Written by Bob Lomas
Between the end of the hunting season in Spring and the start of a new season in Autumn hounds need to be exercised every day. To this end the general practice is for the huntsman and the whipper-in, and perhaps a helper or two, to take the hounds for a gentle walk of a few miles, usually stopping in a field to allow them to play or even swim in a river or pond, much the same as one would with the family dog.
These summer walks are a delight, especially when the weather is fine, as they start the working day of the kennels which is usually at half past five or six o’clock in the morning. Where possible the huntsman and his assistants ride bicycles which suits the hounds’ comfortable trot of five miles an hour, too quick to walk for both humans or horse. As the opening of the next hunting season draws near the hunt horses join the exercise as they have to be brought up to working fitness also, but following the trotting hounds is not a comfortable or steady pace for either horse or rider, for a horse’s trot is quicker than that of a hound but his walk is slower, causing the horse and rider to gradually fall back when walking until having to break into a trot in order to catch up. But this is all in late summer when most of the corn has been harvested from the fields, the sloes, haws and hips are ripening, and woolly tufts of old man’s beard and the red bryony berries are beginning to adorn the hedgerows.
Throughout the summer months it was my delight to arrive early at the hunt kennels to ‘walk-out’, or in reality to cycle out with the hounds. The huntsman would open the kennel door and the hounds would eagerly pour out, he would then take up his bicycle and with the hounds obediently behind him he would push his bicycle to a gate which gave access to an old disused railway line, an ideal path along which to exercise the hounds. The huntsman would then open the gate with the quiet words, “wait, wait”, for needless to say the hounds were always very keen to be on their way, but no hound was allowed to venture forth until told to do so.
The huntsman would then mount his bicycle and we would be off, with all the hounds up together behind him. The whipper-in would ride behind the ordered pack to keep them together and I would cycle a little further behind to keep together the old pensioner hounds and the few that were temporally lame due to the inevitable injuries that bedevil both hounds and humans from time to time. As we moved away it was always sad to hear the woeful laments of those hounds that for one reason or another had to be left behind.
And so to all our pleasures our daily routine would begin. After a steady ride along the track for two or three miles we would turn off onto another that would take us through green fields to the river where the hounds would swim and splash about, explore the river bank and romp and play as all happy dogs do, whilst the huntsman and his assistants would make sure that none of the hounds strayed too far away and would call them back should they look as if they might be tempted by enticing smells further off.
Every day we would set off from the kennels in a different direction, and there were a number of different fields we would visit for the hounds playtime, but the green river valley and the river bank was my favourite place, where purple loosestrife fringed the river bank and golden water lilies and their broad green leaves floated on the water. Occasionally our arrival would disturb a kingfisher that would speed away in an iridescent flash of brightest blue, or a fishing heron would lift off with slow wing beat and his call of “Frank”, perhaps a blaspheme in the heron vernacular. The broad lush pastures stretched away for over a mile in both directions on which red bullocks contentedly grazed until their natural curiosity would get the better of them and they would stroll across to visit and inspect us and stand watching the activity seemingly bemused until we departed.
Despite our daily trips being routine, as with all things in the countryside every day was different, the best days being of course when the sky was azure blue, perhaps with a few puffy white clouds, and the clear and pure early morning sunlight cast long shadows across our path. Occasionally we would meet an early-rise walker or cyclists on the track and the hounds would be held up together to one side of the track while they passed before we proceeded. There were very few incidents of note and as I cycled right at the back I was in a good position to observe all.
Occasionally the hounds would pick up the scent of a fox, deer or badger on the track or the trackside and they would be reluctant to leave it and so be ordered to move on and keep up. Being a countryman I often picked up the scent myself. There was one such occasion when I could not, at a spot where the track crossed an old bridge. The call was given to “keep up, keep up”, but several of the old hounds were still very reluctant to leave their interesting find and I needed to chivvy them on. The same thing happened at the same spot on our return journey and again a few days later, but from then on the interest came to an end, or seemed to.
It was about a month later that it happened again, at the same spot on the old bridge. We were on our outward leg, so on the way back I stopped cycling to watch before insisting that the hounds moved on. It was then I noticed that it had always been the same few hounds that were most interested and reluctant to leave …
[To be continued tomorrow with Part Two which you cannot afford to miss]
Jack Thomas…Yes indeed ‘care homes’ …..more like ‘grooming houses’?
And most of the ‘victims’, or should I say commodities, from these ‘establishments’, are supplied, powdered and perfumed by ‘Social Services’ to their ‘customers’ in the Pakistani communities THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. North to South, East to West.
And these cultural stalwarts in our towns and villages, with their cabs and takeaways, are further protected by our wonderful Police Forces (“No, no don’t say anyfink ‘arry, don’t wanna let our Muslim pals fink we’ll grass on ’em”!!
Our local Constables and Senior Officers will ensure these pillars of our society are not troubled by ‘local’ discrimination……..Allah save us!
This is not just a localised ‘trade’ – No! as we are enjoying our evening meals, in most towns and villages the vermin are corralling their victims ready to choose from their THEIR varied multiple salacious menus – drugs and drink and ‘a bit of communal fun’ for ‘afters’ – come on lads, all pile in!
Meanwhile we ENSURE that Pakistan is at the TOP OF THE LIST for U.K. International Aid, some £460 Million………YES! You heard…..£460 Million. TOP OF THE LIST! An amount guaranteed by no less a personage than that political giant David Cameron – the very same political Pygmy who further guarantees that ANYONE IN THE WORLD is welcome to come to this country, walk in,,or just call an ambulance, and avail themselves of our ‘wonderful’ NHS – just walk in with whatever disease you have or may be carrying, and we will take great care of you……..everything included. Bed and board buckshee! HIV? No problem ….giving birth…..grab a bed and relax – your wish is our command.
