The Lycett’s Festival of Hunting in July has been cancelled owing to the coronavirus pandemic.

The event, which incorporates the Peterborough Hound Show, attracts thousands of visitors and was due to be held on 22 July at the East of England Showground.

“Although this is an important day in the calendar for hunts and thousands of hunt supporters, as well as the Countryside Alliance (CA), the hunting community is united with the rest of the population in respecting the government’s wishes, to stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives, so realises that has to take priority,” said the CA’s head of hunting, Polly Portwin.

“These are clearly disappointing times for the organisers and the trade stand holders as well as those who were due to show their hounds, but we look forward to enjoying all of these events again in the future once the pandemic is under control.

“Those involved in hunting are, however, showing typical resilience in these difficult times by embracing the community spirit and turning their attention to helping out in their own local communities by supporting local businesses, helping farmers and offering assistance to those who are vulnerable or self-isolating.”

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Alison Queenborough, secretary of the Peterborough Royal Foxhound Show Society, said the group is advising its members, sponsors, trade stand exhibitors, advertisers and contractors, thanking everyone who supports the annual event.

“Since 1878, the Peterborough Royal Foxhound Show has been cherished as the annual showcase for the world of hunting and has only ever stopped during wartime,” she said.

“This time it’s a global pandemic which is placing huge demands on our public health service.

“While ‘Peterborough’ exemplifies the history and tradition of hounds, celebrates rural life and is a great social gathering, we do not wish to place unnecessary burden on our public services which must be focused on the nation’s health and well-being.”

Other major hound shows that have also cancelled this year include the South of England Show (11 to 13 June) and the Great Yorkshire Show (14 to16 July).

Life in one of Britain’s most sparsely populated counties is always an exercise in social isolation, but Tessa Waugh comes to terms with the ongoing effects of the global health crisis

What a difference a week can make. This time two weeks ago, coronavirus was still something happening out there in the wider world. Watching our neighbours in Italy and Spain, it was clear that big changes were imminent at home too, but life was carrying on as normal. Now, everything has been cancelled, and we are trying our best to stay at home.

“Life as normal for you lot,” quipped one of the builders, who are still working away on the house next door. And of course, he has a point. Living on a farm, in one of Britain’s most sparsely populated counties, we are better off than most when it comes to space away from other human beings. But we will all be affected by this in one way or another and no one knows how long it will continue.

The hunting person’s guide to occupying yourself for a whole day during the current Covid-19 pandemic…

1. Get up bright and early, feeling surprisingly chirpy. The lack of socialising means your alcohol consumption is at an all-time low and hangovers are a distant memory. Visit the hunters, who are on holiday, and check that they and their rugs are still in one piece. They eye you warily in case you had any thoughts of catching them.

2. “Work from home” for a few hours, which mostly consists of Facebooking and working out how to join the virtual “meet” that your hunting friends have organised on Houseparty.

3. Start fencing the outdoor run that the hound puppies you rashly agreed to have will occupy. Within five minutes you bang your thumb with a hammer and decide that the huntsman can do it when he gets here with the puppies, which, given the current movement restrictions, won’t be any time soon, so there’s no rush.

4. Feeling wonderfully efficient, you have a close look at your hunting clothes to check they are in good repair. How often, at the end of a hunting season, have you put your coat away in a cupboard and forgotten about it until the autumn, and been guiltily horrified that it still has traces of last winter’s mud on it? Clearly there’s no excuse for that this year. You brush and sponge your coats, leave your clean hunting boots with a layer of polish on, iron and put away stocks. For the first time in years, you take your spur straps out of your spurs, clean and polish both metal and leather, and store somewhere where you will never find them again, and do the same to the garter straps on your boots. You make sure your hunting whip is properly cleaned, even scrubbing the lash until it looks like new. You examine your gloves for holes, find some and sew them up. You steam the velvet of your hunting hat, and try to wipe away years of sweat from the inside. Yuck.

5. On a roll now, you do the same to your tack, taking it apart, carefully cleaning and conditioning it and checking stitching. You put a pile ready, all labeled, for the menders, and vow to take it to them as soon as the current restrictions are relaxed.

6. Having done all that, you feel very virtuous and reward yourself by drinking the dregs from the bottom of any hipflasks to clear them out. And that quarter-bottle of rhubarb gin in the cupboard — plenty of time to buy some/make some more before we get going next season, after all.

