Sitting in the shadow of the spectacular Belvoir Castle are the impressive Belvoir kennels. Frank Houghton Brown pays the hunt a visit to find out what life is like behind the scenes
Read the full feature about the Belvoir kennels in this week’s Horse & Hound magazine (2 February 2017)
This is an image
1
of
14
John Holliday, huntsman at the Belvoir, walks the hounds with the castle in the background
Belvoir Hunt kennels 21.12.17
John Holliday ( H/Man ) walking hounds on the Belvoir estate
This is an image
2
of
14
The location of the Belvoir kennels is enviable, with no busy road to put up with, just a long private drive into the park
This is an image
3
of
14
John has worked to improve the layout of the kennels during his eight seasons with the Belvoir
This is an image
4
of
14
‘We hunt five or six mornings a week in the autumn and then three days a week after the opening meet,’ says John
This is an image
5
of
14
This is a privately owned pack where the hounds are still the property of the Duke of Rutland and marked with an ‘R’ in their ears accordingly
This is an image
6
of
14
The kennels are huge, but in John’s opinion, ‘It’s a myth that small kennels are easier to manage. Hounds need space’
This is an image
7
of
14
Grubs up! On non-hunting days, hounds are fed at 6.30am
This is an image
8
of
14
Attention to detail: Harry Horton, first whipper-in polishes the buttons on his hunt coat
This is an image
9
of
14
John and Harry give hounds a thorough check over
This is an image
10
of
14
Top turnout: Harry gets to work on his boots
This is an image
11
of
14
John checks out the paintings in the Duke’s Room — a piece of foxhunting history
This is an image
12
of
14
‘Did you say pose?’ Judicious breeding has created an athletic and streamlined hound
This is an image
13
of
14
John’s partner Sophie Oliver is the stud groom, and looks after the 15 hunt horses in the stables
This is an image
14
of
14
