AS I arrived at the North Galway Foxhounds’ meet at Kilbeg Pier on the shores of Lough Corrib, I recalled a story former Blazers and Bermingham & North Galway master and huntsman Michael Dempsey told me about Henry Gordon, a former huntsman in North Galway. Paddy Griffin in Loughrea had a very good show jumper and Harvey Smith was coming to look at him.

It was suggested that Henry Gordon give the horse ‘a light school’. Michael was driving to Tuam for a show meeting and suddenly Henry Gordon jumped a wall onto the road in front of his car and went over the wall on the other side and off across country. So much for light schooling!