From: Nicola Cook
Sent: 29 April 2008 10:34
To: GuestBook@SouthDownsBloodhounds.com
Subject:

Hi Jeremy       

I have read your email informing everyone that the Hunt may have to close down, I just wanted to say a few words if you dont mind. I am a very nervous rider but finally plucked up the courage to go hunting with you just after Christmas. It was the best day of my life!! I was made to feel so welcome and at ease, not intimidated at all, my children came to watch and fell in love with the Hounds and of course now want a pack of their own!!! I couldnt go on the next couple of Hunts for various reasons but was really looking forward to the next season when hopefully I would be able to become a regular. I will be attending the forthcoming AGM, but would like to offer my help now in any way I can, be it fund raising or making a financial donation, my partner Graham although not a rider himself is also very keen to help in anyway he can. We must keep this Hunt going whatever the cost. So please let me know how much money we still need to raise to make sure it continues.

Yours very sincerely

Nicola Cook  

From: sophie sanderson
Sent: 23 April 2008 14:04
To: guestbook@southdownsbloodhounds.com
Subject: Hunting

Hi Jeremy,

Would have sent an email sooner but only just got back off holidays (hence why I couldn't attend the last meet of the season! very annoyed about that!!) and just checked the SDBH website.

I am emailing you to thank you for the most amazing hunting season of my life. I have never met such a friendly, helpful and fantastic hunt!
I had only hunted with you just over half a season, but feels like I have been there a lifetime!
Words can't describe how happy I was to find this hunt and be lucky enough to hunt with them!
The atmosphere was always lively and happy, just the thing you want for a good day out, not the normal 'clickyness' you find with most hunts.

The going was always good; there was always plenty of jumps, and always many people to talk to (also some great pictures taken!!!)
This just proved that the effort that goes into this is phenomenal, and all i can say is thank-you for being so passionate about your hunting.

I am devastated about the news, but I’m sure we can pull something off! This can't be the end of SDBH. If there is any help I can do, please don't hesitate to ask. I could help through summer with hound/horse exercise, or whatever needs doing, anything to keep SDBH for next season.
I will defiantly be attending the meeting, and certainly will put all I have to help save the best hunt in the world. If we all work together on this, I believe there will be a solution.

Please ask if I could do anything to help, as SDBH has had a real impact on my life and my horse, and it is the least I could do to thank you for all the work and effort that is put into running SDBH.

Thanks again for such an amazing season, unforgettable.

Sophie

From: Samantha Ferneley
Sent: 12 March 2008 11:19
To: guestbook@southdownsbloodhounds.com
Subject: Bereleigh Meet

Jeremy

I just wanted to thank you for a wonderful (and exhilarating) first time with the Bloodhounds on Sunday.  The achy muscles have just about subsided and my arms are a foot longer thanks to a very excited little cob who thought it was great fun and took no heed to his rider whatsoever!!  I think Barry Laker summed it up when he said "it was the most fun he has ever had on a horse", I agree with that entirely 
and hope that we will see a lot more of you in the future.  I must  also thank Wendy Laker for the loan of her beautiful little horse, Bumble.... a superb, sure footed, fast!!! little hunter.

Keep up the good work with this fantastic hunt and those beautiful hounds.

From: JAN GRATION
Sent: 17 February 2008 23:47
To: Guestbook@SouthDownsBloodhounds.com
Subject: burne visit

To Jeremy,Mark and everyone at the meet today 17th feb,We thourouhly enjoyed our day with you all . It was lovely to see your hounds.They all looked so well,a credit to Jeremy, They all semed to work exceptionally well , in view of the scenting conditions,Frost then warm sunshine !!.Although one did i think ,fancy a ramble with the ramblers, not a hunt with the hunters !.Once again Thank you.   ..Jan and Nick ,                                                        Masters of the Burne Bloodhounds.

From: Louise
Sent: 22 October 2007 10:33
To: Guestbook@SouthDownsBloodhounds.com
Subject: Meet on 21st

Dear Master,

I and my horse Dancing Jack ( ex-top local sprinter) had a marvellous outing with you all yesterday.  Everyone was very welcoming, you were an excellent host, Jack was remarkably well-behaved and the weather was as you could only wish for !  Thank you very much - and I shall join you again if I may.

From: Gary
Sent: 02 September 2007 20:40
To: Guestbook@SouthDownsBloodhounds.com
Subject: Kennels open day

Just a note to say how much we enjoyed an interesting  visit to the froxfield kennels today
The hounds are quite remarkable and have such perfect temperament
A special thankyou to Jeremy for his interesting talk about the hounds and demonstration of memory power with all the hounds names and family tree
Thanks again
Gary and Kath
Froxfield

Hello,
I have a general hunting query.
Some of today's papers carried a story about the demise of Otterhounds as a breed which surprised me as I thought some Minkhound packs used them successfully and offered hope for the breed. Maybe the story was only reporting on show bred hounds and not working hounds.
However, I notice that you have used Otterhound blood in your pack and am curious as to whether, theoretically, a pack of purebred Otterhounds could be used to hunt cleanboot and if this offered the breed any future possibilities.
While I have followed Minkhounds, I've never hunted cleanboot so cannot make an informed judgement.
If you are able to answer this, thanks for your time.

