Annual Meeting
Our annual membership meeting will be held Wednesday, May 11 at 7:30 pm.
The current slate of officers is:
President, Carol Atwood
Secretary, Judy Mundy
Treasurer:, A. Blair Jones III
MFH, Cindy Morton
Steward one, Sandra Worthy
Steward two, Kathy Eichelberger
Nominations from the floor will also be accepted.At the meeting a review of 2004-5 hunting season will be presented, a budget for 2005-6 will be presented and voted on, and other topics. Every hunting member who has paid their dues in full has one vote; paid up family memberships can only file one vote per family. Honory members have the right to vote as do landowners. Stewards are elected for 4-year terms with elections for two every other year. The two steward terms ending in May 2005 are currently held by Kathy Eichelberger and Sandra Worthy. Fred Burks and Terry Whitmore will continue in their positions for another 2 years.
The nominating committee consisted of Jay Moore (head; riding member), Lucy Turner (land owner), and Lauren Keating (land owner).
One new item that will be discussed at this May’s meeting is a proposal for a “seasonal capping.” In brief, this will be available only to hunting members in good standing of another hunt. Folks paying a seasonal capping can generally hunt once a week. More details will be presented at our annual meeting. Our neighboring hunt, Glenmore, has a similar “associate” status. A description is later in the newsletter.
If you are not able to attend the annual meeting, please send a proxy to any hunt member or our secretary Judy Mundy..
I, ________________________________________________
Give all rights for voting at the Rockbridge Hunt Annual meeting to
________________________________________________.
I am a voting member in good standing.
Get this proxy to Judy or give it to any member attending.
Judy Mundy
5092 Springwood Road
Buchannan, VA 24066.
Hound Trials
Rockbridge Hunt was invited to participate in the middle March hound trials held near Culpepper. The trials consisted of two days of back to back hunting. The two hunts with the most distance to travel (us and Deep Run Hunt) stabled (um, boarded?) the hounds at the kennels at Rappahannock and Bull Run.
Basically the hunt consisted of a huntsman, whippers-in and four mounted judges. The judges carried recording devises to record comments and were also outfitted with staff members of the host hunt who knew the terrain. They admitted they would not SEE everything but were confident enough that they were see enough to fairly judge which hounds were working the best.
Most interesting to me, was that they weighted the points given so that for the second (consecutive) day of hunting, and later in the day for both days of hunting, point were worth more when the hounds did something good. You might keep that in mind next time you are sitting on a horse for four hours!
My information source said that the weather really was decidedly not good; pretty ample rain the first day, and the most amazing mud the second. Carol Atwood said horses would regularly loose one foot up to the fetlocks and have to jerk that foot out of the mud. And she said she saw one horse go up to its hocks in the back.
From the mounted person’s point of view it was pretty much like any other hunt although the two fields were requested to keep together; and in particular the second flight was requested not to get strung out. The judges certainly got closer to the hounds than any normal whippers-in or even huntsman would but they figured it was necessary for good judging.
David took 6 hounds (Texas, Wally, Winter, Webster, Tot, and Turkish). The hounds stayed in an empty run at Rappahannock the night before hunting, but were mixed in with the residents the second night. David had had a lot of problems finding any bitches not in heat to take so he only took the one. We ended up being given a Rappahannock hound, Lisa, who David describes as a “busy” hound. If she hunts well he is hoping to use her in the breeding program given her vastly different genetics.
He described the hounds in a situation like that with a mixed pack as doing a lot of “socializing”. The socializing on Wednesday occurred in spite of putting all four packs (Rappahannock, Bull Run, Deep Run and our hounds) on the trailer together to travel to the first meet..
Hounds were rated in Hunting, Trailing, Speed and Drive, Marking and Endurance. Wally got a first or second place in ALL of these categories and ended up in second place overall. Turkish did not show very well in the hound show part (we just do not have the person-power to teach our hounds to show), but got a second place in the conformation bitches.
Summer Trail Rides
Our goal for the non-hunting part of this year is to schedule a trail ride each month. All of these dates and locations are subject to change – please call before setting out!. We've already moved the April ride to May 1 to avoid a conflict. The RH email list is the best way to keep up with these things but information will also be on the Huntline (462-1113).
For some of the rides we'll try to split into two groups - one group primarily walking and one going somewhat faster. The splitting will depend on how many people show up and may be subject to the weather, missing shoes, etc. Let's plan on an informal shared tailgate following each ride. Bring some snacks and cold drinks to share. Nonmembers may attend but will have to pay a fee of fifteen dollars ($15) per person to cover our insurance fees.
