A few questions for the eventers out there...

[Rambo]

I'm seriously considering giving Bo a run at a 'proper' ODE next year

Obviously I have to overcome a few 'issues' such as the 'water thing', and it might be useful to go round a few more RC HT's first, but assuming we do, I have loads of questions...sorry

1) I had assumed that i'd do an Intro with him but i've been looking at EventRiders.com, and now realise that not all events run an Intro

So, how much tougher is a PN going to be than an Intro ?

2) What percentage of BE courses have a water complex, and to what extent would your horse be expected to go into it at Intro or PN level ?

3) I believe there are many reasons you can be eliminated at a BE event, but if you are, are you allowed to continue round the course ? Does it vary from event to event ? What about if you are eliminated in the Dressage (!?) or SJ'ing phases, do you still go x-country ?

4) Having looked at the costs of affiliating with BE, I suspect I will be partcipating on a ticket if I do bite the bullet ! Does your result go into the BE database for all to see if you are a ticket entry ?

5) Dressage: Just been looking at a sample test (110 I think), and it seems okay, but where in g*ds name is G (as in halt and salute at G)

6) Do I need a dressage saddle or can I get away with a GP ?


There are a few events quite local to us...Eridge, Brightling and Firle specifically...but would any of you say these would be suitable for a first bash !?

If you got this far...well done

 

[Madam_max]

I know nothing about eventing, but as far a where G is in the school it is on the centre line between H & M, just in front of the judge.

 

[Rambo]

[ QUOTE ]
I know nothing about eventing, but as far a where G is in the school it is on the centre line between H & M, just in front of the judge.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ah thanks

I suspected it might be but wasn't sure

 

[sillygillyhorse]

Intro is about 3' and PN about 3'3" on the xc. I would also expect to find more technical questions being asked on a PN course and IMO course seem to be getting more technical, for example Brooksby PH has a fair size left hand corner on a curve to a big full height brush fence that would need to be jumped at an angle, there is no water at this one though.

At intro it is more often than not a paddle into and out of the water though at Aston le Walls you jump a house go 3 strides and through water, it can vary. PN again will ask more questions.

If you are eliminated on the xc you must leave the course at walk, no carrying on. if eliminated in the d or sj it is at the organisers discretion though if you have exceeded the jumping penalities allowed then the no as you are deemed unsafe.

Even on a ticked your results are entered on the database for all to see.

G is on the centre line opposite H & M

Cant tell you anything about the courses you name as out of my area.

PS GP saddle will be fine.

 

[Rambo]

Thanks MrsT, that's very helpful

I've subscribed to EventRiders to get a bit of a sneak preview of the courses too.

Hopefully it won't come down to getting ELIM at SJ'ing (as it's our first love lol!), but stranger things have happenned

Is it right that 4 refusals in total, or 3 at a single fence x-country will incur elimination too

 

[BBs]

OOO I dont believe it - Im starting BSJA and youre talking about starting eventing! what is going on Rambo lol

Right okay in answer to your questions

1) The step up from Intro to PN isnt huge - however, technicality does play a bigger part of the problem at PN. Intro is 90cm (XC) you will and can be asked to jump corners and skinnies the SJing is only 95cm and you wont be expected to do trebles etc. PN can and do have combinations xc the xc is 1m but you could be expected to jump into water, will have corners and skinnies and combos on the xc - there will be ditches and trakhners of reasonable height and if there is a Novice at the same venue you may share one or two of those fences also.

2) Most events now do have water complexs you rarely have two or re-enter water twice but you can! it is known. At PN level you are given the option usually to jump into the water (fast route) or do a long route (run in) and may have a fence to jump out.