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7. As that warm, slightly fuzzy feeling sets in, you decide to watch that copy of The Belstone Fox you bought ages ago and haven’t got round to viewing. It makes you cry, copiously, and you compound the problem by watching Tarka The Otter as well, having pressed pause to raid the freezer for that tray of sausage rolls you didn’t need when the hounds met at yours in the winter. You defrost them in the microwave them and eat the lot before drunk-dialling your favourite MFH to tell him (again) what a brilliant job he does, how much you loved your season and how you can’t wait for autumn hunting to start. Tomorrow, with a hangover, before hoovering up the sausage roll crumbs, you will need to ring and apologise.

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The hunting community is helping others during this challenging period, while also raising vital hunt funds

The Pembrokeshire hunt’s efforts to fundraise for new kennels are an example of how hunting is using online platforms during movement restrictions owing to the Covid-19 crisis.

John Manners-Bell, chairman of the Pembrokeshire hunt supporters’ club, told H&H planning permission had recently been granted for a new kennels site, just north of Haverfordwest.

“The hunt kennels have been in the same location for a century, and we’ve been aware for some time the lease was coming up and we would have to move,” he said.

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Hunts have come to the rescue of a London-based equestrian charity badly affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

The hunting community has provided transport and free livery for horses and ponies owned by Vauxhall City Farm, and used for Riding for the Disabled Association clients.

On learning that the farm had to move its animals out of London and pay for livery during the crisis, the Countryside Alliance offered to see if there was a way it could help.

“Hunt supporters and members of hunt staff have been incredibly generous,” said Alliance head of hunting Polly Portwin. “By reaching out through our networks, we have managed to secure free grazing for five of their horses and ponies at the home of a supporter of the Hursley Hambledon Hunt.

“We are aware that all of us are going to be affected in one way or another by Covid-19, so we are particularly grateful to all of those people who kindly responded after we reached out. One of the many strengths of the hunting community is that it pulls together to support those who need it the most during times of crisis.”

All seven of the farm’s ponies had been on livery, but there was enough grazing for its two Shetlands in London. Bill Bishop, Crawley and Horsham huntsman, transported the two ponies back to Vauxhall, where the charity’s staff are caring for them.

The Alliance has arranged for the other five to be transported back to London when the time comes.

Vauxhall City Farm chief executive Monica Tyler said: “I would like to thank the Countryside Alliance and the hunting community for their generosity in helping us to transport the horses to their new residence for the foreseeable future.

“This type of support means a lot to us and we are very grateful you were able to help us in this way.

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“The impact of Covid-19 has had a devastating effect on Vauxhall City Farm. This past year we have reached out to over 300,000 people in the community, through our riding lessons for the disabled, mobile farms, visitors to the farm, education and training workshops.  We are a real favourite place to visit for children and families in our locality.

“Virtually overnight we saw our 80% of our income and visitor streams grind to a halt. We have launched an emergency appeal so we can be here for the community as an oasis, of calm and support for those we serve when this crisis is over.”

Hunts have been getting on board with lockdown challenges for some light relief in these unprecedented times.

The loo roll challenge is one of those that has taken off, with hunts, Pony Club branches and young farmers joining in the game to bring a smile to people’s faces while in quarantine.

Video clips of people catching and throwing the loo roll are edited together, making light of toilet paper panic-buying, and showing a snippet of what each person is up to in isolation.

Hunt staff and masters worked together — while apart — to create a loo roll challenge highlighting what happens in the off-season.

“We thought it might be a great way to get people together for a bit of fun while showing how hunts are still busy looking after their hounds during these uncertain times,” said organiser Harry Beeby, joint-master of the South Durham.

Featured packs included the Tynedale, South Durham, Zetland, Thurlow and Bicester with Whaddon Chase, while many have also done their own versions, including the Cottesmore, Worcestershire, Ludlow and South Tettcott. The Belvoir has done a TikTok dance to Blinding Lights.

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Polly Portwin, head of hunting at the Countryside Alliance, added: “While many people are self-isolating at home, the priority for the hunt staff and all those working with livestock is to ensure the very highest standards in animal welfare are maintained while working within the government guidelines regarding social distancing and biosecurity measures.

“These videos show the incredible bond the huntsmen have with their hounds and it’s a credit to them all. Please stay safe all!”

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All hunting has sadly come to an abrupt end due to the Covid-19 virus. My children, the Frampettes, are elated by the lack of school but savage about having to cancel their long-awaited hunting trip to Dorset.

What a dismal end to the wettest season I can ever remember. Despite these conditions, our farmers have been amazing with their generosity and support throughout.

