From four-star eventers to top racehorses, here are a few of the equine celebs we’ve spotted on our hunting travels this season.

Lenamore

The hugely popular 2010 Burghley winner and Olympic bronze medallist has taken to hunting like a duck to water. He enjoys regular days with the Warwickshire with his owner, Lexi Jackson (not pictured).

Finian’s Rainbow

Winner of the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham and the Melling Chase at Aintree in 2012, this big, handsome bay is enjoying hunting with the Heythrop with Becky Blandford and has had a go at a couple of hunt rides this season, piloted by Luke Morgan.

Lebowski

Beanie Sturgis’ four-star event horse, 11th at Badminton in 2016, loves his days with the Beaufort during the winter.

Annacotty

The 2015 Paddy Power Gold Cup winner loves the odd day’s hunting to freshen him up before a race. Eventer Phoebe Buckley recently had a great day hedge-hopping with the Old Berks on him, and said: “He behaves beautifully. He loves hunting and watches the hounds non-stop, and it keeps him jolly and sweet between races.”

Starry Night

Multiple HOYS winner Starry Night was recently pictured in Horse & Hound hunting with the East Kent with West Street, ridden by Shelley Stuchbury.

Don Poli

Top Irish National Hunt horse Don Poli – winner of the 2015 RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and the 2015 Grade One Lexus Chase at Leopardstown – has been seen looking very happy with the Meath this season, ridden by Emily MacMahon.

Balthazar King

When trained by Philip Hobbs, Balthazar King won the 2014 Glenfarclas Cross-Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, as well as many other big races. Now he’s enjoying hunting with the Tedworth with Izzi Beckett, wife of Flat trainer Ralph Beckett. Izzi says: “Balthazar King has adapted really well to his new life. He has taken to hunting like a natural. He loves watching hounds work and has impeccable manners. Needless to say, his jumping is outstanding!”

Silviniaco Conti

Winner of six Grade One chases, including the King George VI Chase at Kempton in 2013 and 2014, Silviniaco Conti is one of many horses from Paul Nicholls’ Ditcheat yard who enjoy the odd day’s hunting with the Blackmore and Sparkford Vale.

Continued below…

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Our Cashel Blue

Showing producers the Hood family hunt lots of their horses with the Dunston Harriers, so you might spot 2016 HOYS winner Our Cashel Blue in the field.

Merlot’s Magic

Vittoria Panizzon’s eventer, winner of the 2016 CIC3* at Strzegom in Poland, can be seen flying over some of the Ledbury’s biggest hedges.

“He has jumped some of the biggest hedges [joint-master] David Redvers has ever led us over, always up front,” says Vittoria. “He’s a little legend – thanks to his hunting, he loves big three-star tracks in the mud, like Bramham and Chatsworth. He’s a real ‘family pony’ and anyone can ride him; he’s done open team chasing, fun rides, and been autumn hunting, all alongside his eventing career.”

Opinion

To update my last column, in which I described the circumstances around my arrest in connection with “illegal hunting”, the Crown Prosecution Service came to the predictable conclusion that there was no evidence of wrongdoing, having reviewed the allegations.

On the day of the alleged incident there were two lots of hunt saboteurs, three police cars, six policemen and the police crime commissioner, Lord Bach himself, present.

I have since been assured by the county constabulary that this was mere coincidence. Supposing that I accept that premise, I doubt very much whether things would have proceeded in the theatrical and ostentatious manner in which they did had the noble Lord Bach not been present that day and later professed his shock at seeing “bodies of foxes.” With the amount of foxes run over on the roads in Leicestershire, Lord Bach must spend a lot of time in a state of shock.

After all the hassle, expense and time wasted we still get three police cars out with the Belvoir most Saturdays. The only complaints received come from hunt saboteurs, who aren’t even from this area. Half a dozen idiots with records of many vexatious complaints to the police. They travel many miles to get here, dress like paramilitaries, commit criminal trespass, act like thugs, inconvenience and abuse people and then claim to “feel intimidated” by us. The Leicestershire constabulary are being, as my grandmother would have said, “stitched up like a giddy kipper”.

Spring has sprung

I won’t pretend that my arrest did not cast a bit of a shadow over the season, because it did, not only for me but my friends and the whole of the hunt. Hot on the heels of that, a dose of “sneezes” in the hounds lost us two weeks of hunting.

But that aside, the season has been enjoyable with some good days, despite the modest scenting conditions which prevailed during the first half.

After a satisfactory autumn, we had no days worthy of note until the end of November, when days from Fulbeck and Aswarby stood out; both included hunts upwards of 10 miles.

On the whole it has been dry with more than the usual amount of fog and, once again, few frosts. The rains came towards the end and have certainly provided the best sport of the season.

The usual hint of melancholy that accompanies the ultimate day of the season was dispelled this year by a visit from the South Shropshire hounds to the fixture at Belvoir. A number of their subscribers and visitors were welcomed by the Duke and a field of well over 100 made a majestic sight leaving the meet below the castle battlements.

