1.      PURPOSE: The promotion of both participation in, and the study of period hunting techniques, particularly the historical role and utilization of sighthounds in the Middle Ages and Renaissance.

2.      MEMBERSHIP: Anyone of any realm is welcome to participate in its activities should they share the desire to study and develop skill in the area of coursing, canine studies, and are willing to abide by the rules of Trimaris and its Coursing College.  Ownership of a canine is not a requirement.

3.      PROCEDURES: 

3.1.            All decisions regarding changes in policy, rule changes, appointment or dismissal of a Kingdom Marshal of the Hunt will require approval of the Kingdom Earl Marshal.

3.2.            The Kingdom of Trimaris Coursing College finances will be handled through the Trimarian Exchequer.

3.3.            All other decisions are the prerogative of the Kingdom Marshal of the Hunt.

3.4.            This charter may not be amended without the approval of the Crown, Kingdom Earl Marshal and Kingdom Seneschal.

4.      STRUCTURE OF THE COURSING COLLEGE:

4.1.            COLLEGE DUTIES: The College assumes the following as those duties by which it seeks to fulfill its purpose, and by no means limits itself to these duties alone.

4.1.1.      Promote safe and responsible use/treatment of hounds in ALL activities.

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

4.1.3.      To teach classes on coursing and general canine topics whenever possible.

4.1.4.      To further coursing activities in the Kingdom of Trimaris.

4.2.            KINGDOM MARSHAL OF THE HUNT:

4.2.1.      RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

4.2.1.1.      Must maintain current information of the legalities of coursing as pertains to the region encompassed by the Kingdom of Trimaris.

4.2.1.2.      Must keep records of correspondence, waivers, authorizations and current membership of the College.

4.2.1.3.      The Kingdom Marshal of the Hunt has the authority to warrant or remove Huntsmen as needed.

4.2.1.4.      Reports quarterly to the Kingdom Earl Marshal on activities of the college and its officers

4.2.1.5.      Reports bi-annually to the Kingdom Seneschal on activities of the college.

4.2.1.6.      Maintain contact with the Kingdom Equestrian Office on animal activities and lodging at events.

4.2.1.7.      Review the Charter as necessary and submit modifications to the Kingdom Earl Marshal.

4.2.1.8.      As the College grows, additional positions may be assigned as needed by the Kingdom Marshal of the Hunt with appropriate amendment to the charter.

4.2.2.      REQUIRMENTS:

4.2.2.1.      Must be a member in good standing of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc.

4.2.2.2.      To become Kingdom Marshal of the Hunt, the applicant must have been a Huntsman in good standing for one year prior to the application of Kingdom Marshal of the Hunt.

4.2.2.3.      Must meet with the approval of the Crown and the former Kingdom Marshal of the Hunt.

4.2.2.4.      The office of Kingdom Marshal of the Hunt is bound by all turnover requirements listed in the Kingdom of Trimaris Law and Corpora.

4.2.2.5.      Must be capable and willing to fulfill the requirements of the position, including the ability to return correspondence and maintain an active role as chief administrator, arbiter, and spokesperson for the Coursing College as dictated by the rules of the College and the desires of the Crown.

4.3.            HOUNDSMASTER/HOUNDSMISTRESS OF THE QUEEN’S PACK:

4.3.1.      This office is a deputy position to the Kingdom Marshal of the Hunt.

4.3.2.      This office will be offered to the Kingdom Marshal of the Hunt upon their retirement from that office.

4.3.2.1.      If the retiring Marshal of the Hunt refuses or cannot take the position of Houndsmaster, the new Marshal of the Hunt will have the option of extending the term of the current Houndsmaster or appointing a new one.

4.3.3.      The Houndsmaster/Houndsmistress of the Queen’s Pack is responsible for keeping track of which hounds are eligible to be in Her pack. 

