IN 1947, when maestro Bruno Walter was struck down with flu, the young Leonard Bernstein was called up, without rehearsal, to take his place on the podium, conducting America’s most celebrated orchestra in its most famous venue.
“It’s a good American success story,” proclaimed the front page of The New York Times the following morning, propelling the prodigious Bernstein to lifelong fame.
Few professions can offer such opportunities; similarities between the necessary persona and skills required by conductor and huntsman should not be underestimated. A red-letter day’s hunting may struggle to hit the national press positively these days, but a dazzling debut can certainly set the rural drums a-beating.
Orchestral players, like hounds, can take no prisoners – the chief is at their mercy. However, they can also be fiercely loyal and their endeavours can blow the minds of those in their wake through the sum of their parts.
YOU CAN’T KEEP A GOOD MAN DOWN
IT takes wild horses to keep most huntsmen from hunting their hounds – chronic illness, pestilence, broken body or natural disaster. In 20 seasons, I missed one day through illness and even then, I made it to the meet before admitting defeat. From that moment on, the huntsman wants the hounds to have a good day. But if most are honest, not a brilliant day; that may cause tongues to wag.
There are exceptions, of course. During Daniel Cherriman’s tenure as professional huntsman at the Pytchley, Rowan Cope had been joint-master and became a talismanic field master. But he also had an ambition to hunt the hounds, so Daniel enabled him on several occasions.
Denne historien er fra April 25, 2024-utgaven av Horse & Hound.
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Denne historien er fra April 25, 2024-utgaven av Horse & Hound.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
'The world's toughest steeplechase'
The Pardubice is well known to be formidable. Xander Brett asks some of the British raiders how they rose to the challenge
What's the problem?
Lameness is often the first thought if a sport horse performs below par, but there are plenty of other possible causes. Imogen Johns FRCVS explains
Lewis Robertson-Carrier
The new national dressage champion and his newly-wed wife tell Oscar Williams about the highs, challenges and emotions of their unforgettable week
New technology aims to reduce equine inbreeding
The idea is to give owners of mares and stallions more information when choosing possible pairings
Half of owners cannot identify equine lameness
A study found many owners cannot tell when a horse is lame or sound
Calls for dental checks to be in routine sale vettings
Only a basic mouth check is currently part of the standard pre-purchase examination.
Ensuring everyone feels valued in the horse world
A new action plan and education collaboration are aimed at making the equestrian sector more inclusive
New frangible fence makes its British eventing debut
The trakehner, which is designed to collapse forwards and down under impact, will be in use at Osberton this week
Vet corporatisation: how it has changed the horse world
Vets from both types of practices discussed whether or not they and the industry have benefited
Rider Denies Doping After Team Loses Olympic Placing - Tine Magnus and the Belgian team said they do not know the source of the drug that caused the positive test
Olympic eventer Tine Magnus has denied ever doping after her Paris ride Dia Van Het Lichterveld Z gave a positive test at the Games. This means the Belgian team, which came fourth, has been disqualified. On 4 September, the FEI said the 10-year-old mare, owned by Kris van Vaerenbergh, tested positive for trazodone, which is listed as an antidepressant on the FEI's prohibited substances list.
