Blackdown Hills - Is it nice??

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Tangaroo

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Just wondered if anyone has done the BE event there and what it is like. I am trying to decide where to go in May and thought that might be a good one. Anyone?
 
It is my 3rd closest event and I avoid it like the plague! I have done a number of RC/PC events there - its tricky and to me not a nice straightforward course. Its not big and does not have anything difficult but there are always loads of technical fences such as sunken road 2 strides to an arrowhead. Great if you are on an experienced horse but last year I was on a wobbly green horse who struggled to hold his lines. Last year I went to Wilts College which was much nicer instead of Blackdown.
The weather was horrendous there last year so if you look at the results there are loads of eliminations.
 
Oh ok thanks. What about Stockland Lovell? Would that be a better bet. Need to get my entry off tomorrow for whichever i choose to do.
 
SLM (1) is a bitch of a course as it has regional finals so tends to be pretty demanding. It depends what you are looking for. Just have a look at results for last year and it will give you an indication as so many have 20 pens. I had a 20 last year on a green horse at annoyingly one of the more straightforward fences. At intro Blackdown is more straightforward than SLM but if you do well at SLM you are ready to go PN.
 
Thanks for all the advice. I am in my first season BE, i did two on a day ticket last year. I have done 4 in total and been placed in three. My boy has done pre novice and novice in the past so is quite experienced. I have no desire to go pre novice as the SJ scares me silly!! I just want to have fun at intro without the pressure. I have qualified for the intro reg final but dont know whether to do it cos i wouldnt want to go to Aston Le walls even if i qualified! Silly arent I? May be i will wait and go to Pontispool later on in May.
 
In that case you will be fine at both! Your horse is experienced so will be fine with everything that comes up. Its the Sj that throws me all the time but facing my demons and have been doing BSJA.
 
I have been trying to do plenty of sj. He has had a clear sj at all his intros but he has got a very dirty stop, due to being overfaced as a youngster before i got him. It can be unnerving cos generally when he stops he does it so suddenly and with such force, i dont very often stay on!! I wont part with him though cos he is fab XC and does well at affil dress. I just have to make sure i keep my eye in and sj regularly.
 
I really like stokland lovell, havent ever jumped the intro there but it looked fine to me last year ? They were also running the young horse classes and it seemed to jump well enough. If your horse is a xc machine I wouldn't have thought you'd have any problems !
The sj at Stockland lovell is a little spooky and atmospheric but again rides well and is in a nice big arena by the tradestands. Can't comment on Blackdown Hills as never been...
 
We did BH as our first ever event and found it fine, the sj warm up was a bit tight with too may horses in there, but the XC caused no problems at all. Dressage arenas were flat and tons of working in space.
SL is a super course, well built with lots of questions but inviting too if you understand me. The Sj is a bit off putting for some horses because not only have you got some trade stands alongside it's on the top of a hill with the XC going past it.
It is my daughter's favourite event however because of the good course.
I wouldn't worry about BH if you fancy going, very low key event compared to some.
 
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May be i will wait and go to Pontispool later on in May.

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BTW, Pontispool also have an event April (20 to 21) as well as May. Not too far away!
 
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