Happy shopper

Our hunt, like many, has created teams within our community to support those in need. The hunt country has been divided into areas, and people assigned to coordinate the help that has been offered.

Hosing, dunking, brushing when wet, letting it dry, hovering or dry-cleaning? Horse & Hound’s hunting editor investigates the most effective ways of cleaning your hunting coat

The hunting season is behind us and it was a good one — but if it had had a theme tune, it would have been “mud, mud, glorious mud”. While there is nothing indeed like it for cooling the blood, the endless cleaning of horses and kit does become a bit tedious.

Now it’s time to store those hunting boots (clean, and with a good layer of polish) and hang the hunting coat in the wardrobe.

But before you do, what really is the best way to clean your hunting coat?

To wash or not to wash?

It’s a question hunting people can argue about for hours. Do you brush it when it is wet or dry? Some recommend dunking it in a butt of rainwater and scrubbing while wet. Rainwater is softer than the stuff that comes out of the tap, and does less damage to the cloth.

“I put mine in the water trough and leave overnight, heave it out, hang it in a stable and leave to dry,” says Ledbury joint-master Louise Daly.

Cottesmore hunt secretary Clare Bell says: “If I have been unlucky enough to fall off, I hose it down in the wash box, then hang above the log burner to dry.”

“Hang it outside on the garden gate and wet scrub it with not too hard a brush and warm water,” says the Heythrop’s Jane Lambert.

If, like me, you live in a flat and the facilities are limited, it might be easier to leave it to dry. I then pick the biggest lumps of mud off with my finger nails, brush the rest with a stiff brush, then sponge the remaining stains. And maybe have a little cry because it is such an annoying job and it gives me arm ache.

Former H&H editor Lucy Higginson says: “I have settled on a blunt knife to remove dried mud blobs first. Then a nailbrush with warm water, blotted up by an old tea towel.”

Choosing the right brush to clean a hunting coat

What sort of a brush you use will slightly depend on the type of cloth the coat is made of — modern, lighter-weight coats won’t take being scrubbed very hard with a stiff brush very well. A clean dandy brush might be gentler.

Dressage and showing star Louise Bell says: “Use a good quality dandy brush — elbow grease and a wet brush to finish, then leave to dry somewhere airy but not too hot to avoid shrinking.”

It’s not just mud you need to remove, it’s also horse sweat, particularly round the cuffs.

“The only way to remove it is a stiff brush with very hot water,” says the Ledbury’s Tom Leeke. “Once a season I use a steam cleaner — it brings up the nap beautifully.”

What about dry-cleaning?

Most serious hunting people would throw their hands up in horror, claiming it ruins the cloth and removes its waterproofing qualities. I don’t recommend it for proper, thick, black/blue/red coats, but I think you can get away with it every now and then with a tweed coat.

Journalist Camilla Swift points out: “Don’t dry-clean, but if you must, make sure to cover up your hunt buttons with foil or plastic bags, as the white will come off the lettering and you will have to get the Tippex pen out!”

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Can a hoover clean a hunting coat?

Hoovering seems to be popular.

Becky Blandford says: “I use a suede brush to get the mud off, than use my hand-held hoover all over it. Then I put it on just before I leave to go hunting and my groom gives me another hoover.”

Apparently the upholstery attachment works best…

The Cotley’s Lucinda Eames is another hovering fan.

“Let it dry, brush and then finally hoover,” she recommends.

And what about a washing machine?

You would have thought a washing machine would be a total no-no. But Fiona Garfield, who hunts in Herefordshire, says: “At the end of the season I put it in the washing machine with wool-wash liquid on a cold cycle. It comes out like new; it hasn’t shrunk and is still waterproof.”

I admit that once, after emerging from a bog in Ireland covered from head to toe in liquid mud and knowing that I had to be clean and ready to go again the following day, the mother of the friend I was staying with hosed my coat and then put it in the tumble-dryer. It worked perfectly, but I’m sure if I did it myself it would shrink.

But really, having “staff” is surely the answer. Hand it over in its natural state, and expect it back, immaculate, before you next need it.

“I suggest you interview my valet,” says former Cottesmore joint-master Richard Hunnisett.

That’s more like it.

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What makes a 48-year-old decide that the one thing he really must do in life is hunt a pack of hounds?

