Celebrating Your Special Horse
Photos courtesy of Middleburg Hunt

The 2022–2023 hunting season becomes the foxhunters’ year of the horse as the MFHA organizes a series of horse competitions across North America. The MFHA Field Hunter Championship is more than just a celebration of our equine partners. It’s a chance to win regional and national field hunter titles, and perhaps raise funds for your hunt. Each of us has a horse, and each of us thinks that our horse is the best. So, we invite you and your special horse to participate in this Championship!

We have devised this horse competition to be similar to the Centennial Field Hunter Championship held several years ago. Hunts will host qualifiers in each of the MFHA’S 15 Districts, with the top horses qualified to attend the Finals in May of 2023 during the Virginia Hound Show weekend.

These qualifiers are also fundraisers for the hunts who are gracious enough to host them. We will work with the Chairmen of the Qualifiers every step of the way, providing everything from entry forms to judging guidelines to press release forms.

Below are the Rules and Conditions for the Competition. Two divisions will be offered; jumping and non-jumping, called Hunters and Hilltoppers respectively. The Qualifiers and Finals will be open to Juniors who will compete with adults. In addition to the opportunity to place with adults, a Best Junior Award will be given at the Qualifiers and at the Finals. For those who don’t remember, during the Centennial, the Juniors proved to be quite competitive, with a Junior winning the overall Championship at the Finals!

Below also is the current list of MFHA Districts and the hunts who have volunteered to host a Qualifier for their District. This list will be updated as more information becomes available. We need more hunts to volunteer so that there is one Qualifier in each District. Again, all proceeds from a Qualifier go to the hosting hunt.

For more information, contact the Chairman of your District Qualifier (shown in the list of Districts below) or the MFHA office at 540-883-0883.

The MFHA will host the Finals Saturday, May 27, 2023. The last time we hosted the Finals for the Centennial Field Hunter Championship we attracted 4,000 spectators who came to watch the Finals. Join us in making this MFHA Field Hunter Championship just as memorable!

Additional Information

(updated 8/4/22)

The MFHA Field Hunter Championship is to be held under the auspices of the Masters of Foxhounds Association.  During the 2022-2023 hunting season, regional field hunter competitions will be held in each of the fifteen MFHA districts across the United States and Canada. The two (2) divisions of each Qualifier will be Adult/Junior Hunter (jumping) and Adult/Junior Hilltopper (non-jumping). (Please note: the non-jumpers will go at the same pace and over the same terrain as the jumpers.) The top six horses in each division of these Qualifiers will earn the title of MFHA Field Hunter.  The top two (2) horses in each division from each District Qualifier will be invited to compete in the finals scheduled for May 27, 2023, during the festivities at the Virginia Foxhounds Show.  From this group of competitors the MFHA Field Hunter Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion for each division will be chosen.

GENERAL CONDITIONS

All horses, owners, trainers and riders must be acceptable to the Committees of the Qualifiers and of the Finals, hereafter referred to as the Committees.

The Committees reserve the right to refuse any entry.

Good sportsmanship must be exhibited at all times.  Any discourteous behavior may result in disqualification.

All decisions of the judges are final.

The Committees and the owners of properties on which the competitions are held assume no responsibility for injury or loss incurred by either participants or spectators, and entries are accepted only under the condition that the participants release them, as well as fellow participants, from any and all liability.

The Committees may vary the conditions or courses in any way which may seem in the best interests of the competition.

No schooling will be allowed at any time over the competition course.  Schooling fences, where appropriate, will be provided.

Riders must be in proper hunting attire.  Horses should be clean and properly tacked for foxhunting.  Bridles, bits, saddles and other equipment should be traditional hunting tack.  Competitors may be penalized for deviations of tack (e.g. unusual bits, etc.) at the judges’ discretion.

ELIGIBILITY FOR THE TWO DIVISIONS

Each horse and rider combination must have fairly hunted 6 or more times for at least half the hunting day with a MFHA recognized or registered pack.  Riders must be members or subscribers of a recognized or registered hunt.  The above requirements are to be certified in writing by the Master of the appropriate hunt using the Horse and Rider Certification form provided by the  Committee.  The completed form must accompany the entry form.

