Badminton Sponsored Ride ... worth it??

RuthnMeg

RuthnMeg

Well-Known Member
Joined
5 September 2009
Messages
3,502
Location
North Dorset
Visit site
AS title... is it worth it? Do you actually ride past some of the big fences and through the park, or tip toe around somewhere that you wouldn't reconise?
Are the optinal fences of massive/tiny heights?
Will I find someone to ride around with??

And more importantly, is it mega popular, and therefore some sort of military charge??

Thinking about it, but never been - anyone with tips??
 
If you're going on your own and want to buddy up with some people PM me nearer to the time and you can join me and some friends if you would like?

I've never been before but have heard it's mega busy, you won't see any of the 4* fences (they're not left up all year round) but as for fences on the fun ride I think they have a good range from small to larger ones!
 
It is great fun and well worth it. You will get to see some of the big fences and not only that you head off across the park with the house in the background and you ride through the top end of the lake!! (the shallow bit lol). There is normally a photographer there so you can buy a photo afterwards. It has been known for them to pop a small log in the water so you can jump this if you want to. (you can go around the lake if your horse does not like water but there are lots of people who will give you a lead in.

Then for the hairraising bit. You head off up the avenue, this can be a gallop pretty much from the start to the finish although is very wide so you can pass others or others can pass you reasonably safely. Sounds horrendous I know but is on a slight uphill slope and they soon run out of steam!
Stewards positioned regulally along the route if problems.
Then you turn off through the woods, plenty of small hunt jumps to jump.
Another stint around the edge of farm land, small jumps with another photographer.
I have done this ride many times now and love every minute. It does get busy at the start but soon pans out and everyone very friendly. Also good refreshments for when you get back! :)
 
Thanks folks, I would like to go as its a weekend where I have my legal trailer-tower to hand!! The only thing that is stopping me, is the fact that my foal Penny arrives the day before and I think she may need as much tlc in her first few days with us as we can give her... bless.
Mega busy?? Isn't quite so good as Meg will think Hunting mode, and that means she loses weight by getting a tad excited and also loses her appetite the silly mare!!
But, I will continue to think about it and see what arises...
 
I hated it to be honest it was so busy and people so were rude and kept galloping past me and my old pony which set him off then I got told off for winding someones horse up! Needless to say I will never go again and haven't been on one since.
 
its fab, iv went in 2005 and 2006, none of the jumps are in, they are usually taken away. the jumps vary from 2ft - 2ft6. you get to ride through the lake, they fence abit off. it is very popular and the younguns tend to go around 10-12 pm and they dont really worry about cantering past you at a rate of notts, the last time i went i went last thing in the afternoon, i belive the last starter is around 3pm but that may well have changed. its much quieter around then and you dont have to worry about upsetting other people cantering in fields etc.
youl have lots of fun!
 
I do agree with the people galloping past you although it doesnt happen once you get into the woods. I have ridden both an arab and a cob around there. The Arab I thought it was safer to let him go up the avenue than have it plunging/ bucking etc as people came past me and the cob was so strong I knew I would never hold him anyway but he was also unfit and I knew give him a short distance and he would be tired anyway.

So in my wisdom I gave them both their heads (overtook nobody!!), let them get it out of their system and then sat back and loved the rest of it!!
 
i did it last year and did enjoy it the jumps are nothing special just the norm but what i will say it was very buisy and there was a huge que for the photographas jump it was an experiance but wouldnt do it again
 
I've done a lot of pleasure rides. The Badminton one I would never do again. People just gallop past without a thought for anyone else. Horrendous. Cavalry charge doesn't adequetly describe it!

Jane
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top