Eventing 2025

[humblepie]

We did decide to step down to the BE80 at Chard for confidence reasons. Definitely the right decision I think, had a fantastic run! The fences felt small and straightforward, and as proven by the photo below, the problems with corners are all in my head (which we already knew)

Dressage he actually did a really sweet test, but a couple of slightly wonky/distracted moments for 32.2, which I thought was totally fair. It still left us in the top 5 after dressage.

SJ he got a little bit fired up in the warmup, and took that into the ring, but still jumped a nice clear round. Buried him a little to the last fence but somehow still left it up

Onto XC. The ground was pretty sticky and deep in places, and we were running in the snaffle for the first time so took it steady round the first part of the course. Once we’d made it over the corner I thought I’d try taking the handbrake off and he took of like a rocket! Control limited from then on but he felt super confident over everything which was the whole idea! We came in bang on the optimum time, mostly thanks to his rocket fuel, and it was a bonus that we finished on our dressage to take the win

Congratulations on your win.

 

[iknowmyvalue]

Amazing day, well done you! Brilliant way to regain the confidence and to build on now for the rest of the season.
Where are you off to next?

Thank you. 80cm felt almost a bit small, so hopefully that’s the confidence boost we both needed. Plus hopefully the boost I needed to remind me that just because things aren’t perfect, it doesn’t mean the world is ending and I’ve ruined him forever

Bovington then Mendip is the current plan, hopefully both at 90

 

[TheMule]

Thank you. 80cm felt almost a bit small, so hopefully that’s the confidence boost we both needed. Plus hopefully the boost I needed to remind me that just because things aren’t perfect, it doesn’t mean the world is ending and I’ve ruined him forever

Bovington then Mendip is the current plan, hopefully both at 90

It’s eventing…. It rarely goes perfectly to plan and you just have to enjoy the rare really good days!

My Chard was a bit of a disaster in many ways, but the buzz of a good XC round always makes you want to go back for more. I’ll do a full report tomorrow

 

[Jeni the dragon]

Well done IKMV! That's a great result!
I'm loving following everyone's reports! Hopefully one of the gang will get out soon. Baby racer is making huge steps and the Irish delinquent is looking fab!

 

[LEC]

Thank you. 80cm felt almost a bit small, so hopefully that’s the confidence boost we both needed. Plus hopefully the boost I needed to remind me that just because things aren’t perfect, it doesn’t mean the world is ending and I’ve ruined him forever

Bovington then Mendip is the current plan, hopefully both at 90

Well done. Great result.

 

[TheMule]

Chard BE100

Not quite the day we were planning! Having been in full drought for a good few weeks we did need the rain, but not necessarily all at once whilst I was trying to event and accompanied by strong winds. Chard is also very exposed so it's always much worse there than anywhere else. The long and short of it is that the flapping flag poles were our undoing in the dressage and SJ, so a very tense test for 39 where he just wanted to run away as fast as possible, and a pole SJ where we weren’t able to jump a single warm up fence. Luckily there weren’t any flags on the xc and I had a super ride round. Nova is still learning his game and he isn’t really a natural xc horse because he's quite slow and careful in his jump and canter, but he is starting to land and go now. He's very willing and is lovely to ride but I do have to be careful we don’t go along like a snail feeling quite comfortable! I was pleased he jumped the parallel hedge really well as it's big and he had a problem there last time, and he only got 1.6 time despite me not really trying too hard.

No pro pics as they were stood by very dull fences so just this still off the video which is cute.



And if you want to watch the extended version of our day it’s here!

 

[McGrools]

Chard BE100

Not quite the day we were planning! Having been in full drought for a good few weeks we did need the rain, but not necessarily all at once whilst I was trying to event and accompanied by strong winds. Chard is also very exposed so it's always much worse there than anywhere else. The long and short of it is that the flapping flag poles were our undoing in the dressage and SJ, so a very tense test for 39 where he just wanted to run away as fast as possible, and a pole SJ where we weren’t able to jump a single warm up fence. Luckily there weren’t any flags on the xc and I had a super ride round. Nova is still learning his game and he isn’t really a natural xc horse because he's quite slow and careful in his jump and canter, but he is starting to land and go now. He's very willing and is lovely to ride but I do have to be careful we don’t go along like a snail feeling quite comfortable! I was pleased he jumped the parallel hedge really well as it's big and he had a problem there last time, and he only got 1.6 time despite me not really trying too hard.

No pro pics as they were stood by very dull fences so just this still off the video which is cute.

View attachment 158547

And if you want to watch the extended version of our day it’s here!