All owners and riders must be subscribing members of the MFHA.  A copy of the subscribing membership cards must accompany the entry form.

Horses and riders may only compete in the Qualifier being held for their hunt’s MFHA District.  In the instance where two Qualifiers are held in one district, a rider may compete two different horses, one in each Qualifier, provided all entry criteria are met for each horse/rider combination.  A horse may only be competed in one Qualifier.  If a rider belongs to two hunts each located in a different MFHA district, that rider may compete two different horses, one in each district, provided all entry criteria are met for each horse/rider combination.  Again, a horse may only be competed in one Qualifier.

Juniors, those over 11 & under 18 years as of January 1, 2022, whether riding ponies or horses, will compete with adults. A parent’s signature & the Junior’s birth date are required on the entry form. A Best Junior Award will be given, when applicable, for each of the two divisions (jumping & non-jumping) at each District Qualifier and at the Finals.

COMPETITION FORMAT

Most of the Qualifiers are formatted like the Finals in four phases as follows:

  • Turnout: The competitors, divided into two sections (Adults and Juniors), will first be judged on turnout, including appointments.  This phase has its own award which will not count toward placings in a qualifier or in the Finals.  It is independent of and judged separately from the performance phases of the competition and, as noted, is divided between adults and juniors unlike the performance phases. The Best Turned Out phase does not count toward the selection of the qualifying competitors. Once the judging is completed, the competitors, if not wearing safety headgear, must change into safety headgear before the riding phases begin.  Please note that the performance phases, though not judged on appointments, are to be ridden in proper hunting attire and tack.  Any substantial deviation from traditional attire and tack during the performance phases may incur penalties at the judges’ discretion. Click here below for:
    Hunting Appointments Guidelines for The MFHA Field Hunter Championship Best Turned Out Competition
  • Under Saddle: Competitors in the two divisions (first jumping, then hilltopping) will be asked to walk, trot, canter, hand gallop, halt, back or stand at the judges’ discretion allowing the judges to see the horses’ way of going and get an overall view of the competitors.
  • Cross Country: This phase (the highest weighted of the three performance phases) consists of a mock hunt or possibly a short drag hunt, depending on the feasibility of using hounds.  Competitors will follow a field master for approximately 2.5 to 3.5 miles over fair hunting country with obstacles and typical hunting situations, including checks, a ware staff, queuing up in front of a fence (not applicable to hilltoppers), etc.
  • Individual Test: The judges will then pick 8 or 10 horses to perform an individual test.  For the jumping division, it will consist of a handy hunter course of about 8 fences, possibly including a trot over fence, a gate to be opened and closed, a rail to be dropped, a lead over fence and a horse to be ponied. The test for the non-jumping division may include a hand gallop and halt, a gate to be opened and closed, a rail to be dropped, a lead over fence and a horse to be ponied. From each of these groups of 8 or 10 horses, a champion and reserve will be pinned for each of the two divisions.

The number of participants in a qualifier is not limited.  If there are more than 50 participants, two divisions (with as equal numbers as possible) of under saddle and cross country will be run.  Four or five individuals will then be chosen from each division and the individual test will be run with the top horses from each division combined.

REQUIRED FORMS

Entry Forms

The official entry form for all District Qualifiers may be obtained from the District Qualifiers or down-loaded from the MFHA website, www.mfha.com.  All entrants must read and sign the entry form (which includes a release of liability and indemnity), and a parent or guardian must sign for a junior (under the age of 18 as of January 1, 2022).

Checks covering entry fees should be made payable to the appropriate District Qualifier following their instructions on the entry blank.

Owners shall be held responsible for all entry fees of all horses entered by them or their agents.  Horses entered may be scratched without a veterinarian certificate, by written notice to the Qualifier or Finals chairman by letter or FAX received at least 5 days before the competition.  A $25 Entry Processing Fee is not refundable.  Horses that are scratched from a Qualifier may be substituted with a new horse, who meets all of the entry requirements, at no additional charge.

Horse and Rider Certification

As described in the Eligibility section, each horse and rider combination must submit with the entry form a Horse and Rider Certification signed by the Master of the hunt they represent.  It states that the pair has fairly hunted with and is qualified to represent that hunt.  Forms are available on the MFHA website, www.mfha.com.