4.3.4.      Is in charge of making sure the Queen has a hound available to Her whenever She requires or requests one. 

4.3.5.      Additionally this office will be in charge of set up and maintenance of the Kingdom Kennel Lands.  Note:  This does not mean that the Houndsmaster has to do it himself; just that it is done by someone.

4.4.            THE QUEEN’S PACK:

4.4.1.      The Queen’s Pack will consist of Greyhounds.  Greyhounds were a symbol of Royalty and the Nobility throughout the Middle Ages.  This is the main reason they have been chosen.

4.4.2.      A name for the Queen’s Pack may be chosen.  Members of the College will make suggestions to the Marshal of the Hunt, who will discuss options with the Queen and the Trimarian College of Heralds.

4.5.            HUNTSMAN: A Huntsman is a warranted member of the Coursing College and is a member in good standing with the Society of Creative Anachronism, Inc.

4.5.1.      Has the authority to preside over coursing events as indicated in the charter and to authorize new Handler/Owners.

4.5.2.      All Huntsmen will report directly to the Kingdom Marshal of the Hunt.

4.5.3.      Must also be able to file quarterly reports, authorization forms and event reports to the Kingdom Marshal of the Hunt.

4.5.4.      A Huntsman may be removed from their position at any time by the Kingdom Marshal of the Hunt.

4.5.5.      WARRANTING OF HUNTSMEN: A Huntsman can be warranted after the following events occur:

4.5.5.1.      The interested party must assist at three coursing events, train to set up a complete lure course at two events and run a coursing event under the supervision of the Kingdom Marshal of the Hunt within a period of two years.

4.5.5.2.      Must demonstrate a working knowledge of the Regulations for canine conduct and coursing procedures as put forth in the charter.

4.5.5.3.      Upon completion of this program, he must submit a written request with proof of membership and a completed Huntsman Certification Checklist to the Kingdom Marshal of the Hunt.

4.6.            HANDLER AUTHORIZATION.

4.6.1.      Handlers are required to read section 5 of the Coursing College Charter and sign a form confirming that fact.

5.      REGULATIONS FOR HOUND CONDUCT AND COURSING PROCEDURES

5.1.            COURSING EVENTS: Any coursing at a sanctioned SCA event must be presided over by the Kingdom Marshal of the Hunt, the Houndsmaster of the Queens Pack, or a warranted Huntsman of the Coursing College.  Any group wishing to have coursing activities but not having a regional Huntsman should contact the Kingdom Marshal of the Hunt in a timely manner in order to arrange for a Huntsman at the event.

5.1.1.      The Huntsman in charge shall be responsible for coursing area and determining how and when the hounds shall be run.

5.1.2.      All Handlers/Owners must show proof of authorization prior to registering any hound(s) for coursing activities.

5.1.3.      All hounds must register with the Huntsman in charge prior to coursing to complete the appropriate waivers.

5.1.4.      All hounds must have current vaccinations. Handlers are required to show proof of this to the Huntsman in charge before the event. Hounds not having current vaccinations will not be allowed on site. Vaccinations required include:

5.1.4.1.      Rabies (1 year or 3 year vaccination)

5.1.4.2.      Yearly immunizations which include (Parvovirus, Distemper (DHL), Parainfluenza (CPI), Hepatitis (DHL),

5.1.4.3.      Kennel Cough

5.1.5.      All hounds will be muzzled with appropriate hound muzzles when on the coursing field.

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

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

5.1.8.      No hound that is under the age of 9 months will be coursed. Joints are not developed enough to handle the stress

5.1.9.      Bitches in heat will not be allowed in the coursing area. They create a distraction to the males and cause fighting

5.1.10.  Huntsmen are responsible for canines participating in the event and while on site. They are not responsible for any unauthorized animals.

5.1.11.  A continuous loop system is be used with lure to consist of a plastic bag or strip of cloth. The lure must be able to be stopped immediately should it become necessary multiple lures may be used.

