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Everyone is aware of the cruelty to animals implicit in the
"sport" of hunting. By its very nature it involves great mental
and physical strain on the hunted animal even if it is not caught, and an
agonising death if it is. What is not so well known is that the hunt's own
animals are invariably treated as commodities, just like their quarry. But
their function is not to provide the sport, but to assist in the pursuit of
it, and they themselves may be driven to great lengths, or ruthlessly
sacrificed, to achieve this. A good pack of hounds is essential if a hunt is to be "successful" and, while huntsmen may boast of the loving care their hounds receive, this is often very far from the truth. It is certainly the case that hounds are only looked after so long as they are useful. Hounds which persistently lag behind the rest of the pack when in the field, often riot (Chase after the wrong quarry), or are generally wilful and difficult to discipline, and will be shot. This is despite the fact that they are likely to be perfectly healthy: if they have no aptitute for hunting, their lives are no longer seen to be of any value. The principal of retaining only the fittest hounds is also the reason why an enormous number are deliberately destroyed as a matter of course each year, to make way for the new entry of young hounds. Again the hounds that are killed are probably completely healthy and are unlikely to have reachen even half their normal life span. Few hounds survive for more then five seasons, while their natural life span is between ten and twelve years. Every year the new entry amounts to between six and ten thousand hounds nationwide; the same number are destroyed to make way for them. Not only are large numbers of hounds killed deliberatly by hunts, many are injured or killed as a result of carelessness or sacrificed to the greater interest of the pursuit of the hunted animal. In this latter catagory fall hounds killed on the roads and railway lines, either as a result of lack of control on the part of the huntsman, or the overriding desire of these people to keep hard on the heel of their quarry regardless of the cost to their own animals. Severe injuries may also be direclty inflicted on hounds by careless members of the hunt. Horses may kick hounds, and hounds are often to be seen with weals on their faces as a result of being whipped. Often, this whipping is deliberate and administered as a 'disciplinary' measure. On top of this barrage of abuse, hounds are also subject to injuries from more genuine accidents, due to barbed wire fences, broken glass, etc. For example, in 1990 three hounds of the Bicester Hunt were impaled on station railings at Islip. Horses ridden for hunting are often just "tools of the trade", much like the hounds. Obviously, there is not such a high turnover of horses as hounds and their treatment while not out hunting tends to be good. Of course, a good 'hunter' is a valuable asset and must be looked after. Despite this, out in the field, riders are often seen trearing their mounts with almost total disregard for the consequences. Horses are often cantered along roads or other hard ground, especially if the rider is in danger of being left behind, and the road sense of some riders is fundamentally lacking. In Autumn 1991 a horse was killed outright and a member of the public treated for serious injuries in hospital after a member of the Old Berkshire Hunt decided to 'box-up' their horse near the busy A420 Oxford to Swindon road. The horse bolted across the main road and into the path of an oncoming car, probably having been frightened by the traffic. Riding headlong over unfamiliar ground is also a dangerous activity in its self, for there may be hidden rabbit holes or pieces of rusty barbed wire. Should the horse catch a foot in a hole and fall, a broken leg is a very real possibility. Though only an inconveniance for a human, such an injury to a horse almost certainly results in its slaughter. Terriers are the heart of what must be the most brutal aspect of the whole ritual. When foxes go to ground and it is decided that they should be dug out, terriers are sent underground to trap them, while the digging takes place. During this period, often several hours, the terrier may be locked into combat with the fox, and when finally released, is often severely wounded. The loss of an eye or other organ, or even death, is not unheard of. In addition to this, terriers have been known to be lost underground, or become trapped, only being dug out several days later having died from exhaustion, suffication or injuries. It is fairly obvious truism that those who hunt for fun have no respect for other animals. However it is all to infrequently recognised that this includes the animals they use to pursue their sport. Its is a far cry from the "Chrismas Card" image of jolly huntsmen surounded by happy, contented horses and houns. |
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