Best venue for first novice be!

G

GeorgieGurl

Well-Known Member
Joined
13 February 2012
Messages
50
Visit site
One of my daughters is stepping her horse up to Novice level and I was wondering what are your personal preferences for first Novice Cross Country Course? Would like somewhere without too many tricky combinations/angles or big trakehners! We are based in the midly-south west, so somewhere in Somerset, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Dorset, Oxfordshire, west Hampshire, south wales, North-West Devon is best!
 
I've never been, but people do say west wilts is a good step up course for all levels, I'm sure there some course pictures of west wilts on shoestring eventing page
 
We are planning our first now at Smiths Lawns. Apparently they are building a new XC course and its designed by Nigel Taylor and states its suitable for first timers at the level so we are going for it! Otherwise we would have aimed for Aston Le Walls or Solihull. Might be too far for you and its a Monday/Tuesday event.
 
Thank you to all of you!
Heard West Wilts is supposed to be a great first one and will try to figure out distance to Smiths Lawn, may aim for therm both!
G x
 
I have only done a few novices and that was a few years ago. But I would think either west wilts or solihull would make a good first timer - this is only my opinion based on having riden their 90/100 courses!
 
Jane_Lou said:
We are planning our first now at Smiths Lawns. Apparently they are building a new XC course and its designed by Nigel Taylor and states its suitable for first timers at the level so we are going for it! Otherwise we would have aimed for Aston Le Walls or Solihull. Might be too far for you and its a Monday/Tuesday event.
Click to expand...
Smiths Lawn would never be my first choice as very twisty and trappy it is mostly in woodland and you can never get in a rythm. It may be a new course but will still be constrained by where you can build fences im afraid.
 
I would say smiths lawn isn't a first timer course, everything came up really quickly, it's was very twisty in the woods as well but it's a lovely place to go but I wouldn't jump my first novice there, the rail ditch rail caught a lot out as it was straight off a turn in the woods, and the cross country was a long walk from the horsebox park
 
They are building a new course in a new part of the park, taking a completely different route, that is, according to the BE mag not as far away from the lorry park as before.

completely new Cross Country course using an area in Windsor Great Park not previously used for Smiths Lawn Horse Trials will run from beyond the Dressage on Smiths Lawn behind Cumberland Lodge on the same side of Smiths Lawn as the Dressage and Show Jumping. The Cross Country start will therefore be much nearer to the rest of the Event than in previous years! The courses have been designed by Nigel Taylor and are being built by Andrew Hunter and are intended for first timers at both BE100 and Novice levels. The courses are designed to be educational and take advantage of the natural features of the Park.
 
Never been to west wilts but I was recommended to me as a good first novice. Probably a bit late in the year for you/too far but I think BCA is a good first novice.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top