First novice advice, please?

HotToTrot

HotToTrot

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Hello, just wondered if anyone had any views on good first novice tracks? I am debating Nurstead, Keysoe, Hambledon, BCA or Stratford Hills. Looking for a confidence building XC course! Have done Intro/PN at all of those except Hambledon, so am reasonably familiar with the course layout in general. Thanks!
 
Hi

I have not done Keysoe or SH but from the rest I would say BCA then Hambledon which is also lovely more of a big feel event but fair few more questions including 2 waters and the bank
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I would say that Keysoe , although I haven't ridden round it, I went to groom for someone and it didn't look too big or difficult. The only problem with Keysoe is that the ground is always really hard.

The ground at Stratford Hills is always rock hard too.
 
Ditto tinkerbell re ground at both Keysoe and Stratford Hills - although Keysoe did make big efforts last year to improve the ground where possible. Was told that Keysoe was good first timer (in 2008) but general comments in 2009 were that it was bigger than before! Having said that, daughter would be happy to do either! Don't know the other courses. Milton Keynes was good too as had lots of alternatives - havent checked but do they have an early one as this might be another option?
 
MK is good I think as is Keysoe. Wouldn't say SH is, and ground was so hard when I went, retired xc as ginger pone was not enjoying it at all. Keysoe can be a bit debatable on the ground front, but seem to remember someone saying they put an allweather surface down last year to help?
 
Yeh they put some all weather surface on keysoe last year esp in front of fences . Did help quite abit, they do seem to try very hard to give best going as possible. Quite nice first novice as there are alternatives at the skinny things if you are unsure. Also it's not that long distance wise. I did SH as my first novice (not horsey's) in 2008 was really nice but they do seem to be making it more tricky. Nothing too dramatic though.
 
BCA 1 is a good first novice.

I did Keyso years ago and it was very straight forward.

Firle is also a lovely first novice but is later in the season.

Im also a massive fan of Aston for a 1st tima at any level!!

Hambledon is one on the prettiest courses you could do but can have a few questions and if they hold a 1 star this year it will be up to height...Id do this one just to see the blue bells!
 
If you look at the 2009 results from Keysoe, there are a LOT of XC faults. A friend of mine who rode it in 2008 and said it was one of the easiest novices she'd seen then did it again in 2009 (same horse) and got faults.

SH I would say is not a good first time - quite technical, as well as big in places, and agree re. hard ground.

Nurstead, haven't personally ridden the novice, but thought it looked nice last year, and it also shares some of the PN fences. SJ generally up to height and the arena isn't completely flat.
 
[ QUOTE ]
If you look at the 2009 results from Keysoe, there are a LOT of XC faults. A friend of mine who rode it in 2008 and said it was one of the easiest novices she'd seen then did it again in 2009 (same horse) and got faults.



[/ QUOTE ]

Interesting.... thank you all for answering - very helpful to get some thoughts. I have always liked BCA, so maybe I will aim for that.
 
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