On the face of it, it looks like lunacy. After all, it wasn’t as though Richard Gurney’s life had lacked interest and challenges – far from it. He had worked in high-goal polo, attempted to ride in the Grand National (and nearly pulled it off), run successful businesses, raised huge amounts of money for charity and written and produced a pop song. And, as an MFH of the Old Surrey Burstow and West Kent for a decade, he couldn’t plead ignorance – he knew just how hard it would be.

While her own restrictions pale in comparison to others’ hardships, Tessa Waugh rues the days she cut the postman’s banter short as she yearns for just 10 minutes of idle chatter

We’re all slowly adapting to “the new normal” as people keep calling it. Our horizons have shrunk to a pin prick (the immediate precincts of the farm) and hanging with the family is what we do ad infinitum: a bit like a domestic version of Groundhog Day, with one day looking very much like the other. It will change all of us this time (I try not think about how long it will go on), and two weeks in, I’m already noticing differences.

Neil the postman, or more accurately my reaction to Neil the postman, is the first big change. He’s a lovely guy, the type who will do anything for anyone, but pre-coronavirus I didn’t always welcome his friendly chat. I hope I wasn’t rude, but the truth is I probably was.

We all need some light relief from the Covid-19 lockdown, so we invite you to choose your fantasy equestrian lockdown house… which would be your preferred quarantine scenario?

For the purposes of the game, it’s perfectly safe to ride — we know you won’t fall off or hurt yourself, and of course you get to take your own horse along in any of these scenarios. You might even be able to persuade your famous housemates to give you lessons…

House 1

Equestrian facility: a cross-country course, with fences at every level from 70cm up to five-star

Your evening entertainment: you and your housemates take it in turns to read to each other from instructional dressage books

Your famous housemates: Richard Davison (dressage), Simon Reynolds (showing), John Whitaker (showjumping), William Fox-Pitt (eventing), Matt Ramsden (Beaufort master and huntsman)

Your wild card: unlimited wine in a colour of your choice

House 2

Equestrian facility: an indoor school, complete with music on request so you can practise your freestyle or accustom your show horse to the atmosphere for gala evening performances

Your evening entertainment: watching DVDs of Badminton and Burghley from a complete archive set

Your famous housemates: Tiffany Foster (showjumping), Robert McCarthy (Percy huntsman), Mary King (eventing), Anna Ross (dressage), Rob Walker (showing)

Your wild card: you get to play with hound puppies

House 3

Equestrian facility: a smart all-weather outdoor arena, with mirrors for perfecting your position, and white dressage boards and flowers on request

Your evening entertainment: watching DVDs of Olympia showjumping, from a complete archive set

Your famous housemates: Jonelle Price (eventing), Charlotte Dujardin (dressage), Vicky Smith (showing), Nick Skelton (showjumping), Henry Bailey (Ludlow master and huntsman)

Your wild card: swimming pool, with hot tub

House 4

Equestrian facility: grass ring, with perfect going, big enough for a grand prix showjumping course — with the jumps, of course

Your evening entertainment: the complete Jilly Cooper back catalogue is available for you to read

Your famous housemates: Geoff Billington (showjumping), Charles Frampton (Heythrop master and huntsman), Piggy French (eventing), Jayne Ross (showing), Edward Gal (dressage)

Your wild card: a dressage grand prix schoolmaster, on whom you can try out your aids for piaffe and one-time changes

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House 5

Equestrian facility: you can go hunting three times a week (with two horses each day, naturally)

Your evening entertainment: watching DVDs of Horse of the Year Show showing, from a complete archive set

Your famous housemates: Sharn Linney (showing), Mark Todd (eventing), Carl Hester (dressage), Cian O’Connor (showjumping), Chris Woodward (Wynnstay huntsman)

Your wild card: fully equipped (human) gym

House 6

Equestrian facility: beautiful hacking over miles of unspoilt countryside, with great fields for galloping

Your evening entertainment: complete back catalogue of old Horse & Hound magazines to read

Your famous housemates: Blyth Tait (eventing), Laura Graves (dressage), Daniel Cherriman (Pytchley huntsman), Scott Brash (showjumping), Katy Carter (showing)

Your wild card: you can bring your own dog

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Tom Gurney on swapping rugby for beagling, skipping lessons to get to the kennels and what he’s learnt from being immersed in the rural community

On my first morning at Stowe, aged 13, I woke up and missed my first lesson because I went straight down to see the beagles at the kennels. When I’d arrived with my father the night before, I saw the hounds being exercised in the Grecian Valley in the school’s grounds, with the sun going down on them, and I wanted to find out what it was all about.

