Equestrian Track Day

[Shantara]

I didn't want to hijack another thread, so I figured I'd start a new one.

Is there such a thing? Do you think a track would consider it?
Letting people race their horses around the track (Probably lacking jumps) possibly in equal groups? (Such as TBs against TBs, Cobs against cobs and ponies against ponies etc etc..)

I can see how there'd be PLENTY of pitfalls in that, but I can also see how it'd be a fun day out

Question is, would you go to one?

 

[MrVelvet]

I wouldn't like to race in big numbers of people i didn't know. How would you assess the riding? I have always wanted a blast round the gallops on my pony though!!! Would be up for hiring the gallops with a few mates... that's it though.

 

[Shantara]

I wouldn't like to race in big numbers of people i didn't know. How would you assess the riding? I have always wanted a blast round the gallops on my pony though!!! Would be up for hiring the gallops with a few mates... that's it though.

Honestly, I don't know. I would say send each rider around the track once, but not only would that take forever, horses react differently alone and in groups...

I wouldn't imagine there'd be huge numbers, but 5 in a group? (Or 6, I prefer even numbers)

Does anyone know how they asses driving ability at track days?

 

[unbalanced]

There used to be pony races on a point to point course up in Herts with lightweight/heavyweight cob, TB, arab, veteran, pony classes and so on. I think some of the TB races even had hurdles. People went to watch and bet on them like a regular P2P meet - I think it was a fundraiser for one of the hunts.

 

[Jenni_]

Driving ability at track days tends not to be assessed - but people tend to go to track days that suit them.
For example - my local track - knockhill- you would perhaps start off doing an hours instruction with an experience driver, then you would go out on a 'speed sunday' which is for anyone, and you are put into groups - road car ( taxed and mot'd cars) or track cars. They kinda do split it into experience levels sometimes but not often.

When you have had a few days like that, and are serious about tracking your car, you would maybe join a group, like track Scotland and attend their nights where the hire the track.

But ultimatley, even though you have to have a driving licence to take part, there all all manners if driving experience on the track at once and it's up to you to make sure you drive within your limits and be aware of other drivers.

Things do go wrong though- my boyfriend crashed his track car for the first time in 5 years on track in september, and i was in my beginner friends car when he rolled it on track.

So same idea for this- no matter how experienced you are you would still have to be VERY careful

 

[Shazzababs]

I'd love to have a go on a track, but current horse is a nutter in a group.

Maybe you could charge for a lap (Max 2 per horse or something), and set people off in 1 min intervals like on XC. If you wanted to race with a friend or 2 (I'd have a specified maximum of 4 or 5) you could be started together, if not you can whiz around on your own. Maybe you could even pair people up if they wanted to race, but didn't have a suitable partner.

You'd need to investigate insurance etc though.

 

[ivandenisovich10]

Why not just get a few friends together and go to your nearest all weather horse racing track - tho I know there are not many. You can pay to use them between 10 and 15 per horse. We always uded to see people when we took the racehorses there! Looked like they were having a ball

 

[rhino]

Driving ability at track days tends not to be assessed - but people tend to go to track days that suit them.
For example - my local track - knockhill- you would perhaps start off doing

Oh, I wonder if I've met you then; I'm pretty much a regular at track days up there