Were you out recently with either the Ledbury or Puckeridge when the H&H hunting correspondents paid a visit? If so, why not take a look at the gallery below to see if you were spotted by our photographers.

The Ledbury

The Ledbury hedge country is notorious and the pack has a reputation of being one that goes and performs. The country lies in Hereford, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire, covering 35 miles north to south and 16 miles east to west. It is adjoined by the North Herefordshire, North Ledbury, Croome and West Warwickshire, the Cotswold Vale Farmers and the Berkeley. Hounds have hunted the area around Ledbury on the Hereford for over 300 years.

Pictures by Sarah Farnsworth

Lala Phillips looks like she might have taken a tumble earlier in the day…

The field enjoys bright skies

Going, going… Louise Daly takes a tumble

Matthew Ainsworth and Lady Jayne Porchester pose for the camera

Chris Martyn-Smith is on flying form

Start them young: Lavinia Westlake with daughter Caroline and Sarah and Henry Bowness

Caroline Twiston-Davies crosses the country in style

The Puckeridge

A ditch, arable and grass country, the hunt covers 19 miles north to south and 22 miles east to west in Hertfordshire, Essex and Cambridgeshire. Dating back to 1725, the Puckeridge was once amalgamated with the Newmarket and Thurlow to form the Puckeridge and Thurlow, but the union was dissolved in 1992 and the Puckeridge reverted to its old boundaries.

Pictures by Peter Nixon

The Puckeridge welcomes a good turnout of subscribers and visitors

Master and fieldmaster Tim Vestey

Miriam Weidman-Smith gets muddy

Huntsman and master Luke Neale

The smartly turned-out field

Jemima and Susannah Morris

Hena and Charlie Knott

Don’t miss our full reports from both packs in the 8 January issue of Horse & Hound magazine

To see the full range of pictures taken by our photographer, visit www.horseandhound.co.uk/galleries

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Equestrian adrenaline seekers are in luck — the Gold Button Challenge makes a popular return to the calendar next month (Saturday 14 February).

The cross-country ride, styled on an original steeplechase, will take place at Manor Farm, Longdon. It will be run over a course of three miles with approximately 28 natural obstacles in the heart of the Ledbury Hunt country.

The event is open to anyone over 16-years-old and riders can compete for one of seven “Golden Buttons” including those awarded for first past the post and first veteran (over 50).

The original Golden Button event took place in 2005 in between the villages of Forthampton and Tirley on the banks of the River Severn.

Five runnings of the event proved to be very popular, however after a break for a few years, it is anticipated the new venue will produce an equally exciting but challenging course.

Ben Leeke, one of the organisers, told H&H: “Within 24hr of announcing the relaunch, the response on social media has been enormous and we have already started taking entries which is really exciting.”

Previous winners of the event include jump jockey Paul Carberry who flew over from Ireland especially to take part on New Year’s Eve in 2009.

Partnering the Brendan Powell-trained Blaze Ahead, the combination survived a refusal at fence 18 but made up ground in a thrilling finish to win by two lengths with renowned team chaser Zoe Gibson in second.

Zara Phillips and Top Gear’s Richard Hammond have been among those who have started the ride that was previously held on New Year’s Eve.

In addition to the thrills and spills of the Equine R-Oil and Buying Solution Golden Button Challenge, there is also a fun run over the same course for those not wanting to take the fences on at speed, and the Golden Button Ball in the evening for those still standing.

For further details see www.golden-button.co.uk

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

“Clearing the country” describes a master’s role in getting a green light from landowners or tenant farmers in advance of a day’s hunting.

It is a task dependent on whether it is planned to contain the trail within one large estate or across a patchwork of farms.

Factor in requests from gamekeepers and hobby livestock owners, the impact of weather on farming and the need to keep hunt staff and the secretary in the loop, and masters often engage with dozens of people to organise a single day.

