1, February 2000

Preamble

1. These answers to the Inquiry questions reflect the knowledge and experience of the Border hunt and may not reflect the views of other Hunts:

What factual evidence do you have about hunting with dogs including the organisation of hunting activities and the way those activities are carried out?

1.1. The Border foxhounds are a small hunt which has existed for 131 years to control foxes over a large area of Northumberland and Roxburghshire.

1.2. The Hunt Country extends to some 208,000 acres of which 33,600 acres are commercial forestry and 56,000 acres the MoDs Otterburn Training Area.

1.3. The Hunt meets Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays from the end of August to the beginning of April. The area hunted depends on the rhythm and pattern of farming operations (tupping, lambing and sheep sales), the weather (no hunting when drains are full of water or snow) and the condition of foxes (vixens are not hunted when heavy with cubs). The number of days hunted over the last 5 years averaged 89 per season and the number of foxes killed averaged 186 per season.

The area hunted is mostly upland sheep farming country with open moorland and some substantial blocks of commercial forestry.

The hunt has licenses from the Forestry Commission and has had a licence from the MoD for the last 12 years. The Border foxhounds are the MoD's preferred method of fox control because it is selective, reactive to the tenants' wishes and free. The use of hired marksmen lamping by night is considered to be a risk to soldiers training and vice verse.

1.4. Hounds are of the fell type and hunt more independently than standard foxhounds. 50 entered hounds and 9 unentered hounds are kennelled at Overacres Farm, Otterburn, the home of the Masters.

1.5. The Masters (father and son) are acting joint masters for a committee.

1.6. The hunt employs 2 part time (for the hunting season):

The hunt relies greatly on unpaid volunteers:

d. Running Hunt sponsored and fund raising events. (70+).

1.7. The number of followers on hunting days are in the order of

1.8. The Master and his assistants use ATVs in areas where the ground is too wet or steep for horses and radios are used to keep the master and his assistants aware of where hounds are running.

1.9. A hunting day would generally comprise:

a. Setting up the meet - decided by the Master after discussion with landowner, tenant, shepherds some 30 days ahead.

b. Confirming the meet: By the Master 7 days before the meet.

c. Earth Stopping a. Assistants warned by the master the night before which earth to be stopped.

Hunt Activities

1.10. The Hunt runs a wide range of sporting and social activities:

1.11. The Hunt usually contributes £1000(+) per year to local and North East charities, such as the Air Ambulance Service, Leukaemia Research and Action Research.

What evidence is there as to the importance of otherwise of hunting with dogs to the rural economy in general and/or to particular areas of England and Wales?

2.1. The existence of the Border Hunt, hunting the same country for over 130 years with the support of the majority of Landowners and tenants, is evidence of the importance of the Border Hunt to the rural economy in general. The areas of importance are social and economic.

2.2. Social Importance

The Hunt country is extensive (208,000 acres) with a sparse population (2180). The number and scale of hunt social activities is greater than any other organisation in the area:

Where there is duplication in these figures of those attending and those organising, none of these functions are restricted to hunt subscribers only. In addition, the number of followers on a days hunting is in the order of:

30 Saturdays with 108 following = 3240 person/days

60 Wednesdays with 45 following = 2700 person/days

Total = 5940 person/days

Although there is again considerable duplication of those following the figures are evidence of the importance of the Border Hunt to the social fabric of the rural area.

2.3 Where it is difficult in the timescale of this inquiry to give hard evidence of the amounts that individuals spend on hunting with hounds it is possible to give correct figures for the Hunt's expenses under distinct headings:

2.4 The Hunt secretary's expenses for maintaining 2 hunters, has been:

Lorry expenses have averaged £1,760 per year.

The expenses of the 46 regular mounted subscribers are unlikely to be substantially different.

2.5 Hirelings

There are 3 livery yards in the hunt country who provide horses for hunting visitors, the number of visitors days is around 35 per season. The charge for hiring is £80 to £90 per day.

2.6 Hotels

Local hotels and pubs benefit from the socialising after hunting as well as hunt breakfasts and more formal occasions.

2.7 Breeding Horses

Of the 46 mounted followers 23 ride horses which were bred locally for hunting and the owners also breed replacements.

What evidence is there about the likely impact on the rural economy if hunting with dogs was banned completely?

3.1 Hunt Kennels

The kennels would close and the hounds would be put down or some might go back to those who walked them as puppies, the horses would be sold. Most of the money paid by the hunt (para 2.3) for various services would cease to go into the local economy.

