Coursing College (long)

["Terry L. Neill" <Neilltl@ptsc.slg.eds.com>]

Poster: "Terry L. Neill" <Neilltl@ptsc.slg.eds.com>


I found this on the West List.  It comes from the Middle.  I thought some of
you all might be interested.  There are sight hounds in the East and
Coursing demos happen up there.  In fact, a coursing demo occurred at
Emerald Joust this year, put together by a Countess of the East.

        - Anarra




Date: Wed, 11 Sep 1996 18:30:39 -0700
From: heddl@northcoast.com (Mark Heddleston & Sharon Walls)
To: sca-west@anthrax.ecst.csuchico.edu
Subject: Re: Coursing College (long)
Message-ID: <v02140b01ae5d0b398c05@[199.4.102.61]>

>   Perhaps this post would mean more with an explanation of what a Coursing
>College is (not to forget explaining sighthounders).  Aside from the
heralds
>I don't know of any other SCA-Wide "guild".  What is far more common is
that
>kingdoms have guilds in areas that people are interested in.  Tell us what
>you are talking about, and perhaps there will be enough interested people
>in the West Kingdom to want to form a guild ... (or perhaps we already have
>a guild, just under a different name).

***I wish to stress that the best contact for accurate information
regarding the coursing college is Beawulf Gordan, OL at gordanOL@aol.com
***

That being said, the following are excerpts of documents he sent to me
regarding the coursing college:

>From the Charter of the Huntly Pack (objectives):

To provide "Royal Sport" for the Crown, their heirs, and visiting nobles
and dignitaries.  It shall also provide our Royalty with an opportunity to
display pageantry and ceremony.

To educate SCA members in period hunting techniques with sighthounds and
provide entertainment to those not participating.

Membership in the pack is to be limited to the owners of retired racing
greyhounds.  Other breeds of sighthounds are encouraged to participate.
These include, but are not limited to: Afghan Hounds, Basenjis, Borzoi, AKC
Greyhounds, Ibizan Hounds, Irish Wolfhounds, Pharaoh Hounds, Salukis,
Scottish Deerhounds, and Whippets.

>From the Articles of Origination of the Middle Kingdom Coursing College:

Purpose: The promotion of both participation in and study of period hunting
techniques with sighthounds; particularly the historical role and
utilization of greyhounds and their ilk in ancient and medieval worlds.

Membership:  While based in the Middle Kingdom, anyone of any realm is
welcom to participate in its activities, should they share our desire to
study and develop skill in the area of coursing, sighthound studies, and/or
sighthound related arts and sciences, and are willing to abide by our
kingdom and college laws.

Duties:  The college assumes the following as those duties by which it
seeks to fufill its purpose, and by no means limits itself to these alone:
a) to promote the safe and humane treatment of sighthounds at society
activities
b) to educate society members in period hunting techniques with sighthounds
and provide entertainment to those not participating
c) to teach classes on coursing at session of the Royal University of the
Middle Kingdom whenever possible
d) to further coursing activities in the Middle Kingdom

Regulations for Sighthound Conduct and Coursing Procedures

1. The owner or handler entering a hound in a coursing event does so at
his/her own risk and agrees to assume responsibility for any damage to
facilities or persons caused by his/her hounds.

2. The owner or handler mush complete a 'lure coursing waiver' listing each
hound participating.

3. Every member who has not achieved the age of majority in his/her state,
and the state in which the event is held shall present two copies of the
'Minor Waiver and informed consent to participate' signed by his/her
parents or guardian.

4. At no time may any minor course a hound unless his/her stated
parent/guardian is present and watching and the minor and parent have
spoken with the houndmaster to understand the hazards and risks involved in
this activity.

5. Handlers shall behave in a courteous and chivalrous manner and with due
consideration for others at all times.

6. A hand powered, continuous loop system will be used with a lure to
consist of highly visible plastic strips and/or fur.  Multiple lures may be
used.

7. The use of live lures is expressly forbidden, and is not in keeping with
society intentions, no matter how authentic!

8. It is strongly recommended that hounds being entered for the first time
be coursed singly.  This will help to reduce confusion and assure that they
are following the lure and not another hound.

