Final call of hooves and hounds for hunt club master

It won’t be easy for Midland Hunt Club Master Brad Mitchell to part with his beloved hounds, but after fulfilling the role for the past nine years the Blessington sheep and cattle farmer is ready to simply run with the field.

At the Club’s final hunt for the season on Saturday at Myrtleford, Cleveland, and Brad’s final hunt as Master, a field of 14 enjoyed the day’s riding followed by a special lunch for 50 people hosted by property owners Andrew and Madeleine Scott to mark the end of an era.

And in typical hunt club style that also included a port or two.

“It’s been a huge commitment, caring for six hounds and showing up every Saturday right through winter to lead the hunt, so I’ll be looking to have a bit of a rest when we secure a new Master,” Brad said.

“Hopefully some fresh blood will be keen to take over the reins, but it won’t be easy parting with the dogs – I know every one of them like they’re my children, all their quirks and personalities.

“They have been a big part of my life and you can’t help but bond with animals you spend so much time with, just like my sheep dogs.”

The hounds are owned by the Club and during summer hunt club members take turns looking after one or two each to give the Master a break.

Brad has been hunting, at first with the Northern Hunt Club and then the Midland Hunt Club, for the past 30 years.

There are few finer sights than the Master and his hounds heading out into the misty paddocks of some of the most picturesque properties in central Tasmania, resplendent in red jacket and white breeches on a trusty steed, flanked by the whippers-in.

Brad sounds a horn to mark the start of the hunt and riders fall in behind to follow the cry of the pack as they pick up a scent.

If any riders pass the Hunt Master they’re up for a bottle of port to the Club – or any number of real or imagined indiscretions will have the same result in a fine.

Brad rides what he describes as the best horse he’s ever owned, an enormous 17.1 hand thoroughbred and registered sport horse named Bentley.

“He’s a legend,” he said simply.

“I don’t trade horses, they die with me, and this fella will never go to another home - he’ll be buried on my property one day.”

“Bentley was hand reared as a foal after his mother died at birth and while that made him a bit hard to handle when he was young, he came to me and we hit it off.

“There’s nothing we can’t jump out in the field – he’s a big, strong, athletic powerhouse and probably barely feels me on his back.”

While the sport is steeped in history, one modern game changer has been the addition of GPS trackers on the dogs, who sometimes follow a scent until they’re lost and have to become the hunted.

“Sometimes they just get bamboozled and really don’t know how to get home, so this has been great to know where exactly they are at any given time,” Brad said.

“What doesn’t change is that hunting is non-competitive, we all just ride to have fun and it’s a real social occasion.”

At age 62 Brad has no plans to stop hunting yet, he said it’s a privilege to ride on the beautiful properties that host the Club.

“I still love the adrenaline rush and the piercing sound of the hounds when they voice on a cold, clear morning - it makes me just stop and laugh and I’ll say to no-one - just listen to that!”