3.2 Horses

Owners of horses who hunt with the Border Hunt have confirmed that if hunting were banned completely they would sell 33 of the 55 horses owned. If the market for horses were collapse as a result of a ban on hunting, some owners would consider putting them down rather than see them go abroad for meat. Fewer horses would be bred and suppliers of feed, vets, farriers and saddlers would suffer.

3.3 Suppliers

Robson and Cowan of Scots Gap - the major local agricultural supplier, is of the opinion that, if hunting were banned, their business would have to shed 1 man and 1 van out of a total of 9 men and 5 vans.

3.4 Loss of social activities

The social activities listed at 2.2 would cease, to the detriment of the local economy as much as companionships.

To what extent could any detrimental consequences of a ban be offset by greater participation in drag or bloodhound hunting or other activities or by other measures?

Answer 4.:

4.1 Jumping is not part of the culture of the Border Hunt and drag hunting would not appeal, local Landowners would be unlikely to allow drag lines over their better land because frequency of use would end in damage.

4.2 Bloodhounds

Following Bloodhounds is unlikely to appeal to followers of the Border Hunt.

4.3 Other Activities

Some horse owners would turn to other equestrian activities, but many would cease riding.

What evidence is there about the need to control the population of foxes?

5.1 Listed below are some farms losses through foxes:

These figures show the losses when the Border Hunt have been controlling foxes (189 per season)

5.2 If foxes were not controlled the numbers would increase greatly and farms would suffer severe predation and would resort to digging out and killing as many foxes as they found.

What evidence is there about the advantages and disadvantages of culling with dogs in terms of agriculture and pest control compared with other possible forms of control?

6.1 Lamb losses to foxes are an anathema to shepherds and it is a tribute to the efficiency of the Border Hunt that 28 out of the 31 farms on Otterburn Training Area chose the hunt in preference to hired marksmen to control foxes because the hunt will come on request and at no cost. The lack of cost also appeals to the MOD who consider the use of hired marksmen could be dangerous to soldiers training and vice versa.

6.2 A summary of advantages and disadvantages is listed below:

What evidence is there about the consequences for agriculture and pest control if hunting with dogs were banned completely?

7.1 There is no hard evidence of the consequence to the Border Hunt Country excepting the effects on farms adjacent the large blocks of Commercial Forestry within which there is no fox control except that provided by the hunt. For example in the table at 5.1 Cottonshope Farm is flanked on 2 sides by Commercial Forestry and their worst years lamb losses were double the figure of other farms.

What other measures, if any, would need to be taken to protect agricultural interests and to control foxes?

8.1 Farms would control foxes by the methods that each farm finds most effective but it is likely that the fox would rapidly become an urban pest and a rarity in the Border Hunt Country. There are genuine fears for the welfare of the fox and the future of the fox.

In what way, and to what extent does the existence of hunting with dogs contribute to or impair the social and cultural life of the Countryside?

9.1 There is no other club, organization or church in the Border Hunt Country which provides more social opportunities than the Border Hunt . In this case of a small population widely spread over a large area and under pressure from reduced incomes, fewer job opportunities and increasing transport costs the hunt crosses all social barriers and brings a social focus which anyone can enjoy for a very modest outlay.

What evidence is there as to its importance generally or in particular areas?

10.1 The Members of the Committee who attended the Meet of the Border Hunt at Heatherhope on 9 Feb will have noted that a weekday meet in the Wilds of the Cheviots attracted a wide range of people bound together by a common interest and enthusiasm who were able to tolerate the presence of an activist from the League Against Cruel Sports without rancor or rudeness.

What evidence is there about the present effect of hunting with dogs on preserving or damaging habitats and on the management and conservation of wildlife, including the quarry species?

11.1 The Border Hunt undertakes few habitat improvement measures but equally does little or no damage to habitats.

11.2 As the MoDs preferred means of fox control on the 58,000 acres of Otterburn Training Area the Border Hounds kill an average of 95 foxes a year between September and the end of March. In April and May the MOD contracts a vermin controller to kill crows and an additional 25-30 foxes. This degree of control has contributed to the training area supporting the large population of Black Grouse north of the Tyne and 98 species of breeding birds with large populations of ground nesting birds such as Lapwing, Curlew, Grey Partridge and Red Grouse.

What would be the impact on these matters of a ban?

