I WAS delayed by about 30 minutes on my way home from Bishops Cannings on Saturday due to the Bourton Road being blocked by the Tedworth Hunt. 
The narrow road was littered with a large number of impeccably dressed riders hanging around while the Masters in their ‘pink’ cantered backwards and forwards monitoring the behaviour of the hounds that were very interested in the barns and stable yards along the road. 
I am a rider myself, on my way back from seeing to my horse, so the sight of lots of well-bred horses and ponies ridden competently is a joy. However, I have a few issues with the background to this idyllic country scene.
Firstly, why were the hounds trying to flush a fox in yards and barns when this was supposed to be a ‘drag hunt’ and if the hounds had accidentally picked up an actual fox scent, why weren’t they being called off? I know why. This was an illegal hunt. The intention was to hunt down and kill a live fox with dogs even though it has been illegal to do so since 2004. 
The presence of the ‘terrier men’ on their quad bikes with their boxes of terriers confirmed this. 
Hunts ignore this law and flagrantly continue to hunt with dogs, stating they are drag hunting, when it is obvious they are not. Foxhunters are having a laugh among themselves, feeling superior with their ‘secret handshake’ codes, never giving the game away. 
They know how difficult it is for the police to raise a case when the law is so full of vagaries. Indeed, hunters are probably feeling particularly confident right now as it is mooted that the current Tory government will abolish the law.
On this particular day a rider was hurt, an 82-year-old retired judge (yes, they are well supported by the Establishment). 
He hurt his shoulder and had to lie incapacitated for hours as the day was very foggy and help was a long time in reaching him. 
The air ambulance wasn’t able to come out until the fog had cleared sufficiently and he was too heavy to stretcher out. 
I guess he was helped eventually and I hope he makes a full recovery but this man has been heard to say he wants to die hunting. Now that’s all well and good for him, but what about the hours of extremely expensive specialist support that such accidents require? I hope he will be donating generously (his house perhaps) to the various charities and services involved.
My half hour delay was a small thing compared to the hours put in by dedicated people and my inconvenience was a very small thing compared to the torture and pain endured by the fox.
Why are we allowing such barbaric and destructive practices to continue for the pleasure of a very privileged few in our civilised society?
KATH SHAW
High Street
Rowde