We heard this week that Trail Hunting may be banned in England and Wales, which left me thinking what the future holds for hounds, but also country sports.
Hunting has been a British tradition since the 16th century, surviving several key changes with the most notable being the Fox Hunting Ban in 2004.
Since then people have enjoyed trail hunting and drag hunting throughout the winter months, with Boxing Day and New Year’s Day often seen as the pinnacle.
Whilst I will explain the difference between the two shortly, I fear that this ban will leak into drag hunting and thus ending the sound of hounds and one of Great Britain’s most iconic sports for generations to come.
Animal Welfare
Earlier this week, the Labour government announced changes to its Animal Welfare Strategy with trail hunting set to be banned.
The government has confirmed the policy to ban the activity formally and will undertake a public consultation on how to implement the ban.
The announcement has left uncertainty as to whether this will ban all hunting, including drag, which many refer to as “clean boot hunting”.
I can’t help but feel if the UK government believed in animal welfare it would ban certain types of slaughter that affects hundreds of thousands of animals, yet it hasn’t.
I don’t believe this ban on hunting is about animal welfare, I think it’s a class war and a war on country sports.
Trail Hunting
Labour banned fox hunting outright with the Hunting Act 2004 in England and Wales, with trail hunting being introduced after the ban.
Trail hunting sees an animal-based scent trail laid for fox hounds to follow rather than them chasing the scent of a fox, whereas drag hunts predominantly see a pack of blood hounds follow a pre-planned course using an artificial scent.
Undeniably, some hunts across the UK have used trial hunting as a smokescreen to still hunt foxes, yet this is an absolute minority within the realms of the hunting world.
I don’t think it’s right that all hunts may pay the penalty for others mistakes.
It’s similar to banning all driving because theres a hand full of people that choose to drink drive. It isn’t everyone. It’s the minority that have acted illegally.
I Don’t Get it
Whilst many think hunting and many other country sports is just a bunch of toffs tottering around the countryside, it isn’t.
A hunting field is diverse, with people from all walks of life, and it certainly isn’t just upper class people.
Stepping away from the sport itself, it is also a living to thousands, and a lifeline to many animals.
For the many hunts that have followed the rules, this change in law is life-changing.
Attack on Rural Britain
If this ban does get the go ahead and then leaks into drag hunting I worry about the future of the thousands of hounds across England and Wales.
Hounds are not pets, and a lucky few will be homed by some hunting families that can take them on.
However, I fear that thousands all over the UK will have to be destroyed. If hunts collapse, income to pay for the hounds goes with it.
As well as hounds, what future does this leave for hunt horses? Many horses have ended up hunting as they wouldn’t settle at any other job.
What many people misunderstand is that there are lots of horses in this world that won’t simply be turned out into a field and left to it.
There are so many that are unable to be retired into a field, many of their minds are too busy, and they can’t switch off. What future does it leave for them?
Along with that, the others that can turn to other jobs and need new homes, where will they find them? People are already struggling to afford horses, and options for rehoming are becoming more limited.
Economic Impact
Hunting is a massive employer in the countryside, and for those who think Daylesford Organic or Tebay Service Station is the countryside you have some more exploring to do.
Thousands of rural jobs will be lost from this; From hunt grooms to kennel staff, farriers to vets, and feed suppliers to hauliers. Those jobs have the danger of just falling into the history books.
Similar to the decline of thatchers, blacksmiths, lighthouse keepers and greengrocers, it won’t be long before Britain is unrecognisable, and what once made it great falls into the shadows never to be seen again.
Village economies will be damaged, local pubs (which are already on deaths door) profit massively from many country sports and all that comes with them.
But what I find truly gobsmacking is that this way of life is being erased by people who have never set foot in the countryside.
In the words of Christopher Penfold, “It’s urban politicians lecturing rural communities on morality while destroying livelihoods they don’t understand”.
Doesn’t Bother us, We Are on The IOM
Yes, we are on the Isle of Man and no, we don’t have foxes and trail hunting doesn’t exist.
However, we have a strong drag hunt which I enjoyed for a lot of my childhood and early 20’s.
A day out with a pack of hounds, a great mix of people and the joy of children’s faces as they saw all the horses gathered on Boxing Day in Castletown Square.
Thanks to Labour, that tradition across England and Wales may soon be gone.
I’m also concerned as to what this means for game shooting? Is that Labour’s next victim? Will fishing also be on the list? Where does it end? When all country sports are extinct?
What I hope doesn’t happen is it bleeds into the Isle of Man, but I do sit here worrying it will.
While country sports may not make up a large portion of our economy, like it does in other areas, it’s still a tradition I’d be sad to see go.
If the sport diminishes in the UK it will inevitably diminish here. I think it would be a crying shame if we have to explain these sports to generations to come.
Generations who may never experience the sound of hounds gathering in a local town, the bellowing of a hunt horn and for young equestrians the excitement of their first hunt.
An Animal Lover
I hope that no one reading this and disagreeing with everything I’m saying hasn’t allowed their dog to kill a rabbit whilst on a walk, or worried any sheep.
Whilst many may tar me being an “animal murderer” for valuing countryside sports, make no mistake in how much I love animals.
I would give my life for my animals in a split second, and would say yes to a vet procedure before having any idea how I was going to finance it.
I am for correct and strict animal welfare standards, but not to be dictated to by people who don’t understand animals and the country way of life.
It’s why I shout from the rooftops about buying local – I care about these animals, and if we are going to kill them it has to be done with care in mind and not buying from places with no regard for animal welfare.
What people often forget is that if we didn’t breed them for farming, they simply wouldn’t exist – you try and keep a sheep alive, it isn’t all that easy.
But trail hunting is so different, when carried out correctly it is not killing animals, but the ban will.
