Laura Sitwell
Christmas Hunting is Great Fun - North and South of the Scottish Border
Albert and Alice - Laura and Tallow
Having enjoyed over 20 seasons hunting in Scotland with the Duke of Buccleuch’s Foxhounds, I had the pleasure of getting to know a very different pack a couple of years ago: the Grafton, in Northamptonshire.
My immediate worry was moving my beloved horse down south. I had bought him unseen as a four-year old from Co. Cork and he had never been anywhere but the Borders. I shouldn’t have been concerned; horses are surprisingly versatile and he soon adapted to his new surroundings. It took me a little longer to adapt to the unfamiliar hedges and sturdy post and rail fences - after the walls and bogs we were accustomed to.
I was also secretly glad to dig-out my old blue hunting coat which had long been rejected after the hunting ban in Scotland. Whatever anyone says, they are a 100% warmer than the trusty P.C. tweed jackets.
Christmas meets, however, evoke the same warm feelings all over the country. They are a wonderful time for hunting families to go out together whether it is in the exquisite surroundings of Easton Neston near Towcester, or on a snowy morning in a market square in Kelso. In particular, they prove again and again the huge popularity of the Boxing Day meet. Putting aside whether you will have a fantastic day’s sport, you can guarantee that you will flush away some of the excesses of the Christmas season.
Whipper-in David Seels leads the Grafton Hounds
Understanding and Respect for the Countryside
For children, and especially teenagers, hunting over the Christmas holidays offers the chance to keep up with friends from different schools. In Scotland, they are often sent off together in the hunting field to help whip-in, and given the chance to watch hounds close-up, and hopefully spot some wild life at the same time. This builds life-long friendships as well as an understanding and respect for the countryside.
I often try to combine the two by travelling up to Scotland for my annual fix at Christmas time by packing a few days hunting in before the frost arrives, and the ground becomes impossible. It has become quite an art to fit two children, one large dog, luggage and Christmas presents - not to mention my husband, plus tack and feed - into the Landrover. And we have even got to know which service stations are more ‘trailer friendly’ en route.
Once out hunting, my funny old horse always recognises the same mare he used to be stabled alongside three years ago, and we slot into an equally fun and friendly field of hunting folk.
In short, I believe wherever you are hunting this Christmas you can guarantee you will be with like-minded and welcoming people who have every intention of keeping this age old and unique sport very much alive for many years to come.
Laura Sitwell