School beagle pack master
Horse & Hound|April 23, 2020
Tom Gurney on swapping rugby for beagling, skipping lessons to get to the kennels and what he’s learnt from being immersed in the rural community
Madeleine Silver
School beagle pack master

On my first morning at Stowe, aged 13, I woke up and missed my first lesson because I went straight down to see the beagles at the kennels. When I’d arrived with my father the night before, I saw the hounds being exercised in the Grecian Valley in the school’s grounds, with the sun going down on them, and I wanted to find out what it was all about.

My father Richard Gurney has been the master of the Old Surrey Burstow and West Kent for 12 seasons, and he was field master for two years before that, and so I’ve hunted my whole life.

I went beagling a couple of weeks into that first term and was sucked in from there. I dropped rugby straight away! I’ve now been master for the past two seasons. How many teenagers can finish their maths lesson and then go and hunt their own pack of hounds half an hour later? It’s the coolest thing.

This story is from the April 23, 2020 edition of Horse & Hound.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the April 23, 2020 edition of Horse & Hound.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM HORSE & HOUNDView All
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
Horse & Hound

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.

time-read
2 mins  |
September 12, 2024
Michael Eilberg
Horse & Hound

Michael Eilberg

The top dressage rider talks to Polly Bryan about the special horse with the potential to carry him back onto the British team, how to be a better coach and using his talent for teaching to help the sport

time-read
7 mins  |
September 12, 2024
Schooling success
Horse & Hound

Schooling success

Combining school and riding can be tricky, but horses can benefit a child's education. Lottie Morgan uncovers some options for horse-loving pupils

time-read
5 mins  |
September 12, 2024
How to get a job in hunting
Horse & Hound

How to get a job in hunting

The British Hound Sports Association's apprentice scheme is providing young people with excellent all-round training in the skills required - and many others besides, as Tessa Waugh discovers

time-read
7 mins  |
September 12, 2024
Burke's Affair to remember
Horse & Hound

Burke's Affair to remember

A fast round delights one rider who comes away with a coveted grand prix trophy and a rankings class concludes with an unusual tie

time-read
4 mins  |
September 12, 2024
Derby winner returns for further Hickstead glory
Horse & Hound

Derby winner returns for further Hickstead glory

After watching wife Pippa compete at Burghley, William Funnell returns to the scene of his Derby triumph to win the All England grand prix

time-read
4 mins  |
September 12, 2024
Derby winner returns for further Hickstead glory
Horse & Hound

Derby winner returns for further Hickstead glory

After watching wife Pippa compete at Burghley, William Funnell returns to the scene of his Derby triumph to win the All England grand prix

time-read
4 mins  |
September 12, 2024
'I'm grateful to have such a wonderful partner'
Horse & Hound

'I'm grateful to have such a wonderful partner'

The brilliant duo of Martin Fuchs and Leone Jei seal back-to-back grands prix after a dramatic turn of events

time-read
4 mins  |
September 12, 2024
Hamlett takes centre stage
Horse & Hound

Hamlett takes centre stage

Two horses round off their competitive careers with victories, a championship specialist earns her fourth title and a pair with a combined age of 105 prove invincible

time-read
4 mins  |
September 12, 2024
'This is the ultimate five-star test'
Horse & Hound

'This is the ultimate five-star test'

Mark Phillips on Burghley's highs, lows, challenges and champions

time-read
3 mins  |
September 12, 2024