Edna Philp
Bassets Column
Edna Philp is joint-master and huntsman of the De Burgh and North Essex Bassets and farmer's wife near Saffron Walden.
Edna Philp
We've been out with the pack mid week as well as Saturdays since the end of January, which means my visits to kennels are more frequent. I like to check the hounds the day after hunting to make sure they are all ok, and assess those who are running up a bit fine or are lame, it gives me piece of mind.
I made such a visit on Thursday, as we’d been out hunting Wednesday, and normally the hounds hear my car as I arrive, and start their greeting. So it was a rare thing for me to catch them unawares, all sleeping soundly on their lodge, intertwined together like a big jigsaw: it brought a bit of a lump to my throat. Normally when I go into the lodge, the welcome is very vocal and welcoming.
I regret not having the camera; it would have made the most wonderful picture for a card. Asleep like this, they can be forgiven for chasing the odd deer like they do. Angelic is probably not the best word to describe the sleeping throng – as they were probably dreaming about chasing deer anyway!
This season they have taken to 'singing' on the way to meets, usually starting at the same spot as we go through Halstead. It attracts some odd looks from pedestrians who must wonder what on earth is in the trailer. Whilst I was using the Toyota Hi lux (when I only had one wheel on the wagon) we were stopped by the Police: “Oh God, I thought, what’s the matter with the vehicle; faulty rear lights, bald tyres; but no- they were checking to see if the hounds had been stolen!
Happy with cross checking the vehicle and seeing as we were dressed for our activity they were very happy to wave us on our way after I might add, admiring what beautiful hounds we had. Nice to know the police were only doing their job, as there is so much dog thieving going on.
The relationship that exists between a pack and their huntsman is very special as you all know. With the exception of just a very, few all the pack were whelped here with me so my bond is extra special. We have a retired hound now 11, one of the first litter I bred who comes out with his adopted owners. He still fixates on me as soon as they get him out at the meet, loves to walk home with the rest of the pack and would probably get in the trailer if he had the chance. But he has a wonderful and caring retirement home which is thoroughly deserved after giving us so many seasons of pleasure.
Edna showing hounds at Peterborough Hunting Festival
I really don't have favorite hounds, but some are extra special. One such hound is a bitch called Dazzle now 10 years old and coming up to her 9th season this September. Dazzle has no plans or desires to stop hunting, her drive is still as strong as ever and she has had an amazing life. I lost her for three weeks at the end of Feb some seven years ago. No sightings at all, then suddenly a lady spotted her crossing the road near where she went missing.
I threw on my kennel clothes and went as fast as I could - a car journey of about 25 minutes. Blowing and calling for her, she showed herself but was very wary. We were on the edge of some small woods so I sat down, continued calling and talking to her. She became inquisitive although still suspicious, but soon she recognised both the smell and me, and landed on my lap…and I cried.
The next season she became very ill at one meet, going from a very healthy hound at the start to a very sick one by the end. On close examination back at kennels she was severely jaundiced so into the vets and they diagnosed Leptospirosis. Prognosis was not good, but I told the vet to do whatever he could and beyond, to save her life.
A week later she came here to complete her recovery, the vets being amazed she survived, but I visited her every day and encouraged her to get well. The following year she had her one and only litter of eight and bit all the Philp men-folk on the leg while she was here, so not a very popular hound.
When they were just four weeks old, we had our first early meet of the season and she led the pack throughout the mornings hunting. A truly wonderful and amazing little Basset, who could jump out of her lodge in kennels and help herself to extra rations if there was no one around. Time spent with your hounds is never wasted, and the kennel visits are critical at maintaining a partnership that needs trust on both sides.
Edna Philp