It will be an emotional time when Ryan Smith runs his final hunt as huntsman in South Canterbury next weekend, after an impressive 28 seasons at the helm.
South Canterbury Hunt has about 20 harrier hounds. I’ve been hunting the hounds for the South Canterbury Hunt Club for 28 seasons in total. Love the hounds, love the people.” As huntsman, Smith has been responsible for caring for the hunt’s 20 odd hounds which included day-to-day care and preparing and transporting them to the hunt field. They are harrier hounds bred from the English fox hound, he said. “They re a wee bit smaller than the English fox hound . we ve been breeding them in New Zealand for probably 160-odd years, Smith said.
JOHN BISSET/Stuff
The South Canterbury Hunt hounds follow the scent of hares.