RULES OF THE ASSOCIATION    RULES FOR HUNTING    RULES FOR MBHA KENNELS STUD BOOK

THE MASTERS OF BLOODHOUNDS ASSOCIATION
Constitution, Rules and Recommendations
   
1. Name

 

 1.1 The Association shall be known as "The Masters of Bloodhounds Association". (MBHA)
   
2. Objects
  2.1 To govern, promote and regulate good practice of hunting a human quarry without the use of any artificial scent - known as "hunting the clean boot" - and ensure that appropriate standards of animal welfare are observed in kennels.
  2.2 To keep a record of all packs of bloodhounds and serving Masters registered with the MBHA, along with a record of ex-Masters and Bloodhound members and subscribers that wish to support the aims of the MBHA.
  2.3 The MBHA undertakes to keep a Kennels Stud Book (MBHAKSB) with the view to maintaining and improving the best working strains of "blood", possessing the intelligence, nose, drive, tongue and tenacity for which the breed is justly famous.
  2.4 The MBHA aims to develop a type of hound that has the general appearance of the pedigree Kennel Club bloodhound but one that avoids some of the conformational exaggerations that inhibit working ability.
  2.5 The MBHA aims to cooperate with other agencies and organisations as and when the committee considers desirable.
     
3. Membership
 
3.1
 A recognized and/or registered hunt is a hunt that has been officially accepted by the committee of the M.B.H.A. Members shall be Masters and past Masters of MBHA Registered Hunts. Serving Masters of Bloodhounds who are Members of the MBHA may use the suffix MBH after their name on hunt correspondence to signify that they are Members of this organization. Ladies and Gentlemen who are paid up members or subscribers of MBHA Registered Hunts may also join the Association as "Associate Members".
  3.2 Members and Associate Members may attend the AGM, but where a vote is called for, only Members may vote.
     
RULES OF THE MBHA                    Top
4.
Rules of Association
 
4.1
 These Rules are held to include the "Rules for Hunting", the "Rules for the MBHA Kennels Stud Book", and all Members and Associate Members shall abide by them accordingly.
 
4.2
 The Master or official representative of every Registered and Recognised Hunt is responsible for seeing that the Huntsman, amateur or professional, is conversant with and abides by the "Rules of Hunting".
 
 
5.
Application for Registration and Recognition
 
5.1
 A recognised Hunt is one which has been accepted and registered by the Committee as being maintained for the purpose of hunting regularly as a pack at least one day a week throughout the season (one day a month in their first season), unless stopped by reasonable cause, the hounds to be properly disciplined and handled as a pack.
 
5.2
 To ensure good animal welfare conditions, hunt kennels will be inspected before registration and then annually.
 
5.3
 Hunts will register a reasonable sized country that it will hunt fairly. Where hunt boundaries cross with other members, the Masters of both hunts will liaise to ensure the avoidance of upset and annoyance to landowners. Where there is shared country, the owner or tenant of any land currently being hunted by one hunt, may not be approached by another hunt without the permission of the senior Master of the hunt currently hunting that land. This rule does not apply if the land has not been hunted for more than two seasons. In the event of a dispute, the matter will be referred to the Committee of the MBHA who will adjudicate taking into account the landowner's/tenant's wishes. Each hunt will, at registration, furnish the Honorary Secretary with a map of their registered country and, at the end of each season, a list of all the hunt's meets for the previous year.
 
5.4
 Masters are required to have employer's liability insurance where appropriate and insure against claims by third parties arising out of accidents in the field or elsewhere. Copies of this insurance must be forwarded to the MBHA with each hunt's annual subscription.
   
6.
 Entry fees and Subscriptions
 
6.1
 Members shall pay:
Registered Packs Annual Subscription £100
Members Annual Subscription £50
Associate Members £10
These fees may be reviewed and altered by the committee, subject to approval at the Annual General Meeting.
 
6.2
 Annual Subscriptions are due in advance on 1st May.
 
6.3
 Masters of Registered and Recognised Hunts must be Members of the Association and pay the normal subscription.
 
6.4
 Any Member or Associate Member in arrears with his or her subscription for three months may be struck off the Association at the discretion of the Committee, after due warning to the Member.
   
7.
New Members
 
7.1
 New Members shall be proposed and seconded by existing Members, and thereafter their names submitted for election at the discretion of the Committee, but any applicant refused by the Committee may appeal to a General Meeting. Associate Members must provide evidence that they are paid up members or subscriber of a recognised hunt.
   
8.
Officers of the Association
 
8.1
 The Officers shall comprise President, Chairman, Vice Chairman, Hon. Secretary and Treasurer and Vice Presidents where considered appropriate.
 
8.2
 The President shall be elected for a period of three years and may be re-elected.
 
8.3
 The Chairman shall be elected for the first year of the association's formation and thereafter elected at the Annual General Meeting for a period of three years, and may be re-elected.
 
