Tanking over the Plain

The Royal Artillery are out in force for their closing meet a fun and fast day out on Salisbury Plain

- LUCY HIGGINSON

WHILE smart turnout is expected at any meet, gleaming boots and plaited tails were definitely the order of the day at the Royal Artillery’s (RA) closing meet, kindly hosted by the Household Cavalry Officers’ Mess at Bulford.

They know all about marching on your stomach here, and a table heaving with port, sausage rolls and cake welcomed 30 or so followers, many of whom had travelled some way to hunt hirelings. Angela Davies had no fewer than eight former racehorses out with various clients.

Lindsay Sinclair was among them, rounding off his first season’s hunting on Angela’s horse, Frog: “I met my wife through horses and thought I should try hunting, and it’s the best thing I’ve ever done.”

Another relative newcomer, also ex-RA, paired a smart jacket with a polo helmet and jeans: “The polo season is rather short…”

With hirelings much in demand, the team at the RA had very kindly paired me up with the wonderfully named Foxy, bought to race (successfully) and then retrained to hunt with his doctor owner.

Corinna, who looks after Foxy, had gamely loaded up a horse, toddler and collie puppy, her small son Leo defending his sausages at the meet from hounds very much his own size. Hunt secretary Claire Wright is another regular hireling user, finding it a great solution for a busy working follower – she is national access advisor for the Country Land and Business Association.