12.1 To maintain its population of ground nesting birds without hunting with dogs the MoD would have to employ at least one full time Vermin Controller (possibly two).

What evidence is there at present about the effect of hunting with dogs on the welfare of the quarry species, or on the welfare of other animals, including those used in hunting activities and domestic pet and farm animals which may be affected accidentally.

13.1 Quarry Species

In 26 years of hunting hounds the Master cannot remember any fox being wounded (ie: caught but not killed): The fox is either totally dead or totally alive.

13.2 Welfare of Other Species

Over the last 9 years as Secretary of the Border Hunt (81 0 hunting days) can only remember one pet rabbit killed by hounds at a meet and one roe deer disturbed (but not hunted) by hounds running into a fence and breaking its neck.

What evidence is there about the impact on the welfare of animals of other means of control which might be used if hunting with dogs was banned?

14.1 Snares

By law, snares have to be checked every 24 hours: This can and does mean that a snared fox can struggle for nearly a day before the trapper puts it out of it's misery. In over 14 years at Otterburn, I have personally killed 3 foxes trapped in snares.

14.2 Rifle Lamp

Over my 14 years at Otterburn I have found the corpses of 4 foxes which has been shot and subsequently died above ground. I have heard of the North Tyne Foxhounds refusing to approach a fox with gangrenous gunshot wounds.

14.2 Shotgun

The evidence of foxes dying from shotgun wounds is nearly all underground.

The Border Hunt has no view on these questions.

Postscript

In conclusion The Border Hunt invites the Committee to remember the Duke of Edinburgh's Foreword To NATEUROPA in the early 60s:

"The legal hunter has a vested interest in the survival of his prey. He wants to hunt it next year and the year after. He is doing exactly what a stock farmer is doing when he keeps a breeding stock to produce a surplus for the following year. Like a stock farmer he has to ensure that there is somewhere for his quarry to breed, live and that it has enough food and that it is protected from excessive predation and disturbance."

1 March 2000

I realise that the deadline for Submission of written evidence has passed, but the attached paper on the "Use of horses if hunting were banned" has only just been completed, and it is with due humility that I submit that this evidence is relevant to the Inquiry. This submission has been compiled from approaching all those who follow hunts in Southern Scotland and the North of England and its revacity is auditable.

THE BORDERS HUNT

SECRETARIES SURVEY:

'THE USE OF HORSES IF HUNTING WERE BANNED'

Combined Responses to Questionnaire Distributed to Subscribers

November 1999

• 962 horses are used for hunting in the Borders by 372 regular mounted followers (hunt subscribers)
• 62% of horses are used only (full time) for hunting
• 38% of horses are used partly (part time) for hunting

• 40% (381) horses would be put onto the market to be sold
• 12% (103) horses would be put down
• 4% (39) horses would be retired
• 17% (178) would be used in the summer only
• 27% (263) would be used all year round
• 28% of respondents (104) would cease to ride if hunting is banned
• The winter use or keep of horses would be reduced by 73%

• The currently depressed horse market would be further depressed
• The winter activities for horse users is limited
• Drag / Bloodhound Hunting would not provide an alternative

It is often stated that if hunting were banned, those who hunt would continue to use their horses and thereby continue to contribute to the local economy and that a ban would therefore have no negative impact.

This survey was undertaken by the Borders Hunt Secretaries to identify if this is infact the case. A short questionnaire (appended) was sent to each of the regular mounted followers who subscribe to the main Borders Hunts ie the Buccleuch, the Berwickshire, the College Valley, the Jedforest, the Border and the Lauderdale during November 1999. These were than collated and analysed (see Tables 1 and 2).

A high response rate of 73% has enabled the production of reliable facts and figures and the grossing up to reflect the response of all regular mounted followers to a ban and the probable consequences for the local economy.

NOTES*
Retired*; These are horses not accounted for in terms of their use / destruction following a ban and it is assumed that they would be retired

Winter* Continued use in the winter assumes in many cases that point-to-pointing will not be affected by a ban

Figures refer to the 1998 - 1999 season

Based on the major six of the seven Borders packs

BORDERS HUNT SECRETARIES SURVEY ON USE OF HORSES IF HUNTING WERE BANNED; Table 2: Grossed-up Totals to Represent all Subscibers of the Main Hunts

A 73% response rate from those who received the questionnaire is high in statistical terms and allows grossing-up to give reliable figures for the 100% of recipients (ie all regular mounted followers). Please see Table 2.

