Start the Season Right: Your Team Chasing Prep Guide
August 21, 2025
Start the Season Right: Your Team Chasing Prep Guide
First things first—make sure you’re a registered BTC member. It sounds obvious, but it’s one of those things that’s all too easy to forget when you're busy getting horses fit, kit cleaned, and lorries road-ready.
While you're at it, take a minute to update your contact details, horse info, and team name if anything’s changed.
It’s far easier to tick it off now than scramble through it in a flap the night before an event—and if you get stuck, just give us a shout at admin@britishteamchasing.co.uk. Membership runs from 1st January to 31st December, so there's absolutely no reason not to get it sorted. One quick job done, one step closer to that start box—and one less thing to worry about when the adrenaline’s already doing its thing.
Check Your Insurance Cover
It’s also a good idea to check your insurance cover. BTC membership currently does not include public liability insurance, so please ensure your provider covers team chasing specifically—it’s not always included in standard equestrian policies. The good news? From next season, PL insurance will be included with your membership. Until then, double-check that you're properly protected.
Kit Check: Don’t Let the Team Down
Let’s talk safety. Your hat and body protector must meet the standards listed in the BTC Rule Book. We’ve got stewards on the ground at every event, and they may check your gear—even after your round. If it’s not compliant, you risk your entire team being eliminated.
So now’s the time to make sure everything’s up to standard and in good condition. And while you're in the Rule Book looking up what qualifies, take a few extra minutes to give the whole thing a read. It might not be gripping fiction, but it’s packed with info that’ll keep you and your team on the right side of the rules.
And while we’re on kit—You need your own number bib, so dig it out and give it a wash. Fence judges aren’t psychic—they need to see those numbers clearly!
Tack Check... Yes, That Includes Cleaning It
And yes—tack cleaning. No one enjoys it, but while you're elbow-deep in saddle soap, it's the perfect time to catch any weak points or damage you’d miss mid-season. Girths, reins, stirrup leathers, martingales—give everything a good once-over. Look out for worn stitching, cracked leather or frayed straps. Plus, there’s something quite satisfying about heading into the first event with everything gleaming (even if it only lasts until fence two).
Exclusive member benefits worth checking out if your kitting up ready for the season:
π Premier Performance – 20% off with code CHASE20 | www.premierperformance.uk
π Treehouse Sporting Colours – 10% off with code BTC | www.treehouseonline.co.uk
π Evo Equine – 15% off with code Teamchasing15% | www.evoequine.co.uk
π Equiclass – 5% off with code TEAMCHASE5 | www.equiclass.co.uk
π Rider Eye – 10% off with code SS10 | www.ridereye.co.uk
π LeMieux - Team Kit – 30% off (email admin@britishteamchasing.co.uk for details)
π Equitex – Free delivery and a beanie hat with code Teamchasing | www.thesaddlepadcompany.com
BTC Merchandise
Want to look the part while you ride like the wind? Grab yourself some official British Team Chasing gear. From jackets and hoodies to caps and beanie hats, there’s something for everyone—and you can even personalise it with your team name.
Check it out at J S Teamwear and get kitted out before your first event.
Visit: J S Teamwear
So that’s it. Membership done. Insurance checked. Hat and body protector sorted. Tack cleaned. Rule book read (ish). Port packed.
You’re ready!
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Membership fee Q&A
The British Team Chasing leagues were hotly contested once again in 2025. Teams won points for their respective Premier Performance Open Leagu e and Stuart Nichols Waste Disposal Ltd Intermediate Leagu e at each event in the spring and autumn seasons. PREMIER PERFORMANCE OPEN LEAGUE Premier Performance Open League winners Team Ride Away I got their campaign off to a great start with wins at the Beaufort, Fernie and Worcestershire, adding on open victories at the Berkeley and Grafton to seal the title. They won the Open League Trophy, £300 prize money, goody bags from Premier Performance, and in recognition of the number or riders needed to run a team through the season, engraved glasses and winners’ rosettes were presented to Roddy Stanning, Susannah Stanning, Lisette Davies, Joe Stevenson and James Sheppard. The other podium places went to the wire, with runners’ up the Beaufort Boozers having been incredibly consistent, picking up points at eight of the year’s 12 events. Masterless Bitch Pack took third place with placings a plenty including runner-up slot at the Worcestershire and victory at the Cotswold. Also taking home cash prizes were Cupid Stunts , 4th, and Fox Grant Dot Com , 5th. STUART NICHOLS WASTE DISPOSAL INTERMEDIATE LEAGUE Eternal Optimists dominated the Stuart Nichols Waste Disposal Intermediate League , winning an impressive seven events with their bold and daring rounds. They were presented with the Tyson Trophy in memory of Stephen Clark and Roddy Stanning’s wonderful intermediate horse, £150 prize money and fantastic commemorative jackets while rosettes went to squad members Henry Chamberlain, Ed Chamberlain, Jade Lovell, Zack Mallalieu, Jess Powell and captain Simon Coady. Team Ride Away 4 took the runner-up slot, after a better autumn than spring season! More Boring Gorings showed the consistency that has kept them at the top of the sport for more than 40 years to take third, with team members that hail from as far afield as East Sussex and Wales. Prizes also went to Fox Grant Thrusters Too , 4th and Gloucestershire Equine Vets , 5th. It was a great celebration at the Cotswold which stood in at the last minute to host the presentation after the sad loss of our usual season climax at the Essex and Suffolk. ο»Ώ Thank you very much to our sponsors Premier Performance and Stuart Nichols Waste Disposal Ltd who made the series possible. The 2026 leagues start at the Bicester on Sunday 22nd March - see you there !
KEEP YOUR STIRRUPS!