8.4
 The Vice Chairman shall be elected at the Annual General for a period of three years and may be re-elected.
 
8.5
 The Hon. Secretary and Hon. Treasurer shall be elected for a period of three years, at the Annual General Meeting and the two offices may be held by one person. The Hon. Secretary and Hon Treasurer may vote on all matters. Where one person occupies both positions it is only one vote.
   
9.
Committee
 
9.1
 The Committee will consist of the Senior Master from each pack; in the event of that Master being unable to attend a Committee meeting, he may appoint another Master or representative within the hunt to represent him, a non-Master being subject to the acceptance of the Committee. The Committee may also co-opt other members to represent other interests as and when required. The President, Vice Presidents and co-opted members are chosen as advisors and may not vote on any issue.
 
9.2
 Three shall form a quorum.
 
9.3
 At all meetings of the Association and Committee, the Chairman's vote shall be used only as a casting vote, but he or she may express his or her opinion on all matters.
   
10.
General Meetings
 
10.1
 The Annual General Meeting shall be held at a time and place decided by the Committee. Each hunt must be represented by at least one Member or appointed Associate Member to speak or take notes for the hunt. Associate Members may speak and express opinions at the AGM but only Members may vote.
 
10.2
 The Committee shall have power to call a General Meeting at any time and place deemed necessary, by giving not less than twenty-one days' notice to Members and Associate Members.
 
10.3
 A Member who is unable to be present at a General Meeting may appoint another Member to vote on his behalf, provided that written authority is passed to the Hon. Secretary at or before the meeting.
   
11. Amendments to Rules
 
11.1
 Notice of amendment to any of the Rules of the Association, Rules for Hunting. Rules for the MBHAKSB, must be received by the Hon.Secretary in writing at least twenty-one days before the Annual General Meeting. No alteration shall be made without a two-thirds majority of those present and voting.
 
 
12
Prejudicial Conduct
 
12.1
 Any Member who, in the opinion of the Committee, may be guilty of conduct prejudicial to the interest of the Association, may be expelled therefrom by the Committee but may appeal to the next Annual General Meeting, provided he or she gives notice to the Hon. Secretary in writing within fourteen days of the receipt of the Committee's decision.
   
13.
Hounds
  13.1 Members' hounds must be of bloodhound character, voice and appearance.
  13.2 Members may register eligible hounds with the Kennel Club and are, in fact, encouraged to do so.
  13.3 Members must hunt the clean boot only.
 
13.4
 Members may sell or draft hounds keeping in mind that such drafting and selling shall not be prejudicial to the interests of the MBHA. Hounds may be retired to suitable private homes provided they are neutered before they leave a hunt's jurisdiction.
 
13.5
 The charging of stud fees for the service of stallion hounds of MBHA Recognised Hunts serving bitches of other MBHA Recognised is prohibited. Masters of MBHA Recognised Hunts may charge stud fees when their stallion hounds serve bitches belonging to others.
  13.6 . Members may accept bitches for service provided that Rule13 sub para. 13.5 is not contravened.
  31 Members may show their hounds at Kennel Club Shows or other Hound Shows where a class is arranged for them.
 
RULES FOR HUNTING                     Top
14.
Registration of Country
 
14.1
 Hunts will register a reasonable sized country that it will hunt fairly.
 
14.2
 Where hunt boundaries cross with other members, the Masters of both hunts will liaise to ensure the avoidance of upset and annoyance to landowners.
 
14.3
 Where there is shared country, the owner or tenant of any land currently being hunted by one member, may not be approached by another hunt without the permission of the senior Master of the hunt currently hunting that land. This rule does not apply if the land has not been hunted for more than two seasons.
 
14.4
 In the event of the dispute, the matter will be referred to the Chairman of the MDBA who will adjudicate taking into account the landowner's/tenant's wishes. Should a Master wish to appeal the Chairman's decision, he or she may do so by writing to the Secretary within 14 days of receiving the Chairman's decision, so that it might be considered by the Committee.
 
14.5
 The Association will not recognise any new bloodhound pack until its boundaries have been considered by the Committee, which has duly satisfied itself that proper arrangements have been made with all other recognised bloodhound packs, to ensure that the Rules of the Association will be observed.
 
14.6
 It is the duty of the Master or Committee to hunt a country as fairly as possible - that is to say, distribute meets over the whole of the country as well as circumstances permit.
 
14.7
 If a Master is asked to bring his hounds into another country for a day's hunting, the words "by invitation" should be inserted if the meet is advertised. If the country is shared, no explanatory words are needed.
   
