Mouthguards and how they might help in preventing concussion are back in the spotlight, following recent research and developments in other sports.

A Canadian youth ice-hockey study, published in a 2023 issue of the British Journal of Sports Medicine, found players who reported wearing a mouthguard had a 28% lower concussion rate and 57% lower odds of concussion compared to non-wearers.

World Rugby is now recommending that players at all levels of the sport wear a mouthguard, following the concussion and mouthguard-related findings in ice hockey. It has also integrated smart mouthguard technology into head-injury assessments, which means that pitch-side experts can monitor head impact data collected by sensors inside gumshields.

Their role hit the headlines in February, when George Turner became the first player to be removed from a game after his mouthguard sensor reported an impact that could have caused a concussion during the Scotland vs France Six Nations match. He was allowed to return to play after assessment.

British Team Chasing (BTC) is “strongly” recommending all riders wear a mouthguard this season.

“While it’s not a rule, and we’re not absolutely not saying everybody has to wear a mouthguard, we as British Team Chasing – in view of the limited evidence we’ve read – would recommend that people do all they can to reduce their impact of concussion,” BTC working group member Helen Millward told H&H.

She added that from the cross-sport evidence she has read, there is no “conclusive evidence” that it can make a “huge difference”. There is evidence that wearing a mouthguard can decrease risk and possible severity of concussion.

This recommendation came as part of a review of the one-fall-and-out rule. This means that riders who are unseated are not allowed to remount and carry on with their round, which will remain in place – with amendments – this year.

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) sent a recommendation to jockeys this year, suggesting that they buy a custom-made mouthguard. In parallel, in cases of falls, the BHA is now recording whether a jockey was wearing a mouthguard or not, and whether it was custom-made, so it can track what the association between use and injury might be.

The BHA said that it does not know whether the benefits in ice hockey are sport-specific, and therefore whether they can be transferred to other sports. But anecdotally, some jockeys feel a mouthguard is helpful and that a well-fitted, custom-made mouthguard does protect against dental injuries.

It is a requirement in Irish racing for jump jockeys to wear mouthguards, and the BHA has had conversations about smart mouthguards.

There is other prevention work ongoing in sport and across equestrian disciplines. The FEI announced a “comprehensive review” of its concussion policies last summer, the BHA is progressing a warm-up programme from the Injured Jockeys Fund as a general injury prevention tool, and both have been represented on a working party focusing on helmets and testing standards.

This time last year, British Equestrian (BEF) published new concussion guidelines for riders and the federation is running an awareness campaign this month (March) as the spring competition season ramps up.

Responding to the recent discussions surrounding mouthguards and concussion, BEF chief medical officer Dr Anna-Louise Mackinnon told H&H: “While there is no evidence to prove that wearing a mouthguard will prevent concussion in horse riding, an association between mouthguard use and a reduction in the number of concussions has been found in youth ice hockey.

“Riders are advised to wear a mouthguard, as it will help to prevent dental injuries and may help to reduce the number and severity of concussions, but this is unproven.”

British Eventing chief executive Rosie Williams told H&H that the organisation is working with the BEF to roll out education for riders and connections about the importance of positively managing any concussion symptoms.

“Having been very involved in the research around mouthguards and concussion in rugby, I know the time it has taken to ensure that the research stacks up with the sport’s needs,” she said.

“We will also ensure that all safety equipment, helmets, body protectors and – if the science tells us – mouthguards protect our riders.”

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British Team Chasing (BTC) has updated its rider fall regulations ahead of the 2024 spring season, following a trial run of a one-fall-and-out rule in 2023.

The rule is here to stay, so riders who fall off will not be allowed to remount and continue their round. There are also several important changes to last year’s fall rules that riders need to be aware of for 2024, concerning what they must do if they take a tumble.

BTC undertook “an extensive review” of team-chasing falls, Government guidance and how other sports and disciplines handle concussion, which has led to enhanced protocols for 2024.

Anyone who falls off must now be assessed by the onsite healthcare professional before leaving or getting on a horse again. Any rider who falls twice in one day will not be allowed to ride again.

If a rider falls off before fence six, they are eligible to be assessed by the onsite healthcare professional and if deemed fit to ride, can join another team with the same horse. For riders of multiple horses, it doesn’t matter where on the course they fall off – they must still be deemed fit by the healthcare professional before getting on their next ride.

If a rider does not comply with these new head injury assessment protocols, they will be stood down for 21 days.

BTC is also strongly recommending riders wear gumshields.

“We set up a four-person rider safety working group with a particular focus on this rule,” said a BTC statement.

“We have done a significant amount of background research into falls with BTC, including reading all accident forms returned to BTC, Equireel falls video footage, liaison with medical professionals both within equestrian sport and others such as rugby, review of other equestrian sports policies as well as discussion with riders and event organisers. We also attended the annual Medical Equestrian Association conference.

“This allowed us to analyse the data regarding fence type and classes in which falls occur as well as severity of falls.”

The statement added that it found “no other comparable equestrian sport which jumps fixed fences (or showjumping) that allows a competitor to remount following a fall”.

The working group considered various circumstances when considering if riders could be allowed to continue after a fall, but discounted these for a number of reasons.

These included that it would be “very hard to write a clear and unambiguous rule” defining the difference between a soft and hard fall “if there is such a thing”. The possibility of allowing a rider who landed on their feet to remount was also dismissed, as concussion is not ruled out by such a fall.

In the fall data the group reviewed, only four out of 76 riders definitely remained on their feet, and at least five of the 76 appeared to be unconscious.

“Given the time required to write, implement, judge a rule which would likely have very limited benefit and still some potential downsides the working group recommended that no remounting should be allowed,” added the statement.

“BTC would be the only comparable sport governing body which allows remounting, which means the argument that BTC has fulfilled its duty of care would be hard to prove.

“As a result we feel that the current no-remounting rule will remain in place with ongoing analysis of falls data from each event in an attempt to mitigate against the possibility of a rider suffering a repeat concussive injury whilst they are still highly vulnerable due to a prior potential concussive injury.

“Grassroots sport concussion guidelines were published by the UK Government in April 2023 with the overarching tag line of ‘if in doubt, sit them out’.”

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British Team Chasing (BTC) is embracing technology and new governance as part of a fresh approach to “modernise this phenomenal sport”.

Plans include a dedicated web and app-based entry, scoring and results system, which will give people access to live running orders and results via the new BTC app and website.

Riders will be required to register themselves and their horses on the system in order for team managers or captains to enter their teams.

Teams will be able to amend entries for free, with events updated with any changes. It is hoped that one of the benefits will be that accurate information is provided to commentary and scoring teams.

The news comes alongside the election of a new executive committee, headed by chairman Roddy Stanning.

Olly Hughes, managing director of team chasing’s governing body, the British Hound Sports Association (BHSA), has been leading a small working group since September, which has put in place a BTC constitution.

Roddy said that the group has also started reviewing rules and guidance for organisers and riders “all of which has laid the foundations for BTC to build an exciting future”.

“The group has put in a tremendous amount of work and we are able to make real progress from this season onwards with some important innovations,” he said.

“An app-based entry system will reduce the administrative burden on events and the live scoring will add to the excitement of a class as it progresses, the leaderboard being constantly updated as team times come in.”

BTC is also launching a membership scheme, open to everyone, with the 2024 annual fee set at £10. Anyone wishing to vote at general meetings must be a member, and Roddy is also encouraging regular team chase competitors to join “and have a say in the direction and growth of the sport”.

“We hope to expand the calendar of events by engaging with hunts and providing additional support to organisers,” said Roddy. “We look forward to welcoming many new faces both competitors and spectators at events old and new.”

He thanked former BTC chairman Philip Cowen and the previous national committee members, the BHSA, and all those who have “stepped up and dedicated so much time and effort in implementing some hugely exciting and ambitious ideas”.

“Team chasing is a relatively small equestrian sport but has great potential for expanding, providing more fun and excitement to many and further supporting the hunting community,” said Roddy. “The new board of directors is relishing the opportunity to lead BTC and fulfil its promise as a sport promoting the best

about team spirit, equine versatility and rural life. We will be drawing on the ground swell of positivity about BTC’s future to keep innovating and modernising this phenomenal sport.”

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Michael Roberts, the countryman, prolific team chaser and former hunt master died on 8 December following an accident, aged 80.

He started life as a salesman for Guest Keen and Nettlefold, and progressed to starting TR Fastenings with Mike Timms. The business went public 30 years ago and now manufactures and sells millions of nuts, bolts, fasteners and gadgets of all kinds throughout the world.

Mr Roberts’ farms in East Sussex have been the envy of the county; well-fenced and managed pasture, pristine ancient hedgerows, tidy woodlands, footpaths and accesses, landscaped streams, ponds and gardens. His love of animals and wildlife was taken to extremes, with dogs, friendly peacocks and alpacas – but above all his horses.

He was an amateur jockey who bred and rode his own horses, as well as having a trainer’s licence. His immaculate yard at Summertree produced many famous local horses. Trainers would send him youngsters to bring on because he was exceptionally sympathetic and believed in teaching a horse to enjoy racing. His horses were his friends.

Mr Roberts was a very adventurous, brave horseman. He competed in the biggest cross-country ride in England, the Melton Hunt Club Ride, in most years and won it in 1988 and 1991. His team chase team, the Trifast Allstars, won the UK Team Chase Championships in 1999 and 2000.

His biggest equestrian achievement was on 10 October 1983 when he successfully completed one of the world’s toughest races, the Grand Pardubice Steeplechase in the Czech Republic, which is four miles and two furlongs long, over 31 obstacles.

He was master of the East Sussex and Romney Marsh for many years. He also was a member of the Mid Surrey Farmers’ Draghounds for most of his riding career, and he regularly hunted in Leicestershire and all over England.

Mr Roberts was an all-round sportsman, a brave and loyal friend – but above all, a kind gentleman. He was an entirely self-made man and used his wealth to benefit the world and inspire all around him. This world needs more like him.

He is survived by his wife Sue, his son Jon and daughter Jess, his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

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What do you do when you lose your rider early on in a team chase? You keep going regardless, and cross the finish line solo feeling pretty proud of yourself.

That’s what Mo did, anyway, in the Cotswold Team Chase on 28 October, leaving his owner Emma Masters to video him finishing in style.

Emma told H&H her team for the day, the Fake McCoys, were ushered to the start before she was completely ready.

“I hadn’t realised we were about to go so I still had one glove and my phone in my hand, and I set off one-handed,” she said. “I managed to stuff my phone in my pocket but couldn’t get my other glove on, so I jumped the first fence one-handed too.

“He was going really nicely but at one jump, unfortunately the two horses in front of us hesitated a bit, he hesitated too and I wasn’t prepared, and I went over his shoulder. I could hear everyone shouting ‘Loose horse’, and I could see him still up there with the other three.”

Rescue came in the form of a man driving a quad bike, to collect Emma, who said he was on his walkie-talkie trying to decide where to take her.

“I said we might as well go back as I thought he’d finish it,” she said. “I got back in time to video him coming over the finish line without me. He stopped with the others, proud as punch that he’d managed to do it.”

Pictures and videos captured around the course, including by Emma’s boyfriend Greg Williams, show Mo tackling the jumps, including some of the intermediate options rather than the novice he was supposed to be doing, with style.

“He was quite happy going round with the others, having the time of his life!” Emma said. “Next time, I might just let him go at the start and he can do it without me.”

Emma has owned the 12-year-old gelding for five years, and described him as a “16.2hh mutt”, out of a Cleveland Bay mare, by a thoroughbred/Arab/Hanoverian stallion. The pair have had a quieter year in 2023 owing to a diagnosis of ulcers but Mo has since scoped clear so they are back in action, much to the delight of Mo’s 32,000 followers on Facebook.

“He’s like a big happy labrador; the nicest personality,” Emma said. “Everyone loves him.

“I was put in a last-minute team and I think they were just happy to finish, while we packed up and headed home. But Mo had absolutely flown round, he loved it!”

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Riders will not be allowed to get back on and continue their round after a fall, in new team-chasing rules being trialled this spring.

The new rule covers riders unseated on course – horse falls already result in elimination for the combination – and it is being introduced “on a trial basis” for the 2023 spring season.

A notice from British Team Chasing (BTC) said the decision followed discussion with those involved “in all aspects” of the sport, including event organisers, officials and competitors at novice, intermediate and open level.

“This change is introduced to assist organisers and competitors with rider safety during the competitions, but will be subject to a more detailed full review ahead of the autumn ’23 season, which will include analysis of data from the spring season’s events,” said the notice. “The rule change is therefore introduced on a trial basis only at this stage.”

Riders who take a tumble on course are “immediately eliminated and must retire”. If they continue and jump a further fence, the whole team will be eliminated. BTC also recommends competitors who suffer a “heavy fall” should see an on-duty doctor before leaving.

The announcement sparked mixed responses on social media.

BTC chairman Philip Cowen told H&H the new trial rule follows “careful consideration and reflection in recent months by British Team Chasing”.

“Although the sport has always been well known through the equestrian world for its thrills (…. and occasional spills), there is also a strong desire to ensure that team chasing retains its unique characteristics,” he said. “Not least where the camaraderie of a team with a ‘have-a-go’ approach at any level within the sport can produce a great deal of fun and ultimate success for those riders, and all without the burden of a weighty and overly detailed rulebook.

“It is equally important that as the sport evolves for the future, events are able to be organised and hosted in a manner which is both safe and responsible in the light of today’s medical standards and safety research.

“Ultimately rider safety and horse welfare are of paramount importance to the success of individual events and the sport as a whole.”

Mr Cowen added that BTC will undertake a “thorough review” of rider fall data from fixtures this spring, prior to making any further announcements.

“In particular we look forward to engaging with competitors at all levels within the sport, alongside event organisers, officials and spectators over the course of the next few weeks,” he added.

“That thorough review will ultimately inform how best to address all of these factors for the continued wellbeing and success of the sport in the longer term.”

Team chaser Jess Powell, who is a doctor, was among those to comment.

“As a bad rider I’m devastated as I’ve managed to get two top 10 finishes after remounts – leading,” she said.

“As a doctor who used to cover equestrian events I applaud British Team Chasing. I did several 15- and 30-minute checks at BE [British Eventing] events for what looked like innocuous falls and picked up raging concussion in the riders.

“There will always be another day, it’s not worth risking early onset dementia or serious traumatic brain injury,” she said. “Don’t get me wrong as a rider who grew up in the 80s and 90s constantly falling off ponies this can seem extreme, but with [my] work hat on – 100% the correct call.”

BTC has also updated its hat and body protector standard rules for this season, to fall in line with BE, the Pony Club [PC] and British Riding Clubs [BRC].

Hats must be tagged with a BE, PC or BRC-approved tag and must not have a fixed peak. Only hats that meet the following standards will be accepted: British and European PAS 015 (2011) or VG01 040 2014-12 – both with a BSI Kitemark or Inspect IC Mark; American ASTM F1163 2004a onwards with SEI mark, Snell 2016 or 2021 (no other mark is needed with Snell) or Australia and New Zealand AS/NZS 3838 2006 onwards with SAI Global mark.

All competitors must also wear a body protector British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) 2009 Level 3 standard (purple label) or BETA 2018 Level 3 standard (blue and black label). An up-to-standard body protector is also required when competitors are wearing air jackets of any make.

From 1 January 2024 body protectors meeting the 2009 standard will no longer be permitted for use – the BETA 2018 label will be the only accepted standard.

• Read the updated British Team Chasing rules in full [PDF]

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits. 

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Four-time Cheltenham Festival runner-up Melon is relishing life after racing, settling into his new job “wonderfully”.

The 10-year-old, trained by Willie Mullins, enjoyed multiple graded victories and was a consistent performer for owners Joe and Marie Donnelly in his racing career.

He bowed out this summer at the same time as Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning stablemate Al Boum Photo, to join Sophie Candy and Joe Stevenson’s yard.

“He is absolutely brilliant. He is the loveliest horse at home to do, which is a novelty for us as we are known for tricky horses,” Sophie told H&H, with a laugh.

“He did his first team chase in the novice at the Belvoir, then stepped up to the intermediate at the Berkeley and won by about eight seconds, so he has taken to it very, very well.”

He joined the pair at the end of June and any plans for Melon’s life now will be led by him.