Spring had well and truly arrived and the mercury hit 14°C. However, as the day progressed hounds settled into the job in hand and provided some nice hunting, working with persistence and determination.

The difference between a good pack and a moderate one is their ability to produce a hunt in difficult conditions; the South Shropshire hounds acquitted themselves admirably and were a credit to their huntsman.

Ref Horse & Hound; 23 March 2017

The end of the hunting season can leave you feeling flat and pining for an adrenaline rush. But there's plenty to keep you and your horse busy, says Tessa Waugh

1. How is your horse looking and feeling? If they are thin or feeling sore the obvious thing to do is give them a rest. Roughed off, rugged up and out in a field (if your ground can take it) for a couple of months R & R before you think about riding them again. Meanwhile you can breathe a sigh of relief and think about something else: your job, your children, your husband/wife and anything else that you’ve neglected for the last five months.

2. If your horse is looking and feeling good you may want to capitalise on their fitness and your own. Look out for any hunt organised rides or hunter trials that are happening in your area.

3. Now is a good time to give your horse a health overhaul and seek professional attention for any niggling back or teeth problems.

4. If you are missing your adrenaline fix, find some like-minded riders and try some team chasing. There are five taking place in various places around Britain between the end of March and May. Look at www.britishteamchasing.co.uk for more information.

5. Most people will feel unimpressed with their riding skills at some point during the season. Now is a good time to invest in some lessons, jumping or otherwise. Similarly, if your horse wasn’t feeling confident enough over his fences you might want to go back to basics with some schooling.

6. If your horse is old, they may benefit from being kept going through the summer. This will also lessen the time spent getting them fit again in late summer. Explore some rides in the area that you haven’t tried before, even if it means boxing them up to investigate somewhere further away.

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7. Head to the beach and enjoy a gallop across the sand. Sounds cheesy but it’s guaranteed to give you both a boost.

8. There isn’t a huge amount of crossover between hunting and dressage but don’t let that stop you. Dressage rewards all horses and riders with increased flexibility, strength and fitness, all of which will massively help your performance on the hunting field.

Opinion

Well, the new season is upon us. It doesn’t seem like two minutes since the last one finished. I always look forward to seeing new combinations and how last year’s horses have altered.

We are busy, as I’m sure everyone is, preparing for the forthcoming season. It’s that time of year where we are looking at show dates and where to place each horse. We look at quiet venues and ride judges who will give a youngster the best introduction to the job.

First season novices can be challenging but also the most rewarding. With luck the horses we have been busy preparing over the winter will be ready, but you have to be realistic that some take longer than others. I have to say I am grateful for the shows allowing entries on the day. This certainly helps, as would a crystal ball or employing Mystic Meg.

Having measured some horses this year, I’m pleased to report that the new paperless Joint Measurement Board (JMB) system seems to be working well. It is much simpler and quicker, with results going online within a few days of the measuring appointment.

It’s a much more transparent system which is accessible to all — including shows if there is ever a discrepancy, plus societies for checking registrations and also competitors.

Safety vs tradition

There has been much controversy over the new hat standards that are to be enforced this year. I am all for safety, but should this be at the expense of tradition?

I still think adults should have the freedom of choice with the option of a disclaimer, but I accept for insurance purposes at certain shows why chinstraps are enforced, and also for the safety of the children.

The new showjumping-style hats could become yard trademarks — almost team colours — as browbands and jackets have become.

The hat should not detract for the wrong reasons though, and must complement the overall picture of the horse and jockey. I can understand the use of the showjumping-style helmets as they are a neater shape. I ride in one on a day-to-day basis. It conforms to all the current standards and if the manufacturers covered them in velvet and with a flesh-coloured harness, they would sell more.

Why do the current velvet showing-style hats have to be so bulky and high domed? People must be worried about spending their money buying a new hat, only to have the standards change the following year making it defunct.

RIP Sue Webb

Finally, I was very sad to hear of the loss of Sue Webb. It was a real shock and she will be greatly missed by all of us. Sue was a proper hunting woman and loved life. She was always helpful and on hand to give practical advice, and full of praise when it was deserved.

Ref Horse & Hound; 23 March 2017

Police will find it easier to unmask violent hunt saboteurs from now on thanks to new legislation.

The Policing and Crime Act 2017 was given royal assent to become law on 31 January and came into force yesterday (3 April).

The Act will make it simpler for officers to require violent protestors to remove facial coverings.

It enables police officers to require masked protestors to remove their disguises without first needing written permission from a senior officer. This makes the law simpler and less bureaucratic to use.

“There are only two reasons for wearing masks and face-coverings in the context of a protest: to intimidate and harass, and to hide identity with the intention of committing criminal offences and avoiding prosecution,” said Countryside Alliance chief executive Tim Bonner.

“This is a tactic that has worked, not only by creating alarm and distress in rural communities visited by groups of extremists who have adopted the uniform of the paramilitary complete with standard black face coverings, but also in allowing offences to be committed without any legal consequences.

“From Wiltshire to Derbyshire; from Gloucestershire to Yorkshire there have been a series of violent assaults by hunt saboteurs in the last few years, none of which have seen anyone brought to justice.

