As winter relinquishes its grip, Tessa Waugh enjoys a copybook meet, with convivial chat, springy turf and good sport – while the real hunting aficionados demonstrate their teleporting skills

With 36 years in hunt service behind him, Robert McCarthy is one of the country’s most senior and most respected huntsmen. He talks to Tessa Waugh about Crufts, the current situation and life in Northumberland

Just a hop, skip and jump from London, but a million miles from the stresses of the city, newly refurbished countryside retreat Burnham Beeches makes a perfect escape, whether you’re seeking a Mother’

The Sennybridge Farmers are celebrating their 75th anniversary this season. Stephen Robbins tells us something of the history and glorious country of this Welsh pack

This adored hunter is “the safest horse on the planet”, but has plenty of spice and character too

These days, there’s a lot of talk about the politics of personality, but standing in an extensive cave system near West Wycombe, we were transported to a time when politics was at the centre of a scen