And so the soggy 2024 season begins with….

[Ample Prosecco]

…. an abandonment

At Epworth

Inevitable really. But sad

 

[RachelFerd]

I kinda feel it might be in everyone's interests to only schedule the main badminton pathway stuff in march and leave grassroots in April, potentially with the option of letting places schedule something into the calendar at short notice for grassroots *if* weather conditions are being favourable

The only spanner in the works is badminton grassroots prep runs... Although they could just happen in April and not March. Or you could do it bespoke arena events on at the event centres with big A/W set ups (vale view, Aston, Somerford, hickstead etc.)

 

[LEC]

Except they can’t do that as lots of people need early Q for various reasons at 2/3/4*
It would have a huge knock on impact on the first long formats being run in May. Horses who have returned from injury and need to get a MER level below, riders who need MERS, those who need to complete them and horses who have switched riders.

Then you need to factor in people having a prep run or two before heading for their FEI qualifications….

Osberton ran a HT today with over 100 entries and the ground looked amazing at the end. There are random weird places that can hack it.

The other thing I would be doing is telling pros they cannot turn up in megabuses. They all have 3.5t Lorrie’s anyway and would need to maybe minimise 26t Lorrie’s on the land which would also help things. Lorries are bigger than ever now

 

[ihatework]

I think we should all just relocate to Spain & Portugal Jan - Apr.
Problem solved!

 

[humblepie]

I think we should all just relocate to Spain & Portugal Jan - Apr.
Problem solved!

Sunshine tour for eventers

 

[j1ffy]

Sunshine tour for eventers

I was at the actual Sunshine Tour briefly last week and a few eventers were there - the Prices, Gemma Sampson. Probably a better idea to do some SJ and fitness work around the lovely forests and beaches than slogging round early events..!!

 

[TheMule]

With wetter, milder winters I really think there needs to a review of how pratical traditional format March (and even early April) eventing is
I get all keen in November and start planning early season events then this happens and I realize it’s likely to just be a huge waste of money as everything is waterlogged

 

[humblepie]

I was at the actual Sunshine Tour briefly last week and a few eventers were there - the Prices, Gemma Sampson. Probably a better idea to do some SJ and fitness work around the lovely forests and beaches than slogging round early events..!!

Definitely. We chanced upon the Portuguese one years ago. Was lovely atmosphere

 

[myheartinahoofbeat]

With wetter, milder winters I really think there needs to a review of how pratical traditional format March (and even early April) eventing is
I get all keen in November and start planning early season events then this happens and I realize it’s likely to just be a huge waste of money as everything is waterlogged

I agree. It’s just becoming a waste of time to prep for the early events with little certainty they will run. My horse hates the mud( and so do I) so I don’t get going until after Easter

 

[RachelFerd]

Except they can’t do that as lots of people need early Q for various reasons at 2/3/4*
It would have a huge knock on impact on the first long formats being run in May. Horses who have returned from injury and need to get a MER level below, riders who need MERS, those who need to complete them and horses who have switched riders.

Then you need to factor in people having a prep run or two before heading for their FEI qualifications….

Osberton ran a HT today with over 100 entries and the ground looked amazing at the end. There are random weird places that can hack it.

The other thing I would be doing is telling pros they cannot turn up in megabuses. They all have 3.5t Lorrie’s anyway and would need to maybe minimise 26t Lorrie’s on the land which would also help things. Lorries are bigger than ever now

Yeah but nothing at epworth was going for an FEI qualification - so why not just schedule for April instead?!

 

[Squeak]

With wetter, milder winters I really think there needs to a review of how pratical traditional format March (and even early April) eventing is
I get all keen in November and start planning early season events then this happens and I realize it’s likely to just be a huge waste of money as everything is waterlogged

I agree, maybe there could be more of a focus on arena eventing or combined trainings or something or maybe the whole calendar just shifts so that October becomes more included rather than stragglers at the end.

 

[teapot]

I agree, maybe there could be more of a focus on arena eventing or combined trainings or something or maybe the whole calendar just shifts so that October becomes more included rather than stragglers at the end.

Problem with mid to late October is light at the end of the day though. I remember being at the Sept SoE one year in poor weather and that was dark enough around 4ish, let alone any later.

Out of interest when does the season start in France? Northern France would have the same issues the UK does weather wise

 

[millitiger]

I've just entered first event of the season, in April
Even that feels optimistic at the moment!

I think March eventing nowadays is a rarity that is runs without issues tbh- so much stress of whether they'll cancel or not, trying to find somewhere open for xc schooling, and if the event does run do you actually want to go and be towed in, towed out and run on questionable ground?

I feel for BE though as if they shorten the season they are bound to get some people whining about value of membership, which realistically you already don't use for 1/3 of the year.