Tally ho! Annual meet a great social success and hunt is legal, too

THE annual New Year's Day hunt from Ottery St Mary pulled its usual crowd of supporters as whole families gathered to see the riders set off on the traditional meet.

Joint master Michael Moore said that it was a great social event for many people and a brilliant way to start the year.

He said: "It's just the fun of riding across countryside which is private and going on farmers' land. Without their support, we couldn't do it.

"It's tradition. We've always hunted around Ottery on New Year's Day, in spite of the Government trying to stop us. We're still hunting legally."

The ban on fox-hunting came into effect in February, 2005, and since then the East Devon Hunt has laid scent trails for the hounds to follow.

But for Vicky Sanders, a 26-year-old mechanic from Payhembury, near Honiton, the hunt is better now.

"It's just the buzz of riding," she said. "The company's good. It's definitely the social side, not the hunting. In my opinion, it's better with the scent trails. We don't get trouble and we don't get the anti-hunt people so much."

That was echoed by Charlotte Willis, 25, who works at Otter Nurseries.

She usually takes part in the hunt but left an unwell horse at home and came along to watch.

She said: "We get a better day's hunting with scent as we keep going non-stop."

Karen Squance, 38, riding Guinness, said she had gone out on her first hunt when she was about eight.

The Sidford housewife said: "I think it's great now.

"It's just the buzz of taking the horses out somewhere different.

Julie Wright, 37, from Venn Ottery, added: "My horse Disney's been hunting now for three years. I moved to Devon last year, and used to hunt with the Mendip.

"We've been out four times this season. I find the hunt helps me get to know the area and I get to ride where I wouldn't be able to normally.

"East Devon people are really friendly. It's a good way of getting to know people and the area."