“It doesn’t matter if violence and intimidation are happening in urban areas or the countryside, it is wrong and it is only right that police officers are in the position to be able to tackle effectively potentially criminal behaviour wherever it arises.

“We are therefore delighted that the government has recognised the need to amend the law, recognising that the police need greater flexibility faced with modern types of protests.

“The amendment does not extend police powers, but makes it more practical to use existing powers and we now expect the police to make full use of them.

“For too long a small minority have hidden behind masks and disguises to intimidate people and to escape being held account for unlawful behaviour. This change in the law will discourage unlawful activity, while allowing lawful and peaceful protest.”

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The new ruling became part of the Act after it was introduced as an amendment during the Lords’ debate on the bill in December (news, 15 December).

Brandon Lewis MP, minister of state for policing, wrote to all police constables to make them aware of the change last month.

Freedom of Information Act requests by the Countryside Alliance published last year revealed the powers in place prior to the new Act had only been used once on animal rights activists at a hunt.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday

South Durham Hunt chairman Barry Johnson has won the prize no one wants – the top tumble of the year.

The Countryside Alliance has named Mr Johnson and his horse Carlo’s fall – in which the rider broke ribs, but the horse was unhurt – as the tumble of the season.

The sequence of images, judged the best of hundreds of pictures sent in from across the UK and Ireland, was taken by Amy Fair.

Ms Fair is the official photographer of the Hurworth Hunt, the pack with which Mr Johnson was out on the day of his fall.

“The sequence of images was taken on a Saturday that’s renowned for lots of jumping action and is always a popular day for visitors,” she said.

“I nearly missed Barry and Carlo’s spectacular tumble; intently focused on the main field tackling a particularly inviting hedge, I heard a commotion and colourful language over my shoulder.

“I swung around just in time to capture Barry and Carlo flying through the air in this uniquely artistic combination. Fortunately, both horse and jockey walked away after their tumble.”

Mr Johnson said he broke his ribs in the fall as he fell on his mobile phone in his pocket.

“In a former life I was national rally champion and broke my back crashing while travelling at 136mph. Then I had a rotational fall from the same horse three years ago – I was very lucky here!”

Mr Johnson plans to event Carlo and another horse this season.

He added: “The set of rails where I had my tumble was nothing to worry about, but a horse jumped across in front of us and I think Carlo was looking at them.

“No harm came to Carlo, although we were both winded. When we got going again, I thought I would pop another hedge just to make sure he was OK and when we landed, I realised I had broken some ribs.

“I retired there and then – this was a Saturday but I was out hunting with the Zetland on the Monday, albeit on painkillers. Six weeks later I finally got a good night’s sleep.”

The competition was judged by Paul Graham of sponsor Pol Roger UK, Alexandra Henton from The Field magazine, eventer Harry Meade, and former H&H hunting editor Polly Portwin, head of the Countryside Alliance’s hunting campaign.

Polly said: “The winning image captures a classic hunting fall of which many will have had similar experiences. We are delighted that all of our tumblers – both equine and human – were safe after these falls and look forward to launching the series again for 2017-18 in association with Pol Roger.”

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Highly commended tumblers were Dave White, who fell while out with the Kimblewick and was caught on camera by Greg Knight of Rural Shots Photography, and Jordan Jeffrey, who was out with the Cheshire Drag and captured by Al Johnston of Al Johnston Photography.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

 

Are you counting down the days to autumn hunting? Can’t wait until the puppy show? Dying for your horse’s holiday to come to an end? Sounds like you’re missing the hunting season…

1. You’ve made a calendar of the days left until autumn hunting starts and you eagerly cross them off each morning

2. You’ve already asked your huntsman (three times) when hound exercise on horses starts, and are really disappointed when he looks horrified and tells you not until July. But they start on bikes on 1 May, and you’ll be there, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, at 6am. You’ll have thighs of steel by the time the season starts

3. You’ve spent each weekend since the end of March on Exmoor with the staghounds. Sometimes you hire a horse, but you’re equally happy joining the enormous throng of car-followers. Once the staghounds have finished, you’ll go minkhunting

4. Your hunting kit is clean, polished, mended – and ready to go. Similarly your horse’s tack

5. You’ve booked days off work for all the major hound shows and are mentally planning your picnic for the Festival of Hunting at Peterborough

6. Your horse won’t come anywhere near you in the field – he thinks you have an unnecessarily keen look in your eye and he wants a holiday, thank you very much. Past years have taught him it won’t be long; by June he will be plonking round the roads, and by the end of August he’ll be nearly fit enough to go round Burghley, let alone cope with a morning’s autumn hunting

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7. You’re trying to get together a hunt relay team. Lots of county shows have inter-hunt relays, but possibly the most glamorous are those at Royal Windsor (11 May) and the Festival of Hunting (19 July)

8. You honestly can’t wait for the puppy show — it’s the highlight of your summer. You are helping in the tea tent, and hope that Dasher and Dancer, the puppies you walked last year, are in the prizes. To aid your quest, you’ve found out who the judges are and are having them to lunch (separately, to avoid suspicion) the week before

Watch Ollie Finnegan’s winning round in the Silver Spur hunt ride on former racehorse Rivage D’Or from the rider's perspective

Ollie Finnegan rode former racehorse Rivage D’Or to victory in the Bicester with Whaddon Chase’s Silver Spur hunt ride on Saturday, 22 April at Southam, Northants.

