Horse Show

Hunt Chase

The clubs / teams to participate in the 2010 RDS Hunt Chase competition will be selected by a draw.  Only teams which have competed in a minimum of four of the Hunt Chase League events listed below will be eligible for the draw.  A maximum of eight teams will be selected to compete.

A reciprocal arrangement has been put in place with the Royal Welsh Show whereby the winner of their Team Chase event will be invited to take one of the places in the RDS Hunt Chase.  In the event that the winning team at the Royal Welsh Show does not take up the invitation the eighth team drawn will take the place.

All teams eligible to take part in the RDS Hunt Chase will be entered into a draw at the Tattersalls / Ward Union Hunt on Sunday 25 July.

Rules:
1. The course must be completed by each member of the team, or the reserve rider where necessary.
2. Red flags on right, white flags on left.
3. Whips and spurs are not permitted
4. The hunting horn must be passed between fences one and two.
5. Should the hunting horn be dropped by a competitor at the point of change, then either rider may   dismount and pick it up but they must keep their horse in hand throughout the movement.
6. Only the horse and rider about to start may be at the starting line. No outside assistance at this point is permitted.
7. Riders must remain mounted at all times when in the Arena.
8. Riders may not proceed without protective headgear, crash helmets with chin straps as used under National Hunt and IHTS rules are compulsory.
9. In the event of a fall or rider elimination, only the reserve horse and rider may complete the course in their place.
10. If a rider falls or is unable to continue due to injury or repeated refusal, the reserve rider may go to the point where the incident occurred and complete the round.  This will be decided by the Judges and signalled by the Arena bell. 
11. Each rider will be required to sign a form indemnifying the Royal Dublin Society against any claims for damage or injury.  Please click here for a copy of the Indemnity Form
12. The tack used both in the judging of the Turn Out and in the competition itself must be the same.
13. The same horse may not compete twice in a round for a team.
14. Once the competition has commenced, no substitutions may be made.
15. A steward (not from a hunting background) will be present in the Judges Box to monitor the behaviour of the riders and teams and will be empowered to eliminate malpractice as he sees fit.
16. An error on the course not rectified incurs defeat of the team in that round.
17. In the event of disqualification of both teams in a round, the referees will decide the winner.
18. The last member of each team will wear a sash to indicate the final rider of a team.
19. In the first round, the first member of the odd numbered team will take the right hand course and the first member of the even numbered team will take the left hand course.  In subsequent rounds the toss of a coin will decide which course a team will take in each round.
20. The members of each team will jump in the following order: -
      1st – Fourth Member (who must be 40 years old or over)
      2nd – Official Member
      3rd – Lady Rider (preferably riding side saddle)
      4th – Heavy Weight Male (14 stone or over in hunting gear without tack or lead weight of any kind)
      Reserve – A reserve rider must be present in the event that a rider cannot complete the course.          
      A horse may only complete the course once in any round.
21. The minimum age of any team member is 18 years on 1st January 2010.  Proof of age to be produced on day of competition if requested.
22. Each team member may only fulfil one of the above categories.  Regular competition riders at advanced level including riders licensed under INHS rules of racing including Point to Point riders will be excluded.
23. In the event of a team which qualified in the first round being unable to compete in the quarter final then the fastest losing team from the first round will be substituted.
24. Horses must be bona fide hunters owned by members or subscribers within the Hunt Country.
25. Horse must not be more than Grade E (SJI) or Eventers above Novice Grade (Eventing Ireland) on the date of competition. Grade A to D horses or Open or Intermediate Event horses which have not been registered with the SJI or Eventing Ireland since January 1st 2008 are also eligible (similar qualifications will apply to the visiting team).
26. Riders must ensure that horses put at least three strides before each fence, failure to do so may incur elimination.

Course Designer:
Mr Tommy Brennan

Awards & Prizes:
1st €2,230, 2nd €1,000, 3rd €700, 3rd €700
A special prize of €170 will be awarded to the best turned out team.

Entry Fee:
€362 per team