Assheson Smith was one of the leading huntsmen of his day - even Napoleon had heard of and admired him. He was obviously a tough customer; literally throwing himself and horse over every fence, and fearing nothing. He was known for cramming his fences, ie pushing the horse at the fence, and was a role model for all the Corinthians and young bucks. Obviously the equivalent of today's fast driver, a menace to all else on the road (or field). The Melton Men were members of the hunts that met at various meets in Leicestershire (roughly the middle of England) which included the Quorn, the Belvoir, the Pytchley.

The Town of Melton Mowbray is located in the heart of the East Midlands in the county of Leicestershire. Nottingham, Leicester, & Loughborough are all within 20 miles of the town. The M1 Motorway is just 15 miles to the West and the A1 some 16 miles to the East of the Town. Melton Mowbray is renowned for its heritage, and has also a long established association with Foxhunting, Pork Pies, and Stilton Cheese. 

Although fox hunting has declined, an annual hunt is still held on New Year's Day in Melton Market Place. Three hunts have territories which intersect at Melton Mowbray: Quorn, Cottesmore and Belvoir. The hunting season runs from November to March. The town is hoping to have a complete museum devoted to hunting and its role in the country. Displays are already available for viewing in the Carnegie Museum.

http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/foxman/index.htm

HISTORICAL NOTE

In Norman England, Hunting of deer and boar in the UK was confined initially to the Royal Family and those whom they invited. It took place in "Royal Forests" which were areas where the quarry species were protected by making it a serious offence to kill them there except as part of a "Royal Hunt". Later the privilege of "Hunting Forests" was extended to notable land owners (eg: Bishops). As early as the 13th century the Crown granted licenses to hunt foxes and some crown servants were employed for the purpose. Eventually the laws protecting the quarry species became those covering trespass and poaching which applied on land owned by anybody. Gradually Hunting in the UK was opened to Hunts (with hounds) and stalking (with guns) for which Sports anybody can apply to take part. By the mid-16th century quite a number of private landowners had formed packs of foxhounds but Stag-hunting predominated.

In France, the Revolutionaries won the right in the Constitution for any citizen to Hunt.

In the 18th century many factors were making Stag Hunting more restricted. Some Hunts started to chase foxes and found that they were worthy quarry. Furthermore, farmers well outside traditional Stag Hunting Areas welcomed Foxhunting as one method of helping to control numbers of a significant "thief" of their possessions of lambs, chickens etc. Thus the Sport of Foxhunting spread until it covered much of the UK and acquired the dual purpose of sport and fox population management. As Foxhunting grew in popularity it became better and better regulated until it became the well disciplined sport we see today.

 The Regulation of Foxhunting

The Masters of Foxhounds Association (MFHA) regulate foxhunting. They set rules and issue a "Code of Conduct" to all who follow hounds; mounted, in cars or on foot. There have been cases of the rules being broken, which have been followed by the culprits being suspended from official positions in their Hunt and/or banned from hunting for a year. Those who flagrantly ignore the code of conduct are sent home by the Field Master. Repeated offences lead to persons being told that they are no longer welcome in the Hunting Field, that is, they are discouraged from continuing to follow Hounds.

The Rules

The rules govern the ways in which every day of foxhunting must be carried out, prepared for and followed up. The Masters are responsible for ensuring that they are obeyed. The rules are too numerous and detailed to quote all here. Three "golden rules" are:

1. Foxhunting as a sport is the hunting of the fox in his wild and natural state with a pack of hounds. Nothing must be done which in any way compromises this rule. The MFHA have laid down detailed rules for Masters of Foxhounds to observe, the most important of which are:

(i) If, when a fox is run to ground, the decision is that the fox be killed, it must be humanely destroyed; ( note this is normally decided to accord with the wishes of the landowner or tenant);

(ii) When a hunted fox is run to ground there shall he no digging other than for the purpose of humanely destroying the fox;

(iii) A fox which has had to he handled by a terrierman or his assistant must either be freed or humanely destroyed immediately; under no circumstances may it be hunted.

2. Hunting flourishes entirely because of the goodwill of landowners and farmers. No one who goes hunting should do anything to jeopardise this goodwill. It should always be borne in mind that for much of any hunting day, you are a guest on someone else's land.

3. Masters of Foxhounds or their appointed deputies are solely responsible for conducting the day's hunting and are bound by the strict rules and instructions of the MFHA. Their authority is absolute and their instructions must always be cheerfully obeyed.

The Code of Conduct

                       The MFHA's "Code of Good Hunting Practice" is also too long and detailed to quote in full, however, the following extract gives an idea of its content:

Because the Hunt meets by arrangement and is recognisable and therefore accountable, mounted followers enjoy access to large areas of countryside denied to other people. When you follow hounds mounted, you must:

1. Conform to local standards of behaviour. These are many and various. For example, in some countries it may be permissible to jump fences which elsewhere should not be attempted because of lack of fence-mending facilities. Find out what the local conventions are and observe them strictly.

2. Do not block roads.

3.Refrain from causing damage. If you break a fence or cause or notice damage of any kind, report it immediately to the Master or Secretary.

4. Close all gates.

5. Refrain from disturbing livestock.

6. Refrain from parking your horsebox or trailer so as to cause an obstruction. Obtain permission before parking on private land.

7. Above all, always obey the Field Master.

A Sport Conducted Under Rules

All recognised packs of hounds are governed by one of the Masters of Hounds Associations, which impose strict rules on the sport. The cardinal law of hunting is expressed in Rule 1 of the Masters of Foxhounds Association. The other Associations have a similar rule:

"Foxhunting as a sport is the hunting of the fox in his wild and natural state with a pack of hounds. No pack of hounds, of which the Master or Representative is a Member of this Association, shall be allowed to hunt a fox in any way which is inconsistent with this precept."

The sanctions are considerable, and could result in a hunt being closed down.

These rules ensure that all foxes are either humanely dispatched or escape without injury. No other method of control is regulated in this way. None can guarantee that foxes will escape unharmed.

Unlike other methods of control, hunting has a closed season. Unless they are causing a particular problem, efforts are made not to hunt or kill vixens when they are breeding and, between the end of April and late summer, hunting is suspended to allow young foxes to reach maturity.

Each hunt appoints a master or joint masters to run the `country' -- the area of land over which they hunt. This will on the whole be farmland, and it is with the farmers' express consent that the hunt will operate.

The master employs professional staff to look after the hounds. Only one person in the hunt is the huntsman, and he is responsible, with his assistants, the whippers-in, for hunting the quarry and controlling the hounds.

All other followers are there to enjoy the hunting. Some merely enjoy riding, running or walking. Most love to watch the hounds.