Team Chasing - Taunton Vale 2009

MFHA rules apply to this event. A copy is available in the secretary’s tent.
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.
Team Captains must declare their teams at least 30 minutes prior to their appointed starting time and register any change of horse or rider. Teams must report to the Collecting Ring 10 minutes prior to their appointed starting time.
Horse Falls- Elimination. If a horse falls during any class, it is immediately eliminated and the horse and rider may not continue on the course. Failure to comply will result in the team being eliminated. A horse is considered to have fallen when at the same time its shoulder and quarters have touched either the ground or the obstacle and 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 include a horse which stumbles or refuses, thus unseating the rider, who may remount and continue.
After two rider falls a competitor must retire. If they continue, their team will be eliminated.
In the event of a tie, the prize money will be divided.
The organisers reserve the following rights:
1. Withhold any prize or prize money if there are insufficient entries.
2. Refuse an entry without stating a reason.
3. Alter the advertised times of the event.
4. Alter the course or omit any obstacle at any time before or during the competition.
5. Eliminate any rider or riders not adhering to these rules or failing to follow the directions of Officials.
Competitors must jump the fences in numerical order and leave all red flags on the right and white flags on the left. Any horse taking the wrong course, which is not rectified, will be eliminated. If an eliminated rider rejoins their team, then that team will be eliminated. Any horse eliminated or retiring must leave the course at a walk.
Teams will consist of four horses and riders, the fastest three to count. Minimum age requirement for INTERMEDIATE SPEED (class 1b) and OPEN (class 2) is 16 years old on the date of the event.
No horse / pony may compete twice in the same class, or more than twice during the day. No rider may exchange horses once a team has started.
Three refusals at any one fence or five refusals in total will eliminate the horse and rider. If they continue their team will be eliminated.
All horses / ponies must be at least 5 years old and a minimum of 14.2hh in the OPEN (class 2).
Concussion: Any rider who sustains concussion shall under no circumstances compete again for at least the remainder of the day.
Protection: Competitors must wear a body protector and crash hat to current approved British Safety Standards. Any person mounted must wear a hard hat.
Small children must be kept under the control of a responsible adult at all times.
All dogs must be kept on leads at all times.
Objections: Any objection must be handed to the secretary in writing within 10 minutes of the class results being published. The objection must be accompanied with a deposit of £20.
Horse Welfare: If at any time, before, during or after the competition, a horse appears to be sick or exhausted it may be eliminated on the authority of the Veterinary Officer or an Official on the course. Riders and Owners of horses must obey any order or direction given by an Authorised Officer at the event. Serious misconduct at the discretion of the Steward, to include excessive use of the whip and inappropriate riding may incur elimination of the team.
Refunds: In the event of postponement or abandonment due to bad weather or any other unforeseen circumstances, no refund of entry fees will be made but if cancelled, 75% of entry fees will be refunded.
The ‘pen’. The third horse must have entered the ‘pen’ before the first horse leaves it, ie 12 feet must be within the pen at the same time. Any team failing to comply will incur a 20-second time penalty.
The Judges decision will be final at all times.
Disclaimer of Liability: Save for death or personal injury caused by the negligence of Organisers for which they are legally responsible, neither the Organisers of any event to which these rules apply, 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 whatsoever, whether caused by their negligence or in any other way.
Competitors will not be permitted to carry stop watches in the bogey time classes
It is a requirement that all participants carry third party liability insurance for not less than £5 million.