Hunt goes ahead without the horses due to icy conditions

TRADITIONAL Boxing Day Hunt meetings went ahead despite icy conditions – but without a horse in sight.

For the first time in 25 years, riders turned up to both the South Wold and Brocklesby meets on two legs, fearing the icy conditions would be too treacherous for their mounts to join them.

LARGE TURNOUT: Some of the visitors at the South Wold Hunt Boxing Day meet at Louth cattle market. Pictures: Peter Craig.
Hunt master Nick Ashcroft with his hounds assisted by fellow huntsmen Paul Oliver, left and Jeremy Wright, right.
Master of the South Wold Hunt, Nick Ashcroft gives young visitor to the hunt meeting at Louth Cattle Market, Charlotte Plowman, 8, the chance to pat one of the hounds.

At the South Wold Hunt Boxing Day meet at Louth Cattle Market hundreds gathered to see the few hounds led by Hunt master Nick Ashcroft.

Leading the Boxing Day meet in its 153rd year, Mr Ashcroft said: "There are no horses today, but we wanted to keep the tradition going.

"It is too dangerous. You can't go riding in this. It is not safe for the horses and not safe for the people."

He urged hunt supporters to write to their MPs to gather evidence to repeal the ban on fox hunting with hounds.

Mr Ashcroft said: "There are far more important things to get the country back on its feet before we pass legislation to overturn the stupid ban, but we are impatient and can get on and muster support now."

He added: "It is a bad law. Even the former Prime Minister Tony Blair admitted it was. You can kill a rabbit but not a hare. You can't hunt for a fox but you can a rabbit. You kill a rat with terriers, but not a mouse. It is a bad law, it hasn't worked."

Attending her first Boxing Day Hunt meet, Amelia Jane Allen, 4, of Manby was disappointed not to see the horses and riders.

Her grandmother Vera Grantham, 72, of South Elkington said: "I have seen them for a lot of years, but this is Amelia's first. It is a shame the horses could not go out, but we are glad they brought the hounds. It has kept the tradition going."

Sharon Plowman, of Stickney said: "I come every year. It is a tradition. My daughter goes riding. It is a shame there are no horses but we do not want any accidents."