Hunts must respect landowners
Sir, - As a someone with huge admiration for the global success of our horse racing industry and who has been involved in hunting for many years (and who is also a native of the Curragh), let me state unequivocally how disappointed I was to read your editorial comment on the questionable behaviour of some hunts in Ireland.
You cited a thoroughbred breeder expressing concern about hunts failing to communicate adequately, not controlling hounds, et cetera. Undoubtedly this can cause nuisance and disrupt the everyday smooth running of stud farms.
Indeed, whatever the utilisation of the land being crossed by hunts, it is imperative that the attitude of the hunts is never anything other than fully compliant and genuinely respectful.
It cannot be repeated often enough that hunting with hounds can only exist and flourish in this country with the consent and cooperation of the custodians of our land - the landowners themselves.
We in hunting take every opportunity we can to defend our heritage against the animal rights activists who want to close down all forms of equine sport - but we must also defend against reputational damage from within our ranks by a small minority of arrogant renegades.
The associations that govern hunting have codes of conduct and condign punishments for those hunts found in breach of them. Let me reassure landowners that formal complaints are taken seriously.
As we have seen in recent years, our country is slowly leaving behind the culture of the nod and wink and moving into an era of greater accountability and openess. Hunting should be no exception. - Yours etc.,
PHILIP DONNELLY
Director Hunting with Hounds
FACE Ireland
93 Alexandra Walk
Clane
Kildare W91 T2D3
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