The right to wear hunt buttons is granted purely on merit, and for this reason these small but significant additions to a hunt coat have, justifiably, been treasured for generations. There are many strands to the hunt-button story. Tom Arthey, Joint Master of the Pytchley with Woodland, unpicks why they…
Callie Coles is now delighting in passing her love for hunting to the next generation, as well as following them over hedges. For more seriously sporting ladies offering advice and encouragement, take a look at our Sporting Diana pieces by thrusting vet Lucinda Ticehurst and country girl Tania Coxon. CALLIE…
“I have been to so many incredibly dreadful parties and you have to sit next to such boring people. But at the perfect hunt ball no one says ‘How many children have you got?’ and ‘Where do they go to school?’” says side-saddle hunting doyenne Martha, Lady Sitwell, who breathes…
Growing up, I was fortunate to own a pony and have patient parents who were prepared to take me to Pony Club without burdening me by being overly competitive. While the other girls demonstrated commitment to becoming eventers, I soon discovered three other disciplines far better for a teenage girl…
In a countryside under pressure from a sharp focus on farming, its relationship with the environment and biodiversity, and changing attitudes towards the way we use animals, the ability for us to adapt has never been so important if we are to preserve the country pursuits that so many of…
Have you looked at your boots since last Season? When did you last leave the ground? Have you spoken to the farmer whose rails got broken? Summer still has that sun-soaked feel of carefree months untroubled by early starts and endless mud, but whether you are hunt staff or an…
For many hunting enthusiasts a visit to the Wales & Border Counties Hound Show at the Royal Welsh Showground on the last Thursday in June is a highlight of summer. There are several rings for different hound breeds at the spectacular setting within a natural bowl of the mountains at…
Dig into the history of hunting and one of the names most commonly unearthed is that of Hugo Meynell, widely regarded as the father of modern foxhunting. Deciphering the tale of his influence on the sport has not been dissimilar to what he so carefully bred his hounds for: seeking…
I was fortunate to have grown up on a beautiful arable farm in the north-west of England. As the youngest of three daughters, I was encouraged, along with my sisters, to grasp life and live it to the full. Holidays were mostly spent in the fields building ‘handy pony’ courses…
Think of a decent hunter and your mind most likely goes to a three-quarter-bred Irish type with enough bone to stand up to work and that’s sporty enough to get you out of trouble. The majority will picture a gelding, some will picture a mare – but almost never would…