“He settled in beautifully and he is the easiest horse we have ever had. He’s obviously had a very good foundation in life,” said Sophie, who rides him at home while Joe partners him as part of Team Rideaway in team chases.

The Medicean son, bred by Newsells Park Stud, enjoyed six wins from his 33 starts under Rules, finishing in the frame on 12 other occasions.

“It’s quite a lot for a horse to come out of a yard of the kind he is used to, to one where there are only six in,” Sophie added.

“He has become fresher the more team chasing he has done, but on the gallops he is a total pro and knows exactly what he is doing. Ours always have a few days off after team chasing at the weekends, and the last few Wednesdays and Thursdays he’s put in a couple of squeals and bucks! He is definitely enjoying himself.

“He’s a beautiful, big horse and I do maybe fancy having a go at some Retraining of Racehorses dressage and showing and parades with him, perhaps a bit of hunting because he is such a gentleman. We will see where he wants to take us.”

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits. 

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Nearly every rider has experienced a horse that pulls like a train – and it’s not an enjoyable feeling. Lucy Elder talks to those who have found the key to famously strong horses and how these blossomed into wonderful partnerships

MOST riders will have heard the old adage of “if you don’t pull, they won’t pull” at some point during their time in the saddle. While grounded in truth, it isn’t always so simple. But there are steps that can help, starting with understanding, training and building mutual trust.

“It’s about getting to know them and building that partnership,” says Charlotte Alexander, who retrained the likes of Denman, Earthmover and Ulck Du Lin.

“If you are taking on a former racehorse at an older age, their bodies are going to be more set in a certain way. There may be only so much you can do on the schooling front, so it is about building up that relationship.”

She adds understanding the aids and how their bodies are built from their previous career is a good place to start, as is looking at your own way of riding and taking an individual approach with each horse.

Charlotte has found Neue Schule Turtle Top bits, teamed with an appropriate noseband depending on the individual horse, particularly suit her thoroughbreds as she finds them kind and effective enough to ride with a light hand.

“Schooling certainly helped Denman with his work, but did not make him any less strong as when the adrenaline was up he was gone. He was sensible and would pull up at the end, but he loved taking the mickey!” she says, adding he “loved being centre of attention and performing in front of a crowd”.

Flatwork was the secret to success with Ulck Du Lin, who came to Charlotte as a nine-year-old that “couldn’t canter a 20m circle”. He went on to event at novice and became “the most talented” team-chasing open lead horse.

“Louise Robson helped me with his schooling and we were able to sit him back on his hocks and get him off his forehand,” she says, explaining they focused on getting him working through his back and loosening his neck, particularly at the wither.

“This made him stronger behind, therefore he did not pull so much and this, of course, helped with everything.”

She adds Earthmover was “probably the strongest” as well as the “most enthusiastic, honest, brave horse you could ride”.

“You had to adapt your riding and ride with a very light hand and leave him be in front of his fences: ‘Drop your hands and trust him’, Talland’s Brian Hutton told me,” she says, adding trust, the right bit and noseband and Brian’s help were the solution.

“So you did have to have nerves of steel as he liked to jump sets of rails at high speed, which was rather disconcerting, but we somehow managed to get to the other side. With Earthmover it was the trust we had between each other that led to the success team chasing.”

LISSA GREEN’S two CCI5* rides Malin Head Clover (Ali G) and Hollyfield were both strong in different ways.

Lissa explains both horses were already established when she got them – Ali G was 12 and Hollyfield 11 – and the main focus was building a partnership and working with what they had, rather than against it.

“They are both awesome horses, whom I absolutely love,” she says. “It was interesting with Ali G as personality-wise he is a really kind horse and has the most perfect temperament, but it was almost a balance and self-preservation issue. He is incredibly long – he’s 15.2hh, bum-high and wears a 6ft 9in rug – and I think that’s why his balance was so on the front end. He really is the most extraordinary, ordinary horse.

“I remember taking him to our first event, and I was just wanting to get the feel of him. He got stronger and stronger – he just tucked his nose into his chest and went. We came into one of the smallest fences on the course, it was a little house and the sun was slightly on it but nothing out of the ordinary, but when I went to half-halt him it had the opposite effect, he went faster and straight into it. It didn’t make sense as horses don’t want to fall.”

Lissa was airlifted to hospital with multiple fractures. Once back on board, the first thing they did was to go back to a bit they discovered had previously suited him, and then focused on training and trust.

“I knew we had to build our partnership, Mum [Lucinda Green] and Dickie Waygood were a massive help,” she says. “They helped with his balance and his mindset – previously when I touched the bit, he would run off, which was counterproductive as I needed that aid as a tool and not for him to see it as a negative.”

Lissa adds the way she rode Ali G was “unique” and is not a way she would ride anything else. They found physically breaking his rhythm, and riding him into an imaginary right-angled corner

as part of the preparation before a fence, helped to get him back on his hocks and enabled him to jump at his best.

Lissa stressed the horse’s way of going was no ill reflection on his previous riders, but rather about finding what worked best for them as a combination.

“He never became any less strong, but I learnt how to ride him so he did get easier as our partnership together grew,” she says.

Interestingly, she found both Ali G and Hollyfield (pictured top) required more leg than any of her others, to get the hind-end engaged so they could lighten the front. But Hollyfield needed sussing out in a different way. While he was strong, he also had a stop in him, and Lissa found his key was balance.

“He was very weak behind when we got him so he had no choice but to use his front end as a motor,” she says.

Hill work, polework and breaking down every course into no more than two or three fences, after which Lissa would halt, then continue, were the answer.

“Our first event back the next season was Aldon and I did the same there [in the showjumping] – two fences and woah – and it worked! When I bought him, he was having seven or eight down, so for him to jump clear that day was unbelievable,” she remembers.

KIRSTY SHORT went back to basics with her CCI5* bold jumping grey Cossan Lad (Bouncer). She had been able to manage his strength until they reached advanced, where his keenness meant they were finding striding in combinations tricky.

Kirsty sought out advice along her journey with Bouncer, which all helped for a time, but the underlying problem was still there.

“He got stronger and stronger, I was changing bits frequently and it reached the point where I thought, ‘What do I do? I can’t change bits all the time. I need to fix this or we are going to get hurt.’ It is too dangerous a sport to be out of control,” she says, adding Blair CIC3* (now CCI4*-S) 2014 was the moment she realised things had to change.

“I got to the hill and I had nothing – he ran off with me and I managed to stop at the bottom, so I put my hand up and said, ‘Thank you very much, I’m going home.’ I knew I needed to spend the winter fixing this.”

Selling him had crossed her mind, but she didn’t want to and felt sure the problem could be solved. So she sat down with her team and made a plan.

The pair were qualified for Burghley and the late Matthew Wright rode him that year, before Kirsty spent the off-season working on the root of the issue with Polly Jackson Griffin.

They stripped everything back to basics, using a fat Sprenger KK snaffle and loose cavesson noseband, and replaced fences with canter poles and 1ft courses.

“We taught him to come back to trot using my voice and the neckstrap, and stopped after each fence until he felt balanced enough to be able to canter round in a nice rhythm. Until he could do that, we weren’t going to jump any bigger,” she says, adding they applied the same techniques cross-country schooling.

Their first affiliated event back was at Lincolnshire, where Kirsty rode him in a snaffle. Each time Bouncer went to take hold, she brought him back to a trot, then allowed him to go on. They finished with 52 time penalties, but she had cracked it.

“It all comes down to the stages of training. He was advanced at eight and I was only 21, so looking back now, I can see what he missed and why going back and fixing his balance and rhythm solved the problem,” she says.

“It was a year-long process and we went through it when he was turning 11. It is never too late to change something. There’s always time to learn and find that extra bond in your partnership.”

Strong superstars

ARENA UK WINSTON (pictured) and long-term rider Ellen Whitaker have a phenomenal partnership with international successes and multiple Nations Cup team appearances. While Ellen has previously said Norman Oley’s 17.2hh stallion is now “very easy to ride”, there were times in the past she felt “over-horsed”.

After the pair’s third place in the 2019 Bolesworth CSI4* grand prix, Ellen explained she had been focusing on building her own strength and fitness, and learning how to use that to best effect in the saddle. The result? One of British showjumping’s leading combinations.

MURPHY HIMSELF was notoriously strong, memorably launching himself and Ginny Elliot (then Leng) into space over Badminton’s ski jump fence in 1988. While they had success together, winning Burghley 1986, the decision was made that he may be more of a man’s ride. Ian Stark took over the reins in 1988 and the popular grey went on to continue his terrific success, adding more Badmintons to his CV, plus team and individual silver at the 1990 World Equestrian Games.

NICOLA WILSON got inside the mind of her superstar medal-winner Bulana to understand exactly what was causing her to be strong, and found it came down to the mare’s desire to please. Although not an “out-and-out puller”, Bulana would stick her nose onto her chest and go. Nicola worked to get the mare listening to her body language through surprise transitions, both within and between each pace, working up and down hills, and giving and retaking the reins, so she could lighten her hand while keeping the mare with her.

“It all comes back to that confidence, trust and relationship between horse and rider,” she says.

This exclusive feature is also available to read in this Thursday’s H&H magazine (1 April, 2021)

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The equestrian world is hopeful of a return to competition and training next month in line with the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced plans for the easing of coronavirus restrictions in England on Monday (22 February), starting with the return of schools, and changes to meeting people outside, on 8 March.

A British Equestrian (BEF) spokesman said the Prime Minister’s roadmap “would indicate” that those equestrian centres and other businesses that are education or training providers could start one-to-one sessions from 8 March, while most other activity – sport or leisure – can resume from 29 March.

He added that BEF member bodies are working on various “return to play” plans that are set to be released in the coming days with more details.

The Government roadmap indicates that spectators may be able to return to sporting events, with restrictions, from 17 May.

The situation is slightly different in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Lockdown restrictions continue in Wales, with 12 March the next review date. In Northern Ireland, lockdown has been extended until 1 April, with a review on 18 March.

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced the nation’s route out of lockdown yesterday (23 February).

The BEF is working with Horsescotland and member bodies to establish what it means for the equestrian industry, but it looks as though activity could restart on 26 April.

British Equestrian interim chief executive Iain Graham said: “While there is still detail to be clarified, we now have a strong indication from the Governments of England and Scotland of when we can return to activity, training, competing and just enjoying our equestrian lives once again. It’s very welcome news and gives hope to many that an end is in sight, provided of course we all play our part.

“For our stakeholders in Wales and Northern Ireland, we’ll continue to push for the opening up of activity in a safe timeframe.

“Thank you to all of you in the equestrian community, it’s been a difficult 11 months with so many impacted, but now we can look to building our industry back and recover stronger than ever.”

A statement from British Eventing (BE) said it is finalising its sport resumption plans for all levels, with more information coming soon, and is continuing work on a pathway for elite athletes targeting Badminton, Kentucky and the Olympics.

The statement added that BE has contacted athletes identified as elite to give them further details, and is planning the first “elite specific” training session at Aston-le-Walls (16-17 March) and the initial “elite specific” competition the following week (22-24 March).

Entries will be strictly for these elite athletes and will be run “in strict accordance with Government regulations and Covid-19 protocols”.

British Dressage (BD) is planning for its organised competition and training to resume in England on 29 March, with the possibility of competitors being allowed back to “stay away” shows from 12 April.

It has suggested that spectators may be able to return, and travel to overseas competitions resume, from 17 May; with “all shows, training and regional camps” to resume “as normal” from 21 June, in line with any face mask or social distancing measures that may be in place.

“This is the news we’ve been waiting for and, although we still have to wait a number of weeks before organised sport can begin again, we do now at least have some indicative dates to enable us to plan ahead more effectively,” said BD chief executive Jason Braugtigam.

“While we do of course have to proceed with a degree of caution, these roadmaps do provide a clearer path for us to follow from April onwards.

“The team at BD HQ is now finalising an operational plan for the resumption of activity, based on the various dates and options we had already prepared. It’s now a case of pulling everything together with our organisers and venues to produce an achievable programme of fixtures that will benefit all members, whatever their level, goals and aims are for the remainder of 2021. We hope to unveil this next week, so you can begin planning your campaigns for the season ahead, return to active training and start to get competition ready.”

He added: “I’m proud of the resilience shown by the dressage community over the past year, particularly during these long winter months – and it now feels that, thanks to a great deal of patience and fortitude, we can finally see light at the end of the tunnel.

“We all still have a part to play to help achieve each step or phase in the relaxation of restrictions, but we can all share in renewed optimism that it’s now only a matter of weeks until we return to some semblance of normality.”

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Point-to-pointing is planning to restart in Britain on the week commencing 29 March, with an updated fixtures list expected by the end of this week.

“This will still leave 11-12 weeks of the season,” said Point-to-Point Authority chief executive Peter Wright.

“I know that many of you will be concerned about the going, but I note that one wet year in the last decade had fixtures with 100 runners in June. Furthermore, there are several courses out there which traditionally have good going late in the season.

“In terms of the paying public and owners, the Government position is not totally clear. However, I am afraid that no-one other than participants will be able to attend up until April 12 at the least. We will open it up as soon as we can.”

British Team Chasing is working with three event organisers on plans to run fixtures on three Sundays between 4-25 April inclusive. The National Team Chase Championship class will not take place this year.

Preparations are also under way for fixtures later this year, with more information on both the spring and autumn 2021 seasons expected shortly.

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

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Jodie Howson was a self-proclaimed happy hacker before giving birth to her son Oliver, now three, after which she caught the bug for team chasing, having never competed before.

Having teamed up with her mare, Milly Molly Mandy, Jodie impressively went from novice to open team chase classes in just three runs, but it hasn’t been plain-sailing for the pair.

“While I was pregnant I was on the lookout for a small horse to enjoy a variety of disciplines with. I found Milly and bought her from a family, whose young daughter had been competing her in low-level Pony Club showjumping — she hadn’t done much cross-country,” says Jodie.

“We started really small, but it was like the blind leading the blind across country – she’s a smart, little horse and was very sharp. I had lost my confidence after having a baby and I fell off countless times. However, we persevered and, most importantly, I learnt how to sit back and keep quiet – we were both getting braver.”

But then a rotational fall out hunting knocked both of their confidence.

“It was scary, luckily I was OK, but Milly needed some time off. Then we started slowly again.”

Fast-forward to 2020, and the 11-year-old 15.2hh “pony” loves her new-found job team chasing and hedge-hopping, described as a “cross-country hunting machine” by her owner-rider.

“I found out about team chasing via a friend. I’m not a competitive rider, I just wanted to enjoy it. This autumn, Milly and I ran in our first novice team chase, then our second one came a few weeks later, which was an intermediate,” adds Jodie, who works as an admin assistant for Aberford Childcare.

The pair concluded the season with an open at Essex & Suffolk (1 November), finishing fourth with the Chilled Out Chasers.

“I love team chasing, it’s relaxed and friendly — no one cares about what you look like,” she says. “ I had the biggest smile on my face going round and cried with happiness on finishing. Milly went clear, but most importantly we stayed safe around a tough but brilliant track. I think adrenalin helped us both with our nerves, team chasing has been so good for Milly.

“She is my horse of a lifetime. She trusts me and I trust her — she would jump the moon for me and I feel so incredibly lucky. Practise, patience and perseverance, and dreams really can come true.”

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Discussions have been taking place with venues over a planned revival of team chasing in Scotland. H&H speaks to campaigners and organisers to find out more

THE revival of team chasing in Scotland hopes to offer more opportunities for riders.

A Facebook group, Team Chasing Scotland, has been formed in the hope of relaunching a series, with discussions taking place with potential venues.

Rider Gillian MacDonald told H&H she formed the group after finding many team chasing events in England, but not in Scotland.

“It’s a shame because look at all the land we have here and the potential. I thought, wouldn’t it be fabulous if some of our great venues in Scotland put on a team chase as part of their schedule of events for next year? The interest from riders has been off the scale,” she said.

“I’ve been pleasantly surprised at the level of interest from some established venues and have around eight who have said they are interested in putting something on.”

Gillian said some of the venues she has spoken to include Craigenputtock, Gleneagles, Burgie and Kirriemuir.

Doreen Calder, secretary of the Berwickshire cross-country day at Duns Castle, which ran team chasing events in the 1980s and now incorporates a team chasing class as part of the annual hunter trials, told H&H she believes numbers declined in team chasing as more people moved towards British Eventing (BE).

