Eventing-first intermediate

[Sophie94]

I do british eventing and looking to move up to intermediate this season, just wondered if anyone had any suggestions for a good first intermediate. I live in the central region in oxfordshire.
thanks

 

[OneInAMillion]

Not good on map skills but is this any help?

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=425401&highlight=intermediate

 

[CleverHorses]

I think ALW is a nice first Int. The cross country course was quite small compared to other Int's and I didn't feel it was that technical either.

 

[pearcider]

agree ALW is great for a first int

 

[emsy]

i too am looking for a first intermediate, can i ask wot the sj is like at ALW? (height wise and technicality)
Thanks

 

[kerilli]

the sj at ALW is never small imho, and if it's in the manege instead of in the field it can be pretty big and tight in there, a couple of friends did Ints there last season and all reported that the sj wasn't that easy.

 

[worMy]

aston SJ OIU21 may 2010 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvAq5P9P2wc
SJ starts at 4:20
That will give you an idea

 

[CleverHorses]

I did an Int at ALW last season, the sj was on the surface. It did cause some problems, I think mainly cause it is quite tight in the arena. I thought it was an average Int sj course. And when chatting to the course builder he said he never builds the course to the maximum widths or heights because of the tightness in the arena. I still think it's a good first Int.

 

[Wowzers]

Aston is definately a nice first INT xc wise. tbh, yes the sj-ing is in a tight arena, by comparison to other venues, but you should be ready to tackle an up to height INT sjing course if you want to run at that level! you might be lucky and they might build a smaller and less tricky course but if you got there and it was up to height and technical and you weren't ready to tackle the sj-ing you might as well save the £80ish entry fee!

 

[Sarah_Jane]

Agree Aston, Wilton is another quite nice first time track.

 

[SteveGG]

I agree that ALW is a good first Intermediate. If SJ is an issue though when they use the all weather arena it can be tight and last time I did it the going had become very deep. I think that it is better when they use the grass arena.
I have only done Wilton once a few years ago and this was also a good first Intermediate.
I would add that some courses change year on year and what might be ok one year could be beefed up the following !

 

[Sophie94]

Thank you everyone. I've done a lot of novices at ALW and its quite close so that seems like a good one to start with