Ever wondered how a hunt kennels works? Go behind-the-scenes with the Belvoir Hunt

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Belvoir Hunt kennels 21.12.17
(Image credit: Trevor Meeks)

John Holliday, huntsman at the Belvoir, walks the hounds with the castle in the background
(Image credit: Trevor Meeks)

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

The location of the Belvoir kennels is enviable, with no busy road to put up with, just a long private drive into the park
(Image credit: Trevor Meeks)

The location of the Belvoir kennels is enviable, with no busy road to put up with, just a long private drive into the park

John has worked to improve the layout of the kennels during his eight seasons with the Belvoir
(Image credit: Trevor Meeks)

John has worked to improve the layout of the kennels during his eight seasons with the Belvoir

‘We hunt five or six mornings a week in the autumn and then three days a week after the opening meet,’ says John
(Image credit: Trevor Meeks)

‘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 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
(Image credit: Trevor Meeks)

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

The kennels are huge, but in John’s opinion, ‘It’s a myth that small kennels are easier to manage. Hounds need space’
(Image credit: Trevor Meeks)

The kennels are huge, but in John’s opinion, ‘It’s a myth that small kennels are easier to manage. Hounds need space’

Grubs up! On non-hunting days, hounds are fed at 6.30am
(Image credit: Trevor Meeks)

Grubs up! On non-hunting days, hounds are fed at 6.30am

Attention to detail: Harry Horton, first whipper-in polishes the buttons on his hunt coat
(Image credit: Trevor Meeks)

Attention to detail: Harry Horton, first whipper-in polishes the buttons on his hunt coat

John and Harry give hounds a thorough check over
(Image credit: Trevor Meeks)

John and Harry give hounds a thorough check over

Top turnout: Harry gets to work on his boots
(Image credit: Trevor Meeks)

Top turnout: Harry gets to work on his boots

John checks out the paintings in the Duke’s Room — a piece of foxhunting history
(Image credit: Trevor Meeks)

John checks out the paintings in the Duke’s Room — a piece of foxhunting history

‘Did you say pose?’ Judicious breeding has created an athletic and streamlined hound
(Image credit: Trevor Meeks)

‘Did you say pose?’ Judicious breeding has created an athletic and streamlined hound

John’s partner Sophie Oliver is the stud groom, and looks after the 15 hunt horses in the stables
(Image credit: Trevor Meeks)

John’s partner Sophie Oliver is the stud groom, and looks after the 15 hunt horses in the stables

The Belvoir estate provides the ideal surroundings for exercising the horses
(Image credit: Trevor Meeks)

The Belvoir estate provides the ideal surroundings for exercising the horses

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