“When we originally ran it 40 years ago, we would have up to 60 teams. If Gillian can encourage things and get it going, we’ll be standing ready to have as many teams as people want,” she said.

James Helyer, organiser of BE fixtures Kirriemuir and Glamis Castle, told H&H he is “very interested” in running a team chasing event if the dates can fit in with the venues’ BE commitments.

“At the minute, the whole of the equestrian world has got to look at new things and we’re no different to anyone else. Pairs cross-country has always been popular in Scotland and I think team chasing would offer something different for riders,” he said.

“The traditional hunter trials here in the autumn are very popular and receive big entries so if people are prepared to do that, maybe they will have a go at team chasing.”

Colin Carter-Campbell, owner of the Craigenputtock cross-country course, told H&H he plans to build a full team chasing circuit.

“We have the land here to do it and around 80 to 100 jumps, including a water complex. I’ve had such enormous pleasure in my lifetime riding across other people’s land over the years, I feel now it’s my turn to allow people the opportunity to ride on mine.”

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As the team chasing community prepares to get underway, H&H finds out what steps have been put in place to make the sport Covid-secure and talks to some of those involved...

The autumn team chasing season is set to start within weeks, in a Covid-secure manner, thanks to a “terrific effort” from all involved.

British Team Chasing (BTC) has announced its 2020 autumn calendar, which kicks off with the Warwickshire on 6 September.

BTC chairman Philip Cowen told H&H a “very nearly full calendar” has been put together, with a full complement of Covid-19 mitigation measures to ensure all involved are safe.

“A number of disciplines have rightly taken the plunge ahead of us and we’ve been following the way events have been running pretty closely,” he said.

“Team chases are run by individual hunts, on an entirely voluntary basis, and they have to be viable, as well as protecting everyone, so that means a more complex conundrum. But there’s a very committed group of people, determined to keep it as a sport, and feeling as near to the same as possible under the circumstances.”

Teams will be asked “to turn up at an allocated time, effectively to compete and then leave”, Mr Cowen said, which will remove the social side of the sport, but should not affect the chase itself.

Other measures include social distancing, no secretaries’ tents, and all administration in advance.

“At the same time, we’re very anxious to ensure the team ethos is very much kept,” Mr Cowen said. “This has taken a significant commitment, which is fantastic.”

Hannah Mahon, of the Warwickshire organisers, told H&H the team is “delighted” to be going ahead so soon.

“We’ve followed British Eventing’s template closely,” she said. “Since Barbury Horse Trials, which friends said worked really well, we thought that’s the basis for us.”

Competitors will see “hand sanitiser everywhere” and signs, and one-way systems for buying refreshments. And Ms Mahon said she hopes everyone knows by now to stick to the rules.

“I think riders are sensible with this sort of thing anyway; they’re not the types to be on a packed beach,” she said, adding that rider awareness of biosecurity and contamination should help.

Fence judges will also have full PPE, she said, and the warm-up area has been increased in size.

“We’re delighted to be running,” she said. “And our entries are full, we’ve closed them. People obviously want to get back out and it’s nice to crack on.”

The Duke of Beaufort’s team chase will run on a new course at Sopworth, north Wiltshire, on 25 October, and the Avon Vale will run on 4 October to replace its lost spring fixture.

BTC said it will monitor the situation and work with organisers and authorities to ensure events are compliant.

“Most importantly, we are immensely grateful to landowners, organisers, volunteers and other helpers and sponsors in enabling a calendar to be put together in such challenging circumstances as the country is experiencing at large,” a spokesman said.

“We are sure all competitors will help organisers achieve smoothly run, viable events.”

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Following recent discussions about the benefits of gumshields for riders, H&H canvassed opinions from governing bodies’ chief medical advisers, a dentist and mouthguard specialist, plus riders from across the disciplines...

Debate over the use of gumshields in equestrian sport has resurfaced following a call from a high-profile jockey and discussion at the International Eventing Forum.

The 20-time Grade One-winning jockey Paddy Brennan called for “every jump jockey to be wearing” a gumshield, adding that his “saved his head” in a fall at Leicester last month.

While talking about the best way to fall at the International Eventing Forum at Hartpury (3 February), orthopaedic surgeon Michael Eames said wearing a gumshield can help dissipate the energy in your jaw and neck, reducing the risk of a head injury.

Although there is no conclusive evidence gumshields reduce a person’s risk of concussion, some who wear them are convinced of the benefits, and they can certainly help prevent dental injuries, which are painful, inconvenient and expensive.

 Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning amateur Sam Waley-Cohen offers cost-price mouthguards to jockeys through his business, Portman Dental Care.“At the moment, we can’t categorically say to jockeys if they wear a gumshield and fall, they’ll have less chance of concussion,” said the British Horseracing Authority’s (BHA) chief medical adviser Dr Jerry Hill.

“I encourage jockeys to wear gumshields, especially ones that are custom-made, and as long as they’re properly fitted, there isn’t any issue with them.

“We’re in the process of commissioning a new medical records system, which will allow us to gather much more useful data and we’ll be able to do more analysis. That will give us sport-specific data for racing and then we can give sensible advice.”

H&H has been contacted by dozens of riders across the disciplines — particularly racing, polo, team chasing and eventing — who opt to wear gumshields for a variety of reasons. All opted for a properly fitted type, over the “boil and bite” version, at a cost of roughly £50 to £100, depending on the level of protection. Some said they barely notice wearing them, while others found they took a bit of getting used to.

Abigail Lewis told H&H she is a convert after cracking teeth in a pointing fall last season.

“It was the most painful thing I’ve ever done,” she said, adding that she wears it for both tooth protection and concussion prevention. “I don’t even realise I’ve got it in — it was £120 compared to £800 for [the work I’ve had done].”

Aurora Eastwood told H&H she wears a gumshield “every time” she plays polo, for both teeth protection and to mitigate against concussion, and believes they should be compulsory in all fast equine sports.

Amateur eventer Alysen Miller, who has a background in racing, told H&H she looked into it extensively and said the research she found between mouthguards, concussion and even spinal damage prevention “didn’t seem entirely baseless”.

“An absence of evidence doesn’t mean an evidence of absence,” she said, adding it is the piece of equipment she notices “the least”. “It does seem a very small tweak you can make to your kit, even if it is a very small chance [that it will help].”

Former jockey Alice Mills told H&H wearing one for racing was a natural progression from hockey and rugby.

“I didn’t see any reason not to carry on wearing it for team chasing,” she added.

Billy Aprahamian, amateur jockey and assistant trainer to Nicky Henderson, told H&H: “It is becoming more and more common now compared to five years ago in point-to-pointing and is much more common in jump racing, where a lot of the jockeys are wearing them — anything to protect themselves.”

Anthony Lovat, dentist and founder of pioneering mouthguard company OPRO, told H&H the company does not collect data on which sports its customers take part in, so could not say if it has had an increase in demand from racing or equestrian sports.

“What I can say is on the whole, the use of mouthguards is certainly on the rise globally,” he said, adding that people are becoming more aware of dental injuries and how to prevent these.

He added that impression-fitted mouthguards offer greater protection because they result in a better fit and the thickness is greater than that of the boil and bite. This is because the process and machines used to create them are stronger than a human hand or bite can achieve.

“That’s not to say all boil and bite mouthguards are bad, but the ultimate is the custom fit,” he added.

The company is also working with Sports & Wellbeing Analytics on their latest mouthguard, which features built-in technology that monitors head impact data.

Mouthguards work by absorbing energy, meaning the force the wearer experiences is dissipated over a longer period of time, reducing or eliminating dental injuries.

One rider told H&H she looked into them after suffering a nasty fall while not wearing one, but was advised against it by her treatment team owing to the forces riders can experience in a fall and the question as to whether that could result in greater damage.

Dr Lovat added in the 20-plus years of Opro, he has never known a mouthguard to cause harm.

The British Equestrian Federation’s chief medical officer Pippa Bennett told H&H that looking at the research available, there is no conclusive evidence a mouthguard protects the wearer from concussion.

“Custom-made mouthguards will help protect your teeth — will it lower your risk of concussion? Possibly, but it’s not proven,” she said.

She added that much research is ongoing into factors surrounding concussion, including neck strength, gender and the lasting impacts of head injuries.

Dr Bennett encouraged people to be aware of concussion symptoms and that these can sometimes first become apparent hours later.

She is also working on a system within the World Class programme, whereby riders would have an initial assessment after a fall, followed up by further assessments at various intervals, such as three, 24, 48 and 72 hours.

“We want to be absolutely sure we are not putting anyone back on a horse when they really shouldn’t be riding,” she said.

“We are also working on graduated return advice. At the moment, there is the initial 21-day stand-down time [from competition], but nobody really tells riders what to do at home.”

There is growing evidence in how improved neck strength can help prevent concussion, as this can help control the rapid acceleration and deceleration in a fall. Concussion is not always caused by direct blows to the head, but the brain hitting the inside of the skull, with research showing a stronger neck can help reduce the amount of energy transferred to the brain during an impact.

The Injured Jockeys Fund has shared videos of neck-strengthening exercises for riders, to help mitigate their risk.

An ongoing project at Imperial College London, funded by the Racing Foundation, is also looking at an in-ear device, which monitors the wearer’s heart rate, electrical activity of the heart and brain, blood oxygen levels and respiratory rate, as well as containing an accelerometer.

It is being trialled within the NHS at present and the BHA is looking at potentially testing it to measure the above statistics after a fall.

The ultimate aim is for jockeys to wear these while racing, but it is not at that stage yet.

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A “nightmare” dressage horse who caused a few raised eyebrows in the warm-up before a recent team chase has shown he can turn his hooves to a new career.

Sophie Seymour, a professional rider from Badminton, took her 16-year-old Danish warmblood Odin to his first team chase at Beaufort on 17 March.

Sophie told H&H Odin arrived with her two years ago on sales livery on behalf of his previous owner, Helen Fletcher.

“He was a bit of a nightmare and I couldn’t sell him,” said Sophie. “He reared and bucked and after doing dressage all his life he began to hate it. He had wins at advanced medium and was very flashy but he stopped enjoying it.

“He’d never jumped in his life, but I said to his owner ‘why don’t we try a bit of jumping with him and look at selling him as an eventer?’”

Sophie said the turning point for Odin was an experience out hacking.

“I would ride anything and will sit through a buck or a spin, but Odin was so naughty I wouldn’t hack him out by myself unless there was someone else on the yard. I eventually got him hacking alone and he really settled down. One day I went to walk him over a tiny log in the woods to see what he thought and he flew over it. I think he was as chuffed as I was and I thought to myself ‘this horse can jump, I want it’,” she said.

“I absolutely fell in love with him – we did a bit of eventing and I took him on loan for six months, but his owner needed to sell him. I was devastated, but I couldn’t afford to buy him. The next day the owner gave him to me – she knew I couldn’t afford him and she didn’t want us to part because of the amazing relationship we’d built and the rest is history.”

Sophie said Odin’s flashy extended trot in the team chase warm-up attracted some attention.

“It was so embarrassing, I was asking for canter and he said ‘no we’re just going to do extended trot’ – he really flicks his toes and shows off,” she said. “I had someone ask me ‘will your horse actually jump?’ and my response was ‘just watch us’.

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“One of my team members, Leah Wren, hadn’t done team chasing before and the other members, Sarah Milsom and Lizzie Donaldson, were riding babies so I had to lead the team. I thought he might be nervous as he can be a bit sticky over the first few fences but once he gets going he’s great. I let him go at his own pace and he flew – he didn’t care about the others, he was gone.”

Sophie said Odin’s dressage days are over.

“We’re going to do more team chasing. I think he’d jump round an intermediate. He wouldn’t do a speed class, but he has one hell of a pop in him – he absolutely loves it,” she said.

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Popular former racehorse Saphir Du Rheu has made his eventing debut and returned to the Cheltenham Festival a year on from his retirement.

The 10-year-old grey, formerly trained by Paul Nicholls, is enjoying life after racing with Charlotte Alexander.

He completed his first BE100 at Aston-le-Walls on 2 March, where the pair jumped clear inside the time across country.

“He has the most wonderful temperament,” Charlotte told H&H. “He is so bold and honest — we’ve been putting a lot of work into the basic things with Brian Hutton, who has been incredible.”

“Saffi” was back at Cheltenham on 12 March to take part in the Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) parade and to escort Champion Hurdle victor Espoir D’Allen to the winners’ enclosure.

“He retired after the Gold Cup at Cheltenham last year, so to have that transformation within a year is wonderful,” Charlotte said, adding he was “so well behaved”.

The French-bred gelding, who was previously a Highflyer Bloodstock purchase, was ridden by Charlotte in the parade and Guy Fitzearle, kennel-huntsman at the North Cotswold, for his escorting duties.

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Saffi has since been out team chasing at the Beaufort on 17 March, where he sped round leading the Boring Gorings.

Charlotte plans to continue team chasing him this season, with the Farmers’ Bloodhounds (24 March) and the national championships at the Fernie (31 March) next on his calendar. After that he will head back to the eventing circuit.

“He has the most super balanced canter, that is why it is all happening so easily for him,” said Charlotte.

“We are just taking it a day at a time and seeing how it all goes.”

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Yvonne Goss has been team chasing for an impressive four decades. We’ve been to meet the 55-year-old adrenaline junky who has no plans to give up the high octane sport yet...

1. Yvonne Goss is the only dual winner of the Golden Button Challenge, a tough hunt ride covering three miles and over 22 natural obstacles. She won the inaugural hunt ride in 2006 aboard her horse Perry and she took the 2018 contest in February 2018, partnering her current superstar, the home-bred ex-racehorse, Untilla Legend (aka Jaffa).

2. She is a true adrenalin junkie who started team chasing aged just 16. She hasn’t stopped since and has become a stalwart of the fast and furious sport.

3. The 55-year-old is a mother of three sons, all in their 20s. “I won at my first national championships on Jamie’s first birthday, I was still team chasing when five months pregnant with Ben, and five weeks after having Matt I was back on board,” says Yvonne. She is also a proud grandmother to Isabelle, 3, who has also inherited the riding gene (and no doubt the family’s competitive streak).

4. Ten-year-old Jaffa was bred by Yvonne’s father, Aubrey, and broken in by her son Jamie, who now has his own pre-training business. Yvonne started riding him as a six-year-old.

5. Yvonne spent 30 years based at Bickmarsh Stud in Worcestershire, where her ex-husband was a stud groom, before a stint working for racehorse trainer Claire Dyson. She is now based at Jane and Stephen Lambert’s Gloucestershire yard, where she looks after the hunters alongside riding Jaffa.

6. She also owns another fluffy friend in the form of terrier Brooke.

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7. Yvonne has been a member of the Fox Grant Dot Com team chasing quartet for four years and was part of their winning team at the national championships in 2014. She has won eight championship titles with different teams — impressive!

8. Yvonne revealed to H&H that she takes daily painkillers to ease the aches and pains that come with four decades of team chasing. She lists broken collarbones, ribs and numerous concussions among her injuries while competing in the high tempo sport, which is not for the faint hearted.

Read our full H&H interview with Yvonne Goss in this week’s issue of Horse & Hound (1 November). For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

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Three generations of the same family rode to victory in a team chase after overcoming a host of challenges.

The Chequered Hearts team — made up of Debbie Molloy, her daughters Sophie Howe and Addie Carter, and Debbie’s granddaughter Mirrun Carter — competed at Fair Oak Hunter Trials and Team Chase in Hampshire on 22 September.

The competition differs from British Team Chasing rules in that the team chase is run over all three hunter trial heights (from 2’3” to 3’) and style marks are also given for how competitors tackle two “dressing fences”.

The family bond proved a recipe for success and the team finished bang on the optimum time and scoring 18.5 out of 20 for style.

“We were all quite excited to be truthful,” Addie told H&H, adding the whole family had an “amazing feeling”.

“The nice thing about it is that none of us have a lot of money or big flashy lorries or horses.”

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Debbie, who sourced the bright blue ear bonnets, hat silks, numnahs and base layers for the family on eBay, bought her mare Lily in March.

She discovered the mare had had numerous owners in her past, at one point being sold for £1 as a field companion, but the pair have hit it off together.

Mirrun, aged 10, rode Irish import Paddy, who came to the family as a “very nervous, jumpy and spooky” pony.

“Mirrun and him have just struck it off and have an amazing bond, it is sweet to watch,” said Addie.

