10 HISTORY OF THE YORK AND AINSTY HUNT. 



is the Bramham Moor boundary, but farther north, what 

 is known as the old cut, divides the two countries. The 

 Tuesday country differs very much in character from the 

 Monday country. The enclosures are smaller, and the 

 fences are quite as formidable. At one time most of this 

 country was under the plough, but there is more grass 

 every year, and at least three-fifths of it is now grass, 

 In wet weather it rides very deep, and in such a flat 

 country it seems needless to say that the drains are 

 frequent and wide. The Copmanthorpe Drain, the Colton 

 Drain, and Bow Beck have taken tithe of a hard-riding 

 field many a time in the past, and scarcely a day goes over 

 without someone getting a wet jacket in the Tuesday 

 country. More formidable, perhaps, than either of the 

 drains mentioned are the Rufforth Drain and the Red 

 House Drain. There are plenty of places in the former 

 that do not afford much difficulty to a bold horse, but then 

 foxes are not always so accommodating as to cross at 

 those places. At nearly every fence there is a drain 

 of greater or less width. As the fences are so close 

 together, and as, moreover, they all take some doing, it 

 will be readily admitted that the answer of a sportsman who 

 knew the country well, and who on being asked by an 

 intending visitor what sort of a horse he should bring 

 into the Ainsty, replied, 'the best you've got, ' was a very 

 apposite one. 



The principal fixtures are The Kennels, Red House, 

 Skip Bridge, Street Houses, Oxton Hall, Acaster, Nun 

 Appleton, and Askham Bryan. From The Kennels, Kennel 

 Wood and Askham Bogs are the principal coverts drawn. 

 The latter is a big covert, boggy, and with plenty of 

 rough ground in it, and a lot of trees, chiefly beech. It is 

 a favourite place with foxes, and has been frequently 

 drawn successfully twice, or even oftener, in a day. It 