Jeremy Whaley MBH replies to Muddyhound Nice to hear from you again, you always ask interesting questions! Some Minkhound packs do use Otterhounds or Otterhound crosses but they would be few in numbers. I think there is some difference between the show breed and a working dog, but that is true of most breeds that have a show and working variations.

Most hounds and indeed many dogs like labradors, german shepherds, collies etc. have the ability to hunt the clean boot with varying degrees of accuracy. I am sure the Otterhound could hunt the clean boot almost as well as a bloodhound, bearing in mind they used to hunt the drag of an otter up to 24 hours cold. I have watched otterhounds hunting and they certainly have the power of concentration needed. I have used foxhounds and bloodhounds crossed with otterhounds for hunting the fox and clean boot and they have been very successful. The only thing I wonder about hunting a pack of pure bred otterhounds on the clean boot is, whether or not they would be fast enough, or have enough stamina to hunt fast enough for long enough. After all they have traditionally been used hunting at a human walking or jogging pace. They would also be more susceptible to overheating on warm days. If I got the chance to bring some otterhound puppies into the pack, I would certainly give it a go, but I suspect they are more useful to bloodhound packs as an outcross. Certainly the best hound I have had to date hunting the clean boot was an otterhound bloodhound cross.

Dear Jeremy

THANK SOOOOOO MUCH!!!
for all the hunting I have been doing with you I really appreciate it. I had a really great time and I hope you did to.Perhaps in the school holidays I could come out on hound excercise with you? The opening meet was lovely ,I relly enjoyed it - even on foot and it was good to see Kim riding her lovely new horse Rupert after her leg squash at Itchen Abbas.
Love from,
Olivia Ross
xxx
p.s.THANK YOU

Dear Jeremy,
I had a wonderful time. I had the time of my life. I love the hounds they were so funny, with their big droopy ears. My pony also was fantastic she went like the wind and could easily have over taken mummy if she had let me! I hope to follow the hunt more often.Perhaps when i'm older I could be a wipper in, Kim makes it look like great fun
From Matty Ross

Dear Jeremy,
As you can see from the above -my children ( and I ) have had a fabulous time out with your Bloodhounds over the last few weeks.It has been a real privilege to meet some lovely people and to gallop around such glorious countryside.It has been great education for my mare and such tremendous fun being out with my children.Thank you and the whole Southdowns Bloodhounds team for all your efforts and the very warm welcome that greets newcomers.
Best wishes for a great season
Sarah Ross and family

Hi Jeremy

There are 3 suffering souls here in the shop today, aches and pains everywhere! what a superb Hunt - we all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves....the open field galloping was fantastic - we were spoilt with the silage fields they were like riding across mown lawns who could ask for better going (thank you to John Ellis and of course you Jeremy!) Thank you for a brilliant Sunday.
Jo, Gill & Lynn

just a quick note to say thankyou for yesturday... it was my first proper hunt with the southdown bloodhounds and i thoughly enjoyed myself. Im sorry for having to leave before the last hunt but my horse is not clipped and was really sweating. i will hopefully be seeing you again after the thorney island hunt when the next date is posted up on the internet. Thankyou again Jo Foster

Hi I don't know if you will remember me, but I got 1 of your bloodhound x
otterhound pups.I called her annie.she is the best dog i have had.I am so
happy with her.She is really coming on with her search and rescue. Hopefully
she will qualify near the start of next year. Hope you have settled in well
at your new place,and everything runs smoothly for you.
Best wishes
Gayle Middlemas and Annie.

Hello

Yesterday I attended my first ever hunt meet. It was also my horse Darcys' first time hunting. We had the most fun I have ever had in a day. Darcy is normally a very spooky horse and spends a great deal of time deciding what may or may not kill him. We arrived at the meet and Darcy took it all in his stride. He had no objections to the hounds and behaved perfectly. I have to admit I am not the bravest rider and was tempted to follow those who retired at various times during the day. I am so glad we kept going. I had a very typical view of hunting and expected to be in constant panic. It was quite the opposite - The field master kept a constant watch on all followers and I felt part of the hunt as we were all involved in what was happening. My horse loved the pace and suprisingly the ground was very favourable. My heart did go a little when we had to canter down hill but after the first time my fears were gone as the pace was both safe and enjoyable.

I do not have a cross country back ground, far from it as my horse Darcy is the biggest wimp (part of the reason for our decision to hunt). As I have previousy mentioned my horse spends too much time thinking and not doing and this days hunting gave me the feeling that he was really enjoying himself. The hounds were both entertaining and amazing to watch. Each one with their own name and personality. I am not sure of the correct term but each time they caught the scent they all start calling together which is the most exciting sound.

