Anticipation for the hunting season

Countryside Alliance young hunting correspondent, Georgie Archer, writes: Scrolling through my newsfeed on Facebook yesterday, I came across an article posted by Horse & Hound. It was titled "12 thrilling shots to get you in the mood for hunting", and it certainly fulfilled its promises. I am still ploughing through the busy eventing season myself, and many others who commonly make an appearance on the hunting field are busy working in bustling cities and harvesting on farms, with even more people wrapped up in the Olympic buzz. Unsurprisingly, the prospect of hunting had been pushed slightly further back in my mind. It perched behind overwhelming thoughts of a straight centre line, the ultimate take off spot for clearing jumps in the showjumping, the right pace for cross country and who has a chance to win medals for team GB at the Olympics (I've got my hopes up for our cyclists!). However, the 12 pictures did, as they vowed they would, get me in the mood for hunting.

Having seen various pictures of hound shows across the country, and having been to the Festival of Hunting in Peterborough, I had, each time, got a little more excited. The photo gallery posted by Horse & Hound depicted hunt followers leaping the Scarteen's vast Irish ditches, the Duke of Buccleuch's imposing walls, the Four Burrow's tall Cornish banks and the Heythrop and Quorn's impenetrable hedges. At this time of year, hunt horses and hounds are pounding along rural country lanes, getting fitter and fitter before the start of autumn hunting. The hunt visited the Golden Valley Hunt Pony Club's camp last week, and I took my hunting steed along to join in the fun. He certainly hadn't forgotten what the hunting horn meant! Following a walk up the road to settle the younger members down, we went for a canter around the cross-country course at Cabalva. Although many of its jumps may have seen better days, Bugsy enjoyed leaping over the largest ones he could find. Despite his carthorse-like appearance, with a body like a tank and short, feathered legs, he does love to ping over jumps! In fact, he won the "Best Wannabe Racehorse" award when he went to camp for the whole week last year and did manage to jump over a single upright barrel, although my foot knocked down a flag on one side as his body was not quite as fine and narrow as that of the other horses in the ride group. He loves to gallop with his friends out hunting and jumps everything in his path, usually at some speed. He was thrilled to be cantering behind the hounds again, and to be reunited with his friend, one of the hunt horses. It was a taster of many days to come. I am hoping that starting college won't restrict my hunting time too much!
Bubbling up inside me each time I see hunting photos posted online, my anticipation for the hunting season is building. I do need to start getting Bugsy a little fitter now though: his day job as a happy hacker doesn't do much to help it!