5.1.12.  The use of live lures (such as rabbits, cats or birds) is expressly forbidden and is not in keeping with Society intentions, no matter how authentic.  Use of a live lure at an event is grounds for removal form the Coursing College and removal of the Huntsman’s warrant permanently

5.1.13.  Handlers/Owners, are responsible for collecting their hounds at the end of each run.  No further runs shall be made until all hounds have been retrieved from the coursing field.

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

5.1.15.  Every event in the Kingdom of Trimaris having any coursing shall arrange for an “on call” veterinarian in the area of the site, or have explicit directions to an emergency veterinary facility in the immediate area The autocrat of the event is urged to co-operate with Huntsman on this matter.

5.1.16.  The Huntsman in charge reserves the right to unconditionally deny participation to any dog or handler, or to request the removal of any dog or individual from the coursing area.

5.1.17.  Warranted Huntsmen in charge of a coursing event must submit a written report of event activities within 14 days of the event to the Kingdom Marshal of the Hunt. The report can be hand written and mailed or e-mailed within this time limit and must include the following:

5.1.17.1.  Time/Date/Place

5.1.17.2.  Any new authorization forms

5.1.17.3.  Waivers and vaccination records for all hounds coursed.

5.1.17.4.  Names and addresses of anyone interested in the Coursing College, if possible.

5.2.            GENERAL RULES FOR COURSING HOUNDS:

5.2.1.      Hounds may be coursed in numbers ranging from one to three. More than three hounds on a course can be dangerous.

5.2.2.      Hounds may only wear a flat buckle collar or martingale collar with no tags attached while coursing

5.2.3.      Every Huntsman shall walk the course and verify that the course is properly staked and is as free from hazards as possible.  Handlers are encouraged to do so as well.

5.2.4.      A trial run of the lure shall be made and all equipment checked before the course is open to the hounds.

5.2.5.      A run off area of at least 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 running and the lure operator.

5.2.6.      The course may be reversed for second heat running to prevent the hounds from anticipating the course of the run.

5.2.7.      The release of the hounds:

5.2.7.1.      The lure operator shall question the handlers in the following way: “Handlers Ready?”

5.2.7.2.      The handlers will respond yes or no.

5.2.7.3.      The next phrase will be “Hold your Hounds!” as a warning to handlers with hounds not running.

5.2.7.4.      The next call will be “Here comes your lure!”

5.2.7.5.      The handlers will maintain control of their hounds until the lure operator signals the release with the call of “Tally-ho!” at which time they may slip their hounds and then step aside to retrieve their hounds at the end of the course.

5.2.8.      The lure shall remain in motion, maintaining a lead of 15 to 20 feet until the end of the course.

5.2.8.1.      Potential reasons for stopping the lure include:

5.2.8.1.1.      Preventing injury to a hound that has become entangled in the string.

5.2.8.1.2.      To allow a hound that has lost sight of the lure to regain sight of it.

5.2.9.      The lure shall be inspected after every course and replaced if necessary

5.2.10.  The handler/owner enters the coursing area at his/her own risk and agrees to assume responsibility for any damage to facility or personnel caused by his/her hound(s) or injury to his/her hound(s). The handler/owner must complete a “Lure Coursing Waiver” prior to coursing.  All minors will present signed “Minor Waiver Forms” in order to participate.

5.3.            SAFETY AND COURSING ETIQUETTE:

5.3.1.      For the safety of all hounds and handlers participating in a coursing event, some rules need to be followed:

5.3.2.      Never disturb hound or its gear without permission of its owner unless a dire emergency is on hand. This includes feeding and watering.

5.3.3.      Keep in mind that virtually all hounds will scratch or bite when startled or provoked, so do not assume a hound is friendly.  Hounds should be supervised at all times by the owner or the assigned handler.

5.3.4.      When you hear “Hold”, stop yourself and your hound as quickly as possible.

5.3.5.      Never feed or water you hound the morning they are to course.  Most sighthounds are deep-chested and can twist their intestines if they fall at speed after eating or drinking.

