HORSES and ponies are out in numbers across the country and photographers Noel Mullins, Catherine Power and Mel Doyle, bring you a flavour of the action from some recent meets including the Ballymacad Foxhounds at Ballinlough village; the Kildare Foxhounds’ meet from the new Hunt Stand at Punchestown and the North Kildare Farmers’ Stephen Lawlor Memorial Hunt at Kildangan.

Shane Barry is about to go for an unexpected dip with out with the North Kildare Farmers' Stephen Lawlor Memorial Hunt at Kildangan (Photo: Mel Doyle)

There's daddy: Cara Kellett, wife of Bobby Kellett, whipper-in with the Ballymacads, points him out to their children Siun and Evan at their meet from Ballinlough (Photo: Noel Mullins)

Collette Keogh, Edel Tuite and Bronwyn Fitzpatrick hunting with the Ballymacad Foxhounds from Ballinlough (Photo: Noel Mullins)

The Kildare Foxhounds: Richard Cope, N. Lawlor, Elaine Cahill and Richard Wixted (Photo: Catherine Power)

Pick me today: Kildare Foxhounds pictured at their Punchestown kennls (Photo: Catherine Power)

Huntsman with the Kildare Foxhounds Peter Cahill calling hounds home late in the evening (Photo: Catherine Power)