Your Horse Challenges You…
to try team chasing
“He wasn’t a full Thoroughbred and team chasing taught him (and me) to ride forward and not waste time in front of or after a fence”
‘ ‘TEAM CHASING IS THE ultimate adrenaline sport,” states Jane Carley, press officer for British Team Chasing. “Galloping and jumping across country, tackling hedges, timber and ditches — it’s exhilarating.” If you’re looking for something to get your heart racing, this could be the answer. The rewards are many — boosting the confidence of a green horse (and rider), helping both become more brave and improving your forwardness. But if the thought of towering hedges and bottomless ditches doesn’t appeal to you, don’t panic — low-key team chase classes start as small as 2ft 3in. “I dabbled in team chasing during my later Pony Club years, when I took on a horse who wasn’t the bravest across country,” says Your Horse magazine editor Aimi Clark. “Team chasing was the perfect fix: he tucked in behind and followed his friends eagerly. “He wasn’t a full Thoroughbred and team chasing taught him (and me) to ride forward and not waste time in front of or after a fence. “I haven’t done it for a while and I’m not as brave as I was, but a small track with a couple of friends sounds like fun.” You’ll need a team of three or four. Two rider falls or three refusals at the same fence prompt elimination. How you arrange your team goes hand-in-hand with chances of success. You’ll need a bold, brave horse to lead the way, plus following horses who aren’t fighting to get to the front. Go for a practice round in the lead-up — and enjoy yourself! The first team chase was aired live on TV on Good Friday 1974, following a meeting between Douglas Bunn and Alan Mouncer. Douglas suggested organising a chase at Hickstead and the T&Cs were written on the back of a menu. It was the start of something great, and the sport’s popularity has grown ever since. To find out more about team chasing and how to get involved, visit teamchasing.co.uk.