“Sophie is riding a big black horse called Trevor — she fell off another horse last year and had to have a complete reconstruction of her kneecap, then she bought him.

“I’m riding the big chestnut Tuco, who has only just turned seven and hasn’t really done a lot — before him I had a pony, so he is my first real horse.

“Put us all together and we are a bit of a crazy bunch really to have gone and won!”

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The Warwickshire’s team chase has been cancelled due to the severe impact the extended dry spell has had on the course.

The fixture was scheduled to be the first of the 2018 autumn season on 2 September at Watergall (not pictured), with the exception of the arena team chase at Lands Eventing.

The cancellation serves a further blow to the 2018 British Team Chasing calendar, which suffered a much depleted spring fixture list due to ice, snow and heavy rain.

But the organisers have pledged to turn the disappointing news into a positive, using the time to improve the course and hedges for 2019.

The committee made the tough decision after walking the course last week following “fears regarding the ground”.

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“As a result of the extremes of weather that we suffered last winter and have endured this summer, the ground has taken an absolute battering,” said a statement from the organisers.

“Despite being really good, reliable old turf, the drought has really sapped all life out of the course and caused large holes and cracks to appear in front of the hedges and sporadically around the whole track.

“The committee discussed at length the different options that we had regarding the condition of the ground, but ultimately it was decided that the safety of the competitors and horses must always come first and may be put at risk if we were to run the event.”

All entries will be refunded.

“Everyone is absolutely shattered by the decision but we will endeavour to use the year off to improve the course, lay new hedges and let our existing hedges get bigger and better for 2019.

“We hope that you enjoy the rest of the team chasing season as there are many other events on close to Warwickshire.”

The next fixture in the British Team Chasing calendar is the Belvoir at Garthorpe on 9 September.

“Please go and support them and British Team Chasing, it is a great event,” added the statement.

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Tributes have been paid to National Hunt star Silviniaco Conti, who died following a team chasing accident.

Silviniaco Conti was enjoying an active retirement of team chasing and hunting after bowing out of his racing career in 2017.

The two-time King George VI winner had fallen at a fence towards the end of the course in the national championship class at the Fernie Team Chase on 8 April, but got up and appeared fine. He was taken to the vet the following morning to be checked over and was expected to make a full recovery, but sadly died on Monday afternoon.

Formerly trained by Paul Nicholls, the popular chestnut gelding had been with Charlotte Alexander since his retirement from racing — taking to his new career with enthusiasm.

He had a holiday in the field before being brought back into work last summer to start his retraining.

Charlotte, who rode Denman during his happy retirement of hunting, eventing and team chasing, worked with Brian Hutton at Talland and eventer Dan Bizzaro at Lyneham Heath on Silviniaco Conti’s retraining.

He had excelled in his training, enjoying cross-country schooling, and started team chasing in the autumn of 2017 before spending time on the hunting field over the winter.

“Silviniaco Conti was the most athletic, balanced and scopey horse,” Charlotte told H&H.

“He was a very quick learner and within the year that I had him he had gone from novice to open team chasing with such ease, had won prize money show jumping and was about to start British Eventing.”

She added he would have progressed through the eventing grades “very quickly”.

“It is not often a racehorse progresses so quickly in other disciplines, usually it can take a good two years, but Silviniaco Conti’s enthusiasm for life and wanting to learn and get on and do things made the transition so easy.

“He absolutely loved hunting and hunted mainly with the Beaufort — he was perfectly behaved and mannerly.

“His other talent was being brilliant at rounding up the sheep, which he did with such enthusiasm. He loved whipping them in and was skipping around like a polo pony, often seeing what he had to do before I asked him.

“He was a delight to look after and loved his polos and cuddles.

“Conti has left a huge hole, he was much loved at Paul’s and with me and will be much missed.”

Paul announced the sad news on his Betfair blog last night (9 April).

“I am really upset to report that Silviniaco Conti has died following an accident while team chasing on Sunday,” said Paul.

“He was a brilliant horse with great scope and won seven Grade One chases for us including the King George VI in successive years and also six Grade Two chases.

“Conti was a classy chaser who was at the top for six years and took over the mantle as stable star following the retirements of Kauto Star, Denman, Master Minded and Big Buck’s.

“He won over £1.152 million in prize money for his owners Chris Giles and Sullivan Bloodstock before enjoying his new life in retirement with Charlotte Alexander near Stow in the Wold over the past year.

“The initial diagnosis at the vets on Monday suggested he would be fine, but unfortunately he took a turn for the worse and died early this afternoon.”

Paul’s assistant trainer Harry Derham also paid tribute.

“As tough and classy a horse as I’ve ever had the pleasure to know,” he said.

“He provided us with so many special days, including seven Grade Ones.

“Thank you so much for all you gave us Conti. May you sleep well and rest in peace.”

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A keen rider has made the Miss England final by winning her regional heat.

Charley White, who enjoys team chasing, was crowned Miss Northamptonshire on 24 March at Kelham Hall.

She was also a winner of the MeSheMe Top Model contest, which was held at the same event.

Charley, 18, said she is a “true country girl” and used her rural roots as inspiration for the “eco dress” round of the regional final.

“I thought ‘what can I do that will represent the countryside?’ so I made a dress out of 600 pheasant feathers,” Charley told H&H, thanking her mum and friend for their help.

“I wasn’t really nervous until I was about to walk out on the stage for the final time, and then I was really nervous as I haven’t done anything like this before.

“I still can’t believe it!”

Charley admitted she loves the “thrill and speed” of team chasing and has ridden on Dapper Dobbins’ intermediate teams with her 17.1hh sport horse “Hero”, who came free with another horse bought by her family.

This is the first time Charley has taken part in a pageant — and it was quickly back to reality afterwards.

“The next day I was back down at the yard, I still had acrylic nails, eyelashes and hair extensions on from the day before, my hair was pulled back and I said to my friends ‘I’ve gone from all glam to knee-deep in mud trying to catch ponies’,” laughed Charley.

The 18-year-old is on her gap year and has a place at De Montford University in Leicester from September.

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She is carrying out fundraisers for charities Beauty With A Cause and Hope With Cancer ahead of the finals, which are set to take place in the summer.

This includes taking photos at a show at Moulton College recently, with the proceeds donated to the charities, and is planning on organising a sponsored ride.

Charley added it was her late grandmother who inspired her to enter the Miss England contest.

“Until three years ago I lived with my nan and she is the biggest inspiration in my life,” said Charley.

“She passed away nearly three years ago and I had really bad social anxiety. I didn’t want to do anything, I became really depressed, started failing my A levels at school when I had always done well before and was really down.

“The horses pulled me through and out of the hardest time of my life.”

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Blizzards and strong winds forced competition to be abandoned mid-way through the second day at Lincolnshire Horse Trials.

Organisers of the British Eventing (BE) fixture had managed to go ahead with all classes on Friday (16 March) and Saturday morning.

However as the “mini beast from the east” arrived, conditions became too risky to continue.

“Regrettably competition at Lincolnshire Horse Trials on Saturday was partially abandoned at approximately 2pm due to the snow,” said a statement from BE.

Organisers and volunteers moved the showjumping to a new ring after Friday’s competition, and periodically moved the fences to fresh ground throughout the day.

But heavy snow and strong gusts scuppered the team’s efforts to carry on.

“A difficult decision to make, but the safety of our riders is paramount — we hope you all understand,” said a spokesman for the horse trials.

“Thank you to all competitors, judges, volunteers and officials for their support and hard work in keeping the event running for as long as it did.”

Riders were quick to thank the team on social media for keeping the competition going as far as they could.

The wintry weather also forced Aldon to abandon two of its three days of competition.

Heavy rain pulled the plug on Friday’s classes, but organisers managed to run a full day of eventing on Saturday. But snow resulted in the abandonment of all Sunday’s classes.

“A massive thank you to our amazing team of volunteers who braved Arctic conditions today [Saturday] to enable us to run — you are all truly awesome,” said a statement from the organisers.

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The start of the eventing season has taken repeated blows over the past three weekends — 10 of the 11 events scheduled since 3 March have been forced to cancel some or all their days. Poplar Park managed to run both days on 10 to 11 March, but 15 competitors were unable to run across country on the second day due to fading light.

All point-to-point fixtures due to be held on 17 or 18 March were abandoned or rescheduled.

The first team chase of the season — the Beaufort at Sherston — was postponed and will now run on 25 March.

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Team chasing rules on hat standards and body protector standards have been updated ahead of the 2018 season.

British Team Chasing has brought its rules in line with British Eventing, the Pony Club and British Riding Clubs.

Hats must meet any of the following standards:

• PAS 015 (1998 or 2011) with a kitemark
• VG1 with a kitemark
• ASTM F1163: 2004 onwards with a SEI mark
• SNELL E2001 or E2016 with a SNELL label and number
• AS/NZS 3838, from 2006 onwards

Hats must be tagged with either the British Eventing/British Riding Clubs/Pony Club-approved hat aqua tag or with British Team Chasing’s own hat tag.

“It is compulsory for all competitors and grooms to wear crash helmets to current recognised safety standards at all times when mounted at any team chase course — such hats must not have a fixed peak,” adds a statement from British Team Chasing.

“All competitors must also wear a British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA 2009) approved and appropriately labelled Level 3 (purple label) body protector, manufactured in the year 2009 or after.

“A body protector of this nature is also required when competitors are wearing air jackets of any make.”

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Racing body protectors vary in the level of protection they give, so competitors are urged to check theirs is of the correct standard for team chasing rules.

The season kicks off with its warm-up event at LandS Eventing at Dallas Burston Polo Club in Warwickshire on 11 March. The first team chase of the year is hosted by the Beaufort at Sherston in Wiltshire on 18 March.

British Eventing has also updated its body protector rules for the 2018 season.

Competitors must wear a BETA 2009 level three body protector, or an Exo Body Cage, for cross-country.

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A team chase with a difference is set to launch in March as a warm-up for the spring season.

The arena-based competition will run on 11 March at LandS Eventing, Dallas Burston Polo Club, in Warwickshire.

It has been billed as a chance for riders to get their eye in and practice team tactics.

The aim of the event is to “get horses round and have an enjoyable experience” to set them up for the season.

“This new arena-based venture for the sport is an exciting new development, and we are grateful to the team at LandS Eventing and Dallas Burston Polo Club for their vision in taking the initiative forwards,” British Team Chasing (BTC) chairman Philip Cowen told H&H.

“With a course of nearly 1,000m in a huge all-weather arena, it will provide competitors with the ideal introduction to the season.

“The class will be judged against a pre-determined time to ensure that teamwork and safety are at the forefront of competitors’ minds as they take part in teams of three.”

The “super arena” at Dallas Burston is the size of a polo pitch and the course will be made up of portable cross-country fences.

The idea is the brainchild of photographer Paul Carley, who came up with the idea while pondering the difficulties of warming-up for the season with the unreliable spring weather and ground conditions.

Lloyd Hunt, of LandSeventing and course builder at the Warwickshire, is behind the arena cross-country and eventing series at the polo club and has also been “instrumental” in developing the arena team chasing idea.

There will be 80/90/100cm options, so riders can choose which height to attempt at each obstacle and can jump alongside each other in true team chasing style if they prefer.

Entries will open four weeks ahead of the event.

The course will feature accuracy questions and a pen, with times judged on the second rider crossing the finish line. There will also be pairs and individual classes.

“This is an exciting time for the sport, and the development of this new concept reflects the growing popularity of team chasing,” added Mr Cowen.

“The autumn 2017 season [had] an almost 20% increase in the numbers of teams entering the various team chasing classes at the 10 principal events of the season.”

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The spring team chasing season starts in earnest with the return of the Beaufort fixture, which will be held at Sherston, Wilts, on 18 March.

This will run with novice and intermediate classes this year, with hopes to add an open qualifier to the fixture in the future.

“Run over old turf in prime Beaufort Saturday country, the course will incorporate timber, walls, hedges and natural obstacles,” said organiser Lottie Bostock.

Course inspector Bryan Allen added: “This will be a cracking venue and the potential open course has some spectacular hedges.

“The team at the Beaufort are putting in a lot of time and effort and I think this will become a major event on the team chasing calendar.”

The Skinner’s Pet Foods National Championships is also returning to the Fernie fixture at Tur Langton, where it was previously held from 2002 to 2012, on 2 April.

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National Hunt hero Silviniaco Conti is thriving in his post-racing career.

The multiple Grade One-winning steeplechaser, formerly trained by Paul Nicholls, has been learning the ropes across country and “loves” team chasing.

Charlotte Alexander has been training with Brian Hutton at Talland and Italian eventer Daniele Bizzarro.

Charlotte told H&H she is hoping for a good run at the Cotswold Team Chase on Sunday (29 October) to end the season.

“He will then go hunting and I am hoping to take him to the Blackmore Vale meet at Ditcheat so he can see all his old friends,” she added.

Conti retired from racing in April and enjoyed a holiday out in the field at Charlotte’s yard before starting his retraining.

He has progressed up from novice to open team chases this season and has already been in the ribbons several times.

“Silviniaco Conti has come up through the ranks much more quickly than I expected,” said Charlotte.

“He is still green, but loves attacking the hedges and has amazing scope — he is incredibly athletic and so quick to turn.”

She added he is not strong and will be “top-class” once he has more experience.

Daniele shared a video (top) of Conti cross-country schooling with Charlotte at Lyneham Heath.

“He looked so confident,” Daniele told H&H.

“The good thing with Conti is he is naturally athletic.”

He added Conti is not stiff through his back, as can be the case with some former racers.

“It is very different jumping a single fence at speed to combinations — they have to use their body in a very different way and that is what a lot of ex-racehorses find difficult,” said Daniele.

“[Conti] finds it very easy. For a horse that has been so successful, as he has been, running a lot and doing very well, it is great to see how easily he was jumping these combinations across country.”

Daniele added the first thing he does with ex-racehorses is to slow everything down.

“It is like when you learn to drive a car — you don’t learn to drive at 300mph, when you are confident you can pick up the speed,” said Daniele.

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Brian told H&H he gets a “great thrill” from seeing former racehorses enjoying their new careers.

“[Conti] is quite an intelligent horse — he has adapted very quickly and he is fairly naturally athletic,” he said.

Brian has worked with Charlotte and Conti on their flatwork, progressing on to grids and cross-country schooling over the past few months.

He added the horse’s progression from novice to open tracks has been “fairly meteoric”.

“Considering the short time frame we have worked on him, he is really encouraging in the progress he has made,” he said.

“Compared to Denman, who was very much a full-on character and used to rather beat his opposition into submission, Conti is a lot more careful.

“He is a little bit younger and has good co-ordination, which helps him to adapt to his new role.”

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Silviniaco Conti has won his first rosette in his new career after retiring from racing.

The National Hunt star enjoyed a spin round the novice class at the Belvoir Team Chase on 10 September with his new rider, Charlotte Alexander, and finished second with Team Rideaway.

Charlotte, who partnered Denman during his post-racing career of hunting, team chasing and eventing, told H&H Silviniaco Conti was “lovely”.

“I’m gently introducing him to team chasing,” she said.

“He is very honest and very genuine. At the moment we are in the early stages and he couldn’t quite work out what it was about!”

She added Conti was “so good” in the collecting ring and behaved beautifully while standing on the trailer, being tacked up and having his studs put in.

Charlotte plans to run him at the Atherstone this weekend (17 September) and is aiming to try some eventing and hunting with him in time.

“He will tell me what he wants to do, like Denman did,” she added.

The multiple Grade One-winning steeplechaser, formerly trained by Paul Nicholls, ran for the final time at Aintree in the Betway Bowl on 6 April and was retired from the track the same day.

Charlotte has also taken on Ulck Du Lin, who was also trained by Paul and retired from racing in April.

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Both enjoyed time off in the field and were brought back into work over the summer.

Charlotte has been working with Brian Hutton on their retraining and they have taken the horses right “back to basics”.

She added that she has also been spending time cross-country training at Lyneham Heath, working on accuracy and building a partnership.

“It isn’t about speed at the moment — it is about training, confidence, having a nice time and everything being easy for them,” she said.

“They love being in a herd — hearing the tannoy they are on their toes and just love the buzz, the attention and being admired.

“They know they are special.”

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday

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With team chasing underway for the autumn season, take a look at this selection of team chasers for sale on the Horse & Hound website this week.

