Colne Valley Beagles and other things of interest.: February 2017

Wednesday 15 February 2017

BADSWORTH & BRAMHAM MOOR HOUNDS

Badswworth and Bramham Moor Hounds - Copyright image by David Swanbury

The Badsworth Foxhounds, or to be precise, the Badsworth and Bramham Moor Hounds, or BBMH if you are fashionably into acronyms, had a Meet at High Hoyland on Valentine’s Day. I thought I would go along to have a look and walk around the woods with them a bit as a little sun was promised after a misty cloudy start. So here are a few pics. All big men on big horses with big hounds, or so it seemed.

(Just a reminder - If you click on a picture it enlarges)

Someone had gone to the trouble of providing some warming liquid stimulant as well as an assortment of M&S nibbles such as small sausage rolls and also some nice fruit cake with a bit of cheese.

Through the courtesy of the local farmer the BBMH had the Meet on a bit of spare ground on his land.

What would we do now without mobiles!

It was only a small Meet given that it was midweek and also probably at the edge of the Badsworth territory.

And it was a bit muddy underfoot there too.

I think the hounds took turns to say hello.

Not the official Badsworth site but an interesting one here - LINK

A few words of welcome to the small throng of supporters and riders.

Moving off.

This corn bin for feeding the pheasants will have been upended by the deer I was told.

The huntsman collected up his hounds and moved off to another wood. I departed shortly afterwards. It was an enjoyable walk in a touch of February sunshine after a few dark dismal days. The nip of sloe gin I was given on the way round went down well. It it was delicious.

Sunday 5 February 2017

MORE ROCKWOOD ASSORTED

Some recent Rockwood Harriers pics. A couple of Meets.

A bit more of this area – a wonderful flat grass field.

Apparently the golden gorse flowers make a good flavouring for wine!

"When gorse is out of bloom, kissing is out of season"

Another Rockwood Harriers Meet

Top knot

You learn something every day. I asked someone at this Meet why there were no manes these days and was told quite firmly that one had to have them ‘plaited’ unless a native pony like a Fell or something. I didn’t know of the etiquette regarding horse’s manes not flowing freely when hunting so I had a look at a discussion thread on Horse and Hound. I wonder what the original reason is for this? Seems odd to me how some of these weird ‘traditions’ perpetuate while others fall by the wayside: this is all in the interests of uniformity I suppose.

Plaiting-for-hunting

A quote -

“it is etiquette to plait for hunting. Cubbing .. it is not correct to plait as still in ratcatcher though tidy well pulled manes look the best. farmers and natives(ponies) do not need to plait.(neither do hogged!!!!) it depends on who you hunt with, BUT clean, smart, tidy is a must. it is respectful to the hunt and the landowner who hosts the meet to be plaited. often the last 2 or 3 weeks of the season most people revert to ratcatcher and unplaited. if unsure do phone the secretary a few days before the meet and ask for clarification of turnout. lawn meets should always be plaited.”

So if some of the terminology baffles you and you wish to learn more of these archaic hunting traditions, here is an informative link –

Hunting etiquette

Shell suits are definitely out!