Rockbridge Hunt Newsletter -- April 1999

The Rockbridge Hunt 1999 Annual Meeting will take place at 7 PM, May 12th at the Tex Tilson Lodge. You should be receiving proxies in the mail under separate stamp. If you can not attend, be sure to send in your proxy or give it to another warm body to serve as your proxy. Remember, family members only get one vote per family and inactive, social, and student members are certainly welcome at the meeting but can not vote.

The agenda for the meeting will include the following old business: reading of the minutes for the last annual meeting, Treasurer’s report, President’s report, and Master’s report. New business will include a report from the Nominations Committee Report, the election of officers, and any other new business.

Members are strongly advised to call Frank Farmer with other concerns that they would like to see on the agenda. This IS an open meeting, so agenda items will be accepted from the floor as the meeting progresses. Suggestions for the Nominations Committee should be presented to Kathy Eichelberger as soon as possible.

Your Executive Board

The governing body of the Rockbridge Hunt is the Executive Committee, elected at the annual meeting of the membership. The Committee is composed of a minimum of 8 members: at least one Master of Fox Hounds (MFH), the president, treasurer, secretary, and four stewards.

The duties of each of the members of the Executive Committee are as follows. The MFH takes charge of the hounds, hunting fixtures and landowner relations, hunting days, and all things hunting related to the satisfaction of the executive committee. He or she is invited to attend the annual meeting of the MFHA. The president is the chief executive officer of the club. The treasurer keeps the financial records: submits an annual report with recommendations for spending, keeps track of members' dues and presents monthly budgets to the executive board. The secretary takes the minutes, maintains hunt records, maintains the membership list, answers questions from the general public requesting capping information, and composes correspondence. The four stewards ensure a broad membership representation on the Executive Committee. Besides voting on the Committee, the stewards are expected to help with special functions and may be asked to donate time and labor in accordance to their talents and capabilities.

By interpretation of the by-laws in 1983 the Executive Committee declared that Honorary Masters also have voting privilege on the executive committee.

Currently the RH Executive Committee is made up of:

• MFH, David Bolen
• Two Honorary MFHs: Viola Wise and Gene Clapsaddle
• President: Frank Farmer
• Treasurer: Jay Moore
• Secretary: Jeanne Jeffer
• Four stewards: Carol Atwood, Kathy Eichelberger, Blair Jones, and Lauren Keating

Each year the offices of MFH, president, treasurer, and secretary are filled by election at the annual meeting of the membership. Stewards serve four year terms with two positions coming up every other year. This year two steward positions held by Carol Atwood and Blair Jones will be filled. The position of honorary MFH is bestowed for life by unanimous vote at an annual meeting of the membership.

This year's Nominations Committee, appointed by the president, is composed of Kathy Eichelberger, Viola Wise, and Frank Hartis. They are charged to find members willing to be nominated to elected office. Nominations are also taken from the floor at the annual meeting of the membership. At the current time, the Nominations Committee has found the fllowing members willing to hold office:

• MFH - David Bolen
• President - Frank Farmer
• Treasurer - Cindy Morton
• Secretary - Erica Jones
• Steward - Carol Atwood
• Steward - Pete Whitlock

Rockbridge - Glenmore Hound Show
and Kentucky Derby Party

The fourth annual Rockbridge-Glenmore Hound Show will be held at one o’clock on Saturday, May 1, 1999 at the Tex Tilson Lodge. The Kentucky Derby Party will follow the show. Mr. Coleman P. Perrin has agreed to judge. Mr. Perrin is Master of Foxhounds at Deep Run Hunt and serves as the Virginia Director of the MFHA (Masters of Fox Hounds Association).

Classes in order of go:

1. Single dog, unentered
2. Couple of dogs, unentered
3. Single dog, entered
4. Couple of dogs, entered
5. Single bitch, unentered
6. Couple of bitches, unentered
7. Single bitch, entered
8. Couple of bitches, entered
9. Favorite old hound class
10. Pack class (5 couple)

The last two classes - the pack class (consisting of five couple of hounds) and the "Favorite Old Hound" class are not ‘traditional’ hound show classes. For you folks new to hunting, ‘unentered’ means that the hound has not been out with the pack. And ‘dog’ is the proper term for a male canine.

Five hunts have been invited to bring hounds to the show: Bedford County Hunt, Farmington Hunt, Glenmore Hunt, Oak Ridge Fox Hunt, and Smith Mountain Hounds. Hope for good weather and check the Hunt Line for last minute changes.

The Kentucky Derby Party will feature food (organized by the Kitchen Committee) and the opportunity to watch the Derby (on tape). Members have been requested to bring a salad, desert or other items of food that would coordinate with the deli sandwiches our hard working food committee is planning to serve. Rockbridge members will also be charged a nominal fee for the meal. Participants from visiting hunts will be our guests.

If you’d like to help with the show (hound washing, set up, etc), please contact anyone on the Hound Show Committee. If you’d like to help with the party (setting up, preparing food, or cleaning up), please contact anyone on the Kitchen Committee.

