been made public.

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One of the reviews says: “I hope the people leaving 1* reviews on this basis never have their own businesses come under fire in such an injust way.”

A spokesman from pro-hunting group This is Hunting UK told H&H the group is “actively supporting the company in turning this from a negative situation into a positive one”.

“We have been so pleased with the response we have had from the hunting and countryside communities for their support during this very difficult time,” said Kristy.

The combines are rolling, trailer loads of straw can be seen moving across the country and the hounds and hunt horses are getting fitter by the day on hound exercise so it can only mean one thing…it won’t be long before autumn hunting starts!

It would seem that the summer has finally arrived and the ground is firmer than most hunting people want to be jumping on with such a long season ahead. Gateways might be the order of the day to keep up with hounds to start with, but it won’t take long for the thrusters in the field to start looking for other ways to speed up their passage across the country.

We take a look at some action from last season to get you in the mood for what lies ahead!

Emily Campbell soars over a Heythrop hedge upsides a fellow thruster.

This follower of the Clifton-on-Teme Hunt could easily have jumped the gate, not just the hunt rail

H&H hunting correspondent Carina Evans hails a cab over a Blackmore and Sparkford Vale hedge

Cornish banks and walls can take some jumping but this wall with a decent drop causes no problems for a thruster at the Cury’s farriers meet

Olympic medal winner and former eventer Ian Stark gives the field a great lead out with the Duke of Buccleuch’s

Four Burrow hunt chairman Jim Pascoe neatly hops up onto a Cornish bank

This lady subscriber of the Killinick Harriers crosses their country in perfect balance with her horse

Huntsman Peter Collins kicks on at a Quorn hedge

Taking on an Irish bank from a virtual standstill is a totally different way of approaching an obstacle to those who are used to jumping at speed however this formidable bank poses no problems for a Scarteen supporter

Margaret Morris MFH flies a South Notts hedge with gusto in Locko Park near Spondon, Derbys

Blackmore and Sparkford Vale joint-master Anthony Mayo gives the field a bold lead over a hedge typical of their grassland country

One young thruster and her cracking pony give this wall plenty of air during a day with the Duke of Buccleuch’s

A hunt has developed a new safety hat that will be available to buy for the coming season.

The Quorn Hunter riding cap is the result of discussions between members of the hunt and manufacturer Charles Owen.

“It has been designed to maintain a traditional look whilst bringing the headwear up to date with modern safety standards,” explained hunt secretary Peter Morritt.

“Following some unfortunate high profile accidents and head injuries recently, our huntsman Peter Collins expressed an interest in seeing if we could develop a hat that would satisfy the traditionalists while incorporating the safety standards expected of modern headgear so I approached Charles Owen and it’s all stemmed from that.”

Peter Collins (pictured) — who has been the huntsman of the famous pack since 2002 — revealed why he decided it was time for him to progress from wearing a more traditional type hunting cap:

“I ride a motorbike in the summer and wouldn’t dream of getting on that without a proper safety helmet,” he told H&H.

So I decided it was time for me to make a stand and for us to explore the idea to see if there was a way to satisfy the needs of hunt staff and the wider hunting community.”

The hat, which is based on the traditional deep-crown hunting cap worn by many hunt staff and subscribers, carries a British standard kite mark and has a safety harness.

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Roy Burek, managing diretor of Charles Owen, told H&H: “This is a big step for a member of hunt staff to push this initiative and we are keen to support those hunts who are moving away from the traditional hunting cap to something that meets modern safety regulations.”

The hat, which is branded inside with the Quorn Hunt’s logo, will be available to buy at £250. They will be stocked at the kennels and will also be available via the hunt’s website.

Packs showing at the West of England hound show produced some quality hounds for the judges at Honiton on 4 August. With separate rings for the foxhounds, staghounds, beagles, harriers and minkhounds there was no shortage of classes to watch and the layout of the rings made it easy to navigate easily between them in order not to miss anything.

We take a look at some of the highlights of the show. To view further images from the day, visit www.horseandhound.co.uk/hointon-hound-show-pictures and don’t miss our full report and results in the current issue of the magazine, on sale from 12 August.