‘Heavy horses can do it’: 18hh Shire enjoys hunting and hunter trials with aplomb
“You see people looking and thinking ‘Really?’ but when they see him go, they understand”
Hunting
Although the majority of hunting with hounds takes place between September and April, the calendar is a busy one all year round.
The year officially begins on 1 May, when mastership and staff changes take place. The summer months is the time for puppy shows, hound shows – culminating in the Festival of Hounds at Peterborough in July – as well as other hunt events. Much time is spent improving areas of the hunting country and access to it, while in kennels it is often a frenzy of repairing, cleaning and painting.
Autumn trail-hunting, when the young hounds are introduced to the field, starts at the beginning of September, harvest allowing.
Opening meets happen around the beginning of November, and then it is full-tilt until the end of the season, which may be as early as February in some areas and as late as mid-April in others, depending on the types of farming that take place there.
Since the 2004 Hunting Act came into force in 2005, hunts in Britain use a variety of exemptions under the law, including trail-hunting, hound exercising and the use of a bird of prey. The Labour party announced its intention for a full-ban prior to being elected to govern the country in 2024.
Horse & Hound magazine reports on days with packs across Britain and Ireland giving you behind-the-scenes access to hunts of all types, from foxhounds to beagles and harriers, staghounds, bassets and minkhounds, as well as drag hounds and bloodhounds.
The hunting world is a rich and varied one – discover its history and culture with H&H.
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Munnings painting celebrating lifelong hunting friendship sells for £105,000
The painting by the great Sir Alfred Munnings was given as a gift to a lifelong friend, who he met through their mutual love of hunting
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Smith seizes the moment in thrilling Silver Spur hunt ride *H&H Plus*
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Disruption charges dropped against sabs after prosecution ‘got in a mess’ *H&H Plus*
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‘I just mugged her on the line’: Quorn hunt ride goes down to the wire *H&H Plus*
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Meet the hunting farrier who is heading to his third Olympics *H&H Plus*
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Hunting emergencies: equine and human injuries and dangers and how to deal with them *H&H Plus*
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Two masters suspended after investigation
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Fred Eames bows out at the Cotley after 14 seasons of hunting hounds *H&H Plus*
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‘I’m so delighted; he is the most wonderful horse’: Arthur conquers once more at the Wynnstay Hunt Ride *H&H Plus*
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Mare who was a ‘handful’ to hunt turns police horse — and helps arrest knifeman in her first week
“Normally it takes 12-18 months to fully train a police horse but Bess got through the training in 12 weeks. Within a few weeks of her starting at the training stables she was nannying younger horses”
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An education in hunting: the role of school and college packs *H&H Plus*
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Delight as five stolen basset hounds found
‘We hope there will be more good news in the following days but in the meantime, please get behind us to help find Bashful because she needs to come home’
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Finding the key to talented but strong horses *H&H Plus*
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Hounds of a lifetime: the best ones huntsmen have been privileged to work alongside *H&H Plus*
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Andrew Cook’s key learnings from 30 years’ hunting: ‘Always trust your hounds’ *H&H Plus*
As Andrew Cook prepares to step down from a 30-year career with hounds, he talks about his experiences and what he has learnt
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How leading hunting figures learnt to ride *H&H Plus*
Rory Knight Bruce finds out how some of hunting’s leading lights learnt their skills in the saddle
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From artists to horticulturalists: meet the huntsmen with hidden talents *H&H Plus*
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10 hunting people I wish I’d known *H&H Plus*
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Long-serving hunt staff step down from their roles, while others are on the move *H&H Plus*