1. ‘Fun’

Height: 14.2hh

Gender: mare

Age: eight

Selling points: “This is an easy and uncomplicated ride as she is never strong and is snaffle mouthed for all disciplines. She has done Pony Club (PC) rallies, senior camp, dressage and showjumping, hunter trials, team chasing, one-day events and very much enjoys them. She is consistently placed and has no vices.”

View the advert

2. ‘Cracking’

Height: 16hh

Gender: gelding

Age: nine

Selling points: “This smart horse is a bold hunter and team chaser. He has evented up to novice level with a superb cross-country record and has also proved to be a fantastic drag hunting horse. He is really fun and is ridden by both adults and youngsters. He has a very positive attitude and is easy to do.”

View the advert

3. ‘Beautiful’

Height: 16.3hh

Gender: gelding

Age: nine

Selling points: “This beautiful Irish-bred horse has excelled in every discipline including eventing, showing, working hunter, showjumping, hunting, team chasing, dressage and riding club. He has lightly hunted but would make a very smart hunt horse over any country. He is ideal for any member of the family and is very quiet in all respects with a huge personality.”

View the advert

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4. ‘Lovely model’

Height: 14.1hh

Gender: gelding

Age: 12

Selling points: “Cracker has hunted with the Warwickshire, team chased, done all PC activities and cross-country schooled where he was very bold and brave, jumping everything. He is well mannered, easy to do and a very pretty and lovely model. He hacks alone or in company and although he is forward going and buzzy, he isn’t dangerous in any way. He happily jumps round 90cm including all fillers but is more suited to a hunting and team chasing home.”

View the advert

5. ‘Super all-rounder’

Height: 16.2hh

Gender: gelding

Age: eight

Selling points: “This horse is a fun all-rounder that would excel team chasing. He is fantastic cross-country, proving very bold. He autumn hunted and hunted a few days last season and is also big moving so has done dressage, combined training, plus hunter trials. He has also done a couple of one-day events and is very kind and easy to do.”

View the advert

View more horses for sale on horseandhound.co.uk

NB: Horse & Hound has not checked the accuracy of the claims made in these adverts and cannot be held liable if the information included above is inaccurate in any way

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Seasoned racehorse Any Currency has retired from racing and is set to join the squad of team chasing champions Relentless next season.

Trainer Martin Keighley announced the retirement of his 14-year-old stable star yesterday (Wednesday, 26 April).

Any Currency’s racing career spanned an impressive 10 seasons — he ran at Cheltenham 20 times, including six Festivals.

In recent years he was a familiar sight in the cross-country race at the Cheltenham Festival, finishing second in 2015 and 2014.

He was first past the post in 2016, but was subsequently disqualified after testing positive for triamcinolone acetonide (TCA) after his win. Martin was later cleared of any wrong-doing by the British Horseracing Authority.

Owned by the Cash Is King syndicate, the horse also achieved big wins at Ascot, Wincanton and Sandown, and finished 17th in the 2013 Grand National. He was also third in the cross-country race at Le Lion D’Angers in 2015.

Martin told H&H the decision to retire “Woody” was a “tough call”.

“He is so enthusiastic — he loves being in training,” he said, adding he hopes the horse will return to visit on the yard’s open day in September.

“The most important thing was to find him a fantastic home, he needs to be doing something.”

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With the autumn team chasing season now underway,

The son of Moscow Society is having a break out in the field before going to join Dickie Barrett of team Relentless for the next team chasing season.

“He is a competitive horse who loves his work and I think it will be absolutely ideal for him,” added Martin.

“He is going to be hard to replace — he has taken us to some amazing places.

“It will be nice to follow how he gets on and I’m sure we will go and watch him when we can.”

Any Currency won five of his 50 starts under Rules and earned a total of £160,237 during his time on the track. He ran his final race under Andrew Tinkler at Cheltenham on 19 April.

“Thanks for everything Woody — you have been a horse of a lifetime, we’ll miss you but wish you the long and happy retirement that a dude like you deserves,” said a statement on Martin and Belinda Keighley’s website.

Dickie told H&H he is “absolutely delighted” to be taking on the ride.

“His CV speaks for itself,” said Dickie. “He was a talented racehorse and hopefully he will take to team chasing.

“I don’t think I could get a better horse!”

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday

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The end of the hunting season can leave you feeling flat and pining for an adrenaline rush. But there's plenty to keep you and your horse busy, says Tessa Waugh

1. How is your horse looking and feeling? If they are thin or feeling sore the obvious thing to do is give them a rest. Roughed off, rugged up and out in a field (if your ground can take it) for a couple of months R & R before you think about riding them again. Meanwhile you can breathe a sigh of relief and think about something else: your job, your children, your husband/wife and anything else that you’ve neglected for the last five months.

2. If your horse is looking and feeling good you may want to capitalise on their fitness and your own. Look out for any hunt organised rides or hunter trials that are happening in your area.

3. Now is a good time to give your horse a health overhaul and seek professional attention for any niggling back or teeth problems.

4. If you are missing your adrenaline fix, find some like-minded riders and try some team chasing. There are five taking place in various places around Britain between the end of March and May. Look at www.britishteamchasing.co.uk for more information.

5. Most people will feel unimpressed with their riding skills at some point during the season. Now is a good time to invest in some lessons, jumping or otherwise. Similarly, if your horse wasn’t feeling confident enough over his fences you might want to go back to basics with some schooling.

6. If your horse is old, they may benefit from being kept going through the summer. This will also lessen the time spent getting them fit again in late summer. Explore some rides in the area that you haven’t tried before, even if it means boxing them up to investigate somewhere further away.

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7. Head to the beach and enjoy a gallop across the sand. Sounds cheesy but it’s guaranteed to give you both a boost.

8. There isn’t a huge amount of crossover between hunting and dressage but don’t let that stop you. Dressage rewards all horses and riders with increased flexibility, strength and fitness, all of which will massively help your performance on the hunting field.

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A team chasing star has died aged 16 after suffering from colic.

Fox Grant Ferrari (Ferrari), who won two national team chase championships with owner William Grant, passed away earlier this month (2 February).

The remarkable chestnut gelding was the only horse to complete every running of the Golden Button, finishing runner-up and first veteran in 2015.

He also won six hunt rides, including the IOW, Wynnstay and Avon Vale, as well as achieving numerous placings.

Ferrari was victorious in least 25 open team chases, was “unbeatable” at hunter trials and would “go over anything” out hunting.

Ferrari recovered from an injury in 2015 and was back in action last season with the Fox Grant Thrusters.

The sad news was announced on a post on the Fox Grant Facebook page.

“Sadly Fox Grant Ferrari passed away today due to a colic attack,” it read.

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“He was an amazing horse and carried William and the Fox Grant colours with style and success for many years.

“Such a gentle horse with a huge heart who loved his hunting, hunt racing and team chasing.

“Thanks to Linda who kept him fit and looked after him with such skill and kindness for last 12 years.”

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The autumn team chasing season is now in full swing, which means only one thing — the adrenaline junkies are out in force. Standby for hedges big enough to make you want to dive for the hip flask...

Luke Morgan and Jacko's Boy — part of the winning Relentless team at the 2015 National Championships

Luke Morgan leads Dougie Gittins and Junior Jack over this drop at the National Championships in 2015

This drop is no problem for Team Ride-Away, who finish second in the open at the National Championships in 2015

One combination find themselves in a sticky situation at the Cotswold team chase in 2014

Emma Goffe is flying high on Hopper at the Fernie team chase in 2013

It's full steam ahead at the Worcestershire team chase in 2013

The side door beckons at the Atherstone team chase in 2013

Lack of rider doesn't stop this keen equine competitor at the 2014 National Championships

Millie Steward-Wood makes light work of the course at the 2010 National Championships

But things don't always go to plan as demonstrated by Tim Rogers at the Belvoir team chase back in 2012

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

A team chase organiser has called for people to be “sensible” around horses, following the “terrifying moment” when a child walked out in front of a fence during a competition.

The preschool-aged child stepped into the path of an oncoming horse as it approached an island fence in the Bicester Hunt with Whaddon Chase (BHWC) intermediate event last Sunday (Oct 9), causing the team’s lead rider to have to take an emergency pull.

“The little girl wandered out in front of the fence. The lead jockey was yelling, but we were too far away to do anything. For the rider and those looking on it was a terrifying moment. The child’s safety was clearly compromised,” said BHWC team chase chairman Oliver Cornock.

“You can only do so much roping in team chasing — it can get difficult in case a horse runs through a fence.

“All we can resort to is a programme of admonishments and commentary, which we were already doing. There were numerous commentary requests to keep children under control, notes in the programme and a cacophony of whistle blowing,” he said.

He added that high-risk sports were already under enough pressure without the “careless behaviour of the few.”

“We do this for fun and we’re all volunteers, and we’d have felt dreadful if something had happened,” he said. “We live in a litigious environment and the impact on insurance can be immense.”

While no one was injured in the incident, the affected team finished in second place, 0.6sec behind the leaders.

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“The team were extremely reasonable about it and asked if there was anything we could do in the rules. We sat down as stewards to discuss it but had to say ‘no we can’t’, although it felt slightly unfair.

“A child’s life is obviously more important than who wins or loses, but these are highly competitive teams and you could have legitimately argued that they lost out because of it,” Mr Cornock added.

“Team chasing doesn’t get quite the footfall point-to-pointing does, so you’d think the spectators were horsey people and would be well aware of the risks.

“We sometimes have incidents with loose dogs, but you wouldn’t really expect to find a child in that position.”

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With the autumn team chasing season now underway, here's why fearless — and slightly crazy — riders need to get involved...

1. Team chasing is fast and furious — perhaps not for the faint-hearted but provides any adrenaline junkie with the ultimate fix.

2. The courses cross about two miles of countryside over approximately 25 exciting obstacles — hedges, rails and sometimes water.

3. You can do it alongside your friends by putting together a team of three or four — a much more exciting way of socialising than sitting in a pub on a Saturday afternoon.

4. The great news is you can pretty much call your team whatever you like — Victorious Secrets, Scared Hitless and Mid Life Crisis just for some inspiration. Although it depends how daring you are — The Cunning Stunts is probably not one you’d want to get wrong on the entry form… or in fact when talking to your grandma…

5. There is a team chase every weekend throughout both the autumn and spring seasons — so you can scrap the gym for exercise and go team chasing instead.

6. Team chases take place all over the country from Somerset (Taunton vale) to Derbyshire (Meynell & S. Staffs) and Suffolk (Essex & Suffolk).

7. It is probably one of the most affordable equestrian disciplines — for a team member prices range from £15-25.

8. Forget dressage training — event riders known to be team chasing fans once the curtain closes on the eventing season include Phoebe Buckley, Tom McEwen, Lissa Green, Rodney Powell, Ludwig Svennerstal, Ruth Edge and Piggy French.

9. The sport is a haven for former point-to-pointers and ex-racehorses — 2008 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Denman has enjoyed popping round team chases in his retirement.

10. The spring season culminates in an exhilarating National Championships in April — not only exciting for the brave jockeys but the spectators too, with fences climbing to well over the minimum of 3’6 — eeek!

11. And finally, you will be hard pushed to find a team chase without a beer tent for a well-deserved drink after your round — or maybe before to settle the nerves, although drink-riding is definitely not advised…

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DID YOU KNOW?

Team chasing was the brainchild of the master of Hickstead, the late Douglas Bunn. He invented the concept in 1974 after deciding the Hickstead Easter Showjumping International needed something thrilling to accompany it to keep television viewers happy. Riders were invited to take part and it was televised live on Good Friday.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Last year’s team chasing league champions Art Hotel Racers prevailed in a thrilling season opener over the bank holiday weekend.

The team was in hot competition with Ride World Wide league rivals the Eternal Optimists at Watergall, near Southam, Warwichshire, on 28 August, where the current national champions Team Ride Away were also in action.

A spokesman for the event said: “Team chasing leapt back into action with many of the leading teams giving their top horses a run over the Warwickshire’s intermediate course or debuting potential new stars in the novice class.

“This was no steady warm-up however – competition is fierce between the Eternal Optimists and Art Hotel Racers squads, vying for top of the table.”

The spokesman explained that riders take on hedges and rails “at improbable angles”, aiming to take the shortest line and complete the course in the fastest time.

“Both teams lost their fourth rider in the early stages of the course due to steering or navigational issues, putting pressure on the third member of the team as the rules state that three of the four members must get round to post a score,” she said.

“On this occasion Art Hotel Racers prevailed with Sarah Myhill, Heather Moodie and Anna Stone crossing the line side by side.”

Sarah, who led for most of the way on former racehorse Lady Malousa, said: “It’s a great combination. Heather and Anna are so competitive, they are always right on my tail should I miss a turn or lose a bit of pace.”

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The Eternal Optimists – husband and wife Larry Brown and Lizelle Terblanche Brown, team captain Simon Coady and Jake Launchbury – finished four seconds behind.

The spokesman added: “Watch the footage from Lizelle’s helmet camera and get the feel of this exciting sport!”

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Ahead of the rescheduled Skinner’s Pet Foods National Championship this weekend (Sunday 1 May) at the Heythrop team chase, Jane Carley looks at the signs that you've become a team chasing addict...

1. Monday is spent searching for photos that have been posted of your team chasing round on social media, sharing them, and commenting on yours and everyone else’s pics.

2. You have a black eye/sore ribs/several mysterious bruises because your new horse ditched you in the intermediate/flattened you while tacking up/bucked you off in the warm up.

3. You check your horse four times a day to make sure that that dodgy leg hasn’t flared up again meaning that he might not be able to run next week.

4. You spend hours on the phone or social media to try and work out who’s going to be in your team next week.

5. Your horse is too hot to hunt or showjump because all he wants to do is team chase, and even hacking out is taking your life in your hands.

6. You still only ride him in a snaffle and a cavesson noseband because gadgets wouldn’t actually help.

7. You watch the racing on the TV like a hawk to spot horses that are not quick enough to win a race but might make nice team chasers.

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8. You find it hard to watch other horse sports because the riders just don’t angle their fences tightly enough.

9. You’re outside the newsagent at 7am on Thursday to get your Horse & Hound to see if your team has got a mention or even a photo.

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10. Win, lose or fall, you’ll be in the bar with all of the other riders after your round, celebrating and agreeing what a great event it has been.

Don’t miss the full report form the National Championship in the 5 May issue of Horse & Hound magazine

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Firstly, a humongous thank you and a massive well done to the organisers of the Fernie team chase (27 March). Many of the earlier dates in the calendar have either been postponed or cancelled thanks to the awful weather we have been suffering. The torrential rain the evening before meant we were all on tenterhooks waiting for the announcement they make following a course inspection first thing in the morning.

Easter Sunday arrived and we were thrilled to see the posts appearing on social media saying the sun was out and the team chase was go, go, go. The lorry track at the entrance made a phenomenal difference to the parking and the expert tractor team were running a faultless operation — thank you, everyone really appreciated the efforts.

>>> Sophie Mathew’s team chasing blog: Last one standing

We had a very relaxed day, not running until 3.43pm which meant a casual 1pm course walk. Having travelled up with revisiting team mate Briony we found Kerrie in the car park and met Izzy out on course. Briony ran with us at a couple of novices last year and having heard how lovely the intermediate course is at Fernie didn’t take much persuading to join us to have a bash at an intermediate class.

Fence five was a sizable rail/hedge and fence six was “the drop” of the day. Entertainingly, before we started our course walk we had watched a few of the open teams jump the drop and a couple in our accompanying group passed comment on how nuts the open teams were to jump such stupidly scary fences… the silence was notable when they realised that fence was in our class too.

The going out on course was incredible. As usual for the ever popular Fernie the novice class had run at full capacity, the intermediate and open course ran mostly on fresh ground and it had taken the battering of the previous night’s rain amazingly well. Nothing on the course was of worry, a bit of an interesting approach to a log thanks to a sensibly roped off wet patch — it would take some slightly more calculated riding but apart from being out of puff thanks to suffering a grim cold, we finished our course walk feeling pretty positive.

>>> Sophie Mathew’s team chasing blog: Talking bogeys

Tacking up was a much more fanciful affair as a team sponsor, forelockandload.com had arranged for an armoury of glitter from glamouratiuk.com to embellished our horses’ rumps. With tack and turnout normally being limited to a quick wipe over, the stencils and make up sponges got the giggles going and at one point we even had a little crowd going of interested fellow competitors. This sort of thing isn’t usually seen in the fields of team chasing but what a brilliant way of branding a team. The stencils worked really well and the intricate logo glistened beautifully in the Leicestershire sun!