Ooo great! Tonight’s viewing sorted

 

[TheMule]

Ooo great! Tonight’s viewing sorted

Enjoy our misery

 

[McGrools]

Enjoy our misery

Well done for continuing in that weather! I would have jibbed . Always worth it when you get a good xc! He is an out and out jumper and your day will come. Soon I’m sure

 

[TheMule]

Well done for continuing in that weather! I would have jibbed . Always worth it when you get a good xc! He is an out and out jumper and your day will come. Soon I’m sure

I was SO close to giving up and going home. He is such a lovely boy, I'm so lucky. I hope you're right and we can pull it all together on the same day sometime soon, I'd really like that double clear and he's close to being able to be competitive I think

 

[AthenesOwl]

Great event reports! I’m enjoying following along with everyone’s eventing adventures.

It’s a good opportunity to live vicariously. I have jumped on one occasion in the last 12 years, and my horse is 18, so I’m not sure eventing is something I’ll ever do myself. Although there’s a tiny bit of me that would like to join in.

 

[LEC]

I was SO close to giving up and going home. He is such a lovely boy, I'm so lucky. I hope you're right and we can pull it all together on the same day sometime soon, I'd really like that double clear and he's close to being able to be competitive I think

Lucky you have a good friend to keep you going…..

 

[RachelFerd]

We finally got out eventing!

Chillington ON yesterday - aim was for a nice confidence giving run as we haven't been out since jumping round Blair 2*L in bottomless bog - and most of last year was spent jumping out of bogs tbh.

He was a bit of a wooden head in the dressage and did a naughty unrequested flying change - but 33.5 wasn't too bad all things considered.

SJ he felt great - it took me a couple of jumps to get into a decent rhythm, and we just had one pole where I needed to shorten him up a touch more down a related distance. But just nice to have him feeling enthusiastic and confident.

And then xc he was just a delight - completely straight and easy all the way. Never wobbled off a line, never lost concentration, never pulled - it's so funny that I can ride this horse around a novice track and I don't event finish out of breath because he makes me life so simple. The track caused a fair amount of trouble - particularly a very old school coffin on one-stride, one-stride which you don't see very often at this level.

Anyway - job done, had a lovely confidence building round, finished 4 seconds over the time and ended up 8th.

Would've stayed for the prize giving to get my frilly, but it was going to be "after 4.30" and having done my dressage at 10.24 that morning, I really really really couldn't hang around any longer. The class finished before 3.30 - event organizers need to speed this stuff up because OF COURSE no-one turns up to the prize giving when it takes this long and we've all got other horses to do at home and other things in our lives. Ugh!!

 

[LEC]

We finally got out eventing!

Chillington ON yesterday - aim was for a nice confidence giving run as we haven't been out since jumping round Blair 2*L in bottomless bog - and most of last year was spent jumping out of bogs tbh.

He was a bit of a wooden head in the dressage and did a naughty unrequested flying change - but 33.5 wasn't too bad all things considered.

SJ he felt great - it took me a couple of jumps to get into a decent rhythm, and we just had one pole where I needed to shorten him up a touch more down a related distance. But just nice to have him feeling enthusiastic and confident.

And then xc he was just a delight - completely straight and easy all the way. Never wobbled off a line, never lost concentration, never pulled - it's so funny that I can ride this horse around a novice track and I don't event finish out of breath because he makes me life so simple. The track caused a fair amount of trouble - particularly a very old school coffin on one-stride, one-stride which you don't see very often at this level.

Anyway - job done, had a lovely confidence building round, finished 4 seconds over the time and ended up 8th.

Would've stayed for the prize giving to get my frilly, but it was going to be "after 4.30" and having done my dressage at 10.24 that morning, I really really really couldn't hang around any longer. The class finished before 3.30 - event organizers need to speed this stuff up because OF COURSE no-one turns up to the prize giving when it takes this long and we've all got other horses to do at home and other things in our lives. Ugh!!

View attachment 160936

Nice to see you back out again. Glad it was a good one.

 

[TheMule]

We finally got out eventing!

Chillington ON yesterday - aim was for a nice confidence giving run as we haven't been out since jumping round Blair 2*L in bottomless bog - and most of last year was spent jumping out of bogs tbh.

He was a bit of a wooden head in the dressage and did a naughty unrequested flying change - but 33.5 wasn't too bad all things considered.

SJ he felt great - it took me a couple of jumps to get into a decent rhythm, and we just had one pole where I needed to shorten him up a touch more down a related distance. But just nice to have him feeling enthusiastic and confident.

