True colours
GENERALLY, even the most thrusting subscriber in every pack will be able to tell the visitor the names of one or two hounds. In some instances, this might be because it has a woolly coat or perhaps a curly stern. But more often than not, the most well-known hounds in a pack are of a differing colour to their kennel-mates and it is these, if also good in their work, that become everyone’s favourites. It is not unusual to see a shadow of a grimace on the huntsman’s face when their best-performing stars are passed over and the thrusty subscriber describes “dear Ruby” as the best in the pack solely because she is the most recognisable.
More amusingly, the senior professionals generally nod sagely in agreement in the interests of both diplomacy and a decent contribution to the Christmas box. Conversely, it is not unknown for masters of hounds who have indulged in a generous lunch at the puppy show to
