Combined Hunter Pace & Team Chase Event
December 1, 2007
Portola Valley
Please join us for the third event of the 2007-2008 Los Altos Hounds Hunter
Pace season with a Combined Hunter
Pace & Team Chase Event at Junipero Ridge Ranch (formerly Piers Ranch) in
Portola Valley on December 1, 2007.
The Combined Hunter Pace & Team Chase Event is open to all levels of riders, and
you do not have to be a member of
LAH to enter. Pony Club members and juniors are encouraged to ride. You will be
scored on your pace time only, not
on form. The Team Chase is a team event with four riders in the team. If you
don't have a team don't worry we will put
you into a team. Team Chase events are somewhat new events and have become very
popular with English hunts in
recent years. Both the Hunter Pace and the Team Chase try to match the speed and
challenges of an actual foxhunt.
We measure the distance and use a pre-set speed, thereby producing an "optimum
time" for the course to be ridden.
The team that finishes closest to the optimum time (over or under) wins.
There are three fundamental differences between Hunter Paces & Team Chases:
First, in a Hunter
Pace there are two riders but in a Team Chase there are four. Second, Team Chase
distances are
longer: Hunter Paces are less than two miles and Team Chase are over two miles.
Third, in a
Hunter Pace it's just riding and jumping but in a Team Chase there are also
obstacles
to negotiate, like opening and closing real gates & portuguese gates,
dismounting,
crossing water, jumping into a pen, picking up objects, finding signs, and
entering
enclosures with cows nearby. Team Chase times are recorded when the third rider
(not
the fourth) in the team crosses the finish line. This allows for one rider to
pull up
if necessary. The team usually divides responsibility with two riders keeping
the pace
and two opening the gates and scouting the course ahead.
We will start the day with the Hunter Pace Classes and follow this in the
afternoon
with the Team Chase. There will be three classic Hunter Pace Classes: Hilltopper,
Introductory and a Traditional Hunter Pace. There will be a lunch break around
1pm and
during lunch we will do a junior rider Lead-Line Pony Sprint Class. After lunch
there
will be two Team Chase classes: one for non-jumpers and one that requires
jumping. All
jumps in all classes are 3ft max. All Hunter Pace classes will be over the same
course. The two Team Chase classes will be on the same course but different from
the
Hunter Pace, with the non-jumpers going out first, followed by the jumping
class.
Riders who can jump are encouraged to ride in both classes in the Team Chase. A
fit
horse should be able to complete in three Hunter Pace classes and both the Team
Chase
classes. There will be a course walk for the Hunter Pace but there will be no
course
walk for the Team Chase, as part of the event is for the team to find your way
following a detailed map, and the speeds are reasonably slow to allow for
navigation.
If anyone can volunteer to help on the day it would be greatly appreciated.
Please let
Jef Graham know if you can help at
mailto:HunterPace@losaltoshounds.org
Ribbons are awarded to first through third place and results from this event
will
count toward the LAH Season High Point Championship.
11:00 am Hunter Pace Registration Desk Opens
11:30 am Unmounted Course Walk (riders will view in a truck)
Class 1: Hilltopper Pace: Two riders riding over a medium length course without
jumps
at a pace of 300 mpm (medium to fast trot). Closest to optimum time wins. A good
warm-up class.
Class 2: Introductory Pace: Two riders riding over a medium length course with
jumps
3' and under, at a pace of 325 mpm (slow canter). At least one of the two riders
must
jump each jump, or they both may jump. It doesn't matter which rider jumps so
long as
at least one jumps each obstacle. Closest to optimum time wins. Previous
rider/horse
combination winners are prohibited from this class.
Class 3: Hunter Pace: Two riders riding over a medium length course with jumps
3' and
under, at a pace of 375 mpm (fast canter). Both riders must jump each obstacle.
Closest to optimum times wins. LAH winners receive the LAH Paicines Bowl Trophy.
1:00 Lunch Break, Ribbons & Trophies for Classes 1-3 will be awarded. The Team
Chase
Registration Desk Opens.
During lunch we will do a Lead-Line Pony Sprint Class: Parents of pony-loving
kids,
this one's for you! Kids under 10 years old on ponies of 14.2 hands and under on
a
lead line. It's about a 100 yard dash, fastest to the finish line wins. Ribbons
for
all competitors. Don't forget to bring your camera.
Class 1: Hilltopper Team Chase: Four riders riding over a course of 15-20
minutes
without jumps at a pace of 250 mpm (medium to fast trot). Course includes
crossing
water. Closest to optimum time wins.
Class 2: Field Hunter Team Chase: Four riders riding over a course of 15-20
minutes
with jumps 3' and under, at a pace of 325 mpm (medium canter). All riders must
jump
each obstacle. Course includes crossing water. At least one team member must not
have
their hunt colors. Closest to optimum times wins.
Highest Placed LAH Team after the two Team Chase classes will receive The LAH
Field Master's Plate.
LAH members: $25 per class
Non-members: $30 per class
Juniors (under 18) & Pony Club Members: $20 per class
Extra late entry fee of $20 will be charged for entries on the day. (Avoided by
registering by email before end of
day on Nov 28th.)
Please register in advance for the classes you plan to enter by emailing Jef
Graham at
mailto:HunterPace@losaltoshounds.org and you can pay on the day.
Please state your name, your horse's name, your other partners/team members
names (if you have them), the
classes you wish to enter and for the Team Chase Id like your team's name (let's
be creative here). I will make up
balanced teams for those who don't have a team.
Checks should be made payable to LAH (Los Altos Hounds). Extra classes may be
entered on the day. In event
of cancellation due to bad weather any checks received will be torn up.
ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST HAVE A VALID SIGNED RELEASE. Please either print a
release, sign it and
bring it with you, or sign a release at the registration desk. All minors under
18 must have a parent's signature, so if
a junior intends to participate and will not be accompanied by his or her
parent, please download the form from the
web site below and have it signed by the parent in advance.
Releases are available for download as follows:
Adult: http://sierrapacific.ponyclub.org/Forms/FoxHunting/Release%20-%20Adult.pdf
Minor: http://sierrapacific.ponyclub.org/Forms/FoxHunting/Release%20-%20Minor.pdf
If stabling is required please contact Jef Graham at jefgraham@rgbnetworks.com
Rules for the Combined Hunter Pace & Team Chase Event:
1. The white flag is always on your left and the red is on your right. In
jumping classes, missed jumps result in
disqualification.
2. Attire: Hard hats and boots with heels are required. Safety vest recommended.
Hunt attire is preferred if its
cool otherwise polo shirts are fine.
3. Ribbons are awarded for 1st through 3rd place.
4. Riders may be on different teams in each class and multiple entries are
allowed in the same class on different
horses with the same or different partners. In the Hunter Pace, multiple entries
are allowed in the same class on the
same horse. In the Team Chase, multiple entries on same horse in the same class
are not allowed.
5. Only the best three positions on the same horse on the day count toward the
day & season high point
championship. In the case of a tie for high-point, the rider with the most first
places wins. Points towards the day
high point & LAH season high point competition are accrued as follows: 1st
place: 6 points; 2nd place: 5 points;
3rd place: 4 points; 4th place: 3 points; 5th place: 2 points; 6th place: 1
point. If there are fewer than 6 entries per
class, points will be scaled back accordingly.
6. LAH trophies will be awarded only to a team containing at least one LAH
member and must remain with the
LAH member.
7. No pace or stop watches may be worn during classes.
8. No jumping allowed during course walks.
Bad weather may cause cancellation or postponement. Please check the LAH phone
line before you travel to the
event.
Please remember to bring water for your horse and food for your lunch.