With our new super snazzy Thermatex saddlecloths and some rain resistant brave-pants breeches we headed to the warm up for a quick jump before going under the starter’s orders.

Fences one and two rode well in behind Kerrie and Izzy. Fence three made you realise you were doing an intermediate class and fence four jumped kindly with me now in second place behind Kerrie. On the gallop across to fence five the sky went apocalyptically dark and the heavens opened. Sharp, freezing hail stung our faces as we approached the “drop of doom” (as we now affectionately call it). It rode beautifully, totally uneventful and almost a bit of an anti-climax but I was thrilled that we had all sailed over it and we cracked on over the next handful of well-presented rails and hedges in now bright sunshine.

A sharp left after fence 11 to the wet patch and onto the log; the going got suddenly deep which helped to steady the horses. Taking a tight line around the safety tape with Harty in the lead he just didn’t have time to work out what Kerrie was asking of him and ground to a halt (pictured above). Super Kitkat bowled on through and we headed into the pen with Izzy close behind and waited for the essential third horse. Briony was there and we kicked on to the next. Swiftly overtaken by Kerrie, she retook the lead before the water and we were flying.

>>> Sophie Mathew’s team chasing blog: A step into the unknown

A couple of fences later a front shoe came flying off Kitkat, a few more fences and I had ended up with my nose just in front of Kerrie. I went soft on my horse and knowing he’d lost his outside shoe didn’t haul him into the direct line of angled hedges. I hadn’t appreciated how close Kerrie was behind me and as I opted to take a turn and I took her and Harty with me.

Fortunately, Izzy got a great clear line through the three hedges and she raced on to the end to the finish with Kerrie quickly catching up with her on super speedy Harty. Kitkat was eager to take up the pursuit and the soft ground meant we could swing home over the final few fences minus his lost shoe.

Briony had pulled up just after the water, absolutely beaming with her horse, saving him for another day. Massive hats off to her; she doesn’t hunt and is yet to event Alfie over 90cm so it was an incredible effort on her part and I’m really proud of her.

Sophie

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A rider is urging others to always wear a safety helmet after having a serious fall at a team chase.

Holly Haward of Eye, Suffolk, was competing in the novice class at the Essex and Suffolk hunt team chase in Semer, Ipswich, earlier this month (1 November).

The horse she was riding, Jack, had a rotational fall at a fence towards the end of the course and Holly was crushed underneath him.

The 15.2hh piebald gelding was not injured in the fall and Holly was treated by event paramedics.

She had some concussion but was otherwise unharmed.

“It was one of the smallest jumps on the whole course,” she told H&H. “Everything had been going fine until then and he was jumping nicely.

“I can’t really remember what happened but he hardly took off. It felt like he was on top of me for ages, but in reality it was probably only a matter of seconds.

“I have never come off him before and he does everything. It reminds you that they are not machines.”

Holly credits her hat, a Dublin Onyx helmet, for saving her from a more serious injury.

“We cut open the hat afterwards to see the damage and it was completely broken inside — lots of people have said it could have been my skull if I had not had a hat on.

“I want to stress to others the importance of wearing a hat,” added the 29-year-old. “So many people still jump on without one.”

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Having visited the Essex and Suffolk team chase for a few years on the trot I thought I had got to know the intermediate course fairly well as a spectator.

So on the days leading up to it I was getting myself in a wee bit of a fret about the third fence. In previous years it has been the hedge I had always admired the intermediate and open teams jumping.

Standing at what must be 5ft, it is a considerable question so early on in the course. In 2014 they made it optional to the intermediate teams; allowing them to elect to jump it or the significantly smaller novice hedge. All I could do was hope that the same option applied this year.

Upon our arrival, the course walk revealed lots of things; that the third fence was indeed optional (phew) and that walking a course as a spectator is totally different to walking it as a rider.

I didn’t say anything as we were walking around but the hedges at fences four, five and six were — to me — MASSIVE. Admittedly they weren’t quite as impressive as the optional fence three, but big, solid, sticky, pointy beasts of hedges. I was confident that they would jump well, but my mouth started to go a bit dry.

Hedge seven was equally sizeable and peering over it you are confronted with a road crossing to another hedge. Essentially a double of hedges, and it looked seriously tight. Eeek!

Team mates Kelly and Kerrie — who are both used to the hunting field gave it a shrug and said: “Just ride it as it comes.” Nicola (our fourth team member) and I however, headed down to the gateway so we could walk the distance between the two hedges.

Nicola is ace; she is a member of the mounted police display team — one of those people who can jump a grid of fences, under a spotlight, in front of hundreds of people all while taking her stirrups off! She ran in our team last season in the novice at the Fernie team chase and had a fab time, so I was thrilled she was able to take our fourth spot. Her horse, ‘M’ is ginormous! A real genuine sort, only a six-year-old and possibly the kindest 17.3hh giant of a Trakehner you could meet.

Nicola paced out the distance between the two hedges at the road crossing. Hmmm, not really a full stride, not really a bounce; we agreed with Kelly and Kerrie to just ride it as it comes and quickly moved on!

A few fences later we came to the next road crossing. I wish we had taken a photo of the drop on the landing side of the first part. There was plenty of room from it to the second part which was a rail and a quick turn back to another rail and then on to a field of hedges before heading back down to the rest of the course. This was going to be the most challenging course I had ridden.

After a quick tack up and a short warm-up we were called forward to run and we were off.

Fence one gave us an option of either the novice rail on the left or the small hedge to the right, separated by some post and rail. Together Kerrie and Kelly jumped out of the start in front, Kelly to the rail on the left and Kerrie to the right.

The drama for us started here; the pace was steady and a few strides before the hedge I was upsides Kerrie. Suddenly Kerrie’s horse Harty started running over to the left had side of the hedge. We had already taken off when he squeezed me out of the way and pushed me the wrong side of the flag, nearly taking my foot off in the process. I had therefore jumped the unflagged post and rail and had to pull up, jump the novice rail the wrong way to re-present at the hedge again. By this point the team were well on their way to the third and I was playing catch up.

Kerrie was leading to the fifth hedge and had an unfortunate stop, however Kelly and Bluey were ready to take up the lead and flew on to the next. By the road crossing at seven I was just catching up with the team, which rang alarm bells as Kat and I are never the fastest.

As I approached the crossing I could see poor Nicola had taken a tumble (pictured top), Kelly had obviously gone clear as was out of sight and Kerrie was by the first part waiting for the path to be cleared. Nicola was up and out of the way so I took a turn and Kat flew through the double without giving it a thought. I looked behind me and Kerrie could do everything but persuade Harty to jump it so it was just Kelly and I left.

I could see Kelly’s speckle of our team blue a field ahead so decided to try and catch up, thinking we could at least hack around the rest together. Kat was obviously still sensing the urgency of playing catch up and so soared the hedge, rails and on to the ginormous drop, which he cleared with no bother at all. As I jumped out of the second part and over the rail at 13 I saw Kelly standing with the fence judges…minus Bluey. The poor chap had lost his landing gear over the drop and fell. Oh dear. By fence 14 I was the last one left and we retired.

Bluey caused chaos by taking himself off for a hack around the Suffolk countryside. A massive thank you to all those that went out to find him, and to the lad that caught him and hacked him back.

The team was reunited back at the lorry park, with massive cheers when Kelly returned after she had been presented with a bashful looking Bluey. All horses were fine. Nic was beaming her usual infectious smile and was a little bit sore. Kelly was thrilled with how well Bluey had been going and Kerrie will be hunting Harty the day before the Bicester Hunt with Whaddon Chase team chase this weekend to get him back in the mood. I was in awe of my amazing horse. He jumped incredibly and I’m sad the season ends on Sunday.

Sophie

A huge thanks to Sandra Aschettino, Paul Carley of PC Images UK and Craig Chaplin of C S Chaplin Photography for letting me use their photos.

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It must have been over 12 years ago when I completed my first team chase. At the time it was the biggest course I had ever jumped; we came fourth and won best Pony Club team. What a fab pony I had in Impact. I will never forget the kindness of his owner Maggie.

That was the Grafton team chase and heading back there for the first time since moving away from the area was nostalgic.

After our amazingly brilliant time at the Pytchley last week we were really excited to be heading to another intermediate class. We’d seen the course photographs that had made their way onto Facebook the evening before and so knew what to expect — nothing daunting, a couple of turns, more timber than at the Pytchley and some hedges towards the end of the course.

We met with Lily, a new recruit for the team at the first fence ready for our course walk.

The course is definitely a kind one. Some of the fences wouldn’t be out of place in a soft novice track but with the undulations, twists, and sharp turns there was plenty to keep it competitive and the hedges were all well-presented — they had the nice low rails, good ground lines and a fair amount of hedge above them.

After walking the course we found a couple of friends that had run in the morning’s novice class. Between them they had landed both first and second place. Smiles all-round and some hilarity over the fact that the winning team took a break mid-way around for one of their team members that had fallen, she was perfectly fine but it did suggest their bogey time was a slow one.

Another friend’s team that were far too fast for placing, joked that maybe a ‘fair hunting pace’ included time for drawing a covert and stopping for second horses! It does seem a shame that there isn’t a declared mpm speed for bogey times in both the novice and the intermediate bogey classes. Having a bogey time that is too slow is rewarding those that have either stops or mishaps at the pen with rosettes.

We were entered in the bogey time but in the knowledge that there is no telling whether it was a quick time or a slow one we opted to just to crack on as well as we could — we thought it better to be unplaced for going too fast (hopefully!) than trying to aim for a bogey time and getting it wrong.

The warm-up was hectic, but there was room up the top to keep out of the way, so once we had jumped the warm-up fence a few times we went up there to get some space to ourselves. Kelly’s horse Bluey was just a bit on his toes and he can go one of two ways so we tried to keep him chilled. With him in such a tizzy mood he was going to have to go up in the front where hopefully he would settle.

As the starter was counting us down from five seconds Bluey was ready to go and to prevent him jumping the gun Kelly had to take a turn, the flag was dropped and we were off; Kerrie, me, Lily and Kelly swinging behind.

We flew the first, a small timber. By the second I was in front. I looked across at Kerrie for her to take the lead but she stayed in second, so I kicked on for the third. I later found out that Kerrie thought I was Kelly and so had held back for her/me to take the lead — this is the problem with us all wearing the same tops and both being on greys!

I lead over the fourth and fifth, but struggled to make a tight turn back to the other island fence. I didn’t want to slip over so knowing the other girls were right behind me, I kept a wide line and Lily took the lead on her nimble chestnut, followed by Kerrie.

From the next hedge we bowled on down to the pen. The three of us getting to it altogether; no need for the lead horse to take a pull, and with it being plenty wide enough, Kerrie, Lily and I jumped in and out pretty smartly; although I did apologise to Kerrie as I jumped in for cutting her up slightly.

On to a hedge. I was sat quite comfortably in third. I had no idea at this point that Kelly had pulled Bluey up. We were travelling at a pace that was perfect for Kitkat and we were meeting the hedges and rails perfectly.

The other two girls hugged a post at the top of the hill for the turn towards the home straight. Again I wasn’t quite so confident so took a slightly less daring route.

By fence 16, which was the bigger of the hedges, we were all together and I had a moment of panic thinking I had nowhere to go if anything went amiss in front of me. Fortunately it was an unnecessary concern as the three of us flew it and the next. We steamed down the hill towards a timber, where Kerrie had to kick on to get in front of the group as it was a bit of a squeeze for all of us to jump at once. Kitkat could see the lorry park and ran on to the front, sailing over the hurdle and cruising up to the last.

What a great feeling as he popped over it effortlessly, picked up the bridle and ran on to the finish. Such good fun! We finished on a time of 4 min 52 secs, against a bogey time of 5 mins 20 secs. Happy horses and happy people. We relived it all the next day with such brilliant photographs from Neale Blackburn, Sandra Aschettino and Posy Spencer — thank you.

Sophie

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Tributes have been paid to a hunting star that died following a team chasing accident.

Dai Harrison’s popular horse, Dutch, had been a stalwart of the Boring Gorings’ open team for the past few seasons.

The 12-year-old gelding was put down after sustaining a leg injury at the Berkeley team chase on 4 October.

By Catherston Liberator, the bay gelding came to the Harrisons’ yard in the summer of 2011 on the condition that he would not be sold.

Bred to event by Jan Whitehead, the horse found his forte on the hunting field.

Dai, who retired as a master of the Monmouthshire earlier this year, also let his son’s partner Tabby Prest borrow Dutch to learn side-saddle on.

“I rode him for a whole season side-saddle,” Tabby told H&H. “We both learnt together.”

With Dutch, Tabby became the first person to tackle the Royal Welsh inter-hunt relay riding side-saddle.

They combination also took second place in the Dianas of the Chase cross-country side-saddle race in 2014.

“Primarily, he was an amazing hunter who led the field flawlessly over all sorts of obstacles,” said Tabby.

“I have never seen him refuse a fence.”

She remembered how the first hunting fence she jumped side-saddle on him was a set of 1.10 rails — which he cleared with ease.

“He was really a horse for everybody — we are all predictably devastated,” she added.

The horse was featured in H&H’s report of the Meynell and South Staffs team chase, where the team came third in the open.

“My horse actually lacks turn of foot as he is part-warmblood — his grandsire was Dutch Courage — but he makes up for it with his turning and jumping,” Dai told H&H at the time.

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Former National Hunt star Denman was back in action at the weekend — this time in a team chase.

The 15-year-old gelding took part in the intermediate at the Pytchley in Northants (11 October), partnered by Charlotte Alexander.

Charlotte said the 2008 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner “absolutely loved it”. The team finished second, with Denman picking up his first rosette.

“He found it easy and was very pleased with himself,” she added. “I’m thrilled with him as he is improving all the time.”

Denman has been based with Charlotte in Gloucestershire since 2012 and has settled in nicely to a new career in hunting and team chasing.

At the weekend the pair were part of Team Rideaway with Stephen Clark and Joe Stephenson.

“I ran Denman with a good fast team and this made all the difference as he settled well in third position,” she said.

“He gave me the most amazing feeling. He jumped all the timber very accurately, so that’s thanks to Brian Hutton at Talland who has given up so much time to help with his accuracy.

“The effortlessness with which he crosses the country and skips over the fences is truly amazing.

“He enjoyed it so much as did I as I did not get my arms pulled out due to the speed that my team were running at. It was a great result for Denman to come second in the intermediate.”

Charlotte also ran with the team to win the open with her other ex-racehorse Kahrayn. 

She added that she’s limited as to when she can run Denman though due to the ground.

“He likes to have a bit of cut and with a dry week forecast, we will go autumn hound training on Saturday instead,” she added

“Denman has lost none of his joi de vive and yet when he is tied to the back of the trailer, he goes to sleep along with my other horses while he is waiting for his turn.”

Photos by Paul Carley.

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After the failure of getting an intermediate run last season, we have been itching to climb the ladder out of novices.

We ran in the Belvoir novice rather than the fun class, where we got a bit of a taste for the step up. Then, after a fab clear at the kind novice at Meynell, we were confident the intermediate at the Pytchley wasn’t going to be much more of a question than the novice we sailed around last year.

We pressed send (yay to online entries!) and our intermediate entry was in!

Grabbing a lift with my instructor, Sarah Williamson, I arrived earlier than the rest of my team so I joined the open Dapper Dobbins team for their course walk.

This was a bit of tactical move in the hope that by walking their ginormous open course, our intermediate track would look less ‘significant’.

At this point I will say well done to you, Dapper Hedge Hoppers, what a fab run you had, and hope you heal well to Emma Fox who fell towards the end of the course, split her chin and was taken off to hospital for stitches.

I was relieved that the tactic wasn’t required as the intermediate course walked really nicely. A mixture of the novice course with some of the open fences. It was so well presented that the hedges looked appealing rather than daunting. Yes, there was a line of hedges that we had to switch back over three times that had a sizeable question in the middle, but none of it worried us and we were all feeling quite content as we headed off to tack up.

I got a surprise call from my dad who was staying with family locally and had headed over to watch us. Being ‘non-horsey’ he did a great job at holding Kitkat while I tacked up. He was utterly enchanted by the idea of putting studs in. He must have asked at least three times if I was done yet as each brushing boot went on, when each pad was placed and as the breastplate straps were done up. While waving my whip around he kindly offered to give me a leg up — I declined and borrowed a ramp!

