Contacts for the Borders Bloodhounds

Contacts for the South Downs Bloodhounds

Masters THE SOUTH DOWNS BLOODHOUNDS Mr J H Whaley (Jeremy) The Kennels, Windmill Cottage, Froxfield, Hampshire. GU32 1BY Tel: 01730 827709 Mobile: 07817 974460 Hunting the Clean Boot Explained to Email: [email protected] Landowners, Farmers and Shoots.

Mr M Stent (Mark) Park Farm, Avington, Winchester, Hampshire. SO21 1BZ Tel: 01962 779341 (not after 9pm please) Email: [email protected]

Mrs C Geaves (Alice) Coombe Cross House, East Meon, Hanpshire. GU32 823729 Tel: 01730 823729 Email: [email protected]

Hunting the clean boot involves the use of a pack of cross-bred Honorary Hunt Secretary and Treasurer bloodhounds to hunt the natural scent of human runners called Mrs M Baker (Fran) Cedar House, High Cross, Froxfield, Petersfield, Hants, GU32 1EG “Quarries”. The hounds are followed on horseback, just as Tel: 01730 827218 Mobile: 07786 000661 traditional hunting sports. This sport should not be confused Email: [email protected] with draghunting, which uses an artificially laid scent. Hunting the clean boot is now the only form of mounted pursuit hunting using a “live and natural” scent.

We hunt on Sundays and spread our activities over a wide area so as not to interfere with the various foxhound packs.

The aim of the South Downs Bloodhounds is to provide a hound based sport, which will keep alive an interest in hound work and promote an appreciation of the countryside and those who care for it.

Because we try to make hunting the clean boot as natural as possible, with the Quarry encouraged to try and foil the hounds, it is especially suitable for children, who might find the pace and fences of draghunting beyond their ability. That is not to say More information can be obtained from the hunt’s website at that on good scenting days hounds don’t go fast, merely that the www.SouthDownsBloodhounds.com sport is more susceptible to the vagaries of scent. Organising a hunting day. The first job the Master has to do to organise a days hunting, is to contact enough landowners/farmers and shoots to get permission to look for 3 to 5 hunts (routes) of between 2 to 5 miles long each. Then a few days before the meet, the Master goes out on a quad bike to set the routes avoiding any sensitive areas.

From this reconnaissance the Master can prepare a map and notes for the Quarry to follow. Also because this work is carried out just days before the hunt, the Master can identify any potential problems and check them out with the landowner/farmer/shoot.

Arable Crops Because we like the hunting to be as natural as possible, we are not looking for the hounds to be permanently hunting on grass. Ploughed land and arable crops really test the hounds scenting ability and if there is the opportunity for the hounds to hunt on such surfaces, while the mounted field follow an alternative route that will cause no damage, then we like to include them on a hunt. Draghunting (and hunting the clean boot) are DEFRA permitted activities on set-aside headlands.

Quarry tries to foil the hounds on plough

But fail! Hounds and livestock

The hounds are steady to all farm livestock and because the route is planned, we can avoid any particularly sensitive livestock. The Quarry is told that if they run into a field that has stock in it, but the notes do not tell them to expect to see stock there, they should stand still until the hounds and huntsman arrive. This is a “belt and braces” approach to safety.

Hunting and Shooting Once again, because the route is planned, we can avoid game coverts and crops. Whilst it is quite possible for hounds to hunt through woods, it is not something that we are particularly looking for other than for getting from one field to another.

What is in it for the Landowner/Farmer? The honest answer is absolutely nothing other than the gratitude of those who get the opportunity to enjoy a traditional country sport at a time when so much of our country way of life is being lost. This may not seem like much, but given the ignorance of the general public about the contribution that farmers make to our countryside, one should not underestimate the value of letting people see landowners and farmers at their most generous, when they welcome a local community activity such as hunting.

Hunting the clean boot gives our children the chance to see hounds working on a natural scent while riding their ponies in the open countryside.

Thank you for taking the time to read this leaflet.