2JDRN6X A person on a horse passes the polling station at Uffculme Village Hall, Uffculme, as votes are cast in the Tiverton and Honiton by-election, which was triggered by the resignation of MP Neil Parish for watching pornography in the Commons. Picture date: Thursday June 23, 2022. A ban on trail-hunting, equine ID and horse and rider road safety are among the issues to be considered by equestrians in the general election tomorrow (4 July). H&H has reported that Labour was likely to pledge to ban trail-hunting, and this was included in the party’s manifesto. A spokesperson for the party ..read more

Jim Meads Jim Meads, the hunting photographer extraordinaire, has died, aged 93. For anyone to be called “a legend in their own lifetime” is seldom appropriate, but in Jim’s case, it is genuinely deserved. His reputation was earned on both sides of the Atlantic and his remarkable fitness and deep knowledge of hunting enabled him to take action shots that would have been impossible for most. He hunted with 520 packs in the UK, Ireland and the US. Jim learned the skills of hunting photography from his father, Frank H Meads, and it was his action shots that were so unique. His classic monochrome ..read more

By Martin Scott One of the best professional huntsmen since World War II has died, aged 85. He started hunting with the Heythrop where his father Tom was the long-serving kennelman of more than 40 years. His aunt was a Littleworth, and his uncle Jack Littleworth hunted the Quorn hounds. Sidney went to the Ledbury and whipped-in to Nimrod Champion in 1957, then came to the VWH Cricklade in 1960. When the amalgamation took place in 1964, it was felt that a break was needed so Sidney went as huntsman at the Wylye Valley from 1964-66. He returned to become huntsman of the VWH at Meysey Hampton in ..read more

Captain Ian Farquhar, one of the towering figures of the modern hunting world, has died aged 78. Capt Farquhar, known by many in the hunting world as simply “Captain”, was master of the Duke of Beaufort’s for 34 years (1985–2019). He hunted the Beaufort hounds from 1985–2011, and was master and huntsman of the Bicester from 1973–1985. Capt Farquhar was born on 11 December 1945, in Dorset, where his father Sir Peter Farquhar was the distinguished master and huntsman of the Portman. Sir Peter had commanded his regiment in North Africa during World War II and, after Ludgrove and Eton, Ian joined ..read more

The Field during the meet of the Duke of Beafort's Hunt in the village of Hawkesbury Upton in Gloucestershire in the UK, on the 3rd November 2020 Calls have been made for the rural community to “take action for hunting” by lobbying MPs and demonstrating that the sport is a “well-regulated activity” – following the Labour party’s pledge for a full ban. MP Steve Reed, the shadow secretary of state for environment, food, and rural affairs, told The Times that there are “loopholes” in the current legislation, and a ban on trail and drag hunting “is something we’ll do in the first term of a Labour ..read more

This tiny but indomitable combination is Annabelle Hague and Timmy, tackling a hefty bank and ditch in style, while out with the Cross Country Chasers on 18 February. The 11-year-old rider and 27-year-old pony were having the time of their lives with the chasers, a group who take on rides organised by Annabelle’s father Chris Hague, and Tom Lancaster. Chris told H&H he was master of the North East Cheshire Drag Hunt, which amalgamated with the Cheshire Farmers Drag Hunt, to become the Cheshire Drag Hunt. But that closed, and “The members came to us and said ‘What can you do?’” Chris said ..read more

James' christening. James Knight, the former master and chairman of the Belvoir has died aged 73. James’s route to the hunting field was inevitable; his parents, uncle and Belvoir joint-masters and huntsman were at his christening in hunting attire, and the timing was arranged to fit with the day’s meet. James grew up with his parents Joan and Peter and sisters Helen and Barbara, in the heart of the Belvoir’s Lincolnshire country. Having been to Stamford School and Caythorpe Agricultural College, James worked on farms in Australia and New Zealand, after which he returned to work on the family ..read more

A rider whose hat fell off before his head hit the road has urged others to wear safety helmets with appropriate fastenings – after he fractured his skull and spent 10 days in hospital. Neville Woodes Rogers was taken to A&E after his fall on Boxing Day, where he was scanned and sent home. But days later, he went back to hospital as he had a leak of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which protects the brain and spinal cord. He is now recovered and back at work, but he told H&H he will never again ride without a chinstrap. “When I go hacking out, I wear a proper hat, but I wanted to look good ..read more

Jeffrey Thomas Hall died on 27 December, aged 83. He grew up in Leicestershire and served an apprenticeship for a firm but did not join the company, becoming involved in hunting professionally instead. Jeff was well known as an otterhounds huntsman who had won the Horse and Hound horn-blowing competition twice running, which perhaps rankled with the hunting fraternity and led to the organisers the following year inviting him to judge instead of competing. When he arrived at the Ampleforth College Beagles in 1975, he was only the third full-time huntsman during what was to be 79 years. Continu ..read more

A tiny rider whose pony had done enough for the day but who wanted to jump a five-bar gate thought nothing of “pinching” her mother’s horse to have a go. Ella James Winn, who has been riding since she was 18 months old, and first went hunting a year later, had already cleared the gate on her 12.2hh Sidney while out with the Pembrokeshire on 27 January, but wanted to do it again. “We came to this line, with a gate at the end and she said ‘Mummy, please can I do it!’” Ella’s mum Emma told H&H. “I said ‘Follow me’ and we popped it, then she wanted to go again. I said Sidney had done enough f ..read more