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
LACS has offered a rewardfor information directly leading to a conviction under the Hunting Act 2004 in England and Wales or the Protection of Wild Mammals Act 2002 (in Scotland).
LACS chief executive Joe Duckworth said; “Our work relies on good intelligence such as when and where illegal hunting is taking place.”
However a CA spokesman countered; “This smacks of increasing desperation from LACS, who are desperately trying to support their failing campaigns against hunting.
“Offering rewards of this kind could be seen as an incitement to further bullying and harassment of hunts as they go about their business, perfectly legally and within the Hunting Act.”
This news story was first published in H&H magazine on 18 September 2014
Autumn hunting is now well underway. If you’re looking to buy a hunter for this season but are struggling to navigate the hunters for sale on the market, take at look at our top tips, from the benefits of miles on the clock to not being swayed by flashy movers.
1. Many failed competition horses are re-sold as “hunters”. This is not always a good thing as the fault that ended their competitive career can sometimes reappear on the hunting field.
2. If you buy a horse at a sale and he was advertised as a “good hunter”, you would have legal redress if he acted up the first time he saw hounds.
3. If a horse is advertised as having hunted with a particular pack, ask hunt members if he is known to them.
4. Some horse dealers specialise in hunters and you could save yourself a lot of time and money by going to this type of yard to find your horse. The horse dealer will be able to assess the kind of horse you need, and he should be able to offer a selection for you to try.
5. Do not expect to be allowed a day’s hunting as a trial. Very few sellers, private or trade, will let a stranger take a horse out hunting because of the obvious risks to horse and rider.
6. The best way to buy a hunter is through recommendation. If a horse you like isn’t being openly advertised, it’s always worth asking the owner if they would be prepared to sell.
7. When you buy a hunter privately always get some sort of statement in writing or verbally in front of a witness. Ask clearly whether the horse has hunted, how often and with which pack. In case of problems later this can be presented in court and you would have a good case if there has been deliberate misrepresentation by the seller.
8. Do not expect a horse that has only hunted quietly with a slow pack to tackle Leicestershire hedges confidently on your first outing together.
9. Do not be swayed by flashy looks when you buy a hunter. The aim is to enjoy your sport and the best-looking hunters are not always the safest ones.
10. Unless you are an experienced rider, it is better to go for an older horse with some miles on the clock. It takes skill and knowledge to introduce a young horse to hounds and, if this is done badly, the repercussions will stay to haunt you.
Never been hunting, but would love to have a go? Take a look at our guide for beginners
Many of us would need a lot of encouragement — or failing that, a large whisky — before hunting a young horse. But there are plenty of people who insist that, approached in the right way, it can be very gratifying.
Of course experience is important and the rider needs the knowledge of both hunting and riding to make up for what is lacking underneath. A novice rider on a young horse can be a recipe for disaster.
People choose a variety of approaches, but they all agree that a gradual introduction is best. If you are not a morning person this will be tough, because there is no better start for a young horse than some gentle autumn hunting.
Early on in the season, it is all about the hounds and long periods of inactivity at the covert or beside a field of maize which will have a soothing effect on a young animal.
If they make the association between hounds and galloping full tilt in a herd early on, you are in trouble.
Take a look at our dos and don’ts to make the experience as pleasurable as possible.
Do
Take things slowly — start off gradually with autumn hunting
Be mindful of every situation and think ahead. If you anticipate potential problems, you will be prepared to deal with them without a fight
Have a nanny on a quiet horse or companion for the first few days to help you out if necessary
Wear a green ribbon and make sure other members of the field know to give you plenty of space
Face hounds at all times
When jumping, try to follow people who are guaranteed to leave the ground
Do plenty of schooling, jumping and socialising with other horses before you go out
Ring the master and ask if you can go on hound exercise
Don’t
Ever forget that you are on a young horse
Get among the hounds
Walk before you can run — volunteering to go on point or do a gate should be left until later on in the season
Get left behind or stay nervously at the back with a tight rein — let your horse go with the flow
Feed your young horse too much until he has settled — if possible, hunt him from the field
Get into a tricky situation — one hairy incident will stay in the horse’s (and other people’s) mind for ages
The Labour MP for Vauxhall said she was “sad” to be resigning.
“The organisation has achieved much in the past nine years, but I will always be most proud that having joined when hunting faced such uncertainty, I leave with new generations queuing up to join the hunting field,” she said.
Her successor is to be discussed at the next board meeting.
Deputy chairman Lord Mancroft added: “Kate’s contribution is immeasurable. Her determination stiffened us all for the fight and there is no way that hunting would have weathered the storm as successfully as it has if it had not been for her.”