Meanwhile…..in the dark, dank, stinking, bug-infested communal bedrooms the rapes and abuse continue….unabated.
But…..don’t worry…..our Police Forces are making sure you are duly punished if you do forty miles an hour in a thirty mile zone…heyup! another hundred quid in the kitty from the mugs.
Slightly out of context – but relevant in the wider sense………..We as a country emote forcefully at the despicable HUNTING DOWN of dumb animals – DISGRACEFUL indeed. I wonder if the mobs of animal rights protesters, (Few averse to taking the law into their own ‘wringing hands’), display the same venom in regards to the systematic, ongoing, primitive HUNTING DOWN of our youngsters at the hands of the ‘countrywide paki-cab conspiracy? – and what of the MULTIPLE HUNDREDS of Clowns in local Police Forces and Social Services responsible for, and to all intents and purposes virtually conspiring with, the aforesaid rape of the innocents? Have ANY of these morons been held to account? ANY ONE?
Did the sanctimonious ‘animal’ rights protesters turn up at any Robinson events, wild-eyed and militan in defence of HUMAN CHILDREN?
Our children have been treated WORSE than animals – the only person to have displayed support for these abused children, displaying less violence than the ‘animal rights’ mobs, was despatched to jail in no uncertain fashion……and HE was DEFENDIND those abused – not assisting in their rape, as ‘the Authorities’ undoubtedly were.
So I find it rather difficult to raise my ire in the case of ‘foxhunting’ – but would be more than willing to lend my support if I could see the animal rights groups out in support of those foully abused by Asian ‘humanhunting’. Quid pro Quo?
Good points Mr. Paul. It is significant that many of those kids were from care homes or other fatherless homes. I know what my reaction would be if it were my daughter, whatever the consequences. Too many don’t even attract the lawful consequences, ass though the law is that does not deal with them as necessary.
Gripping, can’t wait for the next instalment.
All very interesting I am sure, but what exactly was the point to this article. My slant on the subject coming from someone who lives in the countryside, is that foxhunting is a barbaric sport, if indeed you can call it a sport, and that is how it should remain. Period…………
Left a couple of words out. After ‘barbaric sport’ insert and ‘illegal’.
May I respectfully suggest you read Part Two tomorrow – and may i also respectfully suggest you read Part One again, because this is not a story glorifying fox hunting.
Thanks Viv. Yes I was waiting for part two. But I do have an opinion about hunting with hounds. Here goes:- As a matter of interest, do the Spaniards still have Bull Fights? That is or was an even more pointless, cruel ‘sport’ than our hunting with hounds before laws were introduced to ban it.
Long before the ban on hunting with dogs was introduced, there already existed ‘trail hunts’. These were where a trail was laid before hand then dogs, horses and people followed. In theory everyone could have their fun, in relative safety, and barring accidents no sentient creature was ripped to pieces.
The present legislation should be left alone because:- Such trail hunts can still be enjoyed. No pack of hounds ever needed to be ‘lost’. If people value the old tradition they are still able to finance and enjoy it.
The Hunt Sabateurs(spelling?) now, may be right that hounds sometimes kill foxes instead of following the trail. I doubt it happens often and it is by accident, like all the animals killed on our roads. The Pro Hunting lobby also talk nonsense if they are still moaning about losing our packs of hounds. They should be paying for the upkeep and training/discipline of these hounds that they wish to enjoy.
Basically, surely this is a non issue which May grabbed hold of in 2017, in the hope of gaining a few votes. If Boris is thinking of raising it again I hope someone or something changes his mind.
P.S. Boris has already raised one even sillier ‘non issue’ He promised to remove V.A.T. from womens sanitary products. !!
What about removing it from domestic heating for those on the basic state pension. That would make sense.
Foxes; surely a case of “live by the sword, die by the sword”? My recollection is that foxes will kill all in the chicken pen, not just the one necessary for sustenance.
You’re quite right Jack. Foxes will kill every chicken. But to support foxhunting is taboo in this day and age, even though it is recognised that hunts will normally kill the weaker, older and sick foxes – the very animals which will attack hen-houses. The fit young foxes are more likely to go for rats and other small mammals.
Ok, seeing that you have replied to my comment, I’ll persevere with this story and see where it goes……..
Colin My late departed trio of Rhode Island Reds, four Light Sussex and six Andulusians would not in any way support your views.
Jake Bennett. misterpaul uses the word “emote”. So much of that “emoting” seems to come from those who reside in, but don’t make their living from the countryside.
Every spring,for over forty years, I had the difficult job of explaining to some of my ewes that really they should feel so privileged that the beautiful Mrs Fox had chosen their lambs to feed her babies. Naturally they were not convinced. A sheep mourns the loss of her lamb, just like any mother.
Here in Cumbria, during Lambing the hunt is on standby. You lose lambs; call the hunt. They arrive at first light, scour the farmland/fellside,pick up the scent of the thief and eventually dispatch it. End of problem.
The hunt is selective. Shooting probably kills more foxes, the innocent as well as the guilty and often causes more suffering through wounding.
Perhaps we country folk should start “emoting” about the filth and lawlessness in our cities.
Richard The ’emoting’ is very selective too. Not much ’emoting’ from the virtue signallers about Halhal slaughter of animals I note? Must’nt upset religious sensibilities – except Christian ones which are fair game.
What happened to wisdom ?
OK I give up – tell us!
I understand what you are saying, and yes, I have had show rabbits killed by a fox which somehow got into their supposed secure run. They are indeed devious and sly animals However one has to get it into perspective in that they are hunting for food, and not doing it for pleasure because they have nothing else better to do with their time.