VWH Spring Fun Ride 2025

Registration and Course Safety

• Start, you have chosen your intended start time at the time of booking. In the interests of safely managing the number of riders on the course, please try to adhere to this start time. We will only allow exceptions to this in the event of traffic delays or other unforeseen circumstances. No riders will be permitted to start the course after the final closing time. Full registration will be required online in advance of attendance. On arrival all riders must follow the registration procedures advised by the Marshals and ensure that the safety regulations are understood.
• During. Riders must have a mobile phone in the group that they are in, emergency contact numbers are available (QR code at the start), take note of them at the start. Overtaking is permitted, please calmly alert those ahead of you of your intention and await an affirmative response before proceeding. Overtaking should only take place at a walk or trot.
• Horse Welfare horses should be fit enough to complete 12km in the English summer, you should not ask your horse to jump or canter if it is not fit enough, you will be told to leave if a horse is deemed by the Marshals to be suffering. Horses should have been vaccinated against Equine Flu within the last 12 months. Horses should be closely monitored before attending any event, looking for signs and symptoms of flu or other illnesses e.g. a high temperature.
• Safety. All riders must have full control of their horse, at all times, and be appropriately skilled to ride and handle horses safely in a sensible manner. Horses must not be left tied up unattended.
• Finish. On completion of the route or retirement, all riders must follow the signing out procedure, i.e. report to the Finish. If it is necessary to retire during the route; please stop and contact our emergency number. Our Summer Ride Secretary will advise on the safest return route to the parking area. Please DO NOT turn around and ride against the flow of the route without requesting assistance. Failure to sign out will require our event organisers to contact you after the event to ensure you have returned home safely.
• Liability. Horse Riders must have appropriate and current public liability insurance cover. All riders must wear a hard hat to the current approved standard (correctly fastened) when mounted. The minimum age for horses and ponies is 4 years.
• All riders must wear appropriate clothing with serviceable tack, you will not be allowed to start if the Marshal deems either are unsuitable. Riders must follow all directional and safety signage. Only marked routes may be followed. Riders must follow all instructions given to them by the Ride Marshals.
• Walkers. Walkers are only permitted on course if they are directly leading a horse/pony on a lead rein, there is ample space elsewhere, in the Park, for walking.
• Bikes are not permitted in the Park.
• Dogs For safety reasons please consider leaving dogs at home, there is no dog walking on the course, no dogs are to be left unattended and that includes in the vehicle.
• ½ Way / Drinks riders are to report to the drinks station on the way out and return, this is to assist tracking.
• Safety of Children An adult must authorise for any rider under 18 years of age and remains responsible for their safety and actions at all times. Children aged 14-17 may complete the route on their own, provided that an adult authorises at the beginning and meets at the end of the course, and remains available to contact whilst the ride is underway. Children aged under 14 years of age must be escorted by an adult (aged 18 years or over) on a horse or leading on foot. If the escorting adult is unable to attend or complete the route, the children must also retire at this point. Children must adhere to all terms and conditions as stipulated. In addition to our requirement for all riders to wear a hard hat, children under the age of 18 must also wear appropriate crash hat.
• Jumping. A selection of jumps ranging from 12” to 36” in height will be made available for use around the course. We aim to offer 50-60 jumps but this may vary due to safety or ground conditions. Should the jumps be available for use, the following conditions apply: You must be suitably skilled to jump fixed fences and only tackle those within you and your horse’s capability. Consideration must be given at all times to other horses and riders. Only one horse at a time per fence, horses are NOT to jump abreast of each other. You must only jump the fences that are clearly marked as part of the course. All jumps are optional. No more than 3 attempts are allowed at each jump. Any problems, injuries or damage which you, or your horse/pony suffer, or encounter during your use of the course must be reported to us without delay and before you leave. An emergency telephone number is provided for this purpose (see QR Code at the start).

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES All riders are required to sign in and out at the Start + ½ Way + Finish.

• Medical. A paramedic will be employed by the VWH Summer Ride and will be on site to administer first aid treatment as required. We do not stipulate the use of medical arm bands, however, we would advise bands are worn if a rider has specific medical details that the emergency services need to be aware of in the event of an accident and this may include any contact details. If you should have or witness a catastrophic accident call 999 first, remember they can get your exact location from your call, then call the event emergency number.
• Vets. The George Veterinary Practice of Malmesbury are on standby, all veterinary costs will be the liability of the rider or owner of the horse. An emergency contact number will be provided at the start (QR code).
• Route. The course is marked with yellow arrows on blue, shortcuts red arrows on yellow. There is a ma at the start and a QR code to the live OS map.
• Conditions of Acceptance. You agree to indemnify The VWH Hunt and the VWH Fun Ride against all liabilities, costs, expenses, damages and losses suffered or incurred by the VWH Fun Ride arising from or in connection with any breach of these terms by you. These rules are in the interest of your own safety. By completing the registration form you are agreeing to abide by these rules, and are responsible for ensuring that members of your party are aware of and adhere to these rules. Subject to these terms, you also accept full liability for the actions and safety of any persons who accompany you.

GDPR

• Hat Cams. You are requested to respect others privacy and avoid filming or publishing any footage of others including property in the Park. They have a risk element and you use at your own risk.
• Photographs By participating in the Fun Ride you give the VWH Fun Rides full permission to use any photos taken for promotional purposes. This might include e-newsletters, online and print advertising, circulation to the media and any other media we may choose to use in the future. If you would like your images to be removed, from our library, please email funrides@vwh-hunt.co.uk with a full description of your number, outfit, horse and if possible picture.
• Email the VWH Fun Rides will hold your email and personal information securely and not divulge it to any 3rd party. It will only be used to pass on critical information or information concerning VWH Fun Rides.

Where is it? – At the Ivy Lodge Polo Ground, Cirencester Park, GL7 6JT, do not try to enter from Daglingworth, The Old Kennels nor the Park gates in Cirencester

What is the minimum age? Under 14’s must be accompanied by an adult. 14 – 17 year olds can ride alone, however an adult must sign in with them and wait for them to return.

• How high are the jumps? All of the jumps range in height from 20cm-90cm.
• Do I need to bring my horse passport? You are required by law to carry your horse passport with you at all times when you are away from your horse’s place of residence. Please note we may ask to see your passport and ask to check that you are within 12 months of your latest Equine Influenza jab at the time of the event.
• Can I cycle with a rider? Unfortunately, we cannot permit bicycles or other forms of transport in the Park, for the safety of both yourself and those on horseback.
• Is there a photographer? Yes! Images can be purchased on site or by visiting www.ttyphotography.co.uk
• Is there water on the course? Yes, but there is at the lorry park, emergency water will be available at the ½ way.
• What safety equipment do I need to wear? A hard hat must be worn plus suitably protective clothing, tack must be in a suitable condition to ride 10 miles, canter + jump.
• Is any of the course on a road? No but there might be hard tracks.
• Can I pay by on the day? Yes, cash only, however you will have to wait until there is a safe slot before you can start.
• Horse Accommodation and B+B. Email funrides@vwh-hunt.co.uk .
• Can I cancel or amend my booking? Yes online log into your Horse – Events account > edit my entry > cancel my entry