In all we had a fabulous day and can I take this opportunity to thanks all those involved in making this day possible. We will be a regular follower/member in the future and look forward to our next meet.

Melanie FitzPatrick & Darcy

I visited on Sunday and brought my Niece along (13 yrs) who has never see Bloodhounds or Hunting (she has led a sheltered life!)

It was great to meet you all and the Hounds, I have fallen in love with Pugilist and wanted to take him home!

I think that Jeremy was brilliant answering everybody's questions and not making people feel silly when they asked there silly questions. It was great to meet the Quarry Captain, if it wasn't for the fact that my horse is lame I would have been there with you. I look forward to being able to attend in the future. I hope that you awareness in future dates is welcomed as much as Sunday's was.

Great Job - Well done
Regards
Jane Johnson

To the Master and Tracey!

I would just like to say a heartfelt " thank you" for the introduction to your bloodhounds at The White Horse yesterday! What a fantastic time I had! Neither my horse or I had ridden out with bloodhounds before and we are only just coming back down to earth today! My cheeks are still aching today from the ear to ear grin I had the entire time! Even though it was only an introductory day, both myself and my horse are hooked! Everyone was so helpful and friendly and hunting a 'man' just made the day even better! Thank you again and I will be sure to spread the word of what a fantasic time I had to anyone who will listen! I wish you all the success for this season and hope to be with you as often as work allows!

Still grinning

Ali

How long do you think a day's hunting with the SDB will last? Will it just be a constant gallop for 2 or 3 hours then its over?

Part of the fun of hunting is its unpredictability, like fishing you could wait for hours for just 10 mins of furious action but the anticipation and uncertainty was part of the pleasure of the day. How can Bloodhounding reproduce that?

Am I right in thinking that the Borders BH have given up their hounds, presumably to the SDB? Do you think they will re-start?

Good luck and Good Hunting!

Jeremy Whaley MBH replies to Muddyhound Thank you for your enquiry, much of what you ask can be found on the website in the News Archive in "Questions and Answers", however I will add the following. First of all the most important thing to say is that Bloodhounds hunting the clean boot are not trying to "reproduce" foxhunting. Although we follow the bloodhounds on horseback and follow much of the etiquette and tradition of fox and deer hunting, that is where the similarities end. Having hunted foxhounds for 23 years and bloodhounds for two years, I think I speak with some experience when I say that comparing the two is not only a waste of time, but it distorts the realities of each separate sport. If you are going to go out with bloodhounds, it is a waste of your time and money unless you go with an open mind wanting to see and experience a completely new and different activity.

It is an old myth that "hunting the clean boot" has no uncertainty and no skill, neither can be further from the truth. The bloodhounds hunt the natural scent of the human runner - unlike draghounds which follow a laid scent - and as such it can be strong or weak and subject to all the vagaries that the weather and other confusions that man and nature can throw at it. One of the biggest difficulties in hunting bloodhounds, is that frequently the huntsman will see the hounds doing something he does not expect. Because he thinks he knows where the quarry has gone, he is tempted to interfere. If he does interfere and the hounds are right, he will spoil the hunt, damage the hounds confidence and possibly lose the line. If he doesn't interfere and the hounds are wrong the same applies. However, once the line is lost he can't just go and look for another quarry, so accuracy of hunting is all important. Different hounds will have different abilities and the huntsman learns which hounds to rely on in various circumstances. Whilst we want the field to have a good ride, the emphasis is on hounds hunting. The hounds are not just window dressing for an equestrian gallop over country.

The South Downs Bloodhounds will meet at 12 noon on Sundays and any other days that can be arranged. We will probably move off between 12.15pm and 12.30pm. Usually we like a bit of a hack to the first hunt, giving the horses and hounds a chance to settle. We hope to have between 3 to 5 hunts per day, of 2 to 5 miles long each hunt. Our Quarries will follow an agreed route with the land owners/farmers but within that route he/she will have considerable latitude to try and foil the hounds. The pace of any hunt will depend on the scenting conditions and the degree of success the Quarry has in shaking off the hounds. We would hope to organise the hunts so that after a suitable pause at "the kill" there is a gentle hack between the end of one hunt and the start of the next. This gives the riders, horses, hounds and Quarry a chance to catch their breath, have a gossip and cool down without becoming cold. Some hunts will have jumps, some will not, but we will always try to make it possible for non jumpers to follow, although they might get a little left behind if scent is good and hounds run well. At the end of the day, we hope to have someone or some people who will help organise tea back at the boxes. This gives the opportunity for more socialising and experience has shown much light hearted banter.

Finally, as I understand it the Joint Masters of the Borders Bloodhounds were unable to find someone to hunt and look after the hounds they had on loan from me, and that is why they were returned to me. If they are able to find such a person in the future I have already given them my assurance that I will do all I can to help them restart. However, I think your enquiry as to their future is best addressed to them.

I hope this answers all your questions and that you might feel like giving bloodhounds a try. However if you are hoping to see a reproduction of foxhunting, don't waste your time or money, this is a completely different sport; not better, not worse - different.