The leaves are turning, the nights are drawing in, the temperatures are dropping — and we couldn’t be happier. Autumnal colds and muddy gateways mean only one thing… opening meets are just around the corner.
Autumn hunting does a job, but we’re counting down the days for the real McCoy. And if you weren’t excited enough already, we’ve dug out nine photos of followers and hunt staff on flying form with breathtaking scenery thrown into the mix, that we can (almost) guarantee will give you the pre-season buzz…
1. The Fernie
A poster-worthy picture: the field during one of the last draws of the Fernie’s meet at Laughton near Market Harborough, Leicestershire.
2. The Dulverton West Foxhounds
Menacing skies: the Dulverton West meet at Molland, Exmoor in Devon.
3. The Quorn
What a sight: side saddle followers raise the glamour-stakes at the Quorn’s opening meet in 2012 at Kirby Bellars.
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4. The Cottesmore
Perfect timing: Nicholas Leeming, Phoebe Buckley and Eddie Ahern out with the Cottesmore, hunting between Burrough-on-the-Hill and Owston.
5. The Belvoir
Making light work of it: the Belvoir meet at Sheepwash, near Harby.
6. The Staff College and RMA Sandhurst Drag Hunt
Octavia Pollock flies over this fence in style, out with The Staff College and RMA Sandhurst Drag Hunt in Hampshire.
7. The Fernie
Pausing for the view: the Fernie’s meet at Laughton near Market Harborough, Leicestershire.
8. The Portman
‘Let’s go!': this combination are on flying form out with the Portman.
9. The Fernie
Rowan Cope, Master of the Pytchley, during the Fernie’s meet at Laughton near Market Harborough, Leicestershire.
Hunting mad? Don’t miss our special hunting issue of Horse & Hound magazine, which hits the newsstands on 22 October and is packed with cracking hunting ponies and the essential hunting directory