Letter 1 . . .
Date: 28 May 2001
Dear SAFE,
While speaking to one of your representatives from the Haymarket in Norwich a few weeks ago, he encouraged me to e-mail you about a very good substitute for animal hunting which I participated in when I lived in Germany.
Before I go on, I should add that I am now against live animal hunting, though when I was a child I did hunt with the Eastern Harriers and so I have experienced hunting as we do it here and 'mock hunting' as it is done in Germany without dogs.
The hunts are organised for the maximum pleasure of all parties, ie the horses and riders, hunt musicians and spectators.
A course is set up over about 15km of countryside with safely constructed jumps at strategic points.
The hunt starts with music from the band and Schnaps. The spectators know the route and follow in cars to keep up. The horses and riders set off and the spectators jump into their cars.
As the spectators can arrive at the jumps or meeting points before the horses, they can socialise together and perhaps get set up for taking photographs while watching the horses approaching (a fine sight).
Every so often both the hunter and car/foot-followers have more Schnaps stops with hunt music and then lunch of soup and bread together outdoors. The riders set off again and the hunt continues.
At the end there is a grand finale. The 'fox' - a rider with a ribbon stuck to their arm leads a strong gallop - or rather the chase, as the other riders gallop after trying to pull off the ribbon. The one who manages to do so will be the fox in the next hunt.
The whole thing is not only exciting for the horses, riders and spectators but gratifying because of the full participation.
Good luck.
Sally Mittuch BA (Hons) PGCE.