National Trust Resolution Upcoming

The true “hunters” those employed by the Hunts are a tiny minority who do it for a living. The vast majority of folks who go to hunt are mainly there for the social side, the gallop, the doing something exciting, the getting together. (Many don’t stick around for the kill.) They usually have a very good events calendar, a big social side, and possibly do some charity work as well. It’s not cheap to go hunting, either owning your own horse or hiring one just for the thrill and to say you have been hunting. But a good few of “not rich” folks will go out with some of the smaller hunts, and we often got invited. All you need really is a decent horse, the right clothes and the ability to stay on board as best you can. And you need to know the rules, handed down from much earlier times.  There are a few Hunts that might be thought of as special in one way or another, perhaps because they have historic aristocratic links, and the odd Royal will go out every now and then. But a lot are Farmers Packs and quite small. So folks do come from all walks of life and all backgrounds. Some who follow don’t actually ride, but will get around in their cars or on quads, still out for the social side. Absolutely not much of a problem. It’s the unnecessary suffering of chasing a live animal until it is exhausted, or the unfair digging out of something that has escaped fairly that I abhor. Drag Hunts don’t do it, so it’s perfectly possible to do away with this aspect.🤷‍♀️

Sadly, it’s not class that drives the need to see something killed, it’s merely cruel individuals from all walks of life. Badger baiting is rife around us at times. Hare coursing not too far away. Both banned, but both still happening.

Incidentally, and very sadly, there was a two year old little girl who died last month during a Hunt. Bedale, near Northallerton. Something spooked her pony, and she fell off. Even the mildest, well behaved horse or pony will get a bit excited if there are lots of other horses around. Our horse was practically uncontrollable if out with a big group, a real handful. His previous owner sold him because he was so badly behaved out hunting. We thankfully got him calmed down, but he had his moments, both OH and I were dumped a long way from home occasionally.

Well behaved, but still having fun doing Working Hunter Classes at local show. Look closely, the rosette is a red one😁