With a number one on our bibs we were down to go first in our class. Kerrie comically pointed out this meant there wouldn’t be any gaps in the hedges where earlier riders might have brushed through. I tried to be more confident and suggest it meant untouched going!

As it happened, a team that was both bitless and bright pink ended up running before us having opted to not run in the open.

We had a final canter around the warm up before the starter called us.

Kelly on Bluey took the lead; I sat in my comforting spot of second with a new member to the team, Izzy, on her mother’s gorgeous big hunter behind me and Kerrie bringing up the rear.

The first, and second were small, but as they were on a twisty line we took it steady. We got to the small hedge at three and Bluey in front snuck an extra stride in so I got a bit of an awkward jump.

Heading to four, Kerrie was fast coming upsides Kelly, shouting at her that she was on her right. In the next stride I shouted I was on her left and we jumped it as a trio. At this point Kelly and Kerrie must have taken a check because to my absolute horror I found myself in front heading towards a sizeable hedge; the first of the three switch back hedges.

I gave a gesture of confident riding and slapped (tickled) Kat down the shoulder and we sailed over it. On landing I spotted in the corner of my eye the fence judge waving a red flag. It took a moment to register, but then, OH NO, we were we being held. I screamed back to the others to stop and we swung around wide and pulled up by the fence judge’s car.

We tried to keep our morals high by chattering about how the first part of the course had gone. We must have been held for a good 10 minutes (pictured above on hold and while warming-up at the end of our hold) and I was trying to not think about the fact that we had been stopped right in front of probably our biggest hedge on the course…

The fence judge was a credit to the event. He kept us well informed of how long they expected us to be on hold and updated us to the point of a two minute warning.

We cantered a few laps around his car, heard on the PA system that the course was green and the fence judge sent us on our way. Kerrie now in front, me again in second, we took a short approach to the hedge, flew it and knew all was going to be ok. A few more hedges and a sharp left-hand turn, I found myself taking over the lead again after the sloping gate and heading towards the next drop hedge.

Now the next moment wasn’t my proudest, but Kerrie was just behind me and as we began our approach I couldn’t help myself, I looked across to her and said: “Kerrie, where are you? I need you!” It was more of a whimper than a shout and it was total nonsense. Kitkat flew it as if he knew the course and bowled on down the hill to the now hazardously small rail, which we again flew.

I led over the small brush with Kerrie growling behind me at Harty. Kitkat pretty much tucked his tail between his legs like a scared whippet and hurtled away from the terrifying Kerrie. By the next Kerrie was upsides again and we jumped it together.

A change of hands from Kerrie and she was off. We had plenty in the tank and we stormed up the final hill together. Jumping the last well I finished in front and shot the commentator a look as he praised Kerrie for leading us home! Izzy and Kelly were right behind us and beaming.

We’d done it! We had been slow, but we had completed our first intermediate team chase!

Sophie

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ReadySupp

Showing producer Katie Jerram is joining the feed supplement manufacturer’s team as one of its professional riders.

Katie, an H&H columnist, has been producing show horses from her Essex base for more than 25 years and her clients include The Queen.

“In the short time I have been using ReadySupp Grumpy Girth, Shine On, and Ultra Calm, the difference in conditon and temperament is astonishing,” said Katie.

Liverpool International CSI4*

A host of major sponsors have been revealed for Liverpool International CSI4* at the Echo Arena on 1-3 January.

The title sponsor is online retailer Equestrian.com, who is also sponsoring the Liverpool International Grand Prix that will be held as part of the Sunday evening finale.

Joining them is Equerry Horse Feeds, who will be sponsoring the 1.45m speed class, and supplement company Equitop Myoplast — sponsors of the puissance.

Equestrian clothing brand Equiline has also been confirmed as the official clothing partner.

“We are very fortunate to have so many fantastic brands and businesses supporting Liverpool International Horse Show 2016 and very much look forward to working alongside them to make the event a huge success,” said show president Nina Barbour.

The event begins with a New Year’s Eve party on Liverpool’s waterfront before the jumping kicks-off on 1 January.

Skinner’s Pet Foods

The dog food manufacturer is sponsoring the British Team Chasing National Championships.

The sponsorship deal includes this season and the next three years.

The 2015/16 season began on 30 August with the Warwickshire hunt’s event at Southam and culminates at the final at the Heythrop team chase, Little Compton, in April.

“We’re looking forward to meeting a great many of our customers and to enjoying some wonderful sport,” said the company’s sales and marketing director William Delamore.

Griffin NuuMed

The UK designer and producer of equestrian products is sponsoring H&H blogger and para dressage rider Suzanna Hext.

Suzanna was competing at two-star level eventing before an accident while riding a young horse in 2012 left her with serious injuries.

She won her first national para-title at the Para Restricted Summer Championships in Solihull in August, and earlier this month she was accepted onto the 2015-17 British Equestrian Federation Excel Talent Programme.

“The sponsorship from NuuMed means a huge amount to me and will help with my Paralympic ambitions,” she said.

Amlin Plus

Dressage rider Lousie Robson has signed a sponsorship deal with the equine insurance specialists.

Buckinghamshire-based Louise specialises in the retraining of ex-racehorses.

Last month, she won the advanced medium freestyle at the Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) championships, Houghton Hall, aboard Quadrille — owned and bred by the Queen.

She is also set to travel to Kentucky to compete in the Retired Racehorse Makeover Project (23-25 October) with ex-racer Tinchy Rider.

“She has already seen much success on ex racehorses in the dressage ring here in the UK and Amlin Plus wish her the best of luck in Kentucky this October and for the coming year,” said David Ashby, the company’s managing director.

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Setting off at such an early time is a pretty unattractive task but the 150 odd mile journey to the Meynell & South Staffs team chase was made so much better as I had company.

My team-mate Amelia and super volunteer cameraman/groom/driver/entertainment that is Rachel, who gave up her run in the team so I could take it, helped make the journey bearable.

Desperate for a cheeky snooze on the way up Rachel ensured that was impossible and the conversation quickly turned political. I was educated on what ‘Dave’ got up to in his uni days — not great imagery for someone only half awake! From this, we had the great debate of how far is too far to travel for a competition. As the blanket of mist lifted as we arrived at the team chase our deliberation was concluded; as far as it takes for views like the one we were granted with at the Meynell & South Staffs team chase. It was absolutely stunning and the sun had burnt away the mist and it was warm — T-shirt warm!

Unfortunately Kelly decided to not run as her little boy was suffering from a yucky cold. So after a quick search for a reserve we ended up running as a team of three which is a risk but we were confident that the three of us would look out for each other.

Walking the course we were impressed with the going and the grass covering. We had opted to enter the novice in fear of potentially hard ground which was probably a mistake in the end. The intermediate track looked lovely. There were definitely a couple of hedges that you wouldn’t want to walk right up to due to the ginormous drop on the landing side, but it is a course we will pencil in for next season.

The novice track had some kind questions and was true to novice height. After a couple of jumps over the warm-up fences it was obvious that my brakes weren’t working as well as they should and I was eager to get under way.

I sat in second place within the team formation behind Kerrie. We set off at a fair pace. Kitkat gave me an awful jump over the first and second so I was grateful for the long climb up a hill to the third to find a rhythm and ride up alongside Kerrie.

Fences four and five would have been a question if you were on a nappy horse — fortunately none of us were. There was then a quick switch back over a style and follwed by a jump into the lorry park field back over a tiger trap. We had to go a bit wider on this turn than you would have done if you had brakes and we were conscious that Amelia in third was without studs, but it was uneventful and we were steaming towards number six down a hill.

This is where I lost a bit of time setting up as Kitkat does like to run with his nose on the floor (I’m sure in racing it’s a sign of a genuine horse!). But hurtling down a hill to a trappy rail isn’t ideal so I did take a bit of a pull. By the time we got to the sunken road at ten I was back on Kerrie’s heels and heading towards the water. A small step down and out of the water and a shout for Kerrie to make sure we all were through. I think I responded but by this point I was holding my breath and bracing against my double bridged reins trying to keep Kitkat’s head at a more desirable level.

We galloped onto the next which was a rail to a sharp right-hand turn to another rail. We hadn’t walked it but hunted through it and took a direct line. In previous seasons we would have taken a circle so we are getting there with more competitive riding, but I was so overwhelmed that we had made that line that I couldn’t make the turn for the pen so Amelia came up alongside me and took second spot. A big shout of “CLEAR!” came from me as we jumped in and off we went again towards a reasonable open ditch.

No problems there and then on to couple of small hedges and rails and a final sunken road before the last. We were close together coming to the last and we kicked on for the finish line in the knowledge that although it was an optimum time class it would be a fast time if last year’s results were anything to go by.

As we crossed the line I heard the commentator say we’d had a good round and it had felt good. It was good fun, the horses ran well and I know where I could have taken better lines to keep up with the lead horse better.

The times went up and it was fantastic to see that all the teams finished within seconds of each other, a result the handicapper would have been happy with! We came eighth, with only 16 seconds separating us and the winner. I know exactly where I could have made up those seconds so I’m really looking forward to our next run.

The journey home took slightly longer than it did on the way there. Our lorry suffered a blow out on the M1 which wasn’t a fun experience. But super volunteer cameraman/groom/driver/entertainment that is Rachel, handled it really well and thanks to super service from the roadside recovery people we were back on the road within the hour.

Next on the agenda is the Pytchley team chase next weekend, bring on the hedges!

Sophie

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The moment that the horseboxes are spotted in the distance with the satnav stating the destination is being reached approaching a team chase, my tummy goes into a little flutter of excitement.

It was a fence judge’s glinting 4×4 that I spotted first as I rounded the final corner to the Belvoir team chase last weekend, and the view was spectacular.

Those little red and white flags poking up out of seemingly endless hedges. ‘YAY…HEDGES!’ I thought to myself!

After driving through the picturesque village of Buckminster the reception on the gate was just as welcoming. Spotting teammate Kerrie waving at me from the end of one of the many rows of horseboxes; the chap on the gate with a big smile and a cheeky comment about my driving sent me in her direction after posting a fancy programme through the window.

Handily, Kelly, another team member, was next to park up and after deciding our fourth must be delayed we set off on our coursewalk just as the main class of the day, the intermediate, was starting.

Set upon rolling ridge and furrow fields enclosed by Garthorpe racecourse, the Belvoir team chase has fantastic viewing. Placed within a shallow valley, the course starts along the front of the horsebox parking and sweeps away up the hill left-handed in a circular shape, disappearing out of sight only for a short while before finishing right alongside the start.

The Belvoir schedule is a bit different to those later in the season. After a morning of hunter trial classes

they run a fun class as their novice equivalent, followed by an intermediate, which being very competitive and up to height is more like a soft open. The novice class, which is considered a very kind intermediate, then concludes the day. So looking to step up out of the novice classes we plucked for their novice as a nice in-between and gosh, what fun we had!

At fence 13 on the coursewalk we were joined by our fourth team member, Becky, who had the furthest of all of us to travel. Nothing on the course was of concern, some meatier hedges (YAY HEDGES!) and a pen that would require some steering and a decision as to whether we sweep around to the left or right on landing from the second part. After watching a team turn left and nearly take out a fence judge by overshooting, we decided we would go right and then swing wide for the fairly decent hedge at the top of the field.

The rest of the course included plenty of hedges, some timber that would require some respect after the forgiving hedges, a big bullfinch on a sharp right angle, a downhill run to a solid upright hurdle and a nice but short rail to ditch combination before the water.

At the last fence we had a choice of two hedges, one being the fun class hedge, the other being the intermediate — we agreed to see how we were going and play our own game for that.

We quickly tacked up, chucked some studs in, squeeeeezed into our base layers and headed down to the start. After a couple of pops over the warm-up fences we were ready to go and were under the orders of the starter.

Finding ourselves with two ex-racehorses that both normally lead we put Kelly on Bluey in front, I sat in second, Becky in third and in the knowledge that Kerrie on Harty would have plenty left in the tank and acceleration at the end bringing up the rear.

After the insignificant first fence we were straight on to the hedges I was so looking forward to. A short field up to the third and as we landed I found myself thinking the hedge rode bigger than it walked. Instinctively the defensive seat kicked in and I became friendly with the buckle of my reins as we flew the fourth. Come the fifth I was aware that Kerrie was now behind me and later found out the Becky had to represent a hedge behind. At the eighth, a small hedge, I took a cheeky angle and Kitkat flew it without a second glance. Wow! The rest flew by until the tenth, a fair hedge on an angle to a rail, where Kelly had an unfortunate glance off because of a genuine misunderstanding from Bluey. Expertly, Kelly kept out of the way and I had enough room to jump without mishap. Kerrie took the lead and without hesitation we made it to the pen with Kelly now in third. Our line worked well and we hurled ourselves over the hedge at the top of the course, then a sequence of timber fences, which the horses all jumped well.

I was nearly jumped out of the saddle going over the bullfinch and at the next nearly swiped out by Harty as he slammed on the brakes in front of me at the upright. After impulsive abuse to Kerrie, team relationships were quickly rekindled and Kelly was back in the lead for the ditch and the water. Then the decision at the last, Kelly had taken an obvious line to the bigger hedge. Kerrie was hollering at me to see which I was doing so she could get her line. I screamed the small one, and then realising I would never forgive myself, aimed Kitkat for the other and held my breath as I hoped and prayed that we would land in one piece. We did and with Kerrie at my girth we glanced over to each over, crouched down and raced pasted the finish. What a feeling!

Sophie

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One of the marvellous things about team chasing is that the season is split in two halves, so you never really have long to wait between one end of the season coming to a close and the next starting.

In April we packed away our bobbled hat silks and ultra-streamline base layers and gave our partners in crime a couple of weeks holiday. The first week off riding was bliss, but by the beginning of the second week I had started to trawl the internet for clips of team chasing in anticipation of the new season starting. Then the realisation hit hard that there were four months to wait for the season to kick off; a plan was needed brewing to make the time go faster.

Cue printing off entry forms for a couple of local one day events run by the Pony Club. Chivvied along by a great friend and occasional team chasing buddy; Briony, we made our entries for the gigantic heights of the 90cm class on two consecutive weekends.

Cross-country schooling

A quick trip to Ely Eventing Centre with new team member Kelly (pictured top) on her fantastic ex racehorse Bluey was arranged and we had a great afternoon having a spin over the fences. Quick to state that the schooling was needed to get our horses’ eye back in, we cruised over uprights, banks, combinations and those dreaded trakehners like it was the middle of the season.

It was all too apparent that they had forgotten nothing over their mini holiday — the horses were well on form. Helen from our yard came along for the afternoon and snapped some fantastic photos. She did a great job being heavily pregnant, following us up, down and back up again all over the course to get the perfect photo.

In the ribbons

Come the one day events, I surprised myself with our successes; both Briony and I were in the ribbons at the first event and better than mid divide at the second. I took to the dressage well and in an attempt to leave the poles up in the show jumping, opted for time faults in the hope of regaining some control.

Briony being a bit of a pro at these things, beamed encouragement from the side-lines while I tried to remember to sit up, to see the stride and rather than urge him on, to hold for it before each fence. All a bit foreign but it was fun.

The weather was foul both times but the company and the day as a whole was enjoyable, yet something was missing for me, something wasn’t ticking all my boxes; there wasn’t that element of sheer elation coming over the finish line that you can’t help but feel team chasing.

Booking up

So when the first schedules appeared at the beginning of July on www.teamchasing.co.uk it was go go go for checking the team were ready for a run at the first date, the Warwickshire on the bank holiday weekend. I was thrilled that the four of us that completed the Heythrop at the end of the season were all on board, the entry was put in and it was a case of just waiting patiently.

In the meantime, Kerrie, our lead rider was lucky enough to join her hunt, the Fitzwilliam, at the Festival of Hunting at Peterborough showground for the inter hunt relay. Always up for a day out I went along to watch the fun, yet later found out that pretty much the only reason Kerrie invited me was to help carry the two stone of lead weight up the seemingly everlasting hill to the weigh in tent before she ran.

Sadly, again the weather was a bit hit and miss but Kerrie and her gorgeous horse Harty had a total blast around the inter hunt relay course (three laps of the course after having to take the turn of two other members) and we had a lovely afternoon browsing around the stalls and seeing lots of familiar faces.