Coggins Tests and Other Health Documents

For District Qualifiers and for the Finals, all horses must be accompanied by a report (available on the day of competition) of an official negative test for equine infectious anemia (Coggins Test) conducted within the 12 months prior to the date of competition and a vet certificate showing proof of vaccination for EHV 1 & 4 conducted within 6 months prior to the date of competition. District Qualifiers must keep a log of the coggins dates and state accession numbers for state inspection if requested. For the Finals which will be held in Virginia, the Virginia Department of Agriculture requires an interstate health certificate dated within 30 days accompany any horse shipping from outside Virginia.

Releases

In addition to the entry form, all riders must read and sign waiver of liability forms provided by the District Qualifiers.

Medical Insurance

A copy of the rider’s current medical insurance information and emergency contacts must be on their person while they are competing.

FINALS: The top two horses in each division of each District Qualifier will be eligible to compete in the Finals.  Exceptions are:

  • In the instance where two qualifiers are held in one district, the top horse in each division of each qualifier is eligible to compete in the Finals.
  • In the instance where two districts are combined in one qualifier, entries from the two districts will be judged at the same time but scored separately. The judges may select two horses from each division of each of the two districts, with the possibility of eight horses chosen for the Finals from that Qualifier.

The same horse and rider pair must compete in the Finals as competed in the Qualifier; that is, no substitutions will be accepted for the Finals.

Entry forms for the finals on May 27, 2023 must be postmarked by April 24, 2023, and mailed to Penny Denegre, MFH, 22277 Foxstone Farm Lane, Middleburg, VA  20117.

AWARDS:

Winners must be present and dressed in proper hunting attire at all award ceremonies.

Qualifier Awards: The first six horses in each division at each District Qualifier will receive ribbons and the title of a MFHA Field Hunter. There will be an award for Best Junior and Best Turned Out.

Final Awards: The first and second place horses in each division of the Finals will earn the title of MFHA Field Hunter Grand Champion and MFHA Field Hunter Reserve Grand Champion. MFHA Best Junior and MFHA Best Turned Out will also be awarded.

*Qualifiers to Date for the MFHA Field Hunter Championship, As of 10/24/22

CANADA

CAROLINAS

Co-Chairs: Cameron Sadler, MFH, (cameronsadler1@gmail.com ) & Mary Philips, (hogan.phillips@yahoo.com ), Moore County Hounds

Date/Place: Saturday, March 18, 2023, Moore County Hounds Hunter Trial Course, Old Mail Road, Southern Pines, NC

Contacts: C. Sadler, 945 Sheldon Road, Southern Pines, NC 28387:  910-684-0970

RESULTS ARE IN

CENTRAL

Chair: Kate Rigg, (karigg2010@gmail.com ), Rocky Fork Headley Hunt, Saturday

Date/Place: October 15, 2022, at Crosswind Farm, 7087 Sadie Thomas Rd., Alexandria, OH 43001 (Rain date 10/16)

Contact: K. Rigg, 6906 Keesee Circle, New Albany, OH 43054:  614-562-0891

GREAT PLAINS

Chair: Jean Mutrux, MFH, (mutrux21@gmail.com ), Bridlespur Hunt

Date/Place: Saturday, April 1, 2023 at the Bridlespur Hunt, 125 Valley Green Lane, Eolia, MO

Contact: J. Mutrux, 217 Westgate, St. Louis, MO 63130: ©314-706-4052 or (h)314-863-4134

MARYLAND-DELAWARE

Chair: Christine Clagett, MFH, (larkinghill@aol.com ), Marlborough Hunt

Date/Place: Sunday, November 13, 2022, at the Marlborough Hunt Club, 5904 Hunt Club Road, Upper Marlboro, MD 20773 (Rain date: Sunday, November 20)

Contact: C. Clagett, Larking Hill, 4029 Solomons Island Road, Harwood, MD 20772: 410-703-7998  

For more information, please visit www.marlboroughhuntclub.com

MIDSOUTH

Co-Chairs:  Lilla Mason, MFH, (lmason2342@aol.com) & Martha Venable Johnson, MFH, (rosemark@blueone.net), Iroquois Hunt