Ledbury joint-master Louise Daly gives her tips for clearing country successfully:

• Always contact your farmers prior to going. Preferably three or four days before, not on the morning of the meet.
• Listen to what they say and do it if possible. If you have been asked not to go somewhere, ask them the best route round.
• If the farmer is in his field, orchard, buildings or on his tractor while you are hunting, stop and say hello — as long as hounds are not screaming — or at least acknowledge him.
• If you are apologising to somebody, get off your horse and go and see them face-to-face. Ask somebody to hold your horse so it doesn’t squash them!
• Walk bits of your country, as it might have changed since last year.
  Autumn hunting is useful to see it and work out where you can jump.
• Always ask the farmer(s) before you build a fence.
• If there has been a problem, the sooner you go and sort it out, the better. You will sleep better that night as well.
• Do not leave gates open and, if a fence has been broken, get it mended straight away.
• Always say “thank you” to cars and let people through — it may be the farmer on his way to milk his cows.
• If you behave, you will find that the country will stay open. I still hear stories from when my late father-in-law was hunting of when a gate was left opened or sheep let out — they never forget!Read the full feature about clearing country in the current issue of H&H (22 November 2012)Read all the latest hunting news

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The Golden Button Challenge has been cancelled this year.

The Ledbury hunt’s three-mile cross-country race will not run this December to give the course a break.

But the challenge, which takes place annually on New Year’s Eve, will be back for 2012.

First run in 2006, the Golden Button has been won by team chasers, professional jockeys,amateurs and hunt ride specialists.

Event secretary Louise Daly said: “Landowners have been supportive, but a very cold winter and dry spring made growing conditions difficut.

“It and it is sensible to give the venue an additional 12 months to recover.“

“We’re sorry to those who had been preparing horses, but we were unable to release this information sooner while other avenues were being explored.”

This story was first published in the current issue of H&H (24 November 2011)

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The Hayes Golden Button Challenge, the Ledbury’s New Year’s Eve hunt ride, has been postponed until 15 January.

Heavy snow and dismal forecasts meant the race was called off well in advance to give competitors and attendees a chance to reorganise their New Year.

Now into its fifth year the ride takes place by the banks of the River Severn between Forthampton and Tirley, and comprises a three-mile gallop across country.

Horses and riders jump some 25 fences consisting of natural hedges, timber and ditches.

Past winners are team chaser Yvonne Goss, flat-race jockey Eddie Ahern, point-to-point rider Patrick Millington and Grand National-winning jump jockey Paul Carberry.

There is also a team competition and human running race.

Sixty horses have already entered the race and those entries will stand, but the race has also been reopened.

If you would like to take part, contact Louise Daly, tel: 07721 1956599.

If ground conditions are still unsuitable for 15 January, it will be run on 12 February — either two weeks before or two weeks after the Melton Hunt Club Ride on 30 January.

The Ledbury hunt ball on 31 December will go ahead as planned.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Ledbury hunt subscriber Peter Finch is planning to raise money by hunting bareback with the Gloucestershire pack this Friday (13 February).

Riding the ominously-named Bouncer, an Irish draught-thoroughbred, Peter is planning to stay out until second horses — and will be jumping whatever is in his path. All money raised will go towards the Ledbury.

“I ride bareback at home a lot, and when I broke Bouncer in I rode him without a saddle for the first 10 days,” says Peter.

“[Joint-master] David Redvers originally said he would sponsor me £5 per hedge, but he’s now retracted that to £25 in total — although his wife says that the first offer still stands. And Tom Leeke, whose land I have been practising over for the past couple of Sundays, is sponsoring me a pound a fence, or £50 minimum — which seems like a lot of fences!”

To support Peter’s fundraising effort, email ledburyhunt@yahoo.co.uk

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The Ledbury hunt’s Golden Button Challenge — a three-mile race over hedges and ditches alongside the River Severn — will feature an additional event this New Year’s Eve.

This year’s renewal will involve an inter-hunt challenge for teams of four, as well as the feature race, which was won last year by Yvonne Goss on Perry. The inter-hunt challenge will cover an easier course, to enable more riders to be involved.

“We learned plenty at the inaugural running 12 months ago, and wanted to expand the event,” said race organiser David Redvers. “Last year’s challenge proved enormously popular — the sight of some 40 horses and riders galloping across the Ledbury hunt’s wonderful vale country was spectacular.”

Closing date for entries is 14 December.

For further details, call Louise Daly. Tel: 08452 609618 or visit: www.goldenbutton.co.uk

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (22 November, ’07)

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now