Dummies guild to roads and tracks, please!

N

nikki_07766

Well-Known Member
Joined
16 June 2005
Messages
996
Location
Lincolnshire
Visit site
Right me and my boy are aiming for the mk’s 3 day probably the spring one as i don’t think we’re be ready in time for the September one!, what i want is an idiot proof guide to roads and tracks, how do you work out when to walk trot and canter and how long for etc, what kind of fitness work do you do in the run up etc
confused.gif
, I’m ok for getting ready for the show jumping and dressage but am i complete virgin when it comes to roads and tracks
blush.gif
, i have printed off the guide they have on their website but it doesn’t help with the numpty things i don’t have a clue about
blush.gif
! is there any invaluable tips i can’t be without and also any invaluable items for me or horse that will make life easier.. see i said i was a complete virgin
grin.gif
wink.gif
.
Thanks in advance
 
Measure out a stretch of 200m at home and practice riding at the required speeds. Generally phase A is walk and trot, Phase B is a strong canter, Phase C is mostly trot and then Phase D is your normal xc pace.

It is helpful to arrive 1 min early to phase B so long as your horse wont get stewed up so that you can check shoes, tighten girth, get stopwatch ready etc.
Trot towards the vet in the D box
 
oh thanks boss, i had this mental image that i'd be flying around the road and tracks at 90 miles an hour and getting puffed out in 10 seconds!, i shall get a measure and my stopwatch out and get practising, any more tips
tongue.gif
 
We have just done the riding club one at Offchurch .Phase A was 3km long and you had 15 mins to do it,so 5mins for each km, which was mainly trot and a bit of walk.
Then the steeple chase ours was a circuit in 1 minute, you had to go round twice, quite a strong canter.
Then Phase C was longer 4km and you had 27 mins to do it, so 6min 45 sec each km. You have to trot the last bit to show the vet your horse is sound.
Then the 10 min box to recover the horse and check everything and wash what you want to wash.
Then the xc which was quite long and to be done in 5 min 50 secs. We were the fastest but still got 1.6 pen and he easily does prenovice speed .So it was quite fast
 
Just a small point - don't know specifically about the MK event but if it's modelled on the old FEI system, phase A and C speeds are the opposite way round to what Boss said (sorry Boss
wink.gif
) Phase A was the faster one which worked out at 4 mins per km (roughly) which is a brisk trot throughout, Phase C rather slower, which worked out at 6 minutes per km, which is a mixture of walk and trot. In the really really olden days both A and C were the same speed but they decided to allow more time on C to give the horses a better chance to recover from the 'Chase. Clear as mud, no doubt
tongue.gif
 
it's much simpler than it looks, honestly! the easiest way i found was to work out how much time i had, allowing for getting to start of phase B 2 mins early (to check girths, sip water, etc), and start of phase D about 3-4 mins early (to allow extra time in 10 min box). if it is the same as the old BE speeds, i.e. 4 mins per km, i'd trot till i got to the first km marker, check watch, and if i was up on the clock, walk until it said 4 mins... then trot again, to next km marker, then walk again until it said 8 mins, etc etc. it was just a normal decent trot, not rushing, for my 16h - 16.2 ish idxtbs. hope that helps a bit!
 
Been trying to work it out and remember, and I'm pretty certain speeds for FEI were 220mpm Phase A and 160mpm Phase C: so, if you were at your km markers every 4 mins on A and every 6 mins on C you were well inside the time allowed
smile.gif
Like I said, that equated to fast trot on A and walk and trot on C. So I would check what mpm speeds they have given you on the schedule for yours and see if they are the same or faster/slower than these - should give you some idea. Good luck!! One last thing: don't pull up too fast after the Chase, let him slow down gradually in his own time, that way you will make up loads of time over the first km of C (they start your time for C as you cross the Finish of B) which lets you have a nice long walk for him to get his breath back.
smile.gif
 
They do excellent briefings where they give you the times for each section so it is essential to attend them. They advise you on the speed to ride each section and as TableDancer said I seem to remember that A was 4 mins per km and C 6 mins per km so really easy once you set going! We actually borrowed a bike with a mileometer and measured 1km round the fields, that then gave us a good guide to the speeds that we needed to so by riding back and forwards through the 1km at the appropriate speeds.
 
Thanks guys, i'm sure i'll get my head around it soon!, i have the details of the one thats just happened and they are:

Phase A, 3960m , opt time 18 mins, time limit 22 mins, speed 220 mpm

Phase B, 1000m, opt time 2 mins, time limit 4 mins, speed 500mpm

Phase C, 4000m, opt time 25 mins, time limit 30 mins, speed 160 mpm

So sounds like i can work on the 4 mins for A and 6 mins for C
i did say i was crap!
blush.gif
 
With the MKEC R&T you cant really work on a set MPK as the terrain you go around does not lend itself to consistent speed.
On phase A you have quite a long hard track (loose gravel) to pass along and Phase C passes through a farm yard (concrete) with hard track on approach. Neither would be an issue if the horse doesn't have studs but with the normal MKEC 3DE weather thats pretty unlikely.
Phase A I always canter first bit, trot down hill, good gallop up hill walk along gravel track then staedy canter / trot for final 1.5km
Phase C I carry on with a good canter from steeplechase then down through strong,medium,gentle trot before walking. This gets us well up on clock and is a much better way to bring the horse back after steeple chase.
Phase C this year we had to stop and watch the xc for a few minutes to avoid comming in far too early. Horse passed vet check first time without slightest issue.
Times are very easy to get.
 
Phase A is 4km and you have 18 mins - the best way to approach this is by taking 16 mins (so you have 3 mins instead of the standard 1 min before phase B) and aiming for 1km per 4 minutes. This means a good forward going trot 95% of the time but cantering one section (the hill) should give you enough time in hand to walk/jog down the gravel track.

Phase B is 1km and you have 2 mins (up to 6 seconds more if you are in the novice class). The steeplechase track is a 500m circle with 3 jumps and you need to gallop and not waste too much time in the air to meet the time.

Phase C is 4km and you have 25 mins - again I aim to come in under the time so we have a longer rest before phase D. I ride this at 1km per 5 mins which is a standard "hacking" trot. As timefaulter says you have to walk part of it so the best way to ensure you meet the time is to come through the finish of B/start of c at a gallop and pull up slowly into canter, then trot, then walk for a bit. You should find you've covered the first KM well within the time giving you both a chance to get your breath back and allowing you enough time to walk the concrete parts. You must trot the last 50m of phase C so the vet can check your horse is sound.

Try to get used to riding with a stopwatch (at all speeds) and learn what it feels like to ride 1km at every speed.

Any Q's just holler - I've done MK3DE 3 times now and I know there are plenty of other old hands about.
 
If you send me your email address i've got a typed up guide i was given and can forward it onto you.
 
Thank you for all you help guy's i think i'm starting to get an idea of what to do to get fit and ready!!, be prepared for more numpty questions in the coming weeks tho!
blush.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top