Discover the Rewards of Foxhunting with the Live Oak Challenge
The history of Pony Club is closely tied to the sport of foxhunting. The United States Pony Clubs was established in 1954 by hunting enthusiasts who recognized the importance of encouraging youth in the sport, while teaching riding and horse management. Most of the early Pony Clubs in the United States had direct ties to hunts and hunting people.
While Pony Club has grown to include many riding disciplines, the United States Pony Clubs, Inc. still maintains a close relationship with the world of foxhunting. Today, Foxhunting is a recognized discipline in Pony Club. Although it is noncompetitive, there are many opportunities to enjoy fox hunting as a Pony Club member.
Live Oak Hounds Challenge
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; to reward those members who do hunt on a regular basis; and to encourage them to act as mentors to the younger and less-experienced Pony Club members. Awards go to six Pony clubs/centers who regularly take the greatest percentage of members foxhunting. A total of $10,000 is awarded to the top six clubs/centers that qualify, based on the percentage of total members in the club/center. The award period for the challenge runs from April 10 – April 9.
For more than a decade, the Live Oak Hounds Foxhunting Challenge Award has encouraged hundreds of young equestrians to try foxhunting for the first time and experience the fun, freedom, and camaraderie of riding to hounds on horseback.
Click here to learn more about the Live Oak Hounds Foxhunting Challenge and other Foxhunting opportunities for Pony Club members.