The Bedale Hunt

[pat2604]

Just interested in your thoughts on this.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-58611030

[pat2604]

Nothing wrong with that Steg, but the children should be strictly supervised until the are physically and mentally able to ride safely. A two year old in with a hunt, is just ridiculous, whether it's a formal hunt or informal.

[steg]

//A two year old in with a hunt, is just ridiculous, whether it's a formal hunt or informal.//

It maybe is ridiculous, but it’s been part of peoples culture for centuries, as it has been part of mine. Accidents can happen to children everywhere every day it’s sad but it’s part of life.. and death

[AuntPG]

Before I continue, I am totally anti -hunting . Children are brought to the Meet on lead reins, often with their parents mounted on a horse but I would presume (hope) this little girl had someone on foot leading her. They often just stay on their ponies until the Hunt sets off, unless they are competent little riders, but even then, they are not allowed to hunt on their own without parental or adult supervisio until they are 16 years old.
The Hunt these days is much faster than in years gone by as the scent trail is pre-laid and there is a lot of galloping and they know where they are going.
Ok that's the facts - I think its bloody ridiculous letting children anywhere near a Hunt and its mainly, if not always, done by leading members on the Hunt to basically' show off' the next generation.
Many Moons ago it was a great honour to be 'blooded' as a child -that is the Huntsman smearing the child's face with fresh blood from the dead fox. The whole lot are total morons.

[AuntPG]

Just to add, after reading the article - if this hunt was out in September at 8 am they were 'cubbing' which is illegal -I hope someone jumps on this. A hunt official says they were not on an 'Official' hunt -no I bet they blinking weren't -cubbing under the pretence of exercising the hounds. IF anyone wants to know what cubbing best Google it.

[webbo3]

These so called drag hunts always have terrier men with them, what do terrier men do?, dig foxes out of an earth if they go to ground.

[AuntPG]

webbo The whole thing is a farce, they are still hunting and killling foxes. If a hunting landowner has a problem with a fox he rings the Hunt kennels and the Huntsmen come along to 'exercise' their hounds (without followers) and oh dearly me there's been an 'accident' and one of the hounds has killed a fox by mistake. They totally take the P. Notice I say 'Landowners' because there is not one farmer I know that likes the Hunt around this area.

[pat2604]

Steg, 'peoples culture for centuries' doesn't mean it's right. We have moved on. People used to go on witch hunts, bear bating, cock fighting and accept it as ok. It was part of culture. If culture has changed, but some, an elite group, want to hang on to fox hunting. It really angers me.

[AuntPG]

Its not just the landed gentry that go hunting, it's the upwardly mobile wannabees who are joining -and that worse because they have no sense and no idea about the Country Code. Its all about Networking.

[pat2604]

/Ithink its bloody ridiculous letting children anywhere near a Hunt and its mainly, if not always, done by leading members on the Hunt to basically' show off' the next generation think its bloody ridiculous letting children anywhere near a Hunt and its mainly, if not always, done by leading members on the Hunt to basically' show off' the next generation./

Totally agree APG

I perhaps should replace the word farmers with landowners. That is is all we really have around here and the still expect people to 'touch their caps' to them. Many still do!! We don't.

[AuntPG]

We are lucky to own our own land but are surrounded by two of the biggest Land estates in the North East. The land agents act like they still live in the 1900's and treat the Tenants like muck. They are told they are obliged to let the Hunt over their land, no question. Before Hunting was 'banned' I've chased many a Hunt from coming up our lane. They presume because you have horses you Hunt too. I'm like a rural Peggy Michell from East-enders 'Get off of my Land!' LOL!

[pat2604]

^ That's completely true as well APG. And don't we know it!! And they come for the shooting season as well and mostly can't shoot. No respect for the countryside!

And I'm a Londoner by birth. Fortunately
escaped decades ago!

[steg]

//… We have moved on.//

Aye.. so have we, my family were originally ‘reivers’ way back… nobody really ride horses anymore, except when on holiday , ..we’re all mostly into ‘motorcycles’ now.. different but maybe a bit the same :)

[AuntPG]

My dad used to say riding a horse was like riding a motorcycle without brakes or steering lol!

[jno]

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/sep/20/foxhound-body-director-encouraged-fox-hunts-court-hears

[pat2604]

Thanks for posting jno. It sickens me how they get away with it.

[andy-hughes]

steg - // Accidents can happen to children everywhere every day it’s sad but it’s part of life.. and death //

Of course accidents happen to children - and adults - everywhere every day.

But common sense dictates that you don't deliberately put yourself, or more importantly your child, in harm's way.

Part of being a parent is ensuring that you minimise risks for your children as far as possible.

Putting a two year old on a horse during a hunt is clearly not doing that.

[AuntPG]

Also they were illegally cubbing, not hunting, as they were out at 8 am on a Wednesday. Normal Hunts meet at 11am. Often kids are taken out on lead reins for cubbing.
https://www.league.org.uk/cub-hunting