New gear and team tactics

A quick stop in at our team sponsors www.forelockandload.com the week leading up to the first team chase to pick up some new saddlecloths and chat team tactics meant come the bank holiday weekend we were all raring to go…

And then horses being horses, my trusty accomplice Kitkat pulled a shoe the day before meaning I had to step down from the team. Fortunately we had two very reliable reserves in place as Kerrie was also unable to run.

So as a full team, Forelock and Fully Loaded made it to the Warwickshire, where the ground had been impeccably prepared and the fences well presented. The team had a brilliant round, came away learning a lot and full of running. We are entered for the Belvoir on 13 September and I can’t wait.

Sophie

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With the start of the 2015/16 team chase season just three weeks away, it might be time for you to look for your new partner in crime. Whether you’re looking to start out at novice level, or take on the big guns over some open courses, here’s our pick of team chasers for sale on the Horse & Hound website this week.

Take a look at this week’s selection of team chasers for sale on horseandhound.co.uk:

1. ‘Very safe jumper’

Height: 16.3hh

Age: 11

Gender: gelding

Selling points: “A fabulous hunter who would certainly make a good team chaser. An ideal novice rider’s horse for point-to-point or hunter chase races. He has never fallen and has won and been been placed in point-to-points and National Hunt races both in the UK and Ireland. No vices, sound, easy to to and easy to ride in races.”

View the advert

2. ‘Smart horse’

Height: 16.1hh

Age: eight

Gender: gelding

Selling points: “‘Paddy’ is a true Irish gentleman who is well schooled, with good movement and conformation. He has mainly been used as a lady’s side saddle horse for hunting and hunter trials but has also been hunted by men. He is a confidence giver to jump and is never strong or silly in open spaces. Hacks alone and in company, always in a snaffle.”

View the advert

3. ‘Outstanding hunter’

Height: 16hh

Age: eight

Gender: mare

Selling points: “‘Rosie’ is a one of a kind, perfect hunter. She has done pretty much every job on the hunting field, from leading kids at the back, to whipping in, and even hunting hounds. She has immaculate manners and will cross any country; ditches, wire, five-bar gates, hunt jumps and hedges. You name it, she’s done it. She is a serious confidence giver on the hunting field and has also evented to BE100 level. No vices.”

View the advert

Continued below…

4. ‘Horse with big engine’

Height: 16.2hh

Age: 11

Gender: gelding

Selling points: “This horse will jump whatever you point him at. He is an upstanding middleweight horse with a light snaffle mouth and is very light on his feet. He would make an ideal gentleman’s hunter and team chaser. He is good to do with no vices.”

View the advert

5. ‘Fabulous ride cross-country’

Height: 16.1hh

Age: seven

Gender: gelding

Selling points: “This thoroughbred ex-racehorse has evented to novice level BE and has been placed at BE100 level. He won the intermediate pairs class at the Meynell Team Chase, leading throughout and has a super gallop. Snaffle mouth and good to clip and shoe etc.”

View the advert

6. ‘Honest, genuine horse who loves his job’

Height: 16.2hh

Age: 13

Gender: gelding

Selling points: “This thoroughbred gelding has hunted one season with the Tynedale and two seasons with the Meynell. He has whipped-in and also done gate shutting days. Last season he team chased as part of the Dapper Dobbins team at the Pytchley (intermediate), Cotswold (open) & Bicester (open) . Happy to lead or follow. Good to hack, shoe, clip etc. He has clean limbs, lives in or out and is easy to do.”

View the advert

NB: Horse & Hound has not checked the accuracy of the claims made in these adverts and cannot be held liable if the information included above is inaccurate in any way

View more horses for sale on horseandhound.co.uk

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After the disappointment at the Berks and Bucks team chase, when the intermediate class was abandoned, our final trek across the counties from East Anglia to the rolling hills of Heythrop country was a poignant one.

The sun was forecast and the views were spectacular. The event was holding the open championship and there was a really great atmosphere in the air. The marquee was up in preparation for the post-event dinner dance. The bar was prepped with a big screen for the Grand National and the car park was heaving with more than 107 teams entered — that’s at least 320 horses going through the start!

We walked the course in great spirit. After an anxious intermediate course walk the week before, the Heythrop novice was a perfect end to our season. All the fences were really inviting, a couple that would take a bit of riding and lots of turns that would keep you thinking.

It came as a bit of a shock when we realised that at fence 16, we had got to the end of our course. The week before we’d have run over 32 fences — really highlighting the step-up in fitness that the intermediate course demands compared to the novice tracks.

Time for a new tactic

While walking the course, we came up with a new tactic. We have always jumped off from the start with Kerrie on the speedy Harty in the lead. The speed they leave the starter takes me and my half-bred Irish draught by shock! It has meant that I’ve always been playing catch up, resulting in the team finishing fairly well strung out and off the time. So the plan was for me to jump off in the lead, jump fence one in front at a fair pace, then for Kerrie to join me over the second and pick the pace up from there.

Well, it went to plan for the first fence! Kerrie (pictured below) came upsides for the steep climb to the second, which we jumped together, and then the plan was aborted. With screeching sound effects, we made the (unnecessarily sharp) left-hand turn back down the hill to the fourth. At this moment, we all suffered severe brake failure.

It always makes me giggle how polite us horse folk can be, when struggling, in what is potentially, a pretty scary situation. Hurtling down a steep hill for about a furlong, with our horses’ noses on the ground, shouting apologies to one another. Thankfully, after another sharp turn and a pleasing hedge, we regained some control and headed over a painted log and back away from the lorry park.

Finding myself (pictured below) again in front, we went at a pace that felt like the proverbial off a shovel — we were on fire. I didn’t have a clue who was still with me. I could hear Kerrie on my girth as we stormed across the ridge and furrow, towards a really trappy upright rail. With the take-off looking a bit sticky, I asked Kitkat for a long one, but I had asked too late. We clattered the rail with a left front leg and I seriously thought I was a goner. I’ve never been as close to coming off, without actually eating dirt.

Somehow I regained balance and with a slight detour around the trees, we kicked on for the final fence — which we gave some serious air space to and flew over the finish. I looked behind me to see three truly ecstatic faces. We’d all got round and had a whale of a time.

After a few quiet moments to myself (below) — I was seriously out of puff — we concluded it was the best run we’d had all season. Much credit to the team and landowners at Heythrop. The best news of all — we were too fast to be placed! That never happens to us, but with the intention of running in intermediates in the autumn season, it is a good thing.

Kitkat, Harty and Alice are all on a two-week holiday, before they pretend to be horses of other disciplines over the summer. Kitkat will be polishing his dressage shoes, Harty is heading to the Retraining of Racehorses (ROR) shows and Alice is donning her eventing hat. The next run and indeed the next blog for Team Forelock and Fully Loaded will be at the end of August — I am counting away the days!

Sophie

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I may as well have become a weatherman for all the forecast watching I was doing on the approach to the Fernie team chase last weekend. The forecast was showing winds of 27mph, with gusts varying from 40 to 50mph — a terrifying thought when planning to travel up in a friend’s trailer.

Sunday morning came, and with the rain coming at us sideways, we loaded up and headed on our way. The proper adventure started at the entrance gate with lorries, cars and trailers queuing, while a tremendous team of eager lads darted effectively about the field with their tractors and chains. The poor field had suffered greatly from the vast entries in the novice class — more than sixty teams entered.

The inspiring Leicestershire country and the beautifully presented course makes for one of my favourite tracks. Braving the wind and rain, we donned wellies and waterproofs for our course walk. A new first fence sets you up brilliantly for the rest of the inviting hedges and rails. We bottled necked with other course walkers at the relocated pen — some serious strategy discussions were overheard. And there was great debate between two highly competitive teams as to whether the absence of a gate would affect the placings!

Despite the deluge of rain that morning, the old turf was holding up exceptionally well. After a moment of considering if we were fair weather riders, we tacked up and got into soggy saddles. Very grateful that our team sponsor Forelockandload.com provided us with some waterproof layers.

Christie, Kerrie and myself (pictured below) were running as a trio after losing our team mate in the warm-up. Wandering down to the start, it was agreed that it would be better to all get around than lose someone for being too eager. Lesson learnt. We were way off the time and disappointed not to have ridden more competitively. But with our first intermediate only a week away, it was a good confident round and the horses went back to their trailers full of running.

So the butterflies for the Berks and Bucks team chase — our first intermediate — started when their social media page put up a picture of the ‘canal turn’. After plenty of research, I was positive it must be for the open teams — the four foot take-off and seven foot landing didn’t tick many of my boxes!

Unusually for me, this outing was a bit of a family affair. We were staying with my aunt locally the night before. My 18-year-old cousin Phoebe (pictured below in red) had her pony club event cancelled that day, so after a few phone calls, we quickly secured her a space with the Hair Raisers. What a lucky girl to get a spot with them!

It was a foreign feeling having an afternoon time — for novices we had always set the alarms at mad o’clock to get there. But our time of 4.33pm meant for a leisurely start and a gentle stroll around the course.

The course was lovely. Walking your first intermediate course makes for a lot of nervous giggling and pretending to be distracted by the open fences! It was up to height and longer than we are used to — 30 fences compared to our normal 20. There were plenty of doubles, but nothing we weren’t comfortable with and thankfully no ‘canal turn’ in our class. The ground was spot on and the terrain meant you had to really concentrate on your take off and landing. Running up one side of a valley, meant the key was to make sure you jump right — jumping left would’ve made the landings into significant drops.

Sadly we never got to test the theory. After a couple of holds on course and then the arrival of an air ambulance for a faller — the organisers made the understandable decision, due to lost time and the diminishing light, to abandon the rest of the event.

The announcement came over the tannoy as we were warming up. Our intermediate bubble has been slightly burst, but we are looking forward to a blast over the Heythrop novice track this weekend, plus watching the open teams fight it out for the championship title. With a big screen for the Grand National, food stalls and fun for the kids, the Heythrop team chase (11 April) will definitely be one to come and watch — especially if you’ve never been team chasing before.

Sophie

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They say practice is the key to success — so team Forelock and Fully Loaded have tried to cram in plenty of preparation for our first run of the spring season.

Learning from last year’s errors, the last thing we wanted was to be concerned about fitness, so we have been taking every opportunity to get fast work into the horses.  During the winter months, combined with working full time, this has been a challenge in itself. Trying to be innovative with interval training around the school only goes so far. So when the local draghound announced a Sunday meet at Burghley Park, Kerrie and I jumped at the opportunity. Wow, what fun we had!

As you would expect the going was dreamlike and the pace was fast. My horse having thrown a shoe early on, I elected to stick with the non-jumping lot — which was easily done as most of the fences were avoidable. We got some brilliant work into our boys. Galloping up the avenue towards the Cottesmore Leap was just fantastic, as were the suggestions it looked small from horse back!

We were very lucky that a super good friend and amazing photographer; Sam Empson–Pawley was there with her flashy camera. The results of her efforts and the fun of the day can’t be denied in this exceptionally beautiful photograph — Kerrie far side and me on the grey having a splash in front of the Lion Bridge. What memories are made of…

The following week we had a fantastic group schooling session at Ely Eventing Centre — Tina Ure has put in lots of new, exciting fences. Perfect for those of us who’d spent the winter only jumping hunt rails and hedges. We had a total ball, egging each other on to jump all sorts of combinations — hats off to Christie for taking on her nemesis that is trakehners in total style and Kerrie (pictured below) for conquering an enormous skinny.

The next six days at work seemed to drag while waiting for the morning of the Worcester team chase. Being over 140 miles away meant we had a pretty epic journey to get there. I was really lucky that our fourth member for the week, Briony Jackson, who works for the National Horse Racing Museum in Newmarket, and I were able to stay at my uncle’s as a half-way point — even if we did have to build a stable! Kerrie and Christie elected to make the journey in one day, which was some six hours of driving — that shows dedication to the cause.

We arrived before 9am for a quick team ‘jog’ around the course — missing out the last few hedges as we were tight on time. No need to walk your lines for this one: “we’ll just watch a few teams from the warm up”.

The organisers had a seriously good grip on the course, it was lovely. Due to the way the new water fence was riding in the first class, it was removed for the remainder of the day — a decision which fills you with confidence that the organisers really do have safety as a top priority. All the fences were really well presented and the ground held up really well.

Kerrie took the lead and stormed away from the hilarious character that was the course starter — he was certainly enjoying himself and made sure all the competitors were too! It’s people like him that really make getting up at silly o’clock worthwhile.

We quickly got into a rhythm and had an absolute ball. We had to hold for a bit to make sure we were altogether for the pen — where the first three horses entering the pen should have twelve feet on the floor. We then kicked on to complete the final part of the course and some lovely hedges. (Pictured below: Christie on Alice giving Briony on Alfie a lead).

A massive thank you to Kerrie’s mum Sandra, aka Mumarazzi. She has a brilliant knack for always being in the right place at the right time and producing some brilliant photos. It was the perfect first run of the new season and we came away feeling really positive and excited that the next few weekends are going to be lots of fun…next stop Fernie!

Sophie

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As the hunting season heads towards its close, there is a feeling of anticipation in the air. While some are pouring over the eventing rule book and learning dressage tests, there are also groups of friends planning tactics and co-ordinating hat silks, base layers and pom-poms ahead of the spring team chasing season.

Fast, furious and perhaps not for the faint-hearted, team chasing has brought together myself and two friends in a sport that allows that competitive edge, without the demands of other disciplines.

Now, this is when we have to admit we aren’t up there with the big boys jumping those humongous open hedges, but we — team Forelock and Fully Loaded — would love you to follow our highs and lows, our thrills and hopefully not too many spills this season. We will be aiming to move up from the comfort zone of novice tracks to the rather more daunting intermediates, all in the name of mud-splattered fun.

In order to take part in team chasing, your horse needs to be fit and be able to jump — the rest is about having a blast. Over the winter we have found a fantastic team sponsor from local country store, Forelock and Load. Social media followers named our team and we had a total giggle doing a photo shoot in our newly embroidered team colours.

Our team is lead by Kerrie Aschettino and her super horse Harty. Kerrie spends her long days teaching the young and old of Peterborough to drive — the patience she shows to her customers is never replicated on the team chase course. She is brilliant at cracking on, telling you to man-up and just kick. Hunting all season with the Fitzwilliam, there hasn’t yet been a hedge the pair haven’t tackled.

Kerrie’s horse Harty Quay (pictured below) is a handsome ex-chaser with more letters in his form than placings, but he has found his trip with team chasing and takes the lead like a total pro. He unfairly always looks smashing over a fence and always gets the best picture of the team. He’s a proper sort that just loves any attention.

Christie Eaton-Evans lives in Newmarket with her husband Tom and two children Daisy and Fred. They have Tom’s ex-racehorse, a Shetland pony called Harry and team chaser Rosie O’Grady — or Alice as we know her. Alice is the smallest of the team, but don’t ever tell her that (she thinks she is one of the lads).

Christie is a freelance groom and works for Newmarket Equine Hospital at the Tattersalls sales — she’s also marvellous at baking a really good cake! Before last year, Christie had never team chased before, and will happily admit to having some problems with confidence. Uncomfortable with doing a cross-country course by herself, she thought team chasing was the way forward. It was a make or break moment and fortunately for us she was hooked from the first — despite having absolutely no control!

And then there is me, Sophie Mathew, fundraising executive at Racing Welfare and currently working on a fantastic fundraising challenge where Richard Farquhar is ‘Walking the Courses’ www.walkingthecourses.com — walking some 2,750 miles in aid of both Pancreatic Cancer UK and Racing Welfare. It’s going to take him more than 13 months, walking to and from all 60 mainland racecourses, connecting them on foot in what will eventually be an unbroken chain.

I am super busy coordinating groups of volunteers for fundraising while keeping my horse of a lifetime, Curiositykilledthecat aka Kitkat fit, and more problematically, clean — he’s a total bog pony, but fills me with confidence out hunting and team chasing. An ex-eventer of Alex Liddle’s, he is fantastic at taking total charge of the situation and lets me passenger my way around the course.

The season kicks off on 15 March at Taunton Vale in Somerset, but it’s a bit too far for us so we are heading to the Links schooling ground in Newmarket for a spin over some fences before our season debut at Worcester on 22 March. Fingers crossed we will make it up to intermediate by the end of this season. We hope you enjoy coming along for the ride.

Sophie

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