58 SIDELINES NOVEMBER 2011
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
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By Kim Summers
While talking with John Elliott, Huntsman for the Norfolk
Hunt Club, onemust jump inwith the chores at the kennels or
follow him around a feld while he is on a horse. John Elliott
is the epitome of what one would want in a professional
huntsman, a super rider, a superior kennel master, a kind
soul whose love for his hounds is so apparent, and one
who lives to keep the sport of foxhunting alive and well (of
course being English is a jolly good bit too!) One way he so
fnely keeps the sport active is to embrace and nurture the
relationship with the younger generation—especially those
in the local Pony Club. He continually invites the children
to ride, walk hounds, show hounds, ride in the hunt, go for
a hack, or to simply come spend time at the kennels. He
Norfolk Hunt Club Embraces
Pony Clubbers
is also very generous with his time with regards to meetings with
Pony Clubbers.
Bringing on the Next Generation
John says, “It is very important for our younger generation to get
keen on hunting. If we are going to keep the sport going, which is
becoming more diffcult in these overdeveloped areas, we need to
have the riders coming along developing an interest—an interest
not only in the riding, but interest in becoming dedicated to land
conservation.”
The relationship between the hunt club and Pony Club is
important not only from a historical perspective but also because
their philosophies align (and for the good of all of our in our
communities—land conservation is important to all—not just
riders).
Robert Macleod, a member of Norfolk Hunt Club, adds, “with
regards to the Pony Club, it is a very important relationship that
waxes and wanes depending upon those in leadership who play
a critical role in keeping the relationship cemented. We have the
vehicle to support, but it takes leadership to execute. Another
part of the equation is to have a local boarding, lesson stable that
encourages their students to hunt.”
Norfolk Hunt Pony Club DC Sandy Niles adds, “riding to
hounds is not only one of the components to the rating system in
Pony Club but it also teaches the kids so much about riding in the
open with all the varied terrain changes. Eventers say foxhunting
happens fast and it is the best prep for riding an event course.”
Sandy also adds that the fun with friends and members is quite
special. “The hard part is fnding the time since our kids these
days are so multi-faceted. They have so many activities available
to them that we did not. For some of us, riding was all we did, but
not for these kids.” NHPC has 20 members to date and each one
has an association with the NHC in one way or another throughout
the year—be it clearing trails, riding in a hunt, showing a hound
at the New England Hound show, or hearing a lecture from the
When asked what he liked best about being a huntsman, John Elliott says with a smile “It’s better than having a real job….I
get to play around with hounds and horses all day. For a person like me, who loves hounds and horses, it doesn’t get much
better!”
All photos by curve27 studio
Pony Clubber Patrick Summers on Pony Bologna is
also a loyal member of Norfolk Hunt