BE in Devon/Somerset

L

lucym

Well-Known Member
Joined
22 September 2006
Messages
1,857
Location
Devon
Visit site
i am planning on registering my 4yo (so will be 5yo) for the latter half of next season, or on day ticket, obviously theres along way to go, but thats the plan!
we are in tavistock (winkleigh is an hour from us) and i was just looking at the events in the devon area that might be suitable, july onwards
theres stockland lovell, winkliegh, exmoor, hatherleigh, urchinwood manor, bath &west, and not alot else.

i have never been to any of these venues apart from winkeligh, so just wondered which, in your opinions, would be the best for a youngster (intro) which makes an effort to obtain good ground (i know this is vairable with weather etc but im paranoid about ground)and yeah, any others opinions.

cant really travel too far out of devon unfortunately!
thank you
smile.gif
 
Not an eventer, but watch a lot and have Devon connections.

Hatherleigh is the Wiegersmas' place, Warren Farm. I

Urchinwood is apparently relatively simple, and is midweek. I have riding lessons there, it is right by a river, but on clay soil, so the ground is vulnerable to too much water and too much sun. It is easy to get to from the M5, nice sensible road - 2 hrs by car (obviously more my horsebox but no idea how much) from Whiddon Down on the A30 if that's any help.

HenryHorn/CCJ went to most of these, and so would be much more help!
 
Don't hold your breath for Exmoor - it's been on the cards for a couple of years but hasn't happened yet. (Only at PC level).
 
Bath & West, I know it's not Devon but it's one that I do. Nutwell Court, I haven't been there so can't tell you what it's like! Pontispool, again not Devon but a good one to do, as is Stockland Lovell depending on the ground. Ummm, i'm tying to think what ones I normally do...... I love Aldon but thee is no Intro, maybe one to think about fo the end of the season as it's the last localish one.

Where about's in Devon ae you?
 
Nutwell Court is lovelly good dround - course is up to height.
Hatherleigh can ask questions but is usually great fun and rides well
Urchinwood is very straightforward but the ground can be like rock
Bath and West is quite flat but fairly straightforward
Pontispool is lovely nice courses and generaly good ground
Stockland Lovell can be testing for it's level and the ground can be poor.
There is Aldon in October (nr Yeovil) ok only PN but you might be ready by then and the courses are lovely.
 
we're in Yelverton, Nr Tavistock.

ponitspool doesnt look to have an intro at their sept event, they do in may, but if i reg half season then i couldnt do that, suppose on day ticket maybe...

i cant travel too far, as my mum is not that confident at pulling the trailer for super long distances, and i cant take the trailer test due to the stupidly high insurance to put me on the 4x4

i went to watch at winkleigh this year, and i thought the ground was hardish, was it? how would the ground at winkleigh compare to other venues??
 
I didn't go to Winkleigh this year but ground can be a problem there. Some of the other events do have better ground and more equipment to help it if hard.
 
Winkleigh's ground is hard but I know BE have visited and are intending on making all the courses better, that would hopefully include the ground. I train there with the babies and it's now pretty much got everything you need for a baby.
 
yeah i did think that it was hard, but i had nothing to compare it too, so wasnt sure.
i did take my baby XC schooling to winkleigh a month or so ago, and yes i agree that the course is lovely and varied now, and was great for him to play over! although i would worry about competing there in the summer, due to the ground
 
Hopefully those from BE will make sure that the course will have been aerovated etc but they did run 2 this year, an early one and then a later one.
 
I would say go anywhere other than Urchinwood its a waste of money.
Pontispool is a very straight forward course at all levels. I would use it as an upgrade course.
Stockland Lovell is an upgrade course do not go there unless you are supremely confident as it is very tricky even at intro.
Nuwell Court is a lovely event the intro is pretty small the PN more up to height.
Bricky is a really nice event. Fine at intro but more testing at PN.
Bath & West is a nice event and I think Aldon PN always rides really well.
 
I agree that Stockland Lovell is very tricky - I sh*t myself doing the intro XC in my first season!
Bath & West is quite nice, as is Aldon but I thought their PN was pretty beefy this October, not sure about the one earlier in the year though
smile.gif

Is it too far for you to go to Bovington/Moreton?
Or are they too far south?
 
D_P- they may be alittle far unfortunately, but thanks anyway
smile.gif


thanks everyone else for your replies, mayeb i'll stear clear of stockland lovell, or at least untill hes done a few!
 
Well we've done all of these and Chocolate was the same as a beginner five year old regarding experience, having done just four HT in his life previously.
Pontispool is worth doing, as is Belmont Park, nutwell is pretty straightforward but lots of temporary fences added.
Stockland Lovell is we reckon quite difficult, although we've had lots of success HT there eventing it's been a mixed bag.
Bricky is seriously hard XC compared to the others, and Bovington was a big course but no quirks.
Hatherleigh was fine for both horses we took round, but I would advise a sj lesson there with CC as their arena seemed to rattle a few horses for some reason, lots of Sj down..
We did Mount Ballan which was super, Moreton which was ok but I didn't like because of all the walking (army camp sp masses of high wire fences meaning you had to go 1/4 mile round to everything all the time in burning heat..)
Winkleigh has a super atmosphere, is very laid back so do go.
Why don't you come to the meal tomorrow then you can ask a couple of SW event riders in person?!
 
There is also Blackdown Hills, which was cancelled this year, not sure if its on next tear.
Love Stockland Lovell, always make such an affort with the ground, but can be tricky!! They water and aerovate the ground (not this year though!!!)
Nutwell nice, but like Winkleigh, can be hard. But both are worker harder on better ground.
Urchinwood is a dress comp, no water hardly any combinations, very simple!
Pontispool good and generally ground good.
Hatherleigh ground is normally great, but if wet summer again will have soft patches!!!!
 
gosh yes forgot BH we entered and it was cancelled for lack of interest..
Nice easy one to start at, good trailer drive for your Mum, as mostly wide roads then just the Dunkerswell bit as you reach Hontion on the A30.
I hope the exmoor one happens this year, Powderham are also starting but their lowest class is Novice, and we only have one horse who can enter that.
 
Yes Powderham has replaced Bicton and I don't think Blackdown Hills will run affiliated again as BE wouldn't let them have the date they wanted. There is a new event at Bickenhall near Taunton.
 
thanks everyone for all your advice and comments,
and thanks henryhorn for the meal invite
smile.gif
, but i dont think ill be able to go, cos even though the horse is kept near tavistock, we live in plymouth, so winkleigh (that is where it is, isnt it, or have i got that wrong?) is quite along way, and would cost the earth in petrol. seeing as though i just quit me job and that xmas is coming ever closer, i think my money had better be saved!
frown.gif

sorry, i would have loved ot have come and met you all, maybe amother time.
smile.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top