1st ODE in 10 years- turnout check and worries....

[nikCscott]

I just need to check something.

Normally I'm a hacking jacket kinda girl (prefer the traditional hunting style dress) but I have lost a lot of weight recently and I sold the hacking jacket as it was uncomfortably large and don't want to invest in a new one until i've stopped losing. I have a Navy show jacket from my teenage BSJA years will this still be ok? (teamed with a cream stock)

Its a PC event so assuming I will need to wear my skull cap throughout (MEMO to self-need to get a navy cover) and get it tagged when I get there.

Plain leather bridle with snaffle (happy mouth- is this allowed?), Cream saddle cloth for dressage then a plain black numnah for the jumping aspects. Stitched plaits etc

I've not done an ODE for a good 10 years so just checking and feeling slightly uneasy as although Z is pretty fit I've not been able to do the woods and canter work I had wanted to because of the weather, he's green XC too so knowing I need to be super 'positive', adding to this last time we competed he wouldn't load to come home so had to leave him there (i have since changed to trailer which as always he loads fine at home) - so hoping he'll be shattered and just want to wonder in and come home, and as minor as it seems not being in my preferred dress is adding to the anxiety.

On the plus side he's going nicely and I have the test learnt eeeeeeeekkkkkkk

 

[MrSpam]

Have a great time and congratulations on losing so much weight you can fit into your teenage clothes - wish I could.

My daughter does PC eventing and your turnout sounds fine. PC seem most picky about logos on numnahs, coloured numnahs for xc and smooth soles on boots. Some events are more strict than others. My daughter wears different hats for dressage and jumping, they do have to be whatever the current standard is and tagged. Back protector and medical armband worn on the ARM for xc. If you want to check - the rule book is on the pony club website.

I'm very envious had entered my first ODE in about 25 yrs last year because daughter was away and it was cancelled

 

[nikCscott]

Thank you

My body protector has the shoulder bits with the medical card in. My hat is current I have checked my boots are Belmonts so have a smooth sole.

I think I'm good to go- just need to grow a pair and get on with it!

Thank you again

 

[Dubsie]

If it's just a straightforward tack check (as opposed to a competition with turnout prizes), they will check things like girth straps and attachment points, stirrup leathers etc to ensure the stitching is sound, the leather is supple and not brittle and cracking and not going to give half way round the course. It's quite easy to check everything for wear and tear as you clean it.

For a ODE you will need hat without a peak that complies with current PC regs - you'll normally take this to be checked when you collect your number, I'd also take the medical armband with you as sometimes they ask to see these as you check in for your number.

Then before you ride there will be an area you have to check into for Tack Check where everything else is checked. Depending on the type of competition this will either be a safety check as above OR could be a turnout competition for which rosettes are awarded.

For turnout competition, our PC are masters of the art - am I allowed to gloat that daughter's team came 2nd and the other team from her PC came first? Aside from the safety angle, the things they check most are

for the pony:
cleanliness of pony (lift edge of numnah and look for dust) - run a damp stable rubber over before tacking up
feet picked out
socks clean - use a whitening shampoo and chalk
hooves oiled
tail groomed - untangle spray, well brushed out, plaited if appropriate trimmed neatly level
plaited - even if M&M, a running plait will suffice. Most don't penalise for using bands rather than sewn.
clean bit - clean beforehand and don't let your pony eat the grass, and wipe the corners of the mouth well so htere's no green dribble
stirrups - clean rubbers including underneath (popular one they check!)
saddle - clean including polished D rings - take care that you don't get Brasso on the leather!
bridle - all keepers in place (we lost half a mark on our team with one keeper facing the wrong way out with stitching showing)

for the rider:
clean jacket - make sure any pony gob is cleaned off well the sleeves
clean shirt - back of collar is where they look
PC badge and felt attached straight and on the correct (left) side, amazing how many get this wrong
hair in hair net
no jewellery
boots/chaps well polished including in the groove between leather and sole (they like this one)
correctly attired with tie or stock correctly tied - they don't penalise you for old or faded jackets or worn boots/chaps, or body protector not matching jacket etc (we've a navy one worn with black jacket) it just has to be neat, clean and tidy

I'd higly recommend arriving in tracky bottoms or chaps over your beige jodhs, tracky top over shirt and tie, and wearing yardboots, till you are tacked up and pop the gear on just before you need to mount

Hope that helps