CHILDREN were able to saddle up and join in with a New Year hunt in the grounds of Rockbeare Manor in East Devon.

The hunt, on Saturday, was a chance for youngsters to take part in the sport and gain more confidence on their mounts.

Young riders flocked to the event despite the cold weather, and many were looking forward to taking part and riding across the wooded grounds.

Hunt master John O'Hanlon said: "The riding is about bringing them on, giving them confidence.

"Unfortunately, the bad weather meant we had to be careful how we went. We needed to take it slowly with the children around."

Abby Bevan, 17, from Newton Poppleford, was among the riders. Currently training to be a riding school instructor in Wiltshire, Abby was home for Christmas and wanted to take part in a tradition she has grown up with.

She said: "It's a good social event, that's what I enjoy about it. It's also about being out in the open countryside."

Her mother Theresa Bevan, a gardener, added: "You tend to see the same people. Everyone makes you feel welcome. It's really cheerful. They're a nice bunch of people. I don't know if that's because it's country-folk in the main.

"Abby's been out hunting since before the ban came in.

"It can be a lot slower now. The hounds don't work as well. We don't know enough about it in depth, but the hounds have been trained and now they're not allowed to hunt that way, which is sad."

Watching the meet was Clare Ratcliffe, who used to take part in hunting but chose not to when the ban came in.

She said: "Since they've changed the law it's not fun for me. I loved watching the hounds work, and then not knowing where we were going was exciting.

"Now we vaguely know where we're going. It's not quite the same thing for me."

The ban on fox hunting came into effect three years ago and since then the East Devon Hunt has laid scent trails for the hounds to follow.

On Saturday this allowed them to select an easier route for the young riders, choosing a couple of low jumps, and taking them across the open grounds so supportive parents could watch their progress.