Enthusiasm is in the air for hunting season ahead

The crazy o’clock alarms set for those picture-perfect misty early mornings following hounds almost seem a distant memory now as we hurtle towards opening meets and we are reminded of the words of Philip Stanhope, the 4^th Earl of Chesterfield, who wrote: "Know the true value of time; snatch, seize, and enjoy every moment of it.”

He may not have been referencing hunting but over the past week, with newcomers’ week in full flow, we have seen people of all ages embracing that sentiment. Images of beaming, muddy faces on horses and ponies of all shapes and sizes have been shared across social media with reports from hunts across the country indicating that there are still people keen to follow hounds for the first time.

We all enjoy autumn trail hunting for various reasons, whether it's to observe the hounds at work, enjoy the beautiful countryside, get ourselves and/or our horses fit, or simply reconnect with friends. When wrapped up in the joy of the moment though, it’s sometimes easy to forget that autumn mornings vitally play a crucial role in setting the stage for the rest of the season. New masters and hunt officials have been actively embracing the challenges of their roles - which can be quite demanding even for the most seasoned of masters - while hunt staff have been introducing the young hounds into the pack, ensuring they receive the best possible education ahead of the opening meet. The tremendous effort put in behind the scenes to make each day enjoyable for followers, whether on horseback or on foot, is remarkable and will, undoubtedly, pay dividends when it comes to opening meets and the season ahead.

Some opening meets, particularly for the beagle packs, have already taken place, but the majority will be celebrated over the next couple of weeks. The excitement is building for these and other key dates in the hunting calendars such as post-opening meet festivities, hunt balls, ladies’ (and gents’) days, Countryside Day at Cheltenham and myriad fun ideas not only to generate income but to also bring our community together.

Our lawful hunting activities might be under threat from a Labour government that has committed to ban trail hunting, and the Great British weather hasn’t been the kindest over the past few weeks which hasn’t helped masters with organising their meet cards, but despite this, there is still a huge amount of energy and enthusiasm being generated by hunts and their supporters. The Alliance, the British Hound Sports Association and others will continue to work tirelessly to protect the future of hunting with hounds but, in the meantime, for those feeling a little jaded after weeks of early rises, I recommend you fully embrace the enthusiasm and enjoy every moment of watching hounds crossing our beautiful countryside.

Image: Hattie Austin Photography