Hunting

Usually on my annual visit to my sister I am able to go to a meet of the local hunt - the East and West Kent hunt. Anne has recently (with much regret) given up riding with the hounds. However she likes to go to the meets and follow on foot. For me it is a wonderful glimpse into English country life. I first followed the hunt from about the age of 17 when a friend and I would follow for a couple of hours and then go to the local pub for a beer! The longstanding tradition with its Huntsmen, Masters of the hunt (there are six who take turns organising each meet and arranging with local farmers where they can seek out the foxes and where the field can ride), the hounds, the many riders (from the posh with their fancy horse boxes to the locals on their nags), the sounds of the hunting horn and the hounds is an unforgettable experience. It is all illegal and at times they have the anti-hunting groups turn up and try and disrupt the hunt. This year the meet was at a farm at Preston close to a beautiful old church and starting on a farm whose owner collects old steam engines. There were about 20 riders that turned up. We then followed on foot for a couple of hours and did see a fox which got away from the hounds.