• breeding of horses would not continue if a ban were put into place horses would not be replaced once they had passed away
• horses would be put down if they could not be sold
• hunting was an important part of nursery and other training for competition horses

Summary results from the table (figures grossed-up as per Table 2);

• 62% of horses (600) are used only (full time) for hunting
• 38% of horses (362) are used partly (part time) for hunting

• 40% (381) horses would be put onto the market to be sold
• 12% (103) horses would be put down
• 4% (39) horses would be retired
• 17% (178) would be used in the summer only
• 27% (263) would be used all year round

The 28% of respondents ie 104 (based on that percentage difference which would not ride in the summer only or all year round), who will not ride in either the winter or summer it is assumed that they ride to hunt and will cease to ride if hunting is banned

• a significant number of those who currently use horses to hunt will no longer do so following a ban
• a considerable number of horses will be destroyed
• a considerable number of horses will be sold
• a considerable number of horses will not be used in the winter time

On the basis that the winter keep of horses is the main mechanism through which hunting generates income and employment, a ban would reduce winter kept horses by 73% (ie the difference between those 27% of horses retained for all year round use, less those put-down, sold and used in the summer only). The alternatives for the winter use of horses is limited to a specialised form of riding indoors with a limited appeal ie dressage and showjumping. It will not fill the gap left by hunting even for those horses which are successfully sold.

A ban on hunting will deprive our many mounted subscribers (there are many who hunt only occasionally) the freedom to choose how to enjoy their horses and the countryside. It is reasonable to conclude therefore on the economic impact of reduced use of horses alone, that a ban will have a negative effect on the economy and employment.

It is our opinion, based on considerable collective experience of the equestrian industry in the Borders area that non-quarry hunting (drag or blood hounds) will not provide an alternative because of the physical and community / market constraints (briefly) which exist as follows;

• The Areas of lowland arable, mixed grassland / arable, and open upland typical of the region are unsuitable because continuous accessible grassland with boundary obstacles to jump is the ideal drag hunting country.
• Where this sort of ideal country is available it is not of sufficient area to accommodate the current scale of foxhunting already active in the Region ie some 450 mounted followers at some 250 - 300 fixtures in any one season (it might accommodate a single pack)
• That drag hunting has not developed in the Borders is perhaps indicative of the fact that there is no market for it - this possibly already being taken up by the numbers of established hunter trials and cross country events that already take place (drag hunting being more akin to these as a sport than hunting)
• As a very sparsely populated area suffering considerable agricultural decline it is improbable that drag hunting would be supported where it currently finds difficulty in the populated wealthy areas of the south of England

The 40% (381) horses which will be placed on the market will further depress the horse-selling market with implications for other equestrian (nonhunting) sectors. The probability is that more hunters will be put-down than indicated at some time after hunting is banned and other non-hunters may also be similarly affected.

Who will be responsible for destroying and disposing of the 103 carcasses and paying for the cost ?

On the basis that there are some 4,000 - 5,000 horses in total in the Borders (based on 'Equestrian access and tourism in the Borders' by the British Horse Society, 1993), those used for hunting represent some 25%.

It is possible to predict that the overall impact of a ban on hunting on the equestrian industry in the Borders would go beyond hunting, affecting the trades and also the activities enjoyed by a wide range of people who ride not just those who follow hounds eg hunter trials, horse shows etc.

BORDERS HUNT SECRETARIES QUESTIONNAIRE ON THE USE OF HORSES IF HUNTING WERE BANNED

Name and
Address.............................................................................................

............................................................................................................

I would be most grateful if you would answer the following about the future of your horse / horses if there were ban on hunting

1. How many horses do you use for hunting? Full time .............. Part time...........

2. How many of your horses would you keep and use for riding in the

winter time ? NONE / ALL / SOME (if 'some' state number )

3. Of those you won't keep and use for winter riding how many will you;

a) Ride only in the spring / summer ? NONE / ALL / SOME ?

(If some state number )

b) Sell ? NONE / ALL / SOME ? (If some state number )

c) Put-down ? NONE / ALL / SOME ? (If some state number )

Any other comments

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THANK YOU VERY MUCH - PLEASE USE THE SAE AND RETURN TO ME ASAP DON'T HESITATE TO CONTACT ME SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY QUERIES

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Date uploaded to site 26 May 2000