The 31-year-old – who, along with second-placed Rowan Cope, was part of the winning Relentless team at the National Team Chase Championships recently – was scoring his first hunt ride victory.

Rivage D’Or, a French-bred 12-year-old who won the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at the 2015 Cheltenham Festival when trained by Tony Martin, came to Ollie’s Leicestershire yard just over a year ago.

“This ride a year ago [when he finished second to Dominic Gwyn-Jones] was the first thing we did together,” said Ollie, who runs Leicestershire Hunter Hirelings with his wife Rachel, who also completed the Silver Spur. “He didn’t do a lot this winter because I was so busy hunting, but he came up three weeks before the Fernie team chase, went to the National Championships and then came here.”

Rachel said: “Rivage D’Or is a little tiger. He’s not very big but very brave, athletic and never gives up.

“At home he is now very chilled out, kind and gentle in the stable, although he takes no getting fit as he’s such an athlete.

“But he’s changed a lot since we first had him; last year he was barely stoppable out hacking or in the arena. Now he’s not worried if the hunters lap him at home, but he’s still competitive when it counts.”

To celebrate their victory, the Finnegan’s went to the Horn & Hound Ball – held in aid of the Hunt Staff Benefit Society – with Rowan Cope, joint-master of the Pytchley, and his wife Lydia.

“Ollie and Rowen are great mates, but ultra-competitive too!” said Rachel.

Rowan rode Guiding George, who has only been in his yard for a week, into second, while Zoe Gibson finished third aboard Vicality.

Full report in Horse & Hound magazine, on sale Thursday 27 April

Opinion

Who felt excited at the news of an imminent general election? Precisely no one. I know, I know, we’ve done it all before. Tramped the streets delivering leaflets, manned telephones, knocked on doors, all in the name of hunting — or, more precisely, the possibility of a repeal of the Hunting Act 2004. And it doesn’t feel like we’ve achieved a lot, really.

But dig out those trainers and polish those smiles. We absolutely have to do it again, and in greater numbers and with more determination than ever before.

Very soon, hunts will be given details of their target seats. This is a real opportunity for hunting and the rural way of life; it is entirely possible that, should enough candidates that support hunting be elected, a push can be made for a free vote on repeal with sufficient numbers to go our way.

Remember that our opponents didn’t give up when things didn’t go their way. They tried and tried and eventually got what they wanted. So it’s our turn to do the same.

The current situation is untenable; this is probably the best chance of repeal we have had or are likely to have for a very long time. We must grit our teeth and put our shoulder to the wheel.

Ref Horse & Hound; 27 April 2017

As we let out a collective sigh at the impending general election, let’s look at it this way. It should be an opportunity we embrace, one last time, to help us find a resolution to the unworkable Hunting Act, and it can bring much-needed change to our community. It really can. At least the prime minister has been good enough to make it a five-furlong sprint and not a three-mile chase.

There are many problems facing our country, and hunting, for most, will be very low down on the list. However, it is important to us and we have been relentless in our support of the Conservatives for decades now, helping the grassroots of the party by leafleting, canvassing and telephoning. Alien and uncomfortable for most of us, but we did this because the Conservatives were the only party prepared to offer a free vote on hunting in Parliament.

David Cameron’s 2015 election, Brexit and Mr Trump should have persuaded us that the polls are in disarray and do not get it right and that predictions are dangerous. Well, who cares? I predict that the Conservatives will increase their majority to between 65 and 95, thereby giving Mrs May the mandate she requires to negotiate our withdrawal from the EU.

A 65-95 majority would mean the government are no longer held to ransom by the SNP and that most devious of fish, Ms Sturgeon. Thankfully, she can only reduce her majority in Scotland because she won all the seats last time around. Since cynically blocking the government’s attempt to hold a free vote on amending the Hunting Act two years ago, her party don’t seem to have come forward with any evidence or research to suggest that the act should not be amended. So why did they block it?

Our community will be asked to help the Conservatives once more because — be certain of one thing — nothing is certain in politics today. They will want to ensure they win this election and win it by a distance, and nothing will be left to chance.

Starting with repeal

Therefore let us put everything we have in to it.

But this time we do so with one proviso: our community will not be available for future elections, unless this one brings about a resolution to the most illiberal act ever passed in our Parliament — the Hunting Act of 2004.

What is that resolution? Repeal must be the starting point and our goal, but my own personal view is that hunting under licence overseen by an independent body is a workable way forward. If this was set up correctly, it would put a stop to wasting police time and resources, the Crown Prosecution Service and the courts’ time and resources and we will have secured hunting’s immediate future back in its rightful place alongside shooting and fishing.

To the government we appeal. We will help you, we are not threatening you with ultimatums, but we as a community have grown weary and elections are not our natural arena of life.

