Being organised....recommendations for BE80s/90s next year

[SirDuke]

Hi

I did my first BE80 last week and have completely got the bug.

Horse coped extremely well with jumping side of things (dressage we will work on) so am looking for recommendations/where to avoid for next season. Ideally a few gentle BE80s, a few BE80+ courses and then some nice entry BE90s to finish the season as horse is more than capable of the jumping.

Based in Eynsford, Kent and ideally don't want to travel more than 75 miles.

Thanks!

 

[Branna]

Chilham is a lovely venue and nice course at 80/90, although hilly and you have to have a fit horse especially since they changed the direction the course ran last year. They run late April and August so could do an 80 then a 90?

Munstead is a really friendly straightforward course at all levels, and flat. They also have an early one in March and one in September.

Stratford Hills in Essex is a nice, fairly straightforward course but hilly again. Mid June.

I haven't done Tweseldown in a couple of years but it was fairly strong last time I went.

Borde Hill is also known for being strong at each level, maybe one to do before you move up.

Eridge is also in Kent but I haven't done that one!

Where was your first one?

 

[SirDuke]

Chilham is a lovely venue and nice course at 80/90, although hilly and you have to have a fit horse especially since they changed the direction the course ran last year. They run late April and August so could do an 80 then a 90?

Munstead is a really friendly straightforward course at all levels, and flat. They also have an early one in March and one in September.

Stratford Hills in Essex is a nice, fairly straightforward course but hilly again. Mid June.

I haven't done Tweseldown in a couple of years but it was fairly strong last time I went.

Borde Hill is also known for being strong at each level, maybe one to do before you move up.

Eridge is also in Kent but I haven't done that one!

Where was your first one?

Hi! Thanks for your help, I'm definitely going to work on fitness over winter/early spring. My first one was at Littleton Manor.

Interesting about Borde Hill as I looked at pictures and thought it looked on the smaller side - just goes to show how useful a person's insight is!

 

[Branna]

Hi! Thanks for your help, I'm definitely going to work on fitness over winter/early spring. My first one was at Littleton Manor.

Interesting about Borde Hill as I looked at pictures and thought it looked on the smaller side - just goes to show how useful a person's insight is!

Just saw your report - well done! For what it's worth I think Littleton was a fairly meaty 80 when I saw it last year, if only for the fact the first couple of fences were the same at all levels!

I haven't actually been to Borde Hill but it does have a reputation as a bold track!
In terms of fitness, people tell you that at 80/90 general hacking and no specific fitness work is needed, which is generally true. However you only need rain then a bit of sunshine to get holding ground which can make life a lot harder! Mine really struggled at Chilham this year (it was her fourth time doing the 90 there and had also done the 80 and 100) with the holding ground and the change of course meaning the first half was uphill. So worth thinking about!

Other courses I really like are Poplar Park and Little Downham, but i'm in Essex so they might be a bit further than you are looking at.

 

[SirDuke]

Just saw your report - well done! For what it's worth I think Littleton was a fairly meaty 80 when I saw it last year, if only for the fact the first couple of fences were the same at all levels!

I haven't actually been to Borde Hill but it does have a reputation as a bold track!
In terms of fitness, people tell you that at 80/90 general hacking and no specific fitness work is needed, which is generally true. However you only need rain then a bit of sunshine to get holding ground which can make life a lot harder! Mine really struggled at Chilham this year (it was her fourth time doing the 90 there and had also done the 80 and 100) with the holding ground and the change of course meaning the first half was uphill. So worth thinking about!

Other courses I really like are Poplar Park and Little Downham, but i'm in Essex so they might be a bit further than you are looking at.

Ooh thanks I'll take a look. Yes from looking at a few pics I think Littleton was a fair 80 as it had a corner, lots of skinnies and a ditch (HATE ditches!) and he really flew it, he is a big boy so I don't think the jumping is much of a problem for him. I like big rolltops so anything with loads of those is great! I also looked at Rackham for a first 90?

 

[tootsietoo]

I've done exactly that this season - a couple of 80s in 2015 then quite a few this year finishing with three 90s. I'm afraid I can't help you with recommendations as I am the other end of the country. But what I would say is that the meatier, better built courses rode the best for me and really got us kicking on and attacking the fences which was so much better for our confidence and experience. So I would say that you shouldn't necessarily avoid those courses, they may even be better for a first or second 90. I would also say go xc schooling a lot more than you think you need to, and also practice your speed with a stop watch a lot - it's taken me all season to work out the pace I need to get the time!

Have fun, and good luck from a fellow new addict!