Mells history

Who isn't familiar with the nursery rhyme about Little Jack Horner? What you may not know is that the rhyme, a version of which was first published in 1725, is believed to be about Thomas Horner, who was steward to Richard Whiting, the last Abbot of Glastonbury, before the dissolution of the monasteries under Henry VIII.  It is asserted that, prior to the abbey's destruction, the abbot sent  Horner to London with a huge Christmas pie which had the deeds to a  dozen manors hidden within it as a gift to try to convince the King not to nationalize Church lands. During the journey, Horner opened the pie and  extracted the deeds of the Mells Manor in Somerset, which he kept for himself.  It is further suggested that, since the manor properties included lead mines, the plum is a pun on the Latin plumbum,  for lead. While records do indicate that Thomas Horner became the owner  of the manor, both his descendants and subsequent owners of Mells Manor  have asserted that the legend is untrue and that the deed was purchased from the abbey.  The founder of The Mells Foxhounds, Col. John Horner, was a descendant of Thomas Horner, and named the hunt after his ancestral home.

Fox Hunting in America

The first record of fox hounds and hunting in the North American Continent occurred in 1650 when Robert Brooke came to America with his family, servants and a pack of hounds. George Washington kept a pack of hounds. Thomas Jefferson attended on occasion, and the hunting parties at Mount Vernon are said to have lasted for weeks.

It is against this rich history that the Mells Foxhounds shares the traditions of fox hunting in beautiful Middle Tennessee.

 Our story began in 1964 with Colonel John L. Horner, Jr. purchased a farm in Giles County which he named Mells after his ancestral estate in Somerset, England. Colonel Horner established a pack of hounds, erected kennels and obtained permission to hunt on neighboring lands. Registered in 1966, Mells Foxhounds was recognized in 1971 by the Masters of Foxhounds Association.  Colonel Horner passed away in 1989 but his legacy endures.  Mells has hunted continuously since its founding and is proud to celebrate our 60th season.

Today in America, fox hunting is also called 'fox chasing’ as the purpose is not to kill but to enjoy the chase.  Coyotes, and on occasion bobcat, are the quarry our foxhounds most often chase. As a rule, quarry are not pursued once they have ‘gone to ground’.

Membership

Hunting is by invitation of the Masters and Mells offers both Riding and Social Memberships. Riding Members hunt in flights. First flight keeps up with the Huntsman, with significant galloping and jumping.  Second flight riders are expected to comfortably gallop but use gates rather than jumps. Third flight goes at a slower pace with some galloping, cantering and trotting.  A fourth flight keeps to a walk and trot pace and endeavors to find vantage points for observing the hunt.

A Mells Social Membership keeps you connected to friends, horses, hounds, social life, and nature! Mells Social Members enjoy an array of club activities: following the hunt in vehicles “car hunting”, attending after hunt teas, the annual Hunt Ball, walking the hounds with our Huntsman, Talley-Ho wagon rides and much more!

By all means, let us know about your interest!