SPRING is definitely in the air with horses and ponies enjoying crossing country with riders of all ages with hunt clubs nationwide.

A great line up for the future of hunting (l-r) Phonsie Wardell, Conor Condon, Lauren Conway, Ryan Conway and Aisling Dwan out with the Kilkenny Foxhounds \ Catherine Power

Katie Robinson and little Sadie Keys at the Tynan and Armagh Foxhounds Annual Charity Event, the New Year’s Day Children’s Meet in Richhill \ Mark Joseph McCall

Joint-master of the Kilkenny Foxhounds Dermot Dwan leads the field over a stiff wall with Joe O’Flynn MFH hot on his heels \ Catherine Power

Jamie O'Rourke on his home-produced three-year-old Irish Draught by Huntingfield Sunny C ready to go hunting with the Ballymacad Foxhounds \ Noel Mullins

Ballymacad Foxhounds whipper-in Bobby Kellett \ Mark Wiseman

Jane McDonnell and local farmer David Wiggins ready to go hunting with the Ballymacad Foxhounds \ Noel Mullins

Aaron Farrell on his 17hh hunter out with the Ballymacad Foxhounds \ Noel Mullins

Mary Jane Roberts and Colette Keogh hunting with the Ballymacad Foxhounds \ Noel Mullins

Ben Goodbody MFH sails over the walls in Kilkenny while out with the Kilkenny Foxhounds \ Catherine Power

Thomas Carrigy and his home-produced Connemara/Irish Draught cross out with the Ballymacad Foxhounds, pictured with Kim Gannon \ Noel Mullins

Shane and Ethan McCann hunting with the Ballymacad Foxhounds \ Noel Mullins

Caoimhe Reilly and Aoibhinn Clarke hunting with the Ballymacad Foxhounds \ Noel Mullins

Young Jack Kent is up and over on his pony while out with the Kilkenny Foxhounds \ Catherine Power