Georgie Archer's Golden Valley closing meet report

Countryside Alliance hunting correspondent, Georgie Archer, recounts the closing meet of her local pack, the Golden Valley Hunt (GVH): The 2014/15 hunting season had been good - I have managed to get out more than ever before and have been lucky enough to ride with friends in breathtakingly beautiful countryside, in some glorious (and some not so pleasant) weather. I even got to help with trail laying this year, which was a new and interesting experience. However, as usual, it has flown by, which meant that the closing meet was suddenly upon us. It was a season full of highs, lows and some brilliant days out, but, more importantly, it ends on a high.

The weekend before, Jim Barrington, the Countryside Alliance's Animal Welfare Consultant had been our guest for the night after doing a talk on Friday for our branch of the Pony Club (theGolden Valley), hunt supporters and other guests too. It was very interesting and the turnout was great - I don't think any more people would have fitted in the room. Jim really engaged the audience and enlightened us on a wide variety of current animal welfare issues. We were supplied with some excellent raffle prizes as well as various informative leaflets and books to give out. He then followed the hunt on the Saturday with my mum and had a brilliant time, sitting in the sunshine eating cake and drinking coffee. That meet was going to be my last for the season, but my mum had had a chat with my head teacher who had agreed to give me the day off for the closing meet! I was only going to be going on a trip to Crufts, so I didn't miss anything crucial. Writing a review for the Countryside Alliance is valuable work experience, which is the main reason why I was allowed to have the day off school!

The weather was stunning on the Friday upon which the closing meet fell. The sun shone in the clear blue sky above us, but thanks to a chill wind (the only sign that winter wasn't quite prepared to give way to spring yet) we didn't get too hot until we went down into the valley later on.

We parked a short hack away from the meet due to a lack of any closer parking in our Welsh border hill country, enabling us to have a relaxing ride over Cefn Hill to the meet at the Abbey Farm. We had a short canter after trotting through the herd of wild ponies to warm up, making sure that we got to the meet before the sausage rolls cooled down! The horses were all rather excited, apart from the usual laid-back fellows who took it all in their stride. Small ponds and gorse bushes were jumped if they got in the way and the uplifting atmosphere rubbed off on the wild ponies too - they wanted to follow us!

Once we reached the meet in a charming cobbled farmyard at the end of an extremely long drive, we settled down for an end-of-season chat, catching up with those who hadn't been out for a while (and the regulars), the hosts and the buzzing crowd of supporters. Food was soon dished out and stomachs were filled with welsh cakes, sausage rolls and other delicious items essential at a meet. Drinks were handed out and spilled as a result of shaking horses and hands full of food and new uses were found for the pommel and horse's neck - tables! Food was stacked up in the gap between the horse's wither and the saddle, on the numnah and drinks were drunk whilst the atmosphere soaked up the cheerful laughter and conversation around. The whiskey draw was done and, as it was the last meet of the season, the winner was encouraged to claim their prize. It was Lou - a well-deserved win as she has not been well lately and hasn't been able to ride.

Finally, after a speech by both Joint Masters, we set off, trotting down and up the drive (it really is long - down one side of a hill and up another!) The sun gave us an amazing send off, although we did overheat rather once we dropped down into less windy conditions on the other side of the hill. We went straight off over the hill and down the next valley, onto the foothills of Hay Bluff and the border between England and Wales. We spent the next few hours crossing and jumping streams, navigating steep gullies, cantering across the more even ground and watching the hounds work enthusiastically in the warm sunshine - not the perfect conditions for them to try and follow the trail but lovely for us. We crossed back over to the other side of the valley a few times and had several canters up the other side, before dropping back down to trot through the trees again, avoiding low-hanging and determined branches. The sun didn't once leave us as we gradually made our way down the valley, but then it was time for me to leave as I had somewhere I had to get to later that afternoon.

This lead to me and two other field members having an initially leisurely amble back towards the car followers, where we would cross back through the farmyard at which we met, onto Cefn Hill in order to get back to our trailers. I had to be back by a certain time, however, which led to a mad, but extremely fun, gallop all across the top of Cefn Hill, slowing down to pass through some very confused ponies (who, luckily, didn't try to follow us). It was very exciting and the perfect way to end the day and the season - riding with friends in the warm, spring sunshine. It was also the last hunt on Murray, my trusted steed, as the decision had been made to sell him shortly before the meet. I have had the most amazing two seasons of adventures with him and the GVH and hope that my next horse is such as brilliant a hunter.

Well, the hunting season may be over but there is still lots going on with the hunt and its supporters. We were delighted to hear that in addition to our two masters, a further two will be joining them next season, sharing the workload and bringing energy and enthusiasm with them. The day after closing meet was the Hunt end of season social - I and some other Pony Club members had been invited to come along for the first time. Wearing dresses rather than jodhpurs, not my usual attire, we helped to sell raffle tickets and organise games etc, before leaving early and allowing the adults to enjoy the rest of the evening. Soon it will be time for the Hunt Fun Ride and then in the summer it will be the dog show, horse show and lots of other fun activities. In May we have our Point to Point - it would be great fun to be a mounted helper one day. I am also looking forward to helping out the hunt team at some Inter Hunt Relay competitions; they always look like great fun. Unfortunately last year I was unable to participate in them, but there's always next season.