WESTERN CAROLINA HUNTER PACE & TRAIL RIDE SERIES
August 2011

The 2011-12 Western Carolina Hunter Pace & Trail Ride Series will be underway shortly and we eagerly anticipate enjoying your presence as a part of it all. We currently have seventeen events tentatively scheduled with one a an organization returning to our ranks after too long of an absence, followed by year-end awards and ribbons going to high score individuals in each division at a special Year End Awards Gathering after the season.

Hunter Paces vary in different parts of this country, but everywhere that I’ve ever heard, they are a fun way to get out and about with our horses, enjoy trails we normally do not have access to and compete in a friendly game. As with recent seasons, the Western Carolina Hunter Pace & Trail Ride Series Events will normally be between six (6) and twelve (12) miles in length. The individual flyers should also give you some brief info as to the terrain and any other particularities to that individual Event.

The Field Hunter Division will continue very much in the traditional manner with an “optimum time” set prior to the event by a rider who has ridden the trail at a Foxhunting Pace. A timekeeper will track “on-course” time for each team and the team coming the closest to the Optimum, whether over or under, will be declared as winner of the Field Hunter Division for the respective Event.

The Trail Rider Division has been created from the more traditional Hill Topper Division in which the trails are taken at a more sedate pace. The terrain and scenery is expected to have much to do with these ride times. The winning time for the Trail Rider Division will be determined by averaging the middle half of the ride teams. That is, if there are twenty (20) teams the time of the fastest five (5) teams and the slowest five (5) teams will be put aside and the middle ten (10) team times will be averaged. An outside time limit may be set by some organization and riders will be notified of this in advance.

Each group uses their own varied terrain and thus each Event tends to have its own distinctive flavor. And speaking of flavor, hunting has always been very much a social event. Thus many of our Hunter Paces will continue to offer a variety of foods, according to season and preferences. Normal fare can be anything from soup and a sandwich in the fall, thru chili or stew during the winter or cold salads and picnic style sandwiches for the warm weather rides. Coffee, soda, tea, cookies and/or cake, chips and other accompaniments as well as apples or carrots for our mounts are also usually offered. As trying to estimate the number of riders and food quantities needed, can be difficult, some Organizers opt to have a caterer on site for riders to either brown bag or purchase their lunch. When this is the case, the flyer will make notation of it and entry fees will be lowered accordingly.

Lest we get too hungry or thirsty with our riding efforts, and to allow our mounts a short respite, there is a required rest stop, generally three (3) minutes, about half way thru the course at which riders are usually offered such refreshments as water, juice, cookies, candy and/or the traditional “stirrup cup”.

Jumps vary in size and style according to the group and terrain and are traditionally taken by the Field Hunters. However, in this Series ALL jumps are optional and riders may enjoy or avoid them at their personal preference and that of their mount. Because we’re concerned about safety, all riders taking jumps are required to wear protective head gear.

Attire, once similar to the formal hunt suits, has also become relaxed in this area. Over the past few years the Paces in this Series have totally dispensed with any dress preference and there is even the annual Halloween costume contest where you might find all manner of strange creatures riding about! But normally, breeches and shirt, jeans and sweatshirt, slacks and tee-shirt, for examples, or basically any comfortable, neat, safe riding attire is fine. Likewise, the focus of your mount's attire should be on safety and comfort whether that means English, Western, a mixture, or something entirely different.

Once again Lou, our official photographer, is looking forward to joining us to make permanent records of our fun. Remember to smile when you see his camera lens pointed in your direction, and don’t be shy about asking if you’d like some posed or “pre-planned” action shots of you and your mount. I may occasionally be seen with camera in hand as I try to cover alternate locations or fill in. (Never any obligation.)  Stop by my rig (dark green w/tan F150 Club Cab with gray 2-horse trailer) or white Ford F250 with blue & red company logo anytime to visit or pick up photos you’ve ordered earlier and prepaid. Now that we’ve entered the digital age, photos are usually posted to the website by the weekend following an event and can be ordered thru the site via email. Orders will go into the photo shop upon receipt of your check and I can mail your photos or bring them to the next Hunter Pace at your preference.

So, now that I have (hopefully) covered all bases, explained away all questions and calmed all concerns, we look forward to having you come out to join us for this upcoming 2011-12 Pace Series. And in case you’ve any questions that I’ve missed, please call or drop me an e-mail, I’ll be happy to answer any further queries. We want YOU to join US. Really, you’ll be glad you did; and better yet, bring a friend!