Bring your lawn chair and suntan lotion!!!

The results are in!

Rockbridge Hunt Officers and Committees

Officers MFH -- David Bolen Honorary MFH --   Viola Wise    Gene Clapsaddle President -- Frank Farmer Secretary -- Jeanne Jeffer Treasurer -- Jay Moore Stewards --    Lauren Keating    Kathy Eichelberger    Carol Atwood    Blair Jones

Newsletter: Blair Jones (Abjones@vt.edu) Erica Jones (Emjones@vt.edu) Cindy Morton (cmorton@wlu.edu) Sharon Ford  (faerewnd@cfw.com) Web site:  Faerewynd.com/huntnews.htm

Hound Show Committee Carol Atwood David Bolen David Conner Nancy Conner Lauren Keating Kitchen Committee Lois Farmer Carol Atwood Jeanne Jeffer Lauren Keating Judy Imhoff Mundy Viola Wise

Calendar of Events

Day	Date		Event
Sunday	April 11		Glenmore Hunt Hunter Pace – Grey Gables Farm (Staunton)
Saturday	May 1		Rockbridge-Glenmore Hound Show and Kentucky Derby Party
Wednesday	May 12		Rockbridge Hunt Annual Meeting (7:00 PM)
Sundays	TBA		Summer Fun Trail Rides (with potluck supper)
Saturday	June 12		Rockbridge Hunt Horse Show at Fancy Hill Farm
TBA	Labor Day Weekend		Rockbridge Hunt Endurance Ride (25 and 50 miles)

Bits and Pieces

A number of Rockbridge members attended Glenmore's hunt ball the weekend of March 20th. RH members filled two tables! The Glenmore folks could not have done a better job of making us feel welcome. The food was excellent, the band highly danceable, and the silent auction definitely worth perusal. Round up your dancing friends next year and plan on attending in 2000. Glenmore Hunt has always had a good showing at our own hunt ball.

The newsletter committee would like to thank Sharon and Dick Ford for donating the printing and postage expenses for all of the newsletters you have received in the last 9 months.

Plans are under way for the summer trail rides. Last year several hunt members hosted the rides on their own and adjoining property. If you know of a nice place to host a trail ride, please contact our MFH, David Bolen. Last year the rides were held on Sundays and were followed by fabulous potluck suppers.

Keep an eye out for notices of trail clearing and jump building sessions. These are usually scheduled for August and September. We still have some sections at West Airslie that need paneling; and there are always trails in the home court that need maintenance.

Lola and Wilson Shepard have been spotted by several hunt members beating back the brush in the parking lot at the Lodge. Many thanks! There may have been other folks helping too, but these were the only bodies with implements in hand spotted by a roving RH reporter.

One of the newsletter committee has a slight case of road rash after their 3.9 year old tried cantering on asphalt.

RH member Pete Whitlock was featured in an article in the April 3 issue of The Weekender newspaper (based in Lexington). Among other interesting things the article has this: "I've chewed up enough blue grass to feed a herd of cows over the years," he said, chuckling. "But if you haven't done that, I guess you haven't ridden." We'll try to get a copy of the article on the bulletin board in the Tex Tilson Lodge for the annual meeting.

Huntsman's Report

Currently Rockbridge Hunt has 35 hounds - 20 dogs, 14 bitches, and 1 puppy, which is down from the usual number of 50 or so. Nine of the 35 are unentered (and under a year old) leaving us 26 hunting hounds. Two bitches had litters this year but only one puppy survived out of those efforts. David Conner has plans to try for some puppies again later this year but nobody is pregnant at the current time.

David and his helpers started on preparing hounds for the hound show in the beginning of April. He started with 7 hounds to try to brush up their performance on a leash and hopes to have 10 ready for the hound show in May. Hounds are judged on both conformation (posed) and on gaits. David tells me at the bigger shows hounds will also be shown 'at will' - ie. chasing biscuits. The judge usually uses the 'at will' viewing the hounds for his or her last comparison of his top four or so choices in the class.

Executive Committee Meeting

Minutes from March 17, 1999

The Rockbridge Hunt Executive Committee Meeting Minutes March 17, 1999.

The Rockbridge Hunt Executive Committee met at 6:30pm, Wednesday, March 17, 1999 at the Tex Tilson Lodge. The following members were present: David Bolen, Lauren Keating, Blair Jones, Viola Wise, Kathy Eichelberger, Carol Atwood, Frank Farmer, and Jeanne Jeffer. The meeting was called to order.

The minutes from the previous meeting were read and seconded with no changes.

The treasurer's report was not available.