My father Richard Gurney has been the master of the Old Surrey Burstow and West Kent for 12 seasons, and he was field master for two years before that, and so I’ve hunted my whole life.

How much does it cost to run a hunt? Frank Houghton Brown discovers how much it varies from pack to pack and how funds are generated

Each individual hunt has its own specific and unique infrastructure that has evolved over time to suit the hunt. The requirements of a large four-day-a-week foxhound pack are totally different to those of a two-day-a-week foot pack.

The former might have horse power for two, or even three, members of staff, with two horses each per hunting day, and the stable staff and transport to service that need, a fallen stock collection round with a knacker truck, a fully equipped fencing repair service and a kennelman to help with hounds in kennels. A foot pack that hunts two days a week may just require one employee and a vehicle.

The farming season is at full tilt with youngstock arriving, as Tessa Waugh enjoys a morning herding renegade calves and channelling her inner rejoneadora

When we first moved here, I can remember telling a farming friend from Wiltshire about our new home. “It sometimes feels as if the world is happening elsewhere,” I said.

“That’s probably true of farming everywhere,” he told me.

And never more than now. With all hell letting loose around the world, it’s business as usual here on the farm. Calving has nearly finished and lambing is imminent. Everyone in sheep farming goes into lockdown at this time of year anyway, barely leaving home apart from the odd trip out to buy supplies.

While the housebound schoolchildren develop new enthusiasm for their ponies, Tessa Waugh finds herself thrilled and chastened by her weekly escape to the supermarket

One of the things that has irked me over the years is that the ponies don’t get used enough. With Alec and Mary away at school and Jack not really bothered either way, they take on field ornament status during the term time. When Alec and Mary come home, they’re never very enthusiastic about riding around the farm. It’s all changed now, trapped at home without all the other distractions life can bring; Alec and Mary have been building and jumping fences, having races, riding around the fields daily. It’s a joy to see.

I suppose we’ve all adjusted in some way or another. Finding pleasure in new things. Previously I would rather poke my own eyes out than spend an hour pushing a trolley around a supermarket. Since the lockdown, it’s my new favourite thing. It’s wonderful to get out, see some different faces, even the drive there is a joy. Spring is moving on apace and the trees and hedgerows are full of catkins and blossom.

Even home-schooling her six-year-old is a breeze compared to helping with the sheep, finds Tessa Waugh, after a chaotic morning inadvertently disconnecting lambs from their rightful mothers

The lambs have come earlier than expected this year. Somehow the due date got lost in translation and when Matthew, who works here, was doing his rounds of the fields on Saturday there were loads appearing, five days before the official kick-off. It’s not a problem this time though; the sun is shining and when the weather’s this good, lambing outside is a breeze.

Still, sheep are sheep and there are always a few that need help.

From peace rallies to being wedged in a tree, Countess Goess-Saurau has learnt that an MFH’s life is certainly varied, as she tells Tessa Waugh in this exclusive interview

Three years into her second stint as master of the VWH, Countess (Susie) Goess-Saurau is one of the country’s senior masters of foxhounds. “Are you writing about old dinosaurs?” she laughs when I ring her.

An elegant blonde in pastels and a big hat, Susie draws the eye at gatherings of the tribe throughout the summer. She looks like a Hitchcock heroine, but in person she is fun, chatty and down-to-earth. As the daughter of non-horsey parents, horses didn’t come to her, she explains.

“I spotted a pony, aged two, and screamed until I was put on it. My parents allowed me to have riding lessons and I became known as ‘the professor’ because all of my knowledge came from the Pony Club manual.”

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Horse & Hound does not support any activity that isn’t in line with the current government guidelines, nor buying horses unseen. If the current guidelines for your country allow viewings to take place, please ensure they are conducted in accordance with the latest social distancing rules.

If you’re in search of a horse to cross the country with in style, take a look at this selection of hunters for sale on the Horse & Hound website this week.

1. ‘A genuine star’

Height: 14.2hh

Gender: gelding

Age: five

Selling points: “‘Charming’ has hunted all season with Killarney Foxhounds.  He is a real genuine and quiet gelding, easy to ride, shoe, box, catch, clip and in traffic. Charming is easy to hack out alone or in company — he is quiet in traffic and he knows all kind of farm machinery and animals. He is a one in a million — he is ridden here by novice students in a snaffle at all times and he is easy to ride across country. Charming is a super cob — he loves jumping, hacking, flat work, cross-country — he is a true all-rounder! He is easy to ride and one to have fun with. He is very comfortable and has three nice paces with a soft snaffle mouth.  He has no stable vices and is open to any vetting.”

