The Live Oak Hounds USPC Foxhunting Challenge Award

 The Live Oak Hounds USPC Foxhunting Challenge Award

NEW FOR 2008/2009

The Live Oak Hounds USPC Foxhunting Award will be awarded on a percentage basis according to the total number of active club members. Pony Club members who regularly hunt will also receive credit towards the Award.  The Live Oak Hounds-USPC Foxhunting Challenge Award is made possible through the generous support of Mr. and Mrs. C. Martin Wood III, Joint Masters of the Live Oak Hounds in Monticello, Florida, and Past Presidents of the MFHA. The Award is designed to encourage Pony Club members who do not regularly hunt to try the sport, and to reward those members who do hunt on a regular basis and act as mentors to the younger and less-experienced Pony Club members. Awards will go to six Pony Clubs who regularly take the greatest percentage (based on total number of club members) of active Pony Club members hunting, based on the required number of hunts needed by each member (see below).

Participating Hunts are asked to waive the capping fees, and Pony Club members must provide their own horses. Signed releases of liability, which will be provided by the hunts, will be required by each Pony Club member and parent or guardian. A certificate will be provided for the Pony Club members to have signed by the Master (or Secretary) of the hunt each time they complete a hunt.

Pony Club Eligibility for the Award
For 1st time Foxhunters or members who have hunted less than 3 times in the previous season, you must hunt a total of 3 or more times in the current season
For members who have hunted 3 or more times in the previous season or participated in the Live Oak Challenge last year, you must hunt a total of 6 or more times in the current season.  For Pony Club members who are also regular hunting members, you must hunt 9 or more times in the current season
All Pony Club members must have their Live Oak Hounds Certificate (available on the USPC web site) signed by the Master of the Hunt where they participate, or by the Hunt Secretary. You must also list the dates of your hunts.  Any active Pony Club member is eligible. All participating hunts must be an MFHA Member Hunt. A list of member hunts is available on the Masters of Foxhounds Association web site. 

Permission to hunt and date availability must be obtained in advance by the club DC by phoning the Secretary of the hunt. The Master(s) or Secretary should be consulted regarding such issues as pace, terrain, skill level required, group size, and height and types of jumps (if applicable). Please note: This is not a Pony Club sponsored activity and therefore Pony Club Accident/Medical Coverage does not apply.

A certificate will be made available on the USPC web site that must be signed by the Master (or Secretary) of the Hunt after each hunt to state that the Pony Club member has completed a day of hunting. This can include cubbing as well as the formal hunting season. An appropriately signed copy of the certificate must be sent to the USPC office to count toward the Live Oak Hounds Award.

The Award period will run June 1st-April 1st, and the Award winners will be announced by April 15th.

A total of $6,500 will be awarded to the top 6 clubs who qualify, based on the percentage of total members in the club.

Click here for the Certificate

It is strongly suggested that anyone who participates in this Awards Program purchase a copy of the book, "Riding to Hounds In America" by William P. Wadsworth MFH, available at the USPC Bookstore. It has suggestions for preparing your horse or pony for foxhunting, and proper dress and etiquette involved with the sport.

For more information or questions, contact Marian Wahlgren, Development Director or Wayne Quarles, Activities Director.

2008 Joys of Foxhunting Writing Contest 

The annual Hildegard Neill Ritchie Writing contest is open to all D- or C-rated Pony Club members. The winning submission will receive a $200 cash prize to be spent on Foxhunting dues, hunt capping fees, Pony Club camp or anything related to these activities. Second Place: $100; Third Place $50. The winning entries will be published in USPC News and in The Chronicle of the Horse. The contest award is from a memorial fund established by friends of Mrs. Ritchie, who was a long-time Pony Club supporter and volunteer. She founded the Colorado Springs Pony Club in 1958 and was its District Commissioner for 30 years. She was Regional Supervisor of the Colorado (now Rocky Mountain) region for 12 years and hosted regional Pony Club camps on her ranch for 20 plus years. She served several terms as a USPC Governor and received the USPC Founders Award in 1989. 

The Contest Rules: 

Eligibility: Open to all D- and C-rated Pony Club members in good standing, whether they have hunted or not. Previous first-place winners are not eligible for participation for two years after winning. 

Objective: To encourage writing skills and imagination and to improve basic knowledge of horsemanship and foxhunting skills. 

Subject: Any aspect of Foxhunting. 

Entries: Short stories, poems, songs or essays. The maximum length is two double-spaced, typewritten pages, 8-1/2 x 11. Entries may be submitted electronically or hardcopy. Please e-mail entries to Erin@ponyclub.org or mail hardcopy entries to Foxhunting Committee, USPC 4041 Iron Works Parkway, Lexington, KY 40511.  Please include name, address, phone number, age, rating, and brief biographical sketch. 

Judging: By individuals independent of Pony Club, but with knowledge of foxhunting and writing. 
Deadline: May 1, 2 0 0 8

For more information contact Wayne Quarles Activities@ponyclub.org or Erin Woodall Erin@ponyclub.org.