About Readyfield Bloodhounds
Where It All Started
The Readyfield Bloodhounds were formed in 1980 by the late Peter Boddy and his son David, and took their name from the farm where they lived near Newark. The first draught of 10 hounds came from the Isle of Man and North Warwickshire hunts, and Peter choose that the hunt servants should wear burgundy rather than the conventional scarlet. Peter was joined in the Mastership by Jim Beardsley.
Peter ran it as a private hunt until he died in 2001 when David took over, David has since sold the hounds to Graham Smith from Wymeswold in Leicestershire, where they are kennelled. They are still run as a private pack and have a great following.
The Readyfield Bloodhounds hunt the "clean Boot", a runner who is given a prepared route. The hounds are laid on and "speak" when they find the scent of the runner and follow it until they catch him, licking him rather than attacking. The field follow on horseback. Every line is similar to the old fashioned days hunting, days often cover 10 to 12 miles cross country split over 2 to 3 lines covering prehaps 20 plus optional jumps of various types and sizes. The jumps vary from made post and rails, to open hedges or over solid stone walls.
We hunt on Sundays by invitation of landowners and farmers without whose support field sports cannot take place. All the land crossed has had the permission of the land owner before we start. As the Bloodhounds follow a prepared line, we are able to hunt in areas such as near main roads and railways which are unsuitable for trad. However the season starts early with Ambles without hounds, and as the horses become fitter after their summer rest, we progress into Hound Exercises and then Hunting. The season finishes mid March, Anyone may join us by getting in touch either via the contact details on this website or the Readyfield Bloodhounds Facebook page.