Anyone who loves foxhunting or enjoys seeing the foxhunters strut their stuff will have ample opportunity to do that the second weekend in March.

The Moore County Hounds (MCH) 76th Hunter Trials will be held on Saturday, March 8, and the second annual Carolinas' district Field Hunter Championships, hosted by the Moore County Hounds, will take place Sunday, March 9.

Both events will be held at Betty and Eldridge Johnson's Hunter Trial field that is located on Old Mail Road, just off Youngs Road in Southern Pines.

Hunter Trials

The Hunter Trials traditionally mark the close of the formal foxhunting season and showcase field hunters and riders over natural terrain and obstacles. Participants will be dressed in hunt attire as they negotiate a course of natural fences similar to those encountered while foxhunting.

The action begins at 9 a.m. with the six junior classes (riders under the age of 18) followed by adult classes. Adult classes (which juniors may also participate in) begin at 10:30 a.m. Twelve adult classes are scheduled, including a lady and a gentleman to ride class, a pairs class and a handy hunter class. The popular hunt team class is the next to last class of the afternoon followed by the open hunter class.

The Hunter Trials also marks one of two public appearances of the Moore County Hounds. Huntsman Jody Murtagh will parade the foxhounds at approximately noon. The hounds will approach the Hunter Trial course from Old Mail Road and will parade up the hill to the spectator area. Murtagh will demonstrate the hounds' response to the sounding of the horn, showing off the special connection between the huntsman and his hounds.

Judges for the event are Farnham Collins, joint Master of Foxhounds of the Millbrook Hunt, and Mrs. William W. Stahl Jr., also a Joint Master of Foxhounds of the Millbrook Hunt in Millbrook, N. Y.

Collins has been a joint Master of the Millbrook Foxhounds since 1978 and is a former district representative. Collins has hunted with numerous packs in America, Ireland and France.

Stahl has been a joint Master since 1996, and she has hunted with Millbrook since she was 8 years old. Stahl is currently the district representative for the New York and New Jersey district on the Master of Foxhounds Association board of directors. Stahl has competed in hunter trials and horse shows.

Admission is free with reserved parking spaces available for patrons and sponsors. For reserved parking or more information, contact Mickey Wirtz at 692-6806 or e-mail her at m-gwirtz@embarqmail.com.

Field Hunter Championship

The Moore County Hounds are hosting the second annual Carolinas' district Field Hunter Championships on Sunday, March 9.

Each horse and rider will compete in three phases in the championships, with the Hunt Phase counting the most toward the overall points.

The first phase is the Flat Phase -- walk, trot, canter, hand gallop and hold hard in both directions -- much like a traditional flat class in a hunter show. The second phase is the Hunt Phase -- following a field master in hunting conditions that hounds may encounter.

For the first year, this will be an actual hunt conducted on the Walthour-Moss Foundation. The third phase is the Individual Phase, which is much like a handy hunter course. Horse and rider will navigate a course of eight to 12 obstacles that may include a gate, trot fence, hunt coat over mock wire and a drop rail.

The competition will begin at 8:30 a.m. with the Flat Phase at the Hunter Trials Field. The Hunt Field will then hack to Hobby Field for the Hunt Phase, and return to the Hunter Trials Field for the Individual Phase that is scheduled for after lunch.

Adults and juniors ride together but are judged separately. In addition to ribbons, the three judges will award best turned-out adult and best turned-out junior. All awards will be given at the end of the competition.

Tailgating is encouraged and admission is free. For non-tailgaters, a catered lunch may be ordered for $8 per person. Anyone interested in ordering lunch must order by today (Sunday, March 2).

Call Shellie Sommerson at (910) 692-6557 to order lunch or for more information on the Field Hunter Championship.{