The Belvoir foxhounds at kennels after exercise / James Barclay photo
With the new season just about upon us, I thought I would have a look back over the last few months and see how we have been fairing. For the first time in some years now we can honestly say we have had something like a proper summer! Having said that however, the last two days have been nothing but torrential rain, which will have put the final week or two of harvest back somewhat. In June and July we bathed in endless days of sunshine which in many ways did much to pick up the gloom from previous years.
The hound shows began and some interesting results started to appear with the usual names not having it all their own way. This clearly demonstrates that the smaller packs over here now have an increasing amount of quality running through their kennels, which is not only a real pleasure to see for many, but it shows that the interest in breeding nice hounds is now not just with a few of the larger packs. For those who have produced hounds to a high standard for very many years, it must give them huge pleasure to see the others doing so well. After all, it will very likely be their lines that many of those winning today will go back too. Those in the past who have not only bred good hounds in their work but also to the conformation of body with which to last, deserve a great deal of gratitude. On a cautionary note however it would be wise that as Masterships are likely to change all too regularly nowadays, to have someone who can oversee the hounds, their welfare, and their breeding on a regular basis is a must.
Sadly, life being what it is, and with everything going along well as it was, something had to go wrong and sure enough it was not long before the dreaded kennel cough swept through large parts of the country, with some packs suffering badly.
As a result the pure English classes at Peterborough were cancelled, and any foxhound packs that had shown at Great Yorkshire were prohibited from showing. This was indeed a serious blow and something we could well have done without. However, Peterborough was still attended by a very large crowd which only goes to show the sheer resilience of hunting people! It is also most interesting and encouraging to note that many of those whose lives revolve around modern technology at work and at home, seem to still find time for an interest in our traditional sporting activities, something that is deeply rewarding to see in whichever country we live.
Once everything settled down and we were free from the infectious stage, I set about a wonderful tour of summer hound exercise visits which you will see recorded here in photographic form. When the cough had gone, it did not seem long before the packs which had suffered were back on form and were positively bouncing. However, I think the wise words of well-known professional huntsman Paul Larby from the Grove and Rufford are well worth taking note. “We won’t really know what real damage has been done until we put them under a certain amount of pressure. Three hours or so hard work in the September sunshine or a six-mile point in November could just be the time for keeping an eye on them”.
So as we progress toward those glorious days of autumn, with the mist rising up from the valley below, with the cry of hounds and the sound of the horn, let us leave the difficulties we have experienced behind us. For every moment spent behind a sharp pack of hounds on a good horse is a moment to relish, and one never to forget. On that note, may I wish you all a very happy, trouble free, and successful season ahead.
Posted September 1, 2013
James Barclay, our friend and correspondent in England, has launched a website there titled “For the Love of Hunting England” in which he promises “Articles of Interest to the Hunting World.” Foxhunting LIfe commends its readers to James’ new website, which we can promise will be authoritative, articulate, entertaining, and instructive. We wish James success and enjoyment in his venture, and look forward to cooperating mutually in every way possible.
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