This news story was first published in H&H magazine on 25 September 2014
There are plenty of things for us to moan about when the evenings draw in and the leaves turn — mucking out, mud and wet rugs spring to mind. But surely the joys of autumn hunting make it all worthwhile?
For a lot of people in their 90s, a lunchtime drinks party is a serious social engagement that requires the majority of their weekly energy reserves. But as Prince Philip turns 93 today, his schedule is as packed and energetic as ever. To celebrate his birthday we’ve dug deep into our archives to take a look back at his equestrian career — whether driving, playing polo or watching his grandaughter Zara Phillips in action at the London 2012 Olympic games.
Balancing top level competition with motherhood can’t be easy — just finding enough space in the lorry for all the baby and horsey clobber is a challenge in itself. To celebrate this year’s Mother’s Day (30 March 2014), we’ve found some great pictures of competing mums at home and in action across the disciplines.
To mark William Fox-Pitt taking the role as guest Editor for our eventing special issue of Horse & Hound magazine, we take a look back through the H&H picture archives at some of his most popular and influential equine partners during his career to date.
It’s that time of year again — when ‘taches sprout on the most unlikely of men and we have to put up with boyfriends, husbands, brothers and Dads waving goodbye to their razors for the 30-days of November, in the name of the charitable fundraiser Movember. The event aims to raise awareness and funds for men’s health, prompting conversations about often ignored issues — including prostate and testicular cancer.
Following the sad news that Little Tiger has been put down at the age of 18, Horse & Hound looks back through the archives at the diminutive mare’s impressive career.
An organic food company has received abuse on social media for appearing to support its local hunt.
Guy Watson, who owns Riverford Organic Farms, has been subject to criticism on Facebook and Twitter. His sister Louise is a joint-master of the South Devon.
The hunt is allowed to ride across her land but not the parts owned by Mr Watson or Riverford Organic Farms. His sister Louise’s business sponsored the South Devon Hunter Trial.
Customers took to social media to complain about the connection with some calling for a “boycott” on the business.
“My latest order will be my very last because I refuse to purchase something that will financial support a hunter,” said one client.
“Have just cancelled my regular orders and this is one very angry customer,” added another.
Mr Watson released a statement to try and explain the position.
“I do not hunt, never have,” Guy said.
“My family is made up of individuals who agree on most things and disagree on a few. My sister Louise, who I love dearly, rides and hunts. I don’t agree with her but I tolerate her position.
As a result of the statement some customers have rallied to the defense of the company.
“Get off your ‘high horses’ everyone and look at your own lives before condemning a respectable farmer,” said Wendy Woo.
“To hold you and Riverford accountable for the actions of others is bordering on the obsessive and scary,” Keili Lawrence added.
Popular eventing greyLenamore — who won Burghley at the age of 17— has now taken to the hunting field.
The New Zealand team stalwart, who is now 21, has been out autumn hunting with the Warwickshire and his owner Lexi Jackson.
“Everyone thought I was completely bonkers but he was actually very well behaved,” Lexi told H&H. “ I think it was probably ignorance. Everyone warned me —which I already knew — that he will probably be worse next time.”
Lexi is planning to take him out again this Saturday (11 September) and will then see what the ground conditions are like before deciding whether to do anymore with him this season.
“He really enjoyed himself,” Lexi said. “We even jumped a hunt jump. It would have been very embarrassing if he had stopped, but luckily he didn’t!”
The Seacrest gelding, bred by trainer Ted Walsh in Ireland, evented with Lexi up to three-star level before Caroline Powell took on the ride in 2004.
Caroline and “Ed” represented New Zealand at two Olympic Games — Hong Kong and London, winning team bronze at the latter — and the World Equestrian Games in Aachen, 2006. They also completed Badminton seven times in a row, finishing in the top 12 five times.
“He doesn’t feel any different,” Lexi added. “He loves being out and about.”
Autumn hunting is the busiest time of year for masters, staff, hounds and horses, who surface for a gasp of air just before the opening meet. I have, however, found time recently to watch a re-run of a fascinating BBC documentary from the Human Planet series.
It featured a mounted fox hunt with golden eagles in the most stunning countryside. It was not a scene from a hunt in the English Elysian Fields, employing the most obscure of the exemptions available within the Hunting Act 2004 — flushing to a bird of prey — but a young Kazakh, hunting in the jaw-dropping Altai mountains ranges, where they split to reveal a bleak plateau on the border of Kazakhstan and Mongolia.
The fox hardly posed a threat to the local ecology or farming practices, however its pursuit and inevitable demise had several purposes: to provide fur for clothing (although other materials are readily available) and the rite of passage for a Kazakh hunter.