So we will fight once more for an outcome where you can govern this country for five more years at a very important time in our history, but then you must deliver on your promise to us and set about resolving the hunting issue once and for all. Let’s be honest, with a large majority you can do that.

Ref Horse & Hound; 4 May 2017

Is anything cuter than a hound puppy? No, not until their adventurous nature and curiosity leads them to dig up your garden and chew your slippers, as any puppy walker will know. But their happy faces and sweet dispositions mean we always forgive them. We’ve rounded up a selection of hound puppy pictures that can’t fail to put a smile on your face.

1. A Four Shires Basset puppy admires a sweetpea flower

2. All tired out — these Four Shires Basset puppies have had an exhausting day, by the looks of it

3. Mable Ainsworth, nearly two, and a Belvoir hound puppy

4. Two-year-old Annelies Murphy with some of the Co Limerick young hounds

5. Ella Hillson, 10, with some new additions to the Cury kennels

6. Three beagle puppies from the Dummer and two Ludlow foxhound puppies curl up for a snooze

7. Eloise Little, 18 months, has been watching her father Michael (kennel-huntsman at the Heythrop) prepare the hounds for the show ring this summer and is doing a good job herself with the next generation!

8. A Heythrop puppy enjoys an evening walk by the stream

9. This Heythrop hound puppy has a slightly sheepish expression – what trouble has he been getting himself into?

10. A Holcombe Harrier puppy makes friends with Walter Ashworth, nine months. Walter is the son of huntsman Steven Ashworth and loves to keep a close eye on hounds

11. Time for tea – some Wynnstay puppies tuck into their grub

Opinion

We have the date — 8 June. Put it in the diary. Things must be put straight before the day, a decision of the utmost import will be made, the consequences of which will affect the lives of many in the ensuing months, nay years. Yes, 8 June; the Belvoir Hunt puppy show.

The more observant will have noticed that there is also to be a general election that many did not foresee; for the first time in many years, there is a real chance of a large Conservative majority in the House of Commons. To the surprise of many and to their great credit, the Conservatives have retained their pledge to repeal the Hunting Act 2004 in their election manifesto. Exciting times indeed.

I have little doubt the Tories will win. So right now the Countryside Alliance, masters and hunt staff need to be discussing exactly what we expect subsequent to the result. The starting point is undoubtedly a full repeal of the Hunting Act. It is, lest we forget, an abomination, bought with a £1million “bung” from the International Fund for Animal Welfare to the party forming the government of that time, when the cabinet began to look for a third way.

It is also, however, doubtful whether repeal can prove a long-term and sustainable outcome. We may not always have a supportive government, and I have grave concerns as regards an “independent” licensing authority. Who would this comprise? Such associations have a habit of losing their way. The National Trust has eschewed its founding ethos to become a self-perpetuating money-making scheme; the RSPCA — another formerly respectable organisation — has been taken over by animal rights extremists.

Somewhere along the line, we must find a way to return hunting to its rightful place alongside shooting and fishing as a great country sport, playing a full part in the management of wildlife and the countryside.

There is still a risk, however, in complacency of the electorate. The government will need a thumping majority to write this grievous wrong. The hunting community needs to pull together one last time and get behind Vote-OK. If you enjoy your hunting, you can support your hunt staff in a way that really matters — on this occasion it is not good enough to leave it to someone else.

Let’s imitate ‘Elvis’

There are changes afoot in the government benches at Belvoir, too. Mrs Chatfeild-Roberts retires to the bench; her contribution can be judged by the fact she is to be replaced by two! We welcome Justine Smiley-Jones and Kit Henson to complete a Belvoir sextet.

Also handing over the reins is John Martin. He joined the mastership in 1991, retiring in 2004, then like Elvis in Vegas, made a comeback as chairman in 2006. Chairman is probably the most important role in a modern hunt and he has overseen ours with considerable aplomb. Mr Martin has done his bit for hunting. I hope you are ready to do yours.

Ref Horse & Hound; 18 May 2017

Opinion

The annual procession of horseboxes and removal lorries criss-crossing the country, moving hunt staff and masters, has ceased. From landing in a new hunt country, there are just 16 weeks before hunting starts. If moving house is the most stressful experience, then starting a new position, often with new staff, a pack of hounds to learn and a constituency of possibly thousands of farmers, subscribers and wider supporters must be off the scale. New schools for the children must be found too. Am I alone in thinking that Ofsted should rate schools according to the proportion of parents who are happy to do the school run in hunting boots or wellies?

There can be few roles which require so much information, some of it highly sensitive, to be absorbed almost instantly. It would be so much easier if you could plug a USB memory stick into your brain listing nearly a thousand farmers, their spouses, children, farm boundaries, and mistresses, pet likes and dislikes. From the puppy walkers to the friendly plumber, the DEFRA inspector to the amateur whipper-in, the voluminous quantity of information required can be mind-boggling. And then there is the small matter of walking and learning the country.

Given the multi-leisure options available to families and pressures from increasing school and social commitments, probably more than ever before, hunting must be fun. This need not contain gimmicks and must not detract from the essence of good sport but as a natural, more profound result of it.