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2. ‘Beautiful’

Height: 16hh

Gender: gelding

Age: 10

Selling points: “This beautiful unregistered Irish Draught was bought by us as two years ago. ‘Teddy’ has been regularly hunted and competed. He has hunted for two seasons with the Wilton Hunt as well as doing days with the Portman. He has had experience mastering with the Seavington Hunt in his previous home. He is bold to a fence, jumping timber, hedges and ditches with ease, and stands while out and at the meet. He has also successfully competed in hunter trials and inter-hunt relays, helping the team finish second at the New Forest County Show, proving to be an all-rounder. However hunting is what he enjoys the most so a hunting home is necessary. He is great to load, catch and shoe and hacks alone and in company, first or last. He can be strong so is not a novice ride. He can be sensitive when mounting, but this has improved since we’ve owned him.”

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3. ‘Stunning’

Height: 15.3hh

Gender: mare

Age: seven

Selling points: “This horse is great out hunting. She also point-to-pointed in the 2018/19 season. She has great potential as an eventer and Retraining of Racehorse (RoR) competitions. She schools well over cross-country fences and showjumps, and has lovely paces on the flat. She is ready to start doing more and head out to competitions.”

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4. ‘Loves hunting’

Height: 14hh

Gender: gelding

Age: 12

Selling points: “Lunesdale Wardance has been in the same home since he was a foal. He was supreme Mountain & Moorland working hunter pony at the BSPS Championships in 2018. He also went to HOYS in 2016. He has never been lame and he is not snaffle mouthed. He loves hunting.”

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5. ‘Super smart’

Height: 16hh

Gender: gelding

Age: 12

Selling points: “This horse previously competed to British Eventing novice level but he sadly doesn’t enjoy the work as he used too. I hunted him a handful of times over this season and he was brilliant. Unfortunately he hasn’t been my sole focus so wasn’t overly fit. He went out on the closing day meet with the Essex and Suffolk, jumping all hedges in front of him with ease. He’s snaffle-mouthed but can throw a buck. He is a total gentleman on the ground, and is happy to ride and lead from. He is looking for a competent jockey to go and have a ball with!”

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By Frances McKim and Catherine Austen

What do you do when coronavirus movement restrictions prevent you from handing over a large cheque in person? You enlist the help of an eight-week-old litter of hound puppies, of course.

Subscribers of the Quorn hunt had planned in March to present the cheque, for £1,200, to representatives of the Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulance, but the plan was scuppered by Covid-19.

Undeterred, joint hunt secretary Nicola Housley hatched an alternative plan, to commission the puppies for the job. With the cheque written out, the Quorn’s huntsman, Ollie Finnegan, who lives at the kennels, had the task of helping Nicola, and persuading the pups to pose.

“This was no easy task,” said Nicola.

“Anyone who has had anything to do with puppies is well aware of their sense of adventure. The pups certainly thought this was all good fun and had other ideas of exploring the vicinity, rather than sitting around looking sweet.

“After several attempts we managed to persuade enough of them to surround the cheque, rather than sitting on it or simply running over it.”

Continues below…

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The money was raised by members of the Quorn tumblers’ club. Anyone who fell off, without being hurt, during the 2019/20 season had to put £5 in the pot, and the total was topped up by a fundraising game held at a dinner on 7 March in Melton Mowbray.

The winner of the dubious Tumblers’ award, a cut-glass whisky tumbler, was Ross Bentley from East Leake, who is recorded to have dismounted involuntarily four times out hunting on a Quorn Monday.

In a letter of thanks for the donation, the Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulance said: “On average our crew attend five rescue missions per day and we do not receive any government funding. This means that without the support of people like you, we simply could not do the life-saving work that we do. We are lifted into the air by your generosity.”

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The finger is pointed at Tessa Waugh’s horse, as all the others in the holidaying herd pick up mysterious little injuries – while renovating the kennel huntsman’s cottage gives succour in troubled times

The horses are out on the hill for their annual summer holiday; their rugs are off, their summer coats are through and they are enjoying some downtime. Adam and I walked out to see them one evening enjoying the pleasant tableau they made; four geldings standing around like a group of old boys in a pub. It seemed idyllic.

We can see a good portion of the hill from the kitchen window, but neither of us were alarmed when we couldn’t see the horses the following morning.

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Life in one of Britain’s most sparsely populated counties is always an exercise in social isolation, but Tessa Waugh comes