The young hunter clearly took pride in his bird and enjoyed the battle of nature as he galloped down the perilous mountain-side and across the boulder strewn moonscape, holloaing to encourage his eagle.
The fox’s death was hardly glorious. In the end it had to be finished off by the handler and was therefore far longer than any swift demise by a foxhound.
A few years ago there was much mention of hunting being protected by the European Court of Human Rights as a traditional, national activity — similar to the Spanish defence of bull-fighting.
This defence came to nought, but it did highlight an important principle.
It would be naïve to suggest that the moral consensus doesn’t shift slightly between the Altai Mountains and SW1A, but the viewers are not invited to pass judgement on the young Kazakh.
Swap him for a young huntsman in the Home Counties and the chorus of disapproval would be deafening, albeit from a vocal, yet powerful minority.
Surely the rights of farmers and country people to manage and enjoy their environment responsibly and without ill-considered, prejudiced interference, should be respected.
Edging closer to repeal
Defections, exposures (literally), resignations and rumours — who would want to be a party leader?
Fortunately, the Prime Minister did have one victory to celebrate recently, even if he did have to share it with Messers Miliband, Clegg and Brown.
To promote a positive “No” campaign north of the border was never going to be easy — at times David Cameron has a tendency to apply a liberal dash of complacency to important matters — but the Tory Party’s post-Scottish Referendum strategy is arguably more coherent than any of the previous month’s stumbling.
In wrong-footing a slightly embarrassed Ed Miliband into refusing to accept “English Votes for English Laws” — and thereby protecting Labour’s unrepresentative power in Westminster over English legislation — Mr Cameron wins hands down.
In a deft manoeuvre, the Prime Minister should also snuff out the fire in Nigel Farage’s nationalist rhetoric with these reform proposals.
We are being encouraged to respect those tempted to cast their vote for the intellectually adolescent, policy-light UKIP (oops). The party’s new recruits will add to their weaponry and may even destabilise their leader, but they have yet to offer the countryside a decent set of policies.
The package of reforms to the Union outlined by Cameron will make repeal of the Hunting Act 2004 (England and Wales) increasingly possible without the army of Scottish Labour MPs instinctively voting against hunting.
A handful of “experts” and prophets of doom will always find a good reason why this can’t happen, but it is surely much closer.
The Prime Minister has set William Hague the task of recasting the Union by the General Election in May, a task which, despite his considerable talent, he is duty bound to fail. However its primary proposals should also provide a brilliant blue-print for resolving the scandalous voting imbalance in Westminster.
In passing, this will hopefully sound the death knell on the Hunting Act 2004 for England and Wales.
This comment was originally published in Horse & Hound magazine on Thursday 9 October, 2014
Hunts from Dartmoor to Berwickshire are welcoming new faces during the Countryside Alliance’s (CA) annual Hunting Newcomers’ Week
The week, designed to encourage riders to try hunting kicks off on Saturday (18 October) and finishes the following week (25 October).
There are meets tailored to introducing new people to the trail-hunting field, practice jumping sessions, BBQs and tours of hunt kennels planned.
CA’s Newcomers’ Week organiser Henrietta Rutgers said she’s had “a huge number” of enquiries from people wanting to get more information about their local packs.
“Despite the ban hunting is as popular as ever and people are keen to show their solidarity with their local hunts,” she said.
Meets are taking place all over the country and include:
North – Dumfriesshire & Sewartry West – South Pembrokeshire East – Thurlow South – Dartmoor
Three members of the College Valley and North Northumberland were found guilty of one charge under the 2004 Hunting Act yesterday (14 October).
Joint-masters Ian McKie and Timothy Smalley and kennel huntsman Andrew Proe all appeared at Berwick Magistrates Court in connection with an incident on 27 February.
The three had been secretly filmed by League Against Cruel Sports investigators during a meet of the College Valley and North Northumberland in and around West Kyloe Farm near Lowick.
District Judge Bernard Begley concluded that they had intentionally hunted a fox by encouraging hounds to chase it.
The defendants had argued they were following a legal scent trail of fox urine laid that morning and the foxes were disturbed unintentionally.
McKie was fined £1,150 and must pay a £115 victim surcharge and £385 court costs. Smalley’s fine was £2,075 with a victim surcharge of £120 and £385 court costs.
Proe must pay a £480 fine with a £48 victim surcharge and £385 costs. A fourth member was acquitted.
Tim Bonner, director of campaigns at the Countryside Alliance, said: “We are surprised by this judgement and will support the individuals from the College Valley in whatever further action they may decide to take.
“We believe that the hunt was operating openly and that no attempt was made to break the Hunting Act.”
