BE80 speed

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MagicMelon

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Ive got my mares first BE80 next week and Ive just checked the speed. Ive never done an 80 before and did novices for the past few years before i took a break so Ive got no idea whst sort of speed it should be! Its quite a lot slower than novice so is it a mid canter? Mare will likely be rather speedy so wondering if Im going to have to take it slow with her.
 
435mpm. (Novice is 450mpm.) Its difficult to advise precisely - judging XC speed is such an art form! You want a good forward canter somewhat short of what I would consider a hunting pace but really regular. If you have fences which require a "show jumping" canter rather than a forward one you might need to pick up a tiny bit elsewhere. Unless you are making up time for some reason you shouldn't need to gallop. Approaches should be relatively non technical and sweeping so setting up an approach will not cost too much time. Some courses at BE80 have a minimum time and if you are quicker you will incur penalties as well - but this doesn't apply to all. Good luck!
 
BE Novice is actually at 520mpm so is quite a lot faster than a BE80. I would think a nice strong canter would be enough to make the time. Just focus on keeping a good rhythm like the pro's and making everything smooth. If she is being a bit speedy then take wider lines to waste a few seconds here and there. If she is feeling a little slow then look at where you can save time by cutting a few corners. But remember the main thing is to have fun!
 
As you have competed at novice, I am sure that you know that you ought to measure a distance and time yourself to get the feel of the pace that you should be riding at and then adapt for the fitness/terrain/balance of your horse and make your lines as tight or loose as your standard demands.

Failing the above I would think of a good working hunter pace, but that would not be my priority, assuming I had a youngster and it was his/her first event.
 
If it is Wee Burgie you are heading to, there will be that steep hill to go down and up so when I did BE80 there few years ago I took it nice and easy going down the very steep bit and made up the time elsewhere on the xc. Enjoy!
 
Jnhuk said:
If it is Wee Burgie you are heading to, there will be that steep hill to go down and up so when I did BE80 there few years ago I took it nice and easy going down the very steep bit and made up the time elsewhere on the xc. Enjoy!
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It is! And yes, I am thinking about that hill - did it at an unaff ODE last month and I actually made her come right back and walk down it! I'll definately be trotting gently down it anyway given she's inexperienced, would hate for her to slip. So I guess yes I'll have to get going a bit on the rest of the course. Just hoping desperately for good weather and not another cancellation (after Aswanley!). You going Jnhuk?
 
MagicMelon said:
It is! And yes, I am thinking about that hill - did it at an unaff ODE last month and I actually made her come right back and walk down it! I'll definately be trotting gently down it anyway given she's inexperienced, would hate for her to slip. So I guess yes I'll have to get going a bit on the rest of the course. Just hoping desperately for good weather and not another cancellation (after Aswanley!). You going Jnhuk?
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Unfortunately not this time as love going up to it although it is over four hours away for me. Hope to be back BEing in 2016 but just only getting back to jumping with my lad after injury so just doing unaff HT this autumn. Hoping to do Strathearn eventing HT in two weeks
 
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