New ears

Catherine Austen gears up for the season aboard a mannerly new ride – even getting airborne – and hopes everyone plays ball when it comes to Covid-19 restrictions

- Emma Earnshaw

A NEW pair of grey, shapely ears adorn the left-hand side of this page, you might notice. The great Molly Austen went peacefully to heaven in June, and I was fortunate enough to be given Flynn shortly afterwards. His owner, a former master and chairman of our hounds, has sadly hung up his hunting boots and very kindly sent middleaged Flynn my way.

Comparisons are odious, and I was deeply attached to Molly (someone had to be). However, it’s a whole new world. Physically they are very different; Flynn is both taller and wider – and white. I have already finished one bottle of purple shampoo in an attempt to keep him snowy, whereas Molly’s blue-roan coat meant I didn’t even check for stable stains at 4.30 am during autumn hunting – I just threw her tack on and loaded her.

Temperamentally, he is a complete joy. Polite, mannerly, kind, very straightforward to do. Out hunting he is enthusiastic when on the move, excellent with hounds and other horses and, unlike his predecessor, will quite happily stand on his own.