Robert Smith
Young People Hunting
Robert 'Bob' Smith
I am a little shy of publicity but briefly I came into the mastership at the Ludlow to put something back into our amazing sport, and help keep our great team together at the time of the pending ban. We had the great fortune of having Rupert Inglesant with us then, and he went on to the Belvoir.
I stayed on, though in subsequent years the wonderful Scilla Kennedy, who had served several years as field-master, and Karl Creamer retired from the Mastership; and we have had some happy seasons with Oliver Dale MFH hunting hounds as joint master. We are also very lucky to have Bill Andrewes as a most excellent chairman and former master, who understands our problems!
One of the few benefits of getting older is to have that greatest of pleasures - a hunting granddaughter.
As with all generations there are those that love ponies and everything that goes with them, and others that just are not particularly enthralled. Of four so far, the eldest Abigail (Abbi) who is 10 is the one showing great interest and enthusiasm: probably one of the boys will be coming along in due course I hope.
I was lucky in that my younger two were both very keen and went on through that terrific organisation the Pony Club enjoying camps, hunting, eventing and various teams. The great love for hunting is something that never leaves and I hope in due course they will both come back to it when families and business allow for the time needed. It is hard work in these peculiar times earning enough for everything you want to do, and it always amazes me how people manage this.
We have a good selection of the young coming out with us when school allows and we host an early morning Autumn meet - something which we do a few days before the full season start date.
Children out Hunting | bothsides13@btinternet.com
It was excellent to see a turnout of 60 or so this time, the great majority youngsters from leading rein four-year-olds and younger, up to the independent early teens. There is always an excitement in the air on those mornings which is unlike that of any other activity. I think it is then that the spirit of the thing takes a hold and we see a new generation become a part of it.
We see most of those youngsters out at some time in the season, some more regularly than others of course, depending on how they enjoy it and also on the support required to enable them to come along.
Over the years I have been with the Ludlow, many of the younger faces are of those who were pony club children and are now regular adult followers. You can always pick them out because they ride so well, and have an assurance and air of independence about them. Often in a group of friends, they are always polite and helpful and somehow you know they will always be like it.
A couple of weeks ago Abbi came out with a friend for the day up in the Corvedale, a few miles north of Ludlow, and having those two tied in close behind on a long fast trail, with pink excited faces, embodied the whole Hunting experience.
We all went home with the happiest of memories and that bond of old and young - which in such a large proportion of our culture - is now sadly missing.Robert Smith MFH