15.
Arrangements with Foxhounds, Harriers, Beagles and Draghounds
 
15.1
 Every effort should be made to cooperate with Masters of Foxhounds, Deerhounds, Harriers, Beagles, Bassets and Draghounds when arranging meets, and when hunting "clean boot", hunts should not be run to disturb coverts or country close to the date of a meet of Foxhounds, Deerhounds or Harehounds. However, a Master of Bloodhounds hunting "clean boot" may hunt in his country wherever he has the permission of all land owners and farmers over whose land he intends to hunt.
   
16.
Hunting the "clean boot"
 
16.1
 Masters must have prior permission of all landowners and farmers over whose land it is intended to hunt, on each and every occasion.
 
16.2
 Hounds should be steady, under proper control and free from riot.
 
16.3
 When meets take place in towns or villages, or near houses, someone should be appointed to clear up any dog or horse fouling that may occur.
 
16.4
 Hunts should be run to avoid farmers' livestock whenever possible, and fences damaged should be repaired as soon as possible.
 
16.5
 Hunts should be planned to avoid crossing or ending by busy roads. Other road crossings must be manned by responsible people observing sensible safety precautions.
 
16.6
 It is the Master's responsibility that the runner shall be thoroughly conversant with his permitted route.
 
16.7
 Hounds should be stopped if livestock break out, and every effort made to return the livestock to their field.
 
16.8
 All efforts must be made to ensure that hounds that become lost during a hunt are found as soon as possible.
 
16.9
 It is the duty of whoever is in charge of a pack out hunting to see that the wishes of farmers, landowners, and occupiers are deferred to by all taking part in the hunt, and that damage to property is avoided as far as possible.
   
17. Hunt Servants
 
17.1
 No Master or Hunt Committee shall approach, with a view to engagement, a Hunt Servant who is not known to be disengaged at the end of the season.
  17.2 All employees shall have a written "Contract of Employment" and Masters must ensure the hunt complies with all employment legislation.
 
19
 A Master is fully responsible for the actions and behavior of his Hunt Servants or amateurs acting as such.
   
18. Breaches of Rules
 
18.1
 Should it be proved to the satisfaction of the Committee that a Master or someone acting for him has not acted properly and has not conformed to these rules, then the person or persons concerned may be struck off the membership of the Association and the Hunt removed from the Recognised list, hounds thereby becoming ineligible for the MBHAKSB. The Committee may restore such membership when they are satisfied that the Rules are being complied with.
 
18.2
 Should the Committee have reason to believe that a Member or Associate Member of the Association has acted or permitted his servants to act in a way prejudicial to the good name of hunting with Bloodhounds, he may be required either to furnish a written explanation to the Honorary Secretary for consideration by the Committee or to appear personally before the Committee. In every case it shall be incumbent upon the Honorary Secretary to give at least fourteen days notice of the Committee's requirements.
 
18.3
 Should the Member or Associated Member concerned refuse to attend or to present a written explanation, or should the Committee decide after hearing the evidence or receiving explanations that he or she has acted in any way prejudicial to the interests or good name of hunting with Bloodhounds, the Committee may, at their discretion, terminate his or her membership of the Association and where appropriate, remove the Hunt concerned from the Recognised List.
   
19.
Disputes and Incidents
 
19.1
 Every member of the Association shall be bound to refer to the Hon Secretary any dispute or incident he or she may be involved in regarding hunting matters, especially where the matter may raise press or public interest.
 
19.2
 When a decision has been taken at a General Hunt Meeting affecting the Mastership or future arrangements for hunting a country, it is imperative in the interests of hunting the clean boot that the minority should loyally abide by wishes of the majority of those present at the Meeting, and not attempt to re-open the question subsequently.
 
19.3
 Members are encouraged to seek advice, help or support from the Committee where necessary. The Committee will want to help where possible.
 
RULES FOR MBHA KENNELS STUD BOOK (MBHAKSB)                     Top
 
1
 The MBHAKSB will include pure and cross bred bloodhounds specifically bred and used for hunting the clean boot. Only Foxhounds, Staghounds and Otterhounds (from any country) are acceptable breeds for crossing with bloodhounds.
 
2
 The MBHAKSB will start on the 1st May 2006 and only hounds currently belonging to MBHA registered hunts will be eligible for Volume 1.
 
3
 For the first five annual editions, all hounds bred each year and entered in MBHA registered kennels, will be eligible for entry in the MBHAKSB.
 
4
 From the 6th Volume onwards, the Sire and Dam of the hound to be entered must belong to and have been hunted by a MBHA recognised hunt. The hound to be entered must also have a Kennel Club registered pedigree Bloodhound within five generations of his antecedents. In the event of a Master not being able to meet these criteria, but still wishing to enter a hound, the Master may ask the Committee to permit the hound's inclusion, but they are not bound to do so.
 
5
 Hunts wishing to register hounds must send in the appropriate forms to the MBHAKSB secretary by 1st December of the year that they are entered.
 
6
 Any dispute relating to the registration of hounds may be referred to the MBHA Committee and they alone will adjudicate on the matter.
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