The most successful premier hunts are consistently those with the most diverse base of subscribers and supporters which offer the best sport, generated from hounds in a well-run country, confident, even stylish, field-mastering and a positive, knowledgeable enthusiasm that permeates from the mastership and hunt staff. After all, a hunt is not a social experiment; it is a club of friends, from all walks of life, bound together by a love of hunting and the countryside.

A chance to ‘begin the end’

Red kites soared over head as I left kennels with my new hounds last Sunday morning on bicycle exercise with only my seven-year-old son as a whipper-in. I remarked to my kennel-huntsman that if he heard hounds in full cry, it will have gone horribly wrong and most likely be my fault.

Today, we have the chance to “begin the end” of a great wrong afflicted upon the countryside and our children. There are many reasons to cast your vote in a general election, most of which could be considered far more important than hunting. But given the life-enhancing freedom it offers and the guardianship of land it demands, there are few better reasons.

The Prime Minister, not a lady of the chase, made a brave early commitment to us. We have to trust her and grasp this unexpected and best chance we’ll ever have of restoring the thrilling music of hounds in legal pursuit of their quarry to our countryside.

Ref Horse & Hound; 8 June 2017

A county show committee has stood firm despite “increasing pressure” by saboteurs to remove hound parades from its timetable.

The West Midlands hunt saboteurs group and other activists had been lobbying Ashby Show (9 July) to ban the Atherstone Hunt, the North Warks Beagles and the Dove Valley Mink Hounds parades from its main ring, and from having trade stands at the event.

But after a meeting on the issue last night, the committee released a statement saying the hound parades will go ahead.

“As many of you will be aware, the Ashby Agricultural Society has faced increasing pressure from the West Midlands Hunt Saboteurs and their supporters to remove the Atherstone Hunt, North Warks Beagles and the Dove Valley Mink Hounds from the main ring schedule and also cancel their trade stands,” the statement read.

“As a society, we ensure that every event is fully compliant with UK law. Therefore, having carefully reviewed the situation, we see no reason to make any changes to our 2017 show and look forward to another successful event.”

The news has been welcomed by hunt supporters who had been concerned the ban would be the “thin end of the wedge” but praised the show committee for standing up to “keyboard warriors”.

“If they had gone ahead and banned the hunts, that would have been a disaster for the future of all country shows and events,” wrote one supporter on Facebook. “Well done to everyone for making a stand on this important issue. If the antis don’t like it, then tough. It’s the country people who make these shows what they are, and always has been, and always will be.”

Countryside Alliance head of hunting Polly Portwin said: “We are delighted that the show organisers have not bowed to bullying from anti-hunting activists and there will still be a hound parade at this year’s Ashby Show.

“The hunting community is an integral part of rural life and it’s vital that the presence of hunts at public events is not confined to the history books.

“Hound parades are incredibly popular at events throughout the summer season and most hunts parade a number of times at various events. They often present a great opportunity for hunts to explain to the general public and those that have little or no understanding about hunting, about how hunts operate legally within the confines of the Hunting Act and also encourage newcomers.”

Simon Green, joint-master of the North Warwickshire Beagles, said that in dealing with the issue, the pack had garnered support from nearly 2,500 people.

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“The greatest support has come from people that live in the local towns and villages who are not known to us but have contacted the show organisers to come out in favour of the hound parade,” he added.

“We want to thank everybody for their support, in particular the organisers of the show and the landowner, and we look forward to parading in front of a large crowd on 9 July.”

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

Now we’re in the thick of the puppy show season, here’s how to look as though you know what you are talking about (and learn something at the same time)

• Dress with intent: suits and flat cap or panama for the men, summer dress and if you’re really going for it, a hat for the ladies. But think demure straw, not Royal Ascot.
• Sit at the edge of the ring where you have a good view of what’s going on and don’t take your eyes off the hounds throughout the judging. Laughing and talking at the back with only an occasional glimpse at the ring is not an option.
• Earwig on a conversation with one of the aficionados at the ringside and nod sagely if they deign to share an opinion on anything going on in the ring.
• You may have never looked at a hound critically before but looking at their symmetry — feet, elbow, shoulder and from behind — is a good starting point.
• Have a few stock phrases on hound conformation that you can repeat at random — “not so sure about that one’s shoulder, that big dog is slightly weak behind, I like the way the lemon bitch moves,” — that sort of thing. Most people won’t actually know that you’re bluffing.
• Instead of using your puppy show card, which lists the young hounds and their breeding, as a fan or a sun shade/umbrella, keep referring to it throughout the judging. When the final results are called, make a note of the winning order which you can use as a reference later in the day.
• Scones with cream and jam may beckon after the judging but if you’re really eager to impress, forget the tea and try and collar one of the judges to talk you through his decisions.

Continued below…

Expand 11 adorable hound puppy pictures to put a smile on your face

11 adorable hound puppy pictures to put a smile on your face

We’ve rounded up a selection of hound puppy…

Expand Is this the most beautiful hunt country in Britain?

