Coakham Kennels is an esteemed equestrian club located in Battle, New Zealand. Established in the 1970s, Coakham Kennels is home to the renowned Coakham Bloodhounds, one of the oldest Bloodhound packs in the UK. The club covers a wide hunting area in Kent and Sussex, passionately pursuing hunting “the cleanboot”, which involves the hounds following the natural scent of human runners who set off ahead of the pack. There is no use of any other scent, be it animal or synthetic, and no killing is involved.
Instead, the runners are lovingly greeted by the hounds at the end of each hunt.
Coakham Kennels invites all equestrians and enthusiasts to join them in their thrilling pursuits. The club prides itself on providing a unique experience for its members. The official Coakham Bloodhounds social media pages on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok offer a closer look into the club's activities, including hunts and gatherings.
To ensure smooth communication and up-to-date information sharing, Coakham Kennels has set up a WhatsApp group for its members. This group allows administrators to make time-critical announcements, such as changes to meet times, parking arrangements, road closures, weather cancellations, and more. Only Coakham admins have posting privileges in the group to avoid the risk of key announcements getting lost amidst general discussions. Interested individuals can join the group by following the invite link provided on the club's social media platforms.
Coakham Kennels has recently introduced a new booking system, mandatory for all subscribers and those hunting on a Day Cap or 8 Day Ticket. Those falling under these categories must book their spot using the Coakham Booking Link. Subscribers and 8-day ticket holders will be assigned a unique 'coupon code' to apply during the booking process. Additionally, all participants must complete a disclaimer for the season, which can be found on the Subs Page of the club's official website.
The signed form should be sent to coakhambooking@gmail. Com (a scanned photo is acceptable).
The club's upcoming event, scheduled for Sunday, January 7th, will take place at Lullington Farm in Lullington, East Sussex. Participants are instructed to arrive mounted and ready at 12 noon. The meet will offer an exhilarating day on the downs, featuring hunt rails to jump. However, individuals not interested in jumping can opt out.
It is important to note that attendees are requested to bring a shovel and skip to help clear the yard before enjoying tea. As for travel arrangements, participants should avoid approaching the meet from the flooded road near Alfriston. Instead, they should take the route through Wilmington village, passing underneath the Long Man. Participants are also asked not to arrive before 11 am to avoid interfering with the farmer's activities.
Coakham Kennels provides an exciting opportunity for equestrians and enthusiasts to sponsor a Coakham Bloodhound. One of the eager hounds, named Actress, is appealing for sponsorship to help cover her food bill during the 2022-2023 season. Sponsorship is available for 250, and only one person or family can sponsor each hound on a first-come, first-served basis. Sponsors enjoy numerous perks, including a personalised and professionally printed Certificate of Appreciation, a chance to visit the kennels and spend time cuddling their sponsored hound, complimentary high-resolution digital images of their hound throughout the season, and participation in exclusive Sponsors Only prize draws, with the opportunity to win a full hunting subscription for the following season.
For the latest updates and news, individuals are encouraged to join the Coakham Kennels' Facebook Group. In addition to their thrilling hunts and adventures, the club is dedicated to preserving the unadulterated human scent left by runners during the cleanboot hunts. The Coakham Bloodhounds exemplify the club's commitment to tradition, outstanding horsemanship, and the equestrian community in Battle.