Midlands hunt where there’s not a fox in sight
ALL the thrills of the hunt without the blood sport is promised at a meet this weekend.
The only quarry the Farmers Bloodhounds chase is humans – with riders and bloodhounds on the trail of some nippy runners.
This Sunday (17th December) the group will meet at 12pm at The Lygon Arms in Chipping Campden, where they will be collecting for the Air Ambulance.
The Farmers Bloodhounds was established by Michael Lucas in 1989 and cover the south and West Midlands.
Field master Mollie Paxford told the Herald: “Bloodhounds are one of the oldest hunting hounds and have been used to hunt human scent for hundreds of years. They were first recorded in Great Britain in the 1300s when they were used to catch cattle thieves in Scotland. They have since been used by police and search and rescue organisations to find humans. Bloodhounds are easily identifiable by their flapping ears, black and tan or red coats and distinctive baying sound.
“We hunt a pack of bloodhounds who follow ‘the clean boot’. This means that the hounds follow the scent of a human runner and use their incredibly sensitive noses to hunt them, without the use of any drag or artificial scent.
“The runner sets off approximately 30 minutes ahead of the hounds, across a predetermined route, by the kind permission of our wonderful landowners. The hounds then work as a pack to hunt the runner... but don’t worry they’ll only lick him when he’s caught. Bloodhounds are incredibly soppy, sensitive and adorable; they have no killer instinct at all and are well trained by the huntsman Oscar Wood to not chase any wildlife.”
Explaining the appeal of the non-harmful hunt, Mollie said: “Following the hounds on horseback is a real thrill, with plenty of galloping and jumping to be had. We have a non-jumping field master for the less brave riders. Foot followers are also welcomed. Everyone is very friendly, and it is a very sociable and welcoming environment. There is always tea afterwards.”