Check the calendar for dates and locations.
Summarized Minutes
The Executive Committee met on March 15, 2005. Members present were: Cindy Morton (MFH), Carol Atwood (Pres), Judy Mundy (Sec), Blair Jones (Treas), Sandra Worthy (’05), Fred Burks (’07) and Terry Whitmore (’07). Absent: Kathy Eichelberger (’05). Fred drew up a draft for the Seasonal Capping, which was discussed and revised to include the fee of $250/Person or $350/ Family for members in good standing with another MFHA Recognized Hunt or Registered Hunt. We need to discuss what to do with the $10,000 given to the hunt by Viola Wise. Plans for the Field Trials, Hunter Pace, Hunter Trials, Horse Show and Landowner’s Luncheon were discussed. Nina Schug is writing a book about Foxhunts of America and would like to include our hunt with photos and information. Covertside Magazine is requesting artwork to use for their anniversary.
Respectfully submitted, Judy Mundy, Secretary
Proposed Budget for Annual Membership Meeting
Proposal for Seasonal Capping with the Rockbridge Hunt
Seasonal Capping Fee . $250/ Person or $350/ Family
The following rules/criteria shall apply:
- Seasonal capping shall be limited to full riding members in good standing with another MFHA Recognized Hunt or Registered Hunt.
- Requires the prior expressed approval of the Executive Committee.
- Seasonal Capping shall be limited to one(1) hunt per week. The MFH may grant exceptions.
- Seasonal capping fees must be paid in full prior to hunting. These fees shall not be pro-rated, are non-refundable, non-transferable and cannot be applied toward any other dues and fees.
- Rights and privileges granted to other Rockbridge Hunt members do not apply
Rockbridge Hunt Spring Hunter Pace
See the flyer, Word format or PDF.
Calendar of Events
(See the current version)April
Sat, April 2, Maury River Hunter Pace
Sat, April 16, Glenmore Hunt Spring Hunter Pace (rain date April 17th)
Sat, April 30, BREA timed cross-country “pace”, Green Hill ParkMay
Sun, May 1 Rockbridge Hunt Trail Ride (tentatively at Hunt, Inc.).
Sat, May 7, Glenmore Hunt Fun Hound Show & Derby Day Party
Sun, May 8, Casanova Hunt Spring Trail Ride
Wed, May 11, Rockbridge Hunt Annual Meeting 7:30 pm
Sat, May 14, Rockbridge Hunt Spring Hunter Pace (rain date May 15)
Sat, May 14, Bedford County Hunt Point to Point Races
Sat, May 21, Rockbridge Hunt Trail Ride
Sun, May 29, Virginia Hound ShowJune
Sat, June 4, Rockbridge Hunt Horse Show
Sat-Sun, June 10-11, Old Dominion Endurance Rides
Sat, June 18, Sunrise Stables Hunter Pace
Sun, June 18, Glenmore Hunt Fathers' Day Steak Dinner & Trail Ride
Sat, June 25, Rockbridge Hunt Trail RideJuly
Sat, July 9, Horses & Hounds Wine Festival at Johnson's Orchards (BCH)
Sun, July 10, Glenmore Hunt Foxhunter Camp/Clinic
Sat, July 23, Bedford County Hunt Hunter Pace & Trail Obstacle CompetitionAugust
Sat, Aug 6, Rockbridge Hunt Work Session (AM)
Sun, Aug 14, Rockbridge Hunt Work Session (PM)
Sun, Aug 21, Rockbridge Hunt Work Session (PM)
Sun, Aug 28, Rockbridge Hunt Work Session (PM)
MFH: Cindy Morton, 463-6025 (mortonc@wlu.edu)
President: Carol Atwood (cftatwood@yahoo.com)
Treasurer: Katharine Conner
Secretary: Blair Jones(abjones@vt.edu)
Steward: Fred Burks (montafon@cfw.com)
Steward: Kathy Eichelberger (bergrbnch@aol.com)
Steward: Terry Whitmore(tavern@ntelos.net)
Steward: Sandra Worthy (sworthy@millerlong.com)
Newsletter Committee:
Blair Jones, Abjones@vt.edu
Erica Jones, Emjones@vt.edu
Cindy Morton, mortonc@wlu.edu