At the Oakley we are well into hound exercise on bicycles. We are lucky to have such quiet lanes and farm tracks to take the hounds in the mornings. Being able to go out and not see a car is fantastic. The hunt horses have also been back in work for a few weeks, hardening their legs and increasing their base fitness. When we start the mounted hound exercise, we will be able to go a bit further, in the build-up to the start of autumn hunting in September.
It is always interesting getting back on the hunt horses after they have enjoyed a few months off over the summer. This year they have had more time off than usual because we finished hunting at Christmas. Getting back on them after that amount of time can sometimes throw up interesting results. Most have been well behaved, but one of our younger horses was feeling very fresh the first morning and deposited me unceremoniously in the yard.
There was no harm done, but it’s always worth keeping in the back of your mind when you pull them back in from the field after a summer off.
Denne historien er fra August 11, 2021-utgaven av Shooting Times & Country.
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Denne historien er fra August 11, 2021-utgaven av Shooting Times & Country.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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United we stand
Following United Utilities' decision to end grouse shooting on its land, Lindsay Waddell asks what will happen if we ignore our vital moors
Serious matters
An old gamebook prompts a contemplation on punt-gunning
They're not always as easy as they seem
While coneys of the furry variety don't pose a problem for Blue Zulu, he's left frustrated once again by bolting bunnies of the clay sort
Debutant gundogs
There's lots to think about when it comes to making the decision about when to introduce your dog to shooting
When the going gets rough
Al Gabriel returns to the West London Shooting School to brush up on his rough shooting technique
The Field Guide To British Deer - BDS 60th Anniversary Edition
In this excerpt from the 60th anniversary edition of the BDS's Field Guide To British Deer, Charles Smith-Jones considers the noise they make
A step too far?
Simon Garnham wonders whether a new dog, a new gun and two different fields in need of protection might have been asking too much for one afternoon's work
Two bucks before breakfast
A journey from old South London to rural Hertfordshire to stalk muntjac suggests that the two aren't as far detached as they might seem
Stalking Diary
Stalkers can be a sentimental bunch, and they often carry a huge attachment to their hill
Gamekeeper
Alan Edwards believes unique, private experiences can help keepers become more competent and passionate custodians of the countryside