A record 51 people took part in the recent new masters’ course, run by the Hunting Office to prepare them for the new season.
The day, held at Stratford racecourse on 27 April, covered issues from care of hounds and running a hunt country to media relations.
“There is more to being a master than ever before,” said Tim Easby, director of the Masters of Foxhounds Association (MFHA).
“With so many regulations and responsibilities, it is a potential minefield.”
But it was encouraging, he added, that interest was “at an all-time high”.
This news story was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (9 May 2013)