9. Handlers shall be responsible for collecting their hounds at the end of
each run.  No further runs shall be made until all hounds have been
retrieved.

10. Handlers are responsible for keeping their hounds under control at all
times.  Loose hounds which are not part of the course constitute a danger
and distraction and are grounds for dismissal.

11. All participation is to be of a non-competitive nature with a view to
demonstrate the beauty and nature of each hound.  There shall be no winners
or losers, only well loved pets.

12. All coursing activities are to be conducted in such a way as to
minimize risks to spectators and hounds, by the use of barriers, flagging,
and constables where necessary.

13. Handlers and all personnel shall treat hounds humanely; the excessive
punishment or striking of the hound or other such cruel behavior will not
be tolerated and should be reported to the houndmaster at once.

14. Handlers are responsible for providing adequate food, water, rest and
shade for their hounds.

15. All hounds which are known to bite should wear a muzzle when near other
hounds.  These should be of a type which provide adequate ventilation and
are to be removed as soon as possible.

16. All hounds being brought to an event mush have proof of current rabies
vaccination.  Other shots may be required, and it is probably best to keep
health records updated.

17. An attempt at presenting a period appearance should be made.  Hounds
should be well groomed and turned out with as much care as possible.

18. Never course a hound under the influence of alcohol or any other
intoxicating substance.  The coursing field and kenneling area shall be
considered "dry".

19. Hounds are personal property.  Although an owner may allow others to
use or borrow his/her hound, he/she may also at any time request the return
of that hound to him/her self for any reason, and may do so without
explanation to, or hindrance from any person.

20. Every SCA event in the Middle Kingdom having any coursing activity
should have a regional huntmaster on site.  Any group wishing to have
coursing activities but not have a regional houndmaster should contact the
coursing college in a timely manner in order to arrange for a
representative of the college to be at their event.

21. Every SCA event in the Middle Kingdom having any coursing activity
shall arrange for an 'on call' veterinarian in the area of the site.

General Rules for Coursing

1. Hounds may be coursed as singles, in couples or in packs of three.  More
than three hounds on a course at one time is dangerous as they tend to
crowd in the corners and may bump eahc other causing falls and possible
injury.

2. Each and every houndmaster shall walk the course and verify that the
course is properly staked and free from hazards in so far as possible.
3. A trial run of the lure shall be made and the equipment checked before
the course is opened to the hounds.

4. A run-off area of 20 yards must be maintained between the stopping point
of the lure and the drive unit in order to assure the safety of the hounds,
should they overrun the end of the course.

5. At the discretion of the houndmaster the direction of the course may be
reversed for second heat running, to prevent the hounds from anticipating
the line of travel.

6. The lure operator shall question the handlers in the following order,
'Houndsmen, ready?'. All handlers will respond clearly with a yes or no.
When all handlers respond yes, the next phrase will be, 'Here comes your
lure'.  The handlers will maintain control of their hounds until the lure
operator signals 'Tally-Ho!', at which time they may slip their hound, and
carefully move to the opposite side to retrieve their hound at the end of
the course.

7. The lure shall remain in motion, maintaining a lead of 20/25 feet until
the end of the course.  Reasons for stopping the lure: to prevent injury to
a hound that has become entangled in the string; to allow a hound which has
lost sight of the lure to regain sight again.

8. The lure will be inspected after every course and replaced if necessary.

The above excerpts offer some idea of how highly organized the college is
in the Middle Kingdom.  Due to the potential for injury when a lure-trial
is badly run, it has to be organized and run by people who know what they
are doing.  In the mundane world, I run my hounds in competitive
lure-coursing, so I am fully aware of the risks the Huntly Pack has done
such a fine job of addressing.

There is nothing like watching sighthounds in full flight.  I think such
activities would enhance West Kingdom events.  To the best of my knowledge,
we have nothing like this in the West Kingdom.

Rakiizah al-Saluqi
aka
Sharon Walls

Obi-Wan Salukis
homepage  http://www.plaidworks.com/obi-wan
e-mail:  heddl@northcoast.com

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