Sponsored by
Over the stable door: Howl lot of fun with the young hounds
Today I am invited to the Holderness Puppy Show near Beverley. Puppy shows give the huntsman an opportunity to show off the "young entry" for the coming season to interested parties including puppy walkers, local farmers and visitors from other packs. It is a first taste of the show ring for the youngsters.
The best of the offspring will go on to compete at prestigious events like the Great Yorkshire, Peterborough Festival of Hunting and the spectacular Lake District setting of Rydal Hound show before beginning the cubbing season in autumn.
Puppy walkers are vital in preparing the young hounds for their future role in life. Valuable lessons on behaviour and experience are taught in the months spent outside kennels before joining the rest of the pack to begin their calling.
I used to walk hound pups for the Pendle Hunt. They need plenty of exercise with their boundless energy and inquisitive natures.
Carver and Careless were the first Harrier pups here at Brookleigh. I housed them in a stable near the house but the incessant howling and whimpering throughout the first few nights kept the neighbours awake, so they were moved out of earshot. The pups were great fun and initially well behaved. They would bound after us as we cantered round the fields. They followed me everywhere initially.
They steadily grew fitter and more adventurous. No longer would they follow us on the horses but veer off in different directions to dig up someone's garden, invade a neighbour's barbeque or occasionally sneak into the house, ripping up mum's smart cushions in glee and even worse – stealing dad's lunch off the table. The novelty wore off for my parents.
Time for discipline. The pups were strong and exhausting to lead out. The four-wheel-drive was handy, I'd drive round the pasture while my friend held their leads off the back of the Jeep. Carver and Careless would happily gallop along behind, round and round we'd go to quieten them down.
One afternoon I looked into their stable to find it empty but for a chewed-up teddy bear they'd stolen from a neighbour's house the day before. They'd jumped out. I set aside thoughts of squashed puppies or an old lady opening her door to the furry house-wreckers capable of destroying the contents of her living room quicker than a burglar
in flight.
Jo Foster trains horses at Brookleigh Farm, Menston.
Emergency mode set in. Parents were dispatched in vehicles, the farrier searched the fields while I rang the local kennels.
By the fourth phone call my hope had dwindled. "Ilkley police station" shouted the answering officer. I could barely hear him above what sounded like soprano wailing in the background. I explained the situation. "No hounds reported found," he shouted, "but someone has just dropped off two badly- behaved Labradors that won't stop howling".
"That's my boys!" I exclaimed thankfully. PC Johnson was highly relieved to see them leave, the police station by then resembling my brother's bedroom (he was 17).
Later that season I was touched to find the policeman at the Opening Meet. Carver and Careless covered his immaculate uniform in affectionate paw prints.
I happened to be watching a repeat of my favourite TV programme recently, All Creatures Great and Small. The episode was set in the early 1950s. James and Siegfried were sitting at the breakfast table reading the Yorkshire Post to my delight. As the daily paper was founded in 1866 it should be no surprise that Mr Herriot and many before him have enjoyed it every morning over breakfast as we do
today.
Email to a friend
Print this page- Leeds lose Ward to Palace: Is there anyone they can afford now?
- Sheffield Wednesday leaving it late to hijack Leeds United over Ward
- As Snodgrass dithers over Leeds, Warnock throws a lifeline
- Ball is in Leeds United’s court over contract - Snodgrass
- Police turning blind eye to Asian voter fraud, says MP
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Yorkshire
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 8 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: East