A FEW REGULATIONS to keep in mind:

• All Riders are requested to wear protective head gear, but those riders opting not to take any jumps may sign a special waiver and exercise their option to dispense with helmets at some Events (if so allowed, per the requirements of the organization’s insurance company).
• Proof of a current, negative Coggins test is required at all Western Carolina Hunter Pace & Trail Ride Series Events. This is a state law.

A couple of general reminders:

Events are usually scheduled two weeks apart to allow the following weekend as a rain date. As weather can be very different just a few miles away here in the foothills, it’s always prudent to check our website the morning of the event; I can have a notice posted while still on the phone with the Event Organizer. If you are on our Hunter Pace Email list I will send out an alert as soon as I hear if an Event is postponed so check your email and our website before dialing the phone, especially if it’s a toll call. But if weather is questionable and you don’t have internet access at home, you can double check either the evening before or the morning of the event by calling the hosting organization’s contact person as listed on their flyer. In most cases there will be an outgoing message on their answering machine, especially if the event has been postponed.

Normally I have the timer sheets and other paperwork for several days after events. The results will be posted on the Western Carolina Hunter Pace Series website, as soon as calculated - usually the night after the event.

The event organizers are responsible for distribution of each event’s ribbons and should therefore be contacted directly if you place and your ribbon does not arrive in a timely manner.

Year End Awards: As this is a Series, you can not only earn/win ribbons at each of the events, you also earn points by completing and placing toward our Year End Awards. Like most series, the high point trophies and ribbons are awarded to those riders who have accumulated the top points in each division.  The Western Carolina Hunter Pace & Trail Ride Series awards go to Champion, Reserve Champion, and then 1st thru 10th placements.  

We've realized over the years, as this Series has grown, that some riders may attend many, or even all of the Hunter Paces, but not place in the year end awards.  We felt they should certainly be awarded for their support and dedication, and thus began our Support Awards.  The Support Award is given to each rider who has attended all but one event in a Series, while the 100% Support Award is given to those who have attended EVERY ONE of that Series Hunter Paces.  To make the Support Awards special and individualized, a few years ago they became custom made plaques with your favorite photo, usually chosen from the current Series, placed on a wooden board with an engraved inscription.  The 100% Support Awards use an 8x10" photo, while the slightly smaller Support Awards mount a 5x7" photo.

Since we've now been starting the Series with over a dozen Hunter Paces on our schedule, and according to the weather, some may have to go to their alternate/rain date, we offered an optional Wild Card that could take the place of any one of our events that I rider missed.  To earn yourself a Wild Card, we ask that you attend the Year End Gathering and support our Equine Community with your entry and/or donation.  The past several years the YE Gathering has raised funds for PEER.

PEER – Polk Equine Emergency Rescue – You may have noticed the PEER Trailer and volunteers at some of the events over the past season, and you’ll likely see more of them. Be sure to stop by their displays to check it out, thank them and visit. PEER is a non-profit organization devoted to large animal rescue in Western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina. Donations always gratefully accepted. Let’s give this great local organization a big hand!!

COMPETITORS, PLEASE TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE ELECTRONIC AGE WE ARE LIVING IN

So that we can all take advantage of the speed and economy of Internet communication via e-mail, I’ve instituted my Hunter Pace Email List. If you have e-mail, drop me a note and ask to be included.

I don’t mean to play favorites, but the members of the Hunter Pace Email List are the first to know of any schedule changes, new Events, weather reschedules, etc. I will be happy to add you to the list. Once I’ve finalized the times and placements after each Event I post the Official Results and top placements and the site automatically tallies the Series standings for all interested parties to view on our new Western Carolina Series website at http://www.WCHPace.org

Simply e-mail me at WCHPace@Windstream.net or thru the website at Jan@WCHPace.org to be included. I will acknowledge all requests, but computers occasionally “hic-cup”, so if you don’t receive a response from me within a few days please check back or resend. I look forward to hearing from you!

That Said… Due to anti spam measures, many of our email recipients simply do not get their messages. We are also trying to use Facebook this season as an alternate way of getting out the message. If you have a Facebook page please send a Friend Request to our account: Facebook Link WCHPACE and we will add you.