AN ANTI-fox hunting group has raised concerns that misleading information surrounding trail hunting was spread at the hound parade at the Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show.
The show, which took place from August 13 to 14, celebrates farming traditions and is a long-standing event in Dorset’s cultural calendar.
A key part of the show at the Turnpike Showground in Motcombe is the annual parade of the hounds, which organisers have said offers a “glimpse into a longstanding countryside tradition”.
But show organisers eventually asked two Dorset hunts to not participate in the parade, following concerns raised from Action Against Foxhunting (AAF) that six people linked to the Blackmore & Sparkford Vale Hunt and the Portman Hunt had previously been convicted for illegal fox hunting.
The hound parade was commentated on live by Colonel Simon Ledger – a man AAF says is chair of the excluded Portman Hunt’s Supporters’ Club.
READ MORE: Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show bows to backlash and drops convicted hunt groups from parade
AAF said Col. Ledger “deliberately conflated drag, trail, and clean boot hunting in order to make trail hunting appear harmless” and that he “pushed a pro-hunting agenda” throughout the parade.
“Since the Portman Hunt was excluded from the show because of its convictions, it was a surprise to see Col. Ledger there,” a spokesperson said.
“Given how he used his microphone to spread propaganda to a local audience, he too should have been excluded.”
In a video recording of the hound parade, Col. Ledger said this about those that object to fox hunting: “It is their right… but what they don’t have the right to do is to make it violent and unpleasant. I respect their view, but they must respect mine.”
AAF said this statement implies that hunt saboteurs and monitors frequently use violence.
“That is absolutely untrue,” AAF said. “In fact, this year alone there have been eleven convictions for violence against sabs and monitors committed by hunts, and none at all by sabs.”
They added: “He also deliberately muddied the distinctions between drag, trail, fox, and clean boot hunting. He claimed each was simply a form of “trail hunting” and that each type ‘followed a trail.’
“However, the Master of the Bloodhound pack made it clear in his own speech that clean boot hounds follow a human runner, not a laid trail or drag.
“Despite this, Col. Ledger repeated his conflation shortly afterwards, saying that the clean boot hunt ‘puts a trail down which the man runs.’ This is entirely misleading.
“When interviewing the Master of the South and West Wilts Hunt, the master used the opportunity to make political points about the government’s intention to strengthen the Hunting Act.
“He even claimed that ‘hunting is the thread that binds the countryside together.’ This is demonstrably false. Nationally, only about one in 700 people participate in or support hunting.
“Our own rural survey shows that just 7% of rural residents support it. Most people want nothing to do with hunting, which in fact negatively impacts rural communities.”
After the show dropped both the Blackmore & Sparkford Vale Hunt and the Portman Hunt, they said the decision “does not reflect a shift in the society’s values, nor is it a commentary on legal hunting activity.”
They added: “Rather, it is a response to recent legal convictions and our responsibility to maintain the reputation and charitable aims of the show.”
AAF also raised concerns about the lack of handwashing facilities available for children after they were allowed into the ring to interact with the hounds, which they say are known to carry parasites and salmonella.
Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show organisers declined to comment on AAF’s concerns about misinformation being spread at the hound parade, but they said there were “ample” handwashing facilities available.
Gillingham Mayor, councillor Fiona Cullen also reportedly raised concerns with organisers about the hound parade. She has been contacted for comment.
AAF are completely right in pointing out the misinformation propaganda proposed by pro hunting groups against peaceful sabbateurs to be false. I have witnessed violence & thuggery again & again from hunting supporters for most of my life, while sabbateur groups conduct themselves with peaceful intelligence, politrness & dignity. It is always interesting to observe the instinctive empathy between sabbateurs & the abused dogs used in hunting, as the dogs sense they are kind people in comparison to the harsh reality of their training & the punishment imposed on them when they can’t give more than their best. Foxhunting has no place in a civilised society, but those that continue this appalling tradition are determined it will in spite of the majority opinion and the rule of law. However, we mustn’t let them & recognise that it’s perpetuation through young followers & political influence needs to be broken for good.
The bit about handwashing after being in contact with hounds. 😆😅. Seriously !? Hounds interact with children at meets of the genuine drag hounds and of course the Bloodhounds . Are the AAF going to insist on handwashing facilities there.?. .. that’s dragging it out a bit ….
People that fellow foxhunting are disgusting disappointed with their lives if all they can do is kill Animals
Any kind of hunting with dogs is barbaric and needs to end. Period. We live in the 21st century for gods sake.
I personally have been bullied online, had personal contact information shared around anti hunting social media pages and websites with encouragement to use details maliciously, and repeatedly had to change email addresses because of it. Anti hunting activists are definitely not the peaceful tree huggers they want you to believe they are. Look up the Stockport monitors to see how peaceful they are…