Date/Place: Sunday, October 16, 2022, at Boone Valley Farm, 6600 Sulphur Well Road, Lexington, KY

Contacts: L. Mason, 574 Grimes Mill Road, Lexington, KY 40515-9610 859-421-6987

M. Johnson, 2500 Bethlehem, Road, Paris, KY 40361:  859-229-6017

NEW ENGLAND

Myopia – mid to late April 2023

NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY

**Canceled**

NO. VIRGINIA/WEST VIRGINIA

Co-Chairs:  Dawn Colgan, MFH, (ddcolgan@gmail.com), & Debbie Welch, MFH, (debbie6welch@gmail.com), Old Dominion Hounds

Date/Place: Sunday, November 13 at The Hinckley Hunter Trial Field, Thumb Run Road, Marshall, VA 20115. First field entrance on the left.

Contacts: D. Colgan, 11310 Bears Den Road, Marshall, VA 20115: 540-222-7395; D. Welch, P.O. Box 192, Flint Hill, VA 22672: 540-631-8607

PACIFIC

Co-Chairs:  Melody Fleckenstein, MFH, (fleckstein@aol.com), & Theresa Lazares, MFH, (dlazares@centurytel.net )Woodbrook Hunt Club

Date/Place:

Contacts: M. Fleckenstein, 815 Hillside Dr. E, Seattle, WA 98112: 425-417-4003 and T. Lazares, 7318 81st Avenue NW, Gig Harbor, WA 98335-7900: 253-973-8639

PENNSYLVANIA

Chair:  Missy Shaffer, missyshaffer41@gmail.com, Mr. Stewart’s Cheshire Foxhounds

Date/Place:  Saturday, April 1, 2023, at Laurel Hill Farm, 2300 Hilltop View Road, Coatesville, PA 19320

Contact: Missy Shaffer, missyshaffer41@gmail.com, P.O. Box 688, Unionville, PA 19375: 267-280-2417

ROCKY MOUNTAIN

Chair: Eric Golting, MFH, (ejgolting@yahoo.com), Arapahoe Hunt

Date/Place: TBD (Rescheduled due to weather)

Contact: E. Golting, 11076 Patterson Circle, Franktown, CO 80116: ©303-809-1509

SOUTHERN

Chair: Melissa Hyde Town, MFH (irishjump@gmail.com ), Bear Creek Hounds

Date/Place:  March 25, 2023 at Bear Creek Farm, 1539 Bear Creek Road, Moreland, GA

Contact: Ros Johnson, 2276 Charlie Fuller Road, Grantville, GA, 30220 (bearcreeksecretary@gmail.com), 678-852-7719

Please send entries to:
Ros Johnson (bearcreeksecretary@gmail.com) no later than March 13.

Entry fee: $100.00. Cash prizes and additional awards will be given for Best Turned Out Junior and Best Adult Turned Out. The $100/division entry fee includes a welcome cook-out Friday evening!

 VIRGINIA

Co-Chairs:  Ginny Perrin, MFH, (vsp955@aol.com) & Marsh Davis, MFH, (marsh.davis7400@gmail.com),  Deep Run Hunt

Date/Place: Sunday, November 6, 2022, at Deep Run Hunt Club, 1540 Manakin Road, Manakin Sabot, VA 23103

Contacts: G. Perrin, 955 Dover Road, Manakin Sabot, VA 23103: 804-338-0126 & 804-784-5702 and M. Davis, Lithgow Farm, 2391 Broad St. Road, Maidens, VA 23102: 804-240-7400

Please send entries to:
Robyn Tipton:
Horseshowsecretary1@gmail.com
Entry fee: $75.00

WESTERN

Co-Chairs: Susan Denny Gentry, MFH, (susan@cloudline.info ), & Josie Adams, (jmaranch369@gmail.com), Cloudline Hounds

Date/Place: Early weekend in March 2023

Contacts: S. Gentry, 6705 CR 1048, Celeste, TX  75423-3805:  214-232-2984 and  J. Adams, 2719 FM 1564 E, Greenville TX 75402: 903-450-6841

FHC Centennial

FHC Centennial

FHC Centennial