Results from the Live Oak Hounds Foxhunting Challenge

By Liz Moyer, USPC Fundraising & Marketing Coordinator

The United States Pony Clubs was founded by foxhunters to teach riding and horse care and bring more equestrians to the sport. Today, Pony Club still retains close ties with the foxhunting community and continues that long-standing tradition.

The Live Oak Hounds Foxhunting Challenge Award has encouraged hundreds of Pony Club members to discover Foxhunting and experience the thrill of riding to hounds. This award is made possible through the support of Mr. and Mrs. C. Martin Wood III, Joint Masters of the Live Oak Hounds in Monticello, Fla., and past presidents of the Masters of Foxhounds Association of America (MFHA). They welcome every Pony Club to participate in the challenge and give Foxhunting a try, with the hope that many will become lifelong Foxhunters.

“You need not be a ribbon-winning rider nor have an expensive horse or pony to thoroughly enjoy this sport that welcomes people of all ages to experience the joy of riding through the beautiful countryside, watching the hounds puzzle out the elusive scent and canny tricks of Mr. Fox or the Wile E. Coyote!” said Daphne Wood. “Come give it a try—you just might win a big check for your Pony Club as well as have the time of your life.”

Taking the Live Oak Challenge

The Live Oak Hounds Foxhunting Challenge encourages Pony Club members willing to try Foxhunting, and also rewards members who hunt on a regular basis for mentoring the newcomers. A total of $10,000 in cash prizes donated by the Woods is awarded to the top participating Pony Clubs and Centers during the challenge, which runs yearly from April 10–April 9.

For the 2022-2023 Challenge, more than 100 Pony Club members participated for a total of 831 days in the hunt field. Thanks to the generosity of Marty and Daphne Wood, this challenge provided a tremendous financial boost to the placing clubs and centers.

• 1st place – De La Brooke Pony Club, $3,200
  Hunted with De La Brooke Foxhounds
• 2nd place – New Shropshire Pony Club, $2,500
  Hunted with Live Oak Hounds
• 3rd place – Blue Mountain Pony Club, $1,500
  Hunted with Rose Tree-Blue Mountain Hunt
• 4th place – Old Dominion Hounds Pony Club, $1,200
  Hunted with Old Dominion Hounds and Thornton Hill Hounds
• 5th place – Elkridge-Harford Pony Club, $825
  Hunted with Elkridge-Harford Hunt
• 6th place – Cedar Knob Pony Club, $725
  Hunted with Mells Foxhounds
• Honorable Mention: Cedar Hills Pony Club; Deep Run Hunt Pony Club; Annapolis Pony Club
  

How the Live Oak Hounds Foxhunting Challenge Benefits Pony Club

Nine Pony Clubs participated in this year’s Live Oak Hounds Foxhunting Challenge for an increased number of days in the hunt field over the previous year. Many members had the opportunity to experience this recognized Pony Club discipline.

“Our members love spending the ‘off’ season Foxhunting,” said Asta Repenning, District Commissioner of De La Brooke Pony Club, the winner of this year’s challenge. “We hunt regularly with De La Brooke Foxhounds in southern Maryland. On any weekend day, you will see our juniors out from first flight (jumping) to hilltoppers (non-jumping). The masters of De La Brooke Foxhounds welcome our juniors out and often allow me to lead our own junior field, giving me the opportunity to educate our members about hound work and the historical land we hunt over.”

In addition to the thrill of the chase and all the fun of Foxhunting, there were many benefits from participating in the Challenge, as De La Brooke Pony Club members discovered.

“Spending the winter out Foxhunting gives our members the opportunity to ride cross-country year-round—they are all much braver by the end of the season!” said Repenning. She reported that the funds earned through the challenge will be put to good use, including a cross-country clinic prior to the start of next season and to pay for members to participate in a Foxhunting clinic series hosted by De La Brooke Foxhounds.

Foxhunting Tips to Try

De La Brooke Pony Club is looking forward to going out hunting again next season, and Repenning encourages others to try it as well.

“To any club thinking about participating [in this challenge] next year—do it!” she said. Repenning said it’s important to be prepared, such as knowing the attire and etiquette, and making sure members’ mounts are up to riding in a group. “I would organize a clinic ahead of time to teach etiquette of riding in a group,” she advised.

For the Love of the Sport

Foxhunters are passionate about their sport and love to share it with others. Dedicated individuals such as Marty and Daphne Wood play an important role in welcoming equestrians to the sport.

Getting those riders into the hunt field, educating them, and making sure everyone has a safe, fun experience takes a village, and that’s where experienced foxhunters and Pony Club leaders rise to the challenge.

Repenning’s commitment to bringing youth into the sport of Foxhunting has been instrumental in De La Brooke Pony Club’s success with the challenge.

“She will drive to pick up ponies the night before a hunt so that kids can borrow and lend their mounts to other members,” said Erin Nelson, Joint District Commissioner of De La Brooke Pony Club. “She always rolls up to hunts with her big stock trailer packed with ponies to be passed out upon arrival. She will then lead a junior field, as permitted by our masters, on whatever horse is left over, having given out the ‘good ones’ to kids, parents, or friends who don’t want to miss out on the fun. You’ll see her front-and-center in many of the group photos surrounded by a little herd of giggling children.”

Foxhunting Opportunities in Pony Club

Pony Club works closely with the MFHA, which is the governing body of organized mounted hunting with hounds in the United States and Canada. There are many resources available on its website to learn more about the sport or find a hunt near you. The new Margaret Lindsley Warden Award Program is a great way to introduce young riders to the sport.

Pony Club has many activities, awards, and recognition programs for the discipline of Foxhunting.
To learn all about Foxhunting in Pony Club, read more on the Pony Club Blog and visit www.ponyclub.org/Members/Disciplines/Foxhunting.