Make his pack hold to the line of the fox as long as they could

Make his pack hold to the line of the fox as long as they could

The late Sir Richard Sutton, Master of the Quorn, used to say that he liked to stick to the band and keep hold of the bridle, that is to say, make his pack hold to the line of the fox as long as they could; but there were times when he could not resist the temptation of a sure holloa, and off he would start at a tremendous pace, for he was always a bruising rider, with a blast or two upon his little merry-toned horn which he had the art of blowing better than other people. To his intimate friends he used to excuse himself for these occasional outbreaks by quoting a saying of his old huntsman Goosey (late the Duke of Rutland’s) for whose opinion on hunting matters he had a great respect I take leave to say, sir, a fox is a very quick animal, and you must make haste after him during some part of the day, or you will not catch him. Letter from Captain Percy Williams, Master of the Rufford Hounds, to the Editor.


Fonte: Tamming Horses