Old Business:

• The Executive Committee agreed to authorize repair on the kennels prior to our Hound Show. This includes repairing wire mesh fencing, moving an electrical outlet, pressure washing the kennels and feed room, Randy Weiss will repair the gutters and Carol Atwood will speak with Jim Fussell about working on the slope of the land surrounding the kennels to offset washout: total cost $500.00. (Editors' note: replacement of the huntsman's house roof is authorized.)
• The Hunt Ball made approximately $5000.00 on the Silent Auction and Wine Glass sale. It was unanimously agreed to let Buster Lewis continue to head up this event, re-book the same band and hold the Ball at Evans Dining Hall.
• The grounds around the Hunt Lodge are in very good condition. Thank you Dick Ford, Lola and D.D. Shepherd for all their work.
• The Rockbridge Hunt Hound Show/ Derby Day is Saturday, May 1, 1999 at 1:00pm. Carol Atwood presented a brochure she prepared announcing this event. It will be mailed to all Hunt Members and participating Hunts. Coleman Perrin MFH will judge our show. We hope to see more of our membership attend this event.
• The Rockbridge Hunt Horse Show is Saturday, June 12, 1999 at Fancy Hill Farm. Lauren Keating and Pam Moskal are in charge of securing class sponsors. This is a SWVAHJA sanctioned show. Joan Alberti is in charge of putting on this event.

New Business:

• The Nominations Committee for New Officers for the 1999-2000 year has been appointed: Frank Hartis, Kathy Eichelberger, and Viola Wise. The positions needing to be filled are: Secretary, Treasurer, and two Stewards. (Editors note: the positions of president and MFH are generally voted on yearly).
• David Bolen and Jeanne Jeffer will prepare a schedule for the upcoming Summer Trail Rides. All agreed this was a fun event that brought new folks out and maintained the trails as well. This will be mailed out to our membership. The Trail Rides will start in June and run through August.
• The Endurance Ride is September 9, 1999. Kathy Eichelberger, Brenda and Kevin Baird are in charge of this event. It will be held at Zollman's Pavilion. They need help from the membership with the paperwork that this event creates. David Conner will be the farrier.

The next meeting is Monday, April 19, 1999, at 7:30pm at the Hunt Lodge.

With no more new business Frank Farmer adjourned the meeting

Respectfully submitted,
Jeanne Jeffer

Rockbridge Hunt Horse Show

The June hunter show is approaching rapidly. Dr. Lauren Keating and Pam Moskal are in charge of recruiting sponsors for the classes and divisions. Sponsoring a class will cost you fifteen dollars and sponsoring a division is fifty dollars. Divisions will include: Green Hunter, Low Hunter, Working Hunter, Hopeful Hunter, Intermediate Hunter, Adult Hunter, Special Adult Hunter, Children’s Hunter, Special Children’s Hunter, a Pony Club division and two divisions of Pony Hunter. Classes to be offered include Owner’s Up Under Saddle, Field Hunter Over Fences, 2’6" Equitation Over Fences, and the following SWVHJA (Southwestern Virginia Hunter Jumper Association) classes: Hunter Seat Medal, Junior Equitation on the Flat, Pony Medal, Adult Medal, and Adult Equitation on the Flat.

Wilson and Lola Shepherd have agreed to organize volunteers for gopher duty (2 per ring is optimum) and a cleanup crew. We do not need help moving jumps this year. Gophers keep an eye on one of the two rings and will be asked to operate gates, raise and lower jumps, help the ring steward, fetch refreshments for the judges, etc., etc.

Any junior members are cordially invited to hand out ribbons and trophies. The food committee is planning to have RH members do the food this year; they may be giving you a call. A sign-up sheet will be available at the annual meeting. If you are itching to volunteer, or you will already be there and will have some free time, please give the Shepherds a call.

Hunt Attire, Part Three:

Hunting as a Guest

If you are invited to ride at another hunt you should be aware that their standards of dress may be quite different from what is accepted at Rockbridge. For a formal meet at most hunts a black hunting coat, white shirt and stock, beige breeches, and black dress boots will almost always be correct.

At joint meets it is correct for members of either hunt to wear whatever is deemed appropriate by their hunt. Coats with colors (or scarlet where appropriate) may be worn. Individuals who are invited to hunt elsewhere as guests may be subject to different rules.

Every hunt is unique and has different requirements. A few examples of different rules are given below. They're listed merely to give you some idea of what to ask about when you're invited to ride as a guest at another hunt.

Some hunts may follow some of the following guidelines:

• Beige breeches may be required, rust or gray may be unacceptable.
• Black field boots may be inappropriate.
• Paddock boots and leggings may be forbidden.
• Field members may be expected to wear derbies.
• Field members may be required to wear ASTM-approved helmets.
• Having your horse's mane braided might be required or expected.
• Having your horse's tail braided might be expected.
• Black frock coats may be required on certain formal hunts.
• Midweek hunts may or may not require formal attire.
• White turtleneck shirts without stocks may be acceptable.
• Guests may be expected to wear plain black coats (without colors on collars and with plain buttons).

The only way to find out what sort of attire is expected is to ask the person who has invited you. If they are a member of the field, they should have no trouble telling you exactly what they'll be wearing. Sometimes things are not that simple. If you are in doubt, you may want to track down the secretary of the hunt who should be able to answer any questions for you.

Cindy Morton