And then xc he was just a delight - completely straight and easy all the way. Never wobbled off a line, never lost concentration, never pulled - it's so funny that I can ride this horse around a novice track and I don't event finish out of breath because he makes me life so simple. The track caused a fair amount of trouble - particularly a very old school coffin on one-stride, one-stride which you don't see very often at this level.

Anyway - job done, had a lovely confidence building round, finished 4 seconds over the time and ended up 8th.

Would've stayed for the prize giving to get my frilly, but it was going to be "after 4.30" and having done my dressage at 10.24 that morning, I really really really couldn't hang around any longer. The class finished before 3.30 - event organizers need to speed this stuff up because OF COURSE no-one turns up to the prize giving when it takes this long and we've all got other horses to do at home and other things in our lives. Ugh!!

View attachment 160936

What a legend of a horse!

 

[gunnergundog]

Call me old-fashioned but in my day it was frowned upon and considered disrespectful not to attend the prize giving - that is disrespectful to the land owners, sponsors and organisers, without whom there wouldn't be an event and who in all likelihood would have had an even longer day than yourself. At the very least it should be possible to nab someone to stand in as your representative. Or is that not allowed any more?

Would've stayed for the prize giving to get my frilly, but it was going to be "after 4.30" and having done my dressage at 10.24 that morning, I really really really couldn't hang around any longer. The class finished before 3.30 - event organizers need to speed this stuff up because OF COURSE no-one turns up to the prize giving when it takes this long and we've all got other horses to do at home and other things in our lives. Ugh!!

 

[TheMule]

Call me old-fashioned but in my day it was frowned upon and considered disrespectful not to attend the prize giving - that is disrespectful to the land owners, sponsors and organisers, without whom there wouldn't be an event and who in all likelihood would have had an even longer day than yourself. At the very least it should be possible to nab someone to stand in as your representative. Or is that not allowed any more?

Very few events actually run a formal prize giving anymore (they mostly disappeared with the arrive-compete-leave the Covid brought us). Yes, it's nice to stay if you can, but if you were on early and the class has been running all day, and you potentially have a long drive home, it's not particularly fair on your horse to wait around for hours.

 

[RachelFerd]

Call me old-fashioned but in my day it was frowned upon and considered disrespectful not to attend the prize giving - that is disrespectful to the land owners, sponsors and organisers, without whom there wouldn't be an event and who in all likelihood would have had an even longer day than yourself. At the very least it should be possible to nab someone to stand in as your representative. Or is that not allowed any more?

It's disrespectful to people who actually have a life to live and other horses to do to have them hanging around on site from 9am through til 5pm for the sake of receiving a 50p bit of ribbon. Just hand them out at secretaries and be done with it. No-one cares about prize givings unless it's a champs or international.

Sponsors would probably benefit more from people receiving the rosettes and taking photos with them then they do from people not turning up to prizegivings because they can't hang around any longer.

And how exactly are you meant to get someone else to pick it up for you when you don't know anyone else on site....?

 

[Orangehorse]

I noticed that there doesn't seem to be prize giving any more, it used to be quite a thing, with riders told to turn up and be nicely dressed, but I can perfectly understand the reasons for having stopped it.

I suppose you can leave an envelope and money for a stamp?

 

[SEL]

I suppose you can leave an envelope and money for a stamp?

a lot of venues do this esp if the class is large. I was told at one though that there would goodie bags for top 3 which they wouldn't post. By that point in the class I was at least top 8 so I hung around - 2nd but the goody bag was not worth hanging around for!! OH wears the baseball cap though.

 

[Marshpiper]

Call me old-fashioned but in my day it was frowned upon and considered disrespectful not to attend the prize giving - that is disrespectful to the land owners, sponsors and organisers, without whom there wouldn't be an event and who in all likelihood would have had an even longer day than yourself. At the very least it should be possible to nab someone to stand in as your representative. Or is that not allowed any more?

I agree with this completely….

 

[Marshpiper]

It's disrespectful to people who actually have a life to live and other horses to do to have them hanging around on site from 9am through til 5pm for the sake of receiving a 50p bit of ribbon. Just hand them out at secretaries and be done with it. No-one cares about prize givings unless it's a champs or international.

Sponsors would probably benefit more from people receiving the rosettes and taking photos with them then they do from people not turning up to prizegivings because they can't hang around any longer.

And how exactly are you meant to get someone else to pick it up for you when you don't know anyone else on site....?

