Today we joined up with a number of other groups from around the area to pay a visit to the South Herefordshire Hunt, who met at the Black Swan in Much Dewchurch.
After leaving the meet (their last of the season we believe) they headed in the direction of the Mynde, disappearing into the Mynde Wood where they stayed for most of the day. This was quite difficult for us, with minimal vehicular access and a large wooded, hilly area for the hunt to hide themselves in and run around. Despite this we did our best to keep on them and our pressence definitely meant that the huntsman spent a lot of time running around the place and not staying where he wanted to hunt. At one point our sabs saw a small fox fleeing in a field next to where the huntsman and hounds were. We sprayed the area with citronella and despite the huntsman taking the hounds up the same line as the fox, they failed to pick up on its scent. We pushed the hunt on and soon after sabs came across hounds in cry in Penstone Wood. Sabs from another group were on hand to make sure the fox that they were persuing got away, by calling hounds away with some voice calls. This signalled the end of the hunting day for the South Hereford, with the huntsman gathering up his hounds and trotting off with us in tow. We were pleased to see that they were heading back to their kennels in Wormelow to pack up at around half 4, but not before riding (with full pack of hounds) through a field full of distressed ewes and their lambs along the way. You would think that the huntsman would have taken a different route, considering only last season this pack attacked a flock of sheep. Yet more innocent victims of this vile ‘sport’. It wouldn’t be the end of the season without some stupid, childish behaviour from hunt supporters. A group of masked-up idiots made themselves known by driving around and attempting to shout ‘insults’ before one of them punched a female sab in the face and they all scarpered. The sab went to A&E and the police were informed. Pretty typical behaviour from this bunch but nothing that’s going to deter us. A long overdue visit to the South Herefordshire from us. We’ll make sure we don’t leave it so long next time