BHS Trec competitions - Anyone done one??

[chickeninabun]

I'm looking at doing at BHS Trec competition in March. It's part of the Kelly Marks Winter Series and just involves two parts, the control of gaits and the obstacal bit, not the orienteering.

I think it sounds really interesting but am concerned as my horse is, and probably still will be, quite unfit and we won't have a huge amount of time to practice anything.
So questions are: Do we need to be totally fit, especially as there is no map reading part? And will I make a complete arse of myself

trying to do it without any/much practice?

I'm thinking of it as a fun handy-pony for adults, type thing, so was hoping to just have a go, but stand to be corrected if it's all a bit more serious than that!

 

[katherine1975]

Hi. I was thinking of doing one of these too. My horse is not very fit either and there is an indoor one coming up near me in March. I went on youtube and looked up trec, have a look it might give you some ideas of what you need to do. I was also viewing it as a bit of fun to get my young horse out, she has never really been anywhere. They don't look like they need to be fit, just have to trust you to go over/past obstacles etc and a bit of trot and canter.

 

[stilltrying]

I did one last summer with a friend just for a giggle...we were utter sh*te!!! (we being me and ned) Admittedly we ddin't do any practicing and I wasn't really sure what to expect - always prepared, that's me!

Firstly, control of paces blew his brain as you go through red and white flags....these usually mean 'jump' to him so that caused lots of confusion and we nearly sat down as he couldn't see the jump!

Secondly the obstacles....yes...again not a strong point. We had foot bridge, couple of weeny xc fences....weaving thru poles, rein back, open a gate and this odd thing where you make them sit/stay dog style!!! Everything has to be done in a very controlled manner, apparently you get 0 marks for launching yourselve into the water jump!! I think we were the lowest score in the entire competition.

Will see if I can find some piccies of us embarassing ourselves...

Shame you aren't doing the orienteering as that was the bit I enjoyed - took a hip flask

And we got good marks, think we came 8th overall in the pairs despite my appalling obstacle score

We actually got good marks for this! Not sure what i'm doing with my hands...trying to 'steer'!!!

Apparently this is very bad: Excuse my position as we were walking!!!

Rein back thru narrow poles

 

[PeterNatt]

I have organised a Trec competition and you need not worry at all. They are very laid back and will not be much more than a basic hack with obstacles. There is one very short trot and canter section down a marked corridor on grass. You will enjoy it and have some good fun.

 

[ironhorse]

Worth practicing the obstacles - you can make most of them at home. Low branches - need to balance some garden canes on jump cups set at the top of the wings etc...
Best to get the rule book from the BHS bookshop as this shows the dimensions - the corridor and back thru are pretty narrow!
As Peter says, there's always a good atmosphere and everyone encourages everyone else!

 

[chickeninabun]

Thanks StillTrying, what a great reply, and funny to boot! Your pictures are really good too.
I think I might give it a try and see what happens. I won't have much time to ride loads before hand, maybe just once or twice a week, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Oh and good idea to look on You Tube too, never thought of that.

Any more amusing Trec stories welcome!

 

[chickeninabun]

I've just mailed my entry!! Eeeek!!

 

[Orangehorse]

If you are doing an indoor Trec it is less effort than a dressage test.

I think I described Trec as unlimited opportunity to make a complete fool of yourself, thanks to your horse!

Think of it as an elaborate handy pony test. I was watching an indoor Trec before Christmas and it was hilarious. Even in the Open Class when the competitors must have known what they were trying to do didn't get a lot of help from their horses. They did the control of paces around the outside track, and one horse cantered towards the finish flags - and dogdged out through the open doors of the school! Practice mounting, maybe from the off side, make sure horse stands still. Practice making the horse stand and stay for 10 seconds. They do get it quite quickly. You might have to do bending poles, round an S bend of poles either ridden or lead, a very small jump, opening and closing a gate. I found it very hard to get my horse to go under canes for the low branches obstacle, he thought he had to jump over them, and no way was he going to try so it took four days of gentle persuasion, and treats, to get him to go up to the jump stands and lower his head and that was before I got round to riding him through.

If you want to make a good effort remember to go through the start and finish flags and tell the judge if you are going to miss out an obstacle, missing these things will get you elimated.

I found practicing for Trec a really interesting training exercise, the horses enjoy the change and you sometimes have to really scratch your head and think hard about how you are going to explain to your horse what you are expecting from him.
It is fun, everyone is very sympathetic and supportive.

 

[mealies]

For indoor Trec your horse does not have to be very fit. Have you entered the BB comp? I did the November one- the main obsticles were Bending, dismount, ground tie, lead over a tarpaulin, lead through the trailer (loading), mount, S-bend, rein back, jump, cross a bridge ridden.
It was my first Trec and I will be entering again in March.
Good fun.

 

[Shilasdair]

I have judged the 'mount and dismount' (or maybe it was the other way round?), the 'upwards incline' and the 'downwards incline'.
I have to say I have never laughed so much for years, although I had a few near death experiences before I learned to stand behind a tree on the downwards incline bit...

Do them - they're meant to be inviting and encouraging to all standards of rider.
S

 

[chickeninabun]

Yes it is the BB one!

I've been thinking about all things I can make at home to practise with. The tarpauline is definately on of them. I'd like to practice the ducking under branches bit but not sure how to make a prop for it.

Am concerned that the foot bridge bit is done ridden!

I watched one on You Tube last night and they led over the "bridge" and I could probably lead my horse to the ends of the earth but she's not too confident under saddle. Might get hubby to make some sort of bridge to practise with.
I'm actually really excited now and can't wait. I know to some people it's a cop-out kind of competition for those of us with fat hairies who can't do much else, but I think it sounds fun and something we might just be good at (with a little/lot practise!)

 

[stilltrying]

Hey, sorry should have said in my earlier post...I found everyone very friendly and of course there are peeps that take it seriously, but you are certainly not frouned upon for missing stuff out / messing it up.

Do buy the rule book tho, I will if I do it again as we lost marks because of my lack of knowledge of how you are supposed to ride the movement, its quiet in depth!

And all the fat hairiers certainly made my 17h gleaming steed look very very silly!!

 

[Perce]

Looking forward to hearing how you get on C in a B!
I've just entered my first (indoor) trec and am looking forward to my girl and I making complete fools of ourselves!
Just got my rule book and definately worth it as you could easily looses marks if you weren't aware how an obstacle was marked. me thinks we will require every easy point we can get!
my horse is not a fat hairy, more a very lairy marey! possibly not your ideal trec horse but she may love it! I live in hope!

we've had fun trying to create the obstacles at home. have managed a 'low branch'(singular) so far. prob not the most safety conscious but it did for a start. i started with an oil drum. then balanced on top of that one of those big blue plastic barrels, then a plastic jump cup (it wasn't quite tall enough!!) then a plastic pipe (branch) i found in the shed!
I call my version 'ducking under a pole'.
My aim for our first comp is refined calm! I will be going for a calm walk rather than an unlikely canter. the only time we tried canter, had to rename it 'bucking under a pole'! and after 5 serious bucks in a row you are really wishing that you weren't hanging over the front with your rear already in the air when the first one came. luckily she met the s-bend and after attempting to jump the clutter of poles gave up in disgust and i was able to wriggle back into the saddle. can't wait to tackle it with an audience!
good luck!