Equine Affairs 3DE - Experiences and Fitness Plan?

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ecrozier

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Has anyone ever done the Equine Affairs 3DE at MKEC? I'm thinking about going this year, and wondered if anyone had any experience, good or bad....
Also, if I do decide to go, I need to get my lad really fit as it is long format, with roads and tracks, steeplechase, XC etc. He's been worked all winter but realistically only 4/5 times a week and is not super fit at the moment, so does anyone have any suggestions as to websites/books which are good on getting a horse up to peak fitness for an event? Facilities are reasonable, we have a school and fields we can use to do faster work, but time is limited, as I leave for work at 8am and don't get back to yard before 6.30pm... In terms of the level of schooling he is more than capable of the class I'd be entering, so its fitness that needs working on mainly!
Any advice much appreciated!!
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I've done it a couple of times and several pupils used to do it regularly.
You dont have to have the horse super fit. Whilst it is long format the distances involved and speeds are very much reduced.
ST is just 1000mtr at 500mtm. Roads and tracks are 15 and 20 minutes at speed of 225mpm. XC for class 1 is 400mpm and around 5 minutes duration.
Non of us did anything more than normal hacking, jumping, schooling (6 days a week) etc in the run up and all passed the vet on first presentation. Hacking would be 1.5 hours mainly walk and trot with a couple of good blasts. Schooling 1 hour sessions.
 
Oh ok, that sounds much more do-able.....! TBH he's probably that fit now, as being arab he tends to keep himself fit, i've done endurance rides with him off normal riding and he's been absolutely fine and had no trouble with the speeds/heart rates etc.
Is it good fun? The website makes it sound like the atmosphere etc are great, but then they would as its their event!!
 
Cool, its sounding good! Need to just convince someone else to do it with me now as it would help keep me motivated to do any preparation if I had someone else to do it with!
 
I did May & Sept last year and will do it again this year (going up to Class 2 though...wibble).

Its brilliant - both the stable side of things and the actual comp is well run. XC day is so exciting and the thrill of finishing phase D (clear and within the time!) is amazing.

Be careful with the trot up - I've seen unfit/lame horses spun before they've even started.

We are hunting fit already so I'm not planning on doing anything new or different. Once the clocks change I'll do some timed hacks after work as well as plenty of flat work.

If you've not been to MK before I suggest you go to the Mary-Ann T-R clinic - you get a chance to practise timing/jump a steeplechase fence/have a pop over quite a few of the XC fences.
 
I am geared up to enter the may one. Only going to the smallest class as Dunlop is new to xc this year. Will be attending the practise ODE at the beginning of may and hoepfully hiring it out before that.

ETA - on the website you can do a virutal course walk of the xc. Does anyone know what colour numbers you jump for the smallest class at the 3de?
 
Thanks for replies!! I've been to MK 3 times before so had a bash at most of their fences, so pretty much OK with the course etc. Definately doing class 1 the first time though, think the XC on class 2 would be worrying for us and I want to enjoy the experience not spend the whole of the first day/night shaking!!
My lad look pretty fit I think and I'll keep working on it before then so he should be OK....will have to do the measuring out 1k thing they suggest though and time him, I know accross country he's usually pretty good at hitting 425 and even 450 mpm, despite only being 15hh!!
Ooh, I'm excited now, think I will plan to give it a go!
 
I'm planning on doing the smallest class on J and he's 15hh, so not much bigger, and I just spoke to a friend who said she might come on her 14.1hh welshie, I'm sure ponies would do fine!
 
Ah go on, we could have an HHO meet up there! I'm looking forward to it now, how exciting. Shame, its a bit too far to go for a clinic before hand I think, as it takes about 2 hours in my old lorry, alright if you are there overnight but a bit far to o in a day. At least I've sen lots of the jumps in the flesh before though as we have an RC camp there every summer.
 
I did the Intermediate class in 2004.

I stuck to the training plan in 'Mary Thompson Eventing Yearbook'.

Which worked wonders as we won the Bailey's sponsored Best Condition Horse prize plus came 7th in the class!
 
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