3) You are allowed 3 refusals at one fence before being asked to leave the course at a walk or 4 stops at differenet fences around the course. If you jump the wrong fence (technical elimination) you will be stopped and asked to leave at walk also. In SJing you can jump the wrong fence and given a TE but are normally allowed to go xc although you will be running TE over the whole event! equally if you have more than 6 fences down in teh SJ you are eliminated from continuing on to the xc! for safety

Again if you have a whoosy in the dressage you can ask the BE steward if you can continue onto the next phase! if they grant you, then of course you can go Sjing and xc

4) entering on a ticket is fine - unlike BSJA you will compete again everyone else for a prize! your results will be recorded for all to see

just if you do well at intro or pn and are eligable to qualify for a championship you have to be a full memeber to compete at the champs! However, at the more popular events you will be the one who is balloted first! however if you offer help at the event or provide a fence judge then you are more likely to get in

5) HAHA G is just after x between H and M - so if you are trotting down the centre line from A you go over x which is situated between B and E the next letter you come too is G - however G obviously wont have a marker

as its in the middle of the arena lol

Oh and BTW D is also there its the first letter you trot over when you enter down the centre line at A thats in between K and F lol

CONFUSSED?

6) you can do dressage in what ever you feel comfortable in! Richard Mead only ever did his dressage test in his GP saddle

SAF is down your way and she will be able to give you an idea of courses and what they are like - Tweseldown is a nice course for PN - the SJnig is normally small but the xc can be a bit technical - however they do run Unaffiliated ODEs there so you could have a go at that in May time

Hope this helps

Vxx

 

[siennamum]

Hooray for you, how exciting, shame we won't get to see you at any events near us.
You can be selective about which event you do and find one with an easy water or no water at all. Also you can find one which you can go and school at over the wonter, which for windy warmbloods can really help.
I would deffo start at Intro, even if you have to travel a bit further, it will just take the pressure & terror out of the day a bit

 

[kick_On]

elo
1) PN are tougher in combinations (mostly) ie drops to skinny, but if you horse can happly do RC open classes (3ft 6)you should fly around - for money i would suggest you start at Intro and if its to easy move up. Where as if you do PN and have a cr*p time could put you off. IOM too many people put to early from intro, and then wonder why horse has confidence problems

2) Most have water complex, if your horse has issues with water ,do Intro first. As in PN waters can come up very quickly after jumping first part of complex.

3) Normally if you are E at dressage NO,
if E normally NO, BUT sj depends on what reason, you can go see secretary and ask if you can go XC, but don't be surprised if they say No. Normally they may let you go xc if you been TE from sj, for jumping wrong cross, but if you had refusals and poles down or fall - NO

4) No you get a record as everybody else, but you are at bottom of pile when it comes to balloting. So if you help at the events you want to do, they normally will not ballot helpers even ones on ticket

5) at bottom of arena in line with M-H

6) nar you can use GP, but dressage saddle does allow leg to fall in better position

any more

 

[Rambo]

LOL!

It's a little ironic isn't it

I just fancy trying something a bit different tbh...and having some FUN with my horse once in a while

Thanks for the info though...very useful.

I'm not overly worried about the heights at Intro or PN, but more the difference in terror factor (gaping holes under logs and huge drops etc) that is of greater concern

I also want to make sure i've got a fair to decent chance of completing as looking at the entry fees, they ain't cheap lol!

 

[juliehannah58]

Rambo!!!

What are you thinking??! LOL

Well I can't be of much help, as you would you expect! BUT I can tell you that G is down the centre line, in line with the bottom markers in front of the judge **feels smug**

 

[BBs]

Yep entry fees are expensive - the height isnt the problem for sure - but the widths of the ditches infront or under the fences and yes I have a great picture of me jumping a drop which was way over my head

however, thats rare and that event doesnt run anymore lol

I think you are best to start at Intro - its not the height but doing the 3 phases in a day! its knackering mentally if not physically!

Personally now at this time of year go and find a few combined training events - at Addington (near me) they run CT which run the BE dressage tests and the Sjing heights accordingly. However thsi isnt important for you at this time, just going out and doing dressage and SJing will be - as all you'll have to do then is the xc

I would do a few of these and also go and do some xc schooling, xc training days at a venue close by - say wiht a BE accredited trainer. Do some hunter trials after xmas to test out all your schooling - theres no point IMO you going to hunter trials and getting eliminated at water and having to walk home - you may as well nip the problem in the bud schooling first - not making an issue out of it (hes probably just confussed atm) Jacko's Tia had a bit of *block about water* and now shes sailing through because Jacko did the necessary schooling

So thats what i would do - take someone with you who you know has a good water horse who can give you a lead.

