HEARTS were beating a tiny bit faster in advance of Saturday's outing. The cause? A great bit of country, the promise of hounds at full stretch, friendships, freedom, access to strong liquor?
It could have been any or all of these but first there was the rather more mundane question of where to park. A message had come through telling us that we could use a small grassy yard that requires sardinelike stacking of vehicles to accommodate more than a few. I thought back to the olden days when we would frequently hack to meets or abandon vehicles haphazardly on a verge somewhere. Prescriptive parking just wasn't a thing.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Gen Z hits the Valley
A fresh influx of bright young things - and a rancher invigorates Tessa Waugh's local hunt, boosting numbers, charming the regulars and bringing the best out of the hounds
Shop 'til you drop
The horses aren't the only lure at major equestrian events. Lucy Elder asks shopaholics for their tips on tackling the trade stands and which venues come up trumps
Gerard
This \"sharp and sensitive\" horse came to hunting late in life, but aged 24, is loving the sport and is still \"fit as a fiddle\"
'We've been very lucky'
Charles Frampton and Matt Ramsden, masters and huntsmen of the Heythrop and the Duke of Beaufort’s, are both retiring from hunting at the end of this season. Here they are in conversation about their careers
Viroflay is up and away
A sharp star cements his name in the record books as he reclaims one of the pointing circuit's four classic titles
Be prepared
Hope for the best, prepare for the worst is wise counsel when it comes to equine emergency readiness. Karen Coumbe MRCVS explains what is needed
Right the wrong's
Even the best riders in the world tend to lose more than they win. Becky Murray finds out how to reset your competitive mindset and turn the tide when the results aren't going your way
The perfect Pic-me-up
A formidable chaser provides Paul Nicholls with a much-needed tonic, a highlight in an otherwise devastating week for the sport
Just the tonic
Whatever your horse's discipline, workload, or stage of life - help him move, look and feel his best from the inside out, with help from Thunderbrook
Meade's magic touch
Brilliant riding is only part of the equation for top-level success. Harry Meade shares how his system works and the methods that boost his horses’ performance and longevity.
