Hunt with a tragic tale in its history

The Pendle Hounds were invited to hunt the York and Ainsty North country for our annual alliance at Burton Leonard. Always a popular and sociable day out, it was a shame we had to abandon due to fog. I was taking two pointers, both excellent hunters, having invited a friend along to join us. She hasn't ridden for three years.

She drove round begging and borrowing everything from breeches to a hair net. She even got to the meet two hours early she was so eager. "I'm mortified" she said "someone bought me a she-wee for Christmas and I really wanted to try it out." I have invited her today for our last meet of the season near Skipton. I'm sure she'll get the opportunity to try it out judging by the contents of her hip flask.

The York and Ainsty have an eventful and poignant history over the country we had been invited to hunt. In 1869 Sir Charles Slingsby, from Scriven, was Master and Huntsman of the pack. On February 4 that season, hounds met at South Stainley with Sir Stanley aboard his trusted old hunter, Saltfish.

The fox crossed the flooded River Ure, swiftly pursued by hounds at the weir near Newby. Sir Charles and 12 of the field boarded the Newby Ferry, a raft built for four horses. Hounds were in full cry when disaster struck, the ferry capsized half way across the river. As it started to tip, Saltfish jumped out. His master tried to grab hold of the reins but was pulled overboard.

Both were washed downstream and Sir Charles attempted to make for the opposite bank.

Saltfish swam after his master like a dog and on grabbing the reins, Sir Charles pulled his horse down with him for the last time. The boat turned over completely and those on shore tried to pull out struggling victims with whips tied together in vain. Five others were drowned including the whipper-in and the two boatmen. The Newby Ferry Disaster was a disaster of national proportions at the time.

Sir Charles's hat was petrified in the Dripping Well at Knaresborough. His whip was found washed up downstream months later and is now in the hands of Bilsdale Huntsman David Wood. David trains a couple of pointers I ride for him, one of which runs tomorrow at Tynedale Point to Point, Corbridge, an improving maiden filly called Terringa.

I regularly receive emails from people wanting to buy an ex-racehorse. Every year I sell a few horses after their racing careers have finished and am usually lucky to ensure the new partnerships are well-matched. Most I retrain in the yard before they are re-homed.

My staff understand the riding aids used by jockeys and the minds of the horses they are dealing with – a point often overlooked when potential buyers come to try thoroughbreds that have been in training.

Everything from the jockey's centre of gravity to the use of their weight in the saddle is different from the normal standards taught in riding centres. The slightest movement in the saddle, or thought in the rider's head, will be sensed by the horse.

The rider must be aware of the aids the thoroughbred has been educated with and be able to carry them out so the horse will respond correctly. Otherwise, how can they consider retraining a racehorse successfully

or safely?

I would welcome the opportunity to re-educate riders before they attempt a rehabilitation project and dispose of the myth that all racehorses are "nutters" – a term I find all too common when interviewing potential staff or would-be purchasers. It aggravates me intensely and is used by those too ignorant to admit their lack of riding ability and understanding is to blame for the horse's difficult behaviour.

Yorkshire champion lady jockey Jo Foster trains horses at Brookleigh Farm, Menston, West Yorkshire.