I have a ford at the back of my yard, plus out on a ride i do so these are ideal - getting your horse used to water! If you know of any rides whereby you can hack through a stream or something thats really helpful!

I know you probably know all this and i will shut up now - but just giving you a decent chance and I hope all goes well

 

[Rambo]

No no no....I know nothing

Please don't feel bad about going on about it, as everything you have said is right

I think we're planning to hire out a local x-country course nearby for some practice....will have to find a decent trainer to take along though lol!

We don't have any hacks with streams anywhere near us unfortunately

We *might* be able to build a small water complex (well, more of a large puddle really

) in the woods at the yard, or maybe take the horses to the beach instead for some extra water de-sensitisation

A good idea about doing a dressage test (or two) before we try an event too...never actually having ridden one before

Again though, that should be fairly easy for the horse as he did a lot of dressage before he came to the UK. It's just me that needs the training in that department lol!

 

[Rambo]

 

[Kelly1982]

RAMBO!!!!!!

You better not be deserting us SJers

 

[Rambo]

[ QUOTE ]
RAMBO!!!!!!

You better not be deserting us SJers

[/ QUOTE ]

Don't worry

It's just for a little light relief (!?!?), and some CV building

 

[Kelly1982]

Phew *wipes brow dry* thats ok then

 

[juliehannah58]

There is a winter dressage series at Glovers Farm every month from now on, so I'll be seeing you there then?!

 

[Rambo]

[ QUOTE ]
There is a winter dressage series at Glovers Farm every month from now on, so I'll be seeing you there then?!

[/ QUOTE ]

You never know

Where is Glovers Farm btw

 

[TGM]

Glovers Farm is in Sidley. I picked a schedule up at the weekend and it looks quite good - might be going along myself

 

[juliehannah58]

Oh I'll see you there then! I'm hoping to do them all, if theres no good jumping on that is

 

[juliehannah58]

Yep, Sidley so only 15-20mins for you mister, no excuses

 

[TGM]

I won't be going to the first one as I've entered something else that day, but might try the others. Have you been there before and if so do you know what it is like? Box access, parking, surfaces etc?

 

[juliehannah58]

Last time I went there was about 3 years ago but I understand it hasn't changed much....

IMO it's a bit rough and ready, but always has a good atmosphere and friendly people etc. They have hard standing parking, although not a massive area I haven't seen it overflow before. They hold regular shows and I can't remember box access being a problem. They have a sand school for warm up that does the job, nothing posh. They usually hold the dressage in the indoor, which is quite dark and spooky but all good experience.

It's a laid back kind of place!

 

[Rambo]

[ QUOTE ]
Oh I'll see you there then! I'm hoping to do them all, if theres no good jumping on that is

[/ QUOTE ]

Julie

I can ALWAYS find you good jumping....

 

[juliehannah58]

Eeeek!

Ermmm...I.....Mr.....Sir....but I'm a wussy lady driver and only like going about 30miles

 

[Rambo]

[ QUOTE ]
...but I'm a wussy lady driver and only like going about 30miles

[/ QUOTE ]

Thirty miles from you should cover most of the indoor arenas in Kent and Sussex I reckon

 

[TGM]

Thanks for that! The laid back atmosphere sounds good, but not so sure about the dark and spooky indoor - I suppose as you say it will be good experience for her

.

 

[juliehannah58]

They could have changed that TBH, one reason it was so spooky was that they had all their showjumps stacked up down the whole of the longside! My horse though she was going jumping

It's definitely laid back and friendly, infact anything the ARC put on is great fun, I used to be a member and would do now if I was allowed to compete on teams etc. (not allowed BSJA peeps)

 

[Rambo]

ARC

 

[juliehannah58]

Doesn't get me to RL, Pyecombe, Felbridge (Felbridge is 45miles!

).

I am going 38 miles for Cobham though,so maybe I'll get braver!?