By Sandra Atkins and Liz Douglass

THE NORTHERN Hunt Club has been around since the late 1950s. Founded by a group of Deloraine district farmers, the grandchildren of some of those original families are still riding.

Members come from as far as Devonport and Cressy, even further afield on some weekends. For special days, riders come from all over Tasmania.

The Club will have a ‘Poker Run’ early in August with a big following expected. The Run is the Club’s main fundraiser. An entry fee is charged and a playing card collected at intervals during the ride. The best ‘hands’ win prizes (all donated).

The Run will be at ‘Junction Farm’, the hounds’ home at Westwood, even though the hounds have the day off. A staggered start, for 15km riding with picturesque views from the hills.

Hunts are held on properties all around the north of Tasmania. The number of properties used depends on the size of the property, how much is under irrigation, cropping or otherwise unavailable to ride across, and how much bush land is available.

Hunt riders are very aware that the Hunt must leave the paddocks as clean as possible, to be welcome back!

A Childrens’ Hunt was held on July 26, at ‘Myrtlewood’, Conara. The younger riders help run the Hunt and about 40 riders were expected.

Sandra Atkins has been hunting for nearly 60 years and has seen the Club’s numbers rise and fall, as most Club numbers do. She says, ‘We’ve had 150 riders at a Childrens’ Hunt. We’ve had 2 hunts televised for National TV and we had over 100 riders at both! We averaged over 50 riders for the last season of 20 hunts.’

Many Pony Club riders start their riding sport by hunting, then progress to Show Jumping and Eventing, or Games.

Hunting is a great grounding for new horses – no competition, so no pressure. Some jumps are small, some are quite big (a metre or so) but none are compulsory, so non-jumpers are welcome.

Safety conscious and welcoming to newcomers, anyone can ride with the Northern Hunt Club, for a ‘capping’ fee, as long as they have riding boots and a correct helmet.

There is no rough riding – all riders are contained behind the ‘Field Master’, so the hounds are in front of the horses. A rider lays the scent (aniseed essence) and the hounds chase after them as if they were chasing a wallaby or a deer. The Club sets the route and knows where jumps are. No animals are chased.

This season’s Opening Hunt was on June 20 at ‘Staunton’, the property of Richard and Jan Higgins on the Delmont Road, out past Cressy.

The first time the Club has had an Opening Hunt there, it would usually be held two weeks before Easter, but Equestrian Tasmania had closed gatherings to comply with COVID-19 restrictions.

Members are pleased that the Club can still have a short season and will hunt every weekend until mid-September, as long as there are no more COVID-19 outbreaks.

Sandra Atkins has the final say. ‘Heaps of horse owners don’t have anywhere to ride and they really appreciate being part of the Club and being allowed to ride on privately-owned land that normally is out of bounds.

‘We’ve lost the use of many properties, even having farmers keep outsiders away for fear of contaminating their paddocks, especially when they export lambs, cattle and crops overseas.

‘So we are always on the lookout for new places where we can organise some long runs and build jumps where possible out of fallen logs or whatever might be available.

‘The properties we are riding on this Sunday always used to have some different jumps, like a row of old couches across the track, or a couple of canoes tipped over in the paddock.

‘They even built an arch with a hosepipe and had it spraying water as we rode through!

‘Some horses didn’t think it was a good idea, but went through anyway and everyone had a good laugh! Those were the days! 

‘It’s just a good fun day and a nice ride with like-minded people from all walks of life.’

The Port Stop

LIKE THE Hunt, the Port Stop is an English tradition. Riders would have a tot of port before the hunt started.

The hunt has about 6 runs with a short stop every 3 or 4kms. Hounds can have a breather, slower riders catch up and everyone has a break.

The Northern Club has their Port Stop about halfway, to make sure the hunt starts on time. Waiting for latecomers to join the toast would make a late start, which led to more late arrivals!

Riders toast the landowners, the Club, workers (who prepare the course and jumps), hounds, horses and riders.

The midway Port Stop ensures that everyone, including spectators in 4WDs, is there to have the toast and hear all the announcements.

Riders usually dismount to rest their horses and catch up with friends. After 15–20 minutes the riders are off again for the last 2 or 3 runs.

Normally the Club would then have a BBQ lunch, but with COVID-19 restrictions, it’s a sandwich, a quick chat and everyone heads home.

For more information and some great photos, go to the Northern Hunt Club Facebook page. Details of the Poker Run on Sunday 9 August can be found there.