2017 Live Oak Hounds USPC Foxhunting Challenge Award
June 5, 2017 (Lexington, KY) – The United States Pony Clubs, Inc. is pleased to announce the winners of the eleventh annual Live Oak Hounds USPC Foxhunting Challenge. The Live Oak Challenge is designed to encourage Pony Club members who do not regularly hunt to try the sport, and to reward members who hunt on a regular basis to act as mentors to the less-experienced Pony Club members. $10,000 in awards will go to the top Pony Clubs who regularly take the greatest number of active Pony Club members out hunting. This 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.
A total of 71 Pony Club members competed this year, accounting for more than 690 days in the hunt fields. Nine hunt clubs from across the country welcomed the participating Pony Club members to participate in the hunts: Arapahoe Hunt (CO), Rose Tree-Blue Mountain Hunt (PA), Elkridge-Harford Hunt (MD), Old Dominion Hounds (VA), Rolling Rock Hunt (PA), Bull Run Hunt (VA), Sewickley Hunt (PA), Spring Valley Hounds (NJ), and Bear Creek Hounds (GA).
Congratulations to the 2017 Challenge winners:
1st Place: The Arapahoe Hunt Pony Club (Rocky Mountain Region)
2nd Place: Old Dominion Hounds Pony Club (Virginia Region)
3rd Place: Elkridge-Harford Pony Club (Maryland Region)
4th Place: Woodbine Pony Club (South Region)
5th Place: Rolling Rock Hunt Pony Club (Tri-State Region)
6th Place: Spring Valley Hounds Pony Club (New Jersey Region)
7th Place: Blue Mountain Pony Club (Maryland Region)
USPC was founded in 1954 by a group of avid foxhunters. A knowledgeable rider on a happy pony (or horse) is the goal of Pony Club, and the hunt field is a great place to find many of these pairs. Pony Club offers several opportunities for members to explore Foxhunting as a group or individually through club or center activities, visit ponyclub.org for more information and to get involved.
About MFHA – The Masters of Foxhounds Association of America was formed in 1907 and is the governing body of organized fox, coyote, other acceptable legal quarry and drag hunting in the United States and Canada. The MFHA’s main activities are: the promotion of the sport; the publication of a Foxhound Stud Book; the recognition of organized Hunts which have met its standards; the recordation of countries and boundaries for organized hunting establishments; and the registration of Hunts as a preliminary step toward recognition.
About Pony Club – The United States Pony Clubs, Inc. (Pony Club) was founded in 1954 as a nonprofit national youth organization to teach riding and horsemanship through a formal educational program. There are approximately 10,000 Pony Club members in over 600 clubs and riding centers throughout the country. Many of the nation’s top equestrians, including several of our Olympic team members, business professionals, government leaders and career military officers, have roots in Pony Club. Traditional members range in age from as young as 4 through age 25. Pony Club also offers educational opportunities a growing number of adults through Horsemasters membership.