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** MULTIPLE FOXES SAVED AT MEET OF THE COTSWOLD VALE FARMERS HUNT **
A very good day with the Cotswold Vale Farmers’ Hunt today, in and around Sandhurst, Gloucestershire with our mates from South Wales Hunt Saboteurs & Bath.
Splitting into two groups at the start of the day meant we were continually tag teaming, being able to get ahead of the hunt at every move they made.
At one point we positioned ourselves next to an area of woodland they were about to draw, with the other sabs pursuing the hunt from behind.
Within seconds we saw a fox bolting from the wood, in full view of hunt supporters. With no time to lose, we covered its line with citronella, got our whips out and spread out ready to ‘rate’ the hounds to stop them if they were to take chase.
As the hounds worked through the woodland with us waiting to see if they would pick up on the fox, a second was seen running from further up the woodland, straight past a rider who was on point.
Again we leaped into action, covered it’s scent with citronella and got ready to stop any hounds. By this time our other sabs were with us, along with the huntsman, who thought better of hunting either of these foxes with us present, gathering up his hounds and buggering off in another direction. A great feeling!
Everywhere the huntsman tried to run, sabs were popping out in front of him, using the pincer movement to great effect.
Later in the day we came across the pack of hounds in cry, with no hunters in sight, crossing a road and trying to get through a hedge ahead of us. We were able to slow them down for a bit, giving whatever they may have been chasing a bit more time to get away. We caught up with them very quickly and all seemed quiet, so pretty sure they didn’t have any success with that one either!
They called it a day just after 4pm, and we set off to celebrate a job well done.
* pic by filmingforliberation.com