5.3.6.      Wait at least an hour after the last run of the day to feed.  Small amounts of lukewarm water may be given after 30 minutes.

5.3.7.      Dewclaws should be wrapped with tape to prevent tangling and injury with the course string.

5.3.8.      Always clean up after your hound.

5.3.9.      Handlers should behave in a chivalrous manner at all times.  The idea behind the activity is to demonstrate the nature and beauty of each hound; anyone seen giving excessive punishment to his hound should be reported to the Huntsman immediately

5.3.10.  All hounds known to bite will wear a muzzle while on site and have proof of current rabies vaccination.

5.3.11.  All participants must remember that coursing is for the fun of the hounds and the spectators. This is a non-competitive event.

6.      SITE RESTRICTIONS:  The Coursing College will always attempt to include as many hounds as possible at coursing events.  However, many sites may limit what breeds will be allowed on site for coursing.  These definitions are to aid Huntsmen and Autocrats when negotiating with Camp staff about what breeds will be allowed.  There is also a section on hound authorization, in the event that we are at a site that does not normally allow dogs, but is willing to allow all of our authorized coursing hounds.

6.1.            BREEDS

6.1.1.      SIGHTHOUNDS:   A sighthound is any hound that is traditionally viewed as one that hunts by sight.

6.1.1.1.      Breeds in this category include: Greyhound, Italian Greyhound, Whippet, Irish Wolfhound, Scottish Deerhound, Afghan Hound, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Borzoi (Russian Wolfhound), Pharaoh Hound, Saluki, Spanish Galgo, Chart Polski, Azawakh, Magyar Agar and Sloughi.

6.1.2.      LONGDOGS:  A longdog is any hound that is a mix between two or more sighthound breeds.

6.1.3.      LURCHERS:  A lurcher is a mix between a sighthound and any other breed.

6.2.            HOUND AUTHORIZATIONS:

6.2.1.      All hounds must be authorized by the Kingdom Marshal of the Hunt.

6.2.1.1.      All hounds are required to have their shots, as per section 5.1.4

6.2.1.2.      Sighthounds and Longdogs have no further requirements.  Those breeds are already established as having the talent for coursing.

6.2.1.3.      Lurchers and other breeds need to have a coursing trial to prove they have the ability.  See section 6.2.2.

6.2.2.      Coursing Trials

6.2.2.1.      The Coursing College will attempt to hold a coursing trial once per year at an event where all breeds will be allowed.

6.2.2.2.      If the trials cannot take place at an event, reasonable attempts will be made to hold them at another site.  (This may even be a large back yard.)

6.2.2.3.      If a handler cannot make the trials to test their hound, they must contact the Kingdom Marshal of the Hunt to make arrangements.

6.2.2.4.      The Kingdom Marshal of the Hunt may waive this requirement if he/she has prior knowledge of the hound’s ability to course.

6.2.3.      Upon authorization, the Kingdom Marshal of the Hunt will record the hound as authorized and no further proof will be necessary.

6.2.4.      Authorized hounds will be given a personalized tag to wear at events.  They are required to wear it except during coursing.  (See section 5.2.2)

6.2.5.      Hounds that fail to authorize may try again after 30 days.  Handlers will be encouraged to work with their hounds during this time.  Training suggestions may also be given.

7.      AWARD OF PAWS:  This is to establish the Award of Paws (AoP) for the Kingdom of Trimaris.

7.1.            The AoP is to be an unofficial non-armigerous award.

7.2.            A hound is eligible for the AoP after attending three events.

7.2.1.      The Houndsmaster of the Queen’s Pack is in charge of keeping track of when a hound becomes eligible.

7.3.            The AoP will be handed out in groups.  When the Houndsmaster of the Queen’s Pack feels there are enough hounds eligible he/she will notify the Queen.  This award should only need to be handed out once or twice during a coursing season.