Enjoying the sun

The hunt was out in my neck of the woods today.

These two hounds were enjoying a bit of much needed sunshine before starting their trail hunting. Altogether there were about 30 foxhounds following a scent trail laid a short while before they started.

There is something rather magical about the trust between the hounds and the huntsman. They are incredibly well behaved and understand and respond to different sounds made by the hunting horn as well as the huntsman's voice. They each know their own name so they can be instructed as individuals or as a whole pack.

Traditionally, hounds are given names with two syllables, with the accent put on the first. All the puppies in a litter are given names starting with the same two letters, such as Proctor, Preston, and Priceless. These will relate back to the father. All hounds are registered in the foxhound stud book and their bloodlines can be traced back to the 18th century.

It's almost the weekend - yay!
Lets hope there is better weather on the way!!