RULES

1. Pairs will consist of two horses and riders and the time of the second will count and will be judged closest to a bogey time. Teams will consist of three or four horses and riders. The time of the third member to finish will be the time of the team. Class 2 is a speed class and the fastest team to finish will win. Class 3 will be judged closest to a bogey time. In the event of a tie the time of the 4th horse will count.

2. Competitors must jump the fences in numerical order and leave the red flags on their right and all white flags on their left. If any competitor takes the wrong course they will be eliminated. In the case of Pairs this will result in the Pair being eliminated.

3. Pairs: Penalties will be incurred as follows: 1st refusal - 5 penalties, 2nd refusal - 10 penalties, 3rd refusal - elimination, fall - elimination, error of course - elimination and outside assistance - elimination. The winner will be the pair closest to the bogey time with the lowest score. Team Chase (Classes 2 & 3): Three refusals at the same fence, or five refusals on the course, by any one horse eliminates that member of the team and he / she MUST retire from the course immediately.

4. When a horse falls during any class it is immediately eliminated & horse & rider may NOT continue on course. A horse is considered to have fallen when at the same time its shoulders & quarters have touched the ground, or when it is trapped in a fence in such a way that it is unable to proceed without assistance or is liable to injure itself. This does not prevent horses which stumble or refuse, thus unseating rider, from being remounted to continue

5. Any attempt by a competitor to rejoin the competition after being eliminated under rules 2 or 3 may result in the elimination of the whole team.

6. Failure to comply with a request from a steward may result in the elimination of the whole team.

7. Each team will be numbered and each member will wear a different coloured number in accordance with the details shown in the programme.

8. Each team will be given a starting time and must report to the collecting steward twenty minutes before that time.

9. All competitors must wear crash helmets and body protectors to current British Standards as must any groom or helper mounted at the event.

10. It is a requirement that all participants carry Third Party Insurance for not less than £5m. Third party insurance is covered by membership of the Countryside Alliance. It is also strongly recommended that all participants have personal accident insurance.

11. Class 2 competitors must have attained their 16th birthday.

12. In the event of a tie, the prizes will be divided.

13. The organisers reserve the right to:-

a. Withhold any prize because of insufficient entries.
b. Alter the advertised times.
c. Alter the course, before or during the event.
d. Eliminate a competitor or team not adhering to the rules.
e. Cancel a class
f. Transfer competitors between classes
g. Refuse any entry

14. Save for death or personal injury caused by the negligence of the Organisers/Mendip Farmers' Hunt for which they are legally responsible, neither the Organisers, nor any representative of these bodies accepts any liability for any accident, loss, damage, injury or illness to horses, owners, riders, spectators, land, vehicles, contents or accessories or any other person whatever, whether caused by their negligence or in any other way.

15. In the event of a postponement, no refund of entries will be made, but if cancelled 50% of entry fee will be refunded on receipt of a S.A.E.

16. Only the owner or rider of a horse taking part in the competition is entitled to lodge an objection, which should be made in writing to the secretary and accompanied by a deposit of £20.00 within ten minutes of the result of the class being announced. The deposit will be forfeited unless the objection is upheld.

17. The decision of the judges is final. Medical Officers, Vets and Fence Judges all have the authority to a stop a rider from remounting after a fall & to stop an unfit or exhausted horse from continuing. The decision of the course Vet to put a horse down on humane grounds must be accepted by all competitors.

19. Any rider who sustains concussion shall under no circumstances compete again for the remainder of the day.

20. Any act or series of actions, which in the opinion of the stewards constitutes abuse of a horse shall be considered a breach of these rules and will incur elimination.

21. It is the Team Captains responsibility to ensure that each team member and any associated helpers and grooms have read and abide by these rules.

22. All competitors must warm up only in the area provided

23. All litter home or place in any bins provided. Home Farm is a working farm and livestock will graze the land following the event.

24. The Pen. The first three horses entering the pen should have twelve feet on the floor before anyone jumps out. The penalty for failing to observe this rule is 20 seconds being added to the team time.

25. DOGS TO BE ON LEADS AT ALL TIMES