Southern Shires Bloodhounds

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CHARITY MEET NEWS: Weds 17th Feb 2010 - New Barn Farm, Charity Meet, "Help for Heroes" 1100am meet (RG7 6PT)
 
This is going to be a wonderful days hunting in the Pang Valley. There are going to be 2 packs of Bloodhounds hunting throughout the day. and the kent and Surrey. Each pack will do 2 lines each, with both packs being put together to hunt the last line home.
There is going to be five lines, plenty of jumping, hedges, post and rail, ditches. Our famous "Ellies" hedge is going to be one of the hedges. If you do not wish to jump then there are ways around for non jumpers or if you want to miss fences out. All caps and donations from this day are going to "Help for Heroes". The Horse and Hound will be out to Oursdo an article about this meet, so if you want your name in lights be there.......
If the weather has been inclement, the day will take a slightly shortened format, there will be only 3 longish lines with both packs joining together to hunt the 3 lines. If you have any queries please phone the Kennels 07888 955512 or 01189 326028. Mudsports Event photography will be attending the day with 2 cameras out and about. The photo's from the day can be viewed and brought on line.

The Southern Shires Bloodhounds were founded around fifteen years ago, in a pub called the George & Dragon, just on the outskirts of Reading. The pack are now hunting in their 14th season.

The pack has now become very independent, and has settled at Park Farm, Wherwell in the Harewood Forest, just east of Andover. The hounds are kennelled together with the stabling for the hunt horses. This not only makes it easier to exercise the hounds from horse back, but also develops familiarity and trust between the hounds and the hunt horses.

A days hunting can involve from 3 to 6 lines, each line can vary from 1 to 5 miles long. The length and distance of each line is very much determined by the layout of the land that is going to be hunted across, i.e roads, rivers, crops and the landowners wishes.

When hunting with The Southern Shires Bloodhounds, we try to keep the hunting as natural as possible, therefore jumping varies from none at all, to days full of jumping, it will always depend on where the quarry takes us. Jumping takes place in the form of natural hedges, ditches, walls, post and rail and rivers. There are always ways around for the novice rider or horse, so everyone attending a days hunting with The Southern Shires Bloodhounds can still enjoy "the chase". The Southern Shires Bloodhounds meet on Sundays at 12.00 noon moving off at 12.30 with the occasional bye day.

For those who go hunting, they get the chance to ride over countryside that would not normally be open to them, in the company of horses and hounds who are doing what they were evolved and bred to do. This is best summed up by the spectacle of a pack of Bloodhounds in full cry - it is indeed a wonderful sight. All followers and supporters, whether mounted or on foot, are reminded that all hunting is entirely dependent on the goodwill of landowners and farmers. It is therefore of the utmost importance to have respect for any and all property.

Meet: Sundays (Thursday bye days) 12 noon

Subscriptions: Family (2 adults, 2 children) £900; Adults £400; Juniors (under 18) £180

Day caps: Adults £35, Children £15