I can remember at one long gone, and much missed event, that if a competitor had to leave before prize giving, you saw them ask another competitor to accept the rosette on their (the leaving competitor) behalf…
Also you probably did not mean any offence, but it’s really not very kind to refer to a “50p bit of ribbon” Lots of competitors never get in the prize winners placing…

 

[RachelFerd]

I can remember at one long gone, and much missed event, that if a competitor had to leave before prize giving, you saw them ask another competitor to accept the rosette on their (the leaving competitor) behalf…
Also you probably did not mean any offence, but it’s really not very kind to refer to a “50p bit of ribbon” Lots of competitors never get in the prize winners placin

Lol ar ridiculous amount of offense taking - literally no-one is going to the prize givings

 

[gunnergundog]

Lol ar ridiculous amount of offense taking - literally no-one is going to the prize givings

Well, maybe you should and perhaps lead by example? As one of the above mentioned categories (landowners, sponsors, organisers) perhaps you should think about the motivation of others to provide the sport you choose to participate in, even if it is only for a '50p bit of ribbon'.

 

[Chiffy]

Interesting discussion about prize givings. They certainly still happen in Scotland and we wouldn’t dream of missing one if lucky enough to be placed even though we often have to travel the day before and then have a long journey home that night. It’s a chance to speak to the organisers or the steward to say thank you and to collect the dressage sheets. Part of our costs of eventing is organising a freelance groom to do any animals at home if it’s going to be a late night.
My grandchildren started in the under 18s last year so are onto year two this year, they are young and wouldn’t miss a prize giving for the world!
Sad if people are uninterested now. Hope you at least go and say thank you for the day, explain why you can’t stay and name your representative.

 

[Marshpiper]

Well, maybe you should and perhaps lead by example? As one of the above mentioned categories (landowners, sponsors, organisers) perhaps you should think about the motivation of others to provide the sport you choose to participate in, even if it is only for a '50p bit of ribbon'.

Wonder if she even thinks of popping her head into office and saying sorry I have to leave, but thank you for all you have done to provide the event…
There are competitors who do this at every event they attend and it means so much…some even contact sponsors by email and say thanks…

 

[RachelFerd]

Wonder if she even thinks of popping her head into office and saying sorry I have to leave, but thank you for all you have done to provide the event…
There are competitors who do this at every event they attend and it means so much…some even contact sponsors by email and say thanks…

That is literally what I do. And this is the first time in 20 years of eventing that I'd been hanging around for so long and so pointlessly that I didn't get my rosette and went home.

BUT events need to

A/ run their prizegivings sooner after the end of the class and
B/ advertise the time and location of said prizegiving if they want people to turn up

Being told "it'll be some point after 4.30.and probably in front of the house" by the secretaries tent isn't remotely helpful

 

[Marshpiper]

That is literally what I do. And this is the first time in 20 years of eventing that I'd been hanging around for so long and so pointlessly that I didn't get my rosette and went home.

BUT events need to

A/ run their prizegivings sooner after the end of the class and
B/ advertise the time and location of said prizegiving if they want people to turn up

Being told "it'll be some point after 4.30.and probably in front of the house" by the secretaries tent isn't remotely helpful

I am actually surprised at this, as usually Team Plant are very efficient with their prize giving…mind you I suppose that given the pressure they were under to run the Aspen 80 championship at such short notice …the secretaries were not as helpful as usual…

 

[iknowmyvalue]

I do tend to hang around for prize giving if I’m lucky enough to be placed, but given the last 1-2yrs are the first times in my life I’ve ever been placed that’s probably why, it’s all still a novelty!

BUT I do also see where RF is coming from. Especially if they can’t tell you when and where the prize giving will be, or if there even will be one! I’ve been placed at 3 events this season and only one has had a proper prize giving. All the others it was just “collect your rosette from this basket next to the dressage sheets”. Which honestly, you’d be a bit disappointed if you’d hung around for hours for!

None of the events I’ve been to this year have had any indication of when the prize giving would be, which isn’t massively helpful as then you’ve just got to hope you’re near enough at the right time to see when they start it. I reckon if they published somewhere approximate times and locations for the prize givings (and specifying if it’s a formal event or if it’s just collecting a rosette) then more people would go

 

[iknowmyvalue]

Just to add, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with not doing a formal prize giving if that’s what an event wants to do. But I do think that since there’s a mixture, they should make it clear if there is/isn’t something riders may want to attend. I’ve definitely missed them before because I didn’t know when/where they were!

Personally I hate the awkwardness and attention of a formal prize giving, so I actually prefer when there isn’t, but that’s my own personal insecurities and I do still go to them where possible as I do understand it’s a chance to thank landowners/sponsors and show support for the event organisers.

Maybe there should be a way to have something on eventing scores at the top of finalised results to give prize giving information?