Hunting Reminiscences

A vivid portrait of late‑Victorian country sport unfolds through the eyes of a seasoned rider who first felt the rush of the Cambridge University Drag. He recalls the thrill of early mornings on rain‑slick fields, the nervous excitement of a newcomer testing his horse against seasoned gentlemen, and the roar of hounds cutting through the grass. The narrative captures the camaraderie and rivalry of steeplechase contests, the clatter of hooves over fences, and the electric moment when a favored horse finally finds its stride.

Beyond the drag, the memoir moves into the broader world of hunting, offering lively sketches of fox‑hunting, hare‑chasing, and even the rarer pursuits of badger and cub hunting. With keen observations of the hounds themselves and the social rituals that surround each chase, the work paints a detailed tapestry of tradition, sport, and the enduring bond between rider and beast. Listeners will feel the wind in their hair and the pulse of the chase, all while gaining insight into a bygone era of English field sport.