Kitty Gibson
Why I Enjoy Hunting
Kitty Gibson
My name is Kitty. I am a Sixth form student studying for my AS Levels in West Sussex. I am a normal teenager; I enjoy my studies, and my pony, and I like hanging out with my friends. But the one difference is that on most Saturdays from October to March, I go hunting whether mounted or on foot with the Crawley and Horsham Hunt. My friend recently said to me – “Kitty, most of my mates go shopping, or to the cinema on a Saturday afternoon; but no. You go hunting.” – Am I ashamed of that comment? Do I hate being called an “animal murderer” by many of the so-called hunt “monitors” that monitor the C&H every week?
The short answer is: No.
My family grew up in and around the hunts in Sussex and Surrey. There have been ornaments and pictures of hunting in my house for as long as I can remember; there are hunting crops in the porch which have been passed down through the generations and I now ride with one.
People ask why I go hunting and what I get out of it. I sometimes wonder why I go out when I am standing in the pouring rain outside a covert, or on the top of the South Downs in mid-December in ice-cold winds. Not only is it the tradition of a good country sport; but also the friendships that I have made. What I find fascinating about the people I meet out hunting, is the diverse age range. I have chatted to adults, who I would never normally chat to. As a person, I have become much more confident in myself because of the years talking and listening to people who are far wiser than I in the hunting field. Another interesting feature is the people from different walks of life that hunt. The LACS and other anti-hunting protest groups think that the people who hunt are just toffs in top hats and scarlet coats. But everyone who hunts knows this is certainly not true. In the C&H for instance, there are bankers to farmers, lawyers to jockeys. I have met so many people from so many types of backgrounds, that I cannot begin to explain.
Kitty on her horse
Another reason for enjoying hunting is that I can cross land that I have never crossed before. The C&H landowners are very kind in that they allow us to hunt across their land during the season, and we thank them for that. I also like giving my pony a good gallop and it gets her used to being amongst a herd which is what horses do best. I like jumping obstacles, which prepare me for the hunter trails and shows in the summer months. I also enjoy watching the hounds work – of course now, the downside is that we have to follow a trail instead of a live quarry, but the feeling is still the same. I love to watch them work their way through the coverts and across the Downs because they have been breed to do it, and it is such a marvellous sight.
People who don’t go hunting are missing out. What more does a child want when they can chat to friends on their ponies, and jump so many jumps, and be a part of something which their ancestors have done for centuries? I am so happy to say that I have been hunting, be it before the ban and after. It is a thing I will never forget and will continue to do forever. I have become a part of something which I am proud and glad to be a part of. As well as the hunting season, there are also many other hunting activities to do outside such as puppy shows, and terrier shows etc. I enjoy these as I like looking at the new hounds which I’ll be seeing out next season. Again, it is the sense of camaraderie within the hunt which you don’t get elsewhere; you are with people who believe and are as passionate about the ways of tradition as you are.
Over the next few months, I hope to go to the kennels more and see the new hound puppies! (So cute!!) The Crawley and Horsham have their annual point-to-point at Parham racecourse in West Sussex, on 26th March which is normally always blessed with sunshine – and hopefully again this year; we get a great turn-out each year from hunting enthusiasts as well as racing ones, and the general public who enjoy a good day out at the local races. I hope to comment more on that when we have it.
Finally, I wish all, happy hunting for the last few weeks of the current season. Let’s hope that next season could potentially be the last season under the ban.
Happy hunting!Kitty Gibson