The Way it Was

One of the past century’s most significant and influential masters and huntsmen, Ian Farquhar, has published his memoirs. This is an extract from his book, and relates a day when Ian – then hunting the Bicester – took his hounds to hunt the Cottesmore country

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EARLY in that season of 1982/83, a day of definite note was when we took the bitches to the Cottesmore country on the 29 November. We met at Braunston in the best of their grass country. It was one of those days that was always going to be high-profile, and luckily it just went like clockwork from start to finish. Well, mostly!

We found straight away at the back of the village; the mounted field was under the command of Joss Hanbury, probably one of the most able individuals across country of all times, a legend, a joint-master and field master at the time.

Brian Fanshawe said, “Follow me”, and promptly jumped a hedge off the road, whereupon his horse caught the top of a new wire fence on the landing side, fell and galloped off.

I caught up with it and returned to Brian, who didn’t even say thank you, merely, “Why the hell did you do that when your hounds are running?”

“Because you know the country and I’ve never been here before in my life,” was my reply.

When we caught up not long afterwards, the whole pack had run into a litter in a hedgerow which literally exploded with foxes and suddenly we had about four different little parties all close up behind their own particular fox.

I did turn to Brian and say, “What the f*** do we do now?”