Is this the most beautiful hunt country in Britain?

Set in Powys, adjoining the Shropshire boundary, the…

• Chat to one of the masters or the huntsman/kennel-huntsman and ask him if the judges’ choices were in line with his own. Sometimes the winners, are obvious but in a big kennel with a large and quality entry it can be more difficult for a novice to spot the best.
• After the tea, don’t flee the premises — hang around the ring where the cognoscenti will be viewing the older hounds. You will look keen and probably learn something at the same time.

Take a look at this collection of adorable pictures of hounds of all breeds taken by photographer Sarah Farnsworth at the Wales and Border Counties Hound Show at Builth Wells last week (29 June 2017)

The full report from the show will be in the 13 July 2017 issue of Horse & Hound magazine

With the hunting season just around the corner, take a look at this selection of hunters for sale on the Horse & Hound website this week.

1. ‘Quality’

Height: 16.1hh

Gender: mare

Age: nine

Selling points: “This Irish Draught mare is well hunted and is an excellent ride for anyone. She has perfect manners and goes first or last. She is also a good jumper and doesn’t hot up. She’s athletic and neat with clean limbs and is good to do.”

View the advert

2. ‘Stunning’

Height: 16.1hh

Gender: mare

Age: seven

Selling points: “A sweet, loving and honest mare with a great attitude to work, who always tries to please. Her obedient and easy manner with three established paces produces many good dressage scores and her careful, scopey and honest jump has proved to help me out many times. She is currently competing at BE100 and is snaffle-mouthed in all three phases — she has been placed at BE90. She has hunted with the North Staffs and Cheshire, bringing me home safe every time over the biggest of country being brave but sensible. She is happy to lead or follow and is well-mannered at the meet and within the field. She hacks out alone and in company and is a great nanny to our cheeky youngsters. Always admired wherever she goes and a pleasure to own, ride and have on the yard.”

View the advert

3. ‘Very genuine’

Height: 15.1hh

Gender: mare

Age: 10

Selling points: “This mare has hunted two seasons with a teenager and never missed a day. She stands at the meet, queues and is very genuine across a variety of country, jumping timber, ditches and hedges. She has also done all PC (Pony Club) activities including PC camp and inter-branch showjumping, hunter trials and one-day events. She is good to hack out alone or in company and is good to do in all ways.”

View the advert

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4. ‘Lovely character’

Height: 16hh

Gender: gelding

Age: 12

Selling points: “Snowford Miller is a genuine all-rounder with a lovely character. He is easy to shoe, clip and walks himself on the box. He hunted all last season with the Cheshire Drag and jumped up to BS (British Showjumping) Discovery level in his previous homes. He has also done open hunter trials plus he hacks out and is very good in traffic. He would do very well in the show ring.”

View the advert

5. ‘Mannerly’

Height: 16.3hh

Gender: gelding

Age: seven

Selling points: “This thoroughbred is easy to do and a quiet ride. He is currently nannying youngsters and breakers and is a lovely, straightforward hunter. He has hunted the past two seasons with the West Somerset Vale and the Exmoor Foxhounds, has no vices and is a genuine horse.”

View the advert

View more horses for sale on horseandhound.co.uk

NB: Horse & Hound has not checked the accuracy of the claims made in these adverts and cannot be held liable if the information included above is inaccurate in any way

Wandering around the The Game Fair at Hatfield House in Hertfordshire this weekend (28-30 July 2017) you’d be excused for thinking we were in the midst of a heatwave — panama-clad crowds sat out watching the cricket on a big screen, ice-cream in hand, sunglasses on. Apart from wellies would have been more appropriate attire — it was one of the wettest weekends of the summer.

If ever there was an advert for keeping calm and carrying on, this was it. But what else would you expect from a gathering of the great and good of the British countryside?

Here’s why ‘Glastonbury for the green welly brigade’ made us proud to be British…

1. Hunting took its place amongst a celebration of all field sports — this is after all, the largest and most comprehensive countryside show in Europe

2. Pint-sized spectators made some new friends at the hound exhibition, where three different types of hounds could be found in the exhibition pens on each day of the show — with a whopping 18 packs being represented in total 

3. Crowds were kept on the edge of their seats during the Shetland Pony Grand National, as the jockeys competed for one of 11 places at the coveted final at The London International Horse Show at Olympia in December. Luckily this small jockey bounced back from an unscheduled dismount…

4. Puckeridge hounds paraded for the crowds in the Tylers Horse & Country Ring, giving hunting its moment in the spotlight during the weekend

5. Spot the dog: there was no shortage of canine visitors to the show, providing a live  encyclopedia of British breeds — even if they did need a little help getting around. This Patterdale puppy has its transport sorted…

6. Shoeing got competitive: 48 farriers took part in the new competition, having to replicate a specimen shoe against the clock, being judged on quality and dimensions — with the added pressure of an eagle-eyed crowd watching on

7. Where else can you wear your red trousers with such pride? (And the same goes for tweed…)

For all the latest news and reports, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday

Opinion

The shock result of the general election was a disappointment for all field sports enthusiasts. We were in sight of the finishing post and then fell three out. But now the dust has settled and we have had time to reflect, things are not so bad; we are certainly no worse off than before.

