First ever hunter trial *eeeek* advice/tips in abundance please!

Ben2684

Ben2684

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Did post in competition also...

This is probably been asked many times but the big brown one and I are going to our first hunter trial-only (ha! Only!!) 2ft, and then my friend and I are doing the 2ft pairs. Any tips for a XC newbie?? Oh! It's also my first time competing XC too! The height doesn't bother me all that much, horse is 17.2 and has 4.5ft legs lol but I don't really know what to expect. It's a local anaff job so hoping people will be nice and supportive. Having never competed in this before would it be advisable to use a stronger bit/change noseband as I am anticipating that he will be quite keen, usually hack/jump in a plain caveson and Mullen mouth eggbut snaffle. I'm terrified! But also a little excited. I've dreamt of doing one for a few years, but never had the means.... the things friends talk you into after a gin or two too many!!!

Ben
 
I wouldn't change anything unless you have had a few practices with it.

Make sure you are prepared so maybe go xc schooling a couple of times in the lead up to the hunter trial.

Go at a speed that you have control! The faster you are travelling the less steering etc you will have :)

Remember to have fun, usually hunter trials are super relaxed, good luck, let us know how it goes :)
 
At that height, don't try to set the horse up for the jumps, just set a nice steady but forward canter and keep it.
Most important advice for XC? If in doubt KICK ON!
 
I did my first hunter trial last year, run by a PC. I did the 50/60cm because I'm a huge wimp so I wanted the size of the jumps to be the absolute last thing to worry about! I was lucky because the pairs class ran before the individual so a good friend came with and babysat me for a confidence run (she usually jumps 100cm+!), then I went solo.

Turns out it was huge fun, friend and I ended up coming 6th in the pairs and I cam 4th individually!

I was terrified at first but once you get over the first one or two and find your flow it becomes much more enjoyable :)

Prepare for it, go XC schooling and practice riding a course. Once you've had a warm up and a play over some fences & through the water, pick out a small course and get a friend to count you down from 10. This for me is the worst part!!

Advice for the day is try to relax, trust your horse, get out of the start box and over the first; it becomes much easier after that! And most of all, have fun! :)
 
Read the rules so you don't make a silly mistake. Walk the course and then go back to the Secretary afterwards and look at the course map so you know you haven't missed anything. Make sure you go through the start flags and the finish flags.

Have a practice somewhere first, so your horse realises that you keep cantering between the fences. Ride every fence and keep concentrating all the way.
 
Thanks everyone, we have a forestry area I can hack to which has quite a few fallen logs and ditches etc so have been practising on them. It's just under three weeks away so hoping to get out to a proper course.. I don't have transport of my own so relies on friends going too. There is a local riding school with some mobile jumps in their field and I've messaged them to ask if I can have a whiz round. Friends are coming on the day for support, I just hope we keep control as he can be very forward but I'm reluctant to put anything stronger on his nose/in his mouth as he will just fight me and get faster...
I'm going with the sole aim of enjoying it so don't care about platings, if he does it nicely, smoothly and without being a tit and I come back smiling that's all I can ask for really. It's a pony club one so I'm imagining it will be more a steady canter than a flat out dash??
 
Also! I have NO idea about the amount of jumps it will include?? I do know there's a gate but we are ace at gates so that doesnt bother me
 
Our local HT tends to have (from memory) approx 15-18 jumps, often the higher classes have more jumps.
Yes - go for a steady forward canter. Make sure you still set up for the jumps (especially any that your horse might take a 2nd look at)...don't just go barreling in.

If there is an issue with the course (faller / jump repairs etc) then the fence judge will stop you by waving a red flag. When you get the ok to go again you will be counted down and can take a running start (It's never happened to me yet).
If you have problems on the course and are particularly slow, be aware of others behind you that may catch up and want to come past you. Allow them past and don't use them as a lead over jumps (bad manners)
Don't forget you need to have body protector, non-fixed peak helmet and your medical arm band.
I wouldn't change your bit unless you know your horse will get silly, if you do want to change it make sure you both have several good practices in it first.
 
Not everywhere insists on medical armbands these days - people weren't keeping their info up to date or worse still were borrowing other people's if they'd forgotten theirs so they're not compulsory in a lot of places. I'd check whether you need one, although they are a good idea, especially if you have any medical issues.
 
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