The animal rights lobby has its sights on game shooting as well as hunting and it is sad to see it receiving tacit support from much of the print media and the BBC.

There is, however, no appetite to return to the Hunting Act and a recent London rally to support “strengthening” the legislation garnered fewer people than you see queuing outside any chip shop on a Friday night.

We have coped admirably to date and will continue to do so. A solution is still achievable, so we must keep playing the game to win.

Steelworks and surtees

Tony Wright, the Exmoor huntsman, parked his long-suffering motorcycle and joined Emma Thompson MFH, Co. Limerick, to judge our puppy show in early June. Although Mrs Thompson brought with her some Irish weather, it failed to dampen spirits.

I was very pleased to be asked to help judge the Braes of Derwent puppy show. It was my first visit for 30 years to the place where I began my professional career.

The hunt country of Jorrocks and James Pigg has become somewhat gentrified since the closure of the mines and steelworks, but otherwise has remained unchanged — a pleasant surprise. I think Surtees would still recognise his old home.

A proper festival

After the East of England show ceased in 2013, the hound show had to make its own way. Since then, the Peterborough Festival of Hunting has really found its feet, not only as the premier hound show, but also as an annual celebration of our sport.

It is a very enjoyable occasion where one can catch up with old friends as well as stock up the tack and valeting rooms, and, if there is time, view the odd hound or two.

The horse classes have really taken off and add greatly to the interest and enjoyment for visitors. It may soon be the case that more than a single day is required to stage this event.

I was, naturally, keeping a sharp eye on the old English ring. It is unfortunate that the modern foxhound classes run concurrently, and one is forced to choose.

Hounds in both rings were of the best quality. In an era when so much has changed, when one could easily become discouraged, it was good to note that the quality of hunt servant remains equally high.

Certainly the huntsmen in the old English ring were all experienced men in, or coming into, their prime. I’m sure that the ghosts of the great ones from the past, who have graced this famous show down the ages, would have nodded their approval.

In short, we have top-quality hunt staff (“straight goods,” as Nigel Peel would say), top-quality hounds and horses (for those who require them) and it’s odds-on for an early harvest.

So let’s stop wittering and get out there and enjoy our hunting.

Ref Horse & Hound; 10 August 2017

A group of National Trust members is urging the charity to ban all hunting on its land.

All members will have the chance to vote on the proposal at the National Trust’s annual general meeting on 21 October.

Countryside Alliance head of hunting spokesman Polly Portwin said: “A handful of the National Trust’s four million members have put forward a proposal to ban trail-hunting, but there is no evidence to suggest hunts are regularly breaking the law while trail-hunting either on private land or that owned by the National Trust.

“Data from the Ministry of Justice shows that of the 423 people convicted for Hunting Act offences since the Act came into force more than 12 years ago up to the end of 2015, more than 94% did not involve registered hunts and were largely related to poaching and hare coursing offences.

“To ban legal hunting activities on the grounds of protecting flora and fauna is ludicrous and on that basis it would be no surprise to see a proposal to ban dog-walking and exercising horses across National Trust land next.”​

A National Trust spokesman confirmed the issue would be voted on at the meeting.

But he said that even if it were backed by a majority of members, it is unlikely a ban would come into effect immediately, so changes the charity is proposing for the licensing of hunts will apply from this season.

Licence changes

These include banning “animal-based scents” for trails, to “reduce the risk of foxes or other wild animals being accidentally chased”.

Terriermen would be banned as they have “no practical purpose at a trail hunt”, and the trust is proposing “more active management of hunts”, including reporting requirements after meets.

The charity will post meet days and locations online in advance, with contact details for each hunt, with the aim of “greater transparency”.

The trust’s statement reads: “We believe the overwhelming majority of hunts act responsibly, and we hope our clear, robust, and transparent set of conditions will allow participants to enjoy this activity in compatibility with our conservation aims.

“Any activity associated with the term ‘hunting’ continues to provoke strong emotions on both sides of the debate. We recognise our reforms will not satisfy everyone.

“Our charity’s core aim is to look after the places in our care and that remains our top priority when considering whether to license any outdoor activity.

“But our charity was also established for the nation’s benefit and to provide the widest spectrum of public access and enjoyment. We therefore always look to welcome people to our places and to host the broadest range of outdoor activities on our land.

“We believe this should include trail ‘hunting’, where it is consistent with our conservation aims and is legally pursued.”

CA chief executive Tim Bonner said these changes appear to have been made in “direct response to demands from the animal rights movement”.

“The changes will go down extremely badly with hunts, the majority of National Trust tenants who welcome them and the wider rural community,” Mr Bonner said.

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“Many of the hunts that operate on National Trust land have been targeted by animal rights activists in the past and will take the view that it will be too great a risk to staff and members to have their meets advertised. On the face of it this seems to be another example of the Trust distancing itself from the rural community to appease metropolitan sensibilities.”

The National Trust issued 79 licences to 67 hunting groups last season.