First time ODE

J_sarahd

J_sarahd

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I am thinking of entering the 50cm ODE at Eland Lodge, which is the end of August. Neither pony nor I have evented before (hence the teeny height, as we can trot and pop or even stop and pop!). Obviously I will have lessons with my instructor running through the test (it’s BE95 and looks quite nice), a show jump schooling and an XC schooling. But I’m nervous and keep telling myself we aren’t ready, even though we most probably are.

Does anybody have any tips? Or advice? Horror stories or success stories?
 
I think after the training you're planning you'll absolutely be ready for it!

Train over obstacles slightly bigger so when you're there you feel super comfy :)

Horror stories will be of no use to you what-so-ever so don't ask for them - they will just put doubt in your mind!

My advice? Sit up, kick on, and enjoy it! Remember to breath and remember to smile! We do this for fun, not as punishment! Nerves are good, prepare what you can - pack up the lorry/car the day before so you're not rushing about.

Good luck and make sure to tell us about it afterwards!
 
You’ll be fine. Have fun, that’s the most important ?.

If you’re happy at that level already I suspect you don’t need to do much really. Just make sure you’re both fit enough to do the 3 in a day, practice your tack changes maybe, and have a go at 2 disciplines in one day if you have chance beforehand eg combined training or arena Eventing.

I pootle about doing the odd teeny tiny ODE so I am no expert. In preparing, I had competed a bit at that level or higher for each discipline individually, and I did a ‘have a go at Eventing‘ BE clinic with all 3 together. That was most useful as the main thing for me was getting the hang of warm up, tack and gear changes and just switching between the 3 activities. I never made the lofty heights of BE but have had lots of fun doing unaffiliated Eventing.
 
Bernster said:
You’ll be fine. Have fun, that’s the most important ?.

If you’re happy at that level already I suspect you don’t need to do much really. Just make sure you’re both fit enough to do the 3 in a day, practice your tack changes maybe, and have a go at 2 disciplines in one day if you have chance beforehand eg combined training or arena Eventing.

I pootle about doing the odd teeny tiny ODE so I am no expert. In preparing, I had competed a bit at that level or higher for each discipline individually, and I did a ‘have a go at Eventing‘ BE clinic with all 3 together. That was most useful as the main thing for me was getting the hang of warm up, tack and gear changes and just switching between the 3 activities. I never made the lofty heights of BE but have had lots of fun doing unaffiliated Eventing.
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Yeah we are comfortable jumping around 80cm. But as neither of us have evented before and Eland do offer 50cm, I thought I’d give it a go before properly cracking on with bigger unaff courses next season. When I say bigger, I mean 70-80cm! He’s quite green, especially with cross country jumps
 
I did the 50cm hunter trial on Sat, it's really nice and straight forward and not particularly scary. You'll find it easy if you are happily jumping 80cm!
 
Chippers1 said:
I did the 50cm hunter trial on Sat, it's really nice and straight forward and not particularly scary. You'll find it easy if you are happily jumping 80cm!
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Ah amazing! I heard that the Newborough Leap is quite scary? To be fair, having looked at the course photos it does look quite nice and inviting
 
It's not the same as the course photos anymore :D they re-did all the brush section and cut it to 20cm over the stated height (I always thought it was supposed to be 10cm over...) so I think it caught a few people out. My horse isn't the best with brushes and he flew over it, I just put my leg on. It rides quite nicely really, just ignore the ditch in front! As there's a bit of a log in front it's a bit less of an open 'scary' ditch.
Just a bit off putting when you're there to jump say a 70 course and that fence is 90 :rolleyes:
 
Chippers1 said:
It's not the same as the course photos anymore :D they re-did all the brush section and cut it to 20cm over the stated height (I always thought it was supposed to be 10cm over...) so I think it caught a few people out. My horse isn't the best with brushes and he flew over it, I just put my leg on. It rides quite nicely really, just ignore the ditch in front! As there's a bit of a log in front it's a bit less of an open 'scary' ditch.
Just a bit off putting when you're there to jump say a 70 course and that fence is 90 :rolleyes:
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Ah okay! Another reason why its good we are entering an event 30cm below our comfortable height!! To be fair, it’s not height that’s an issue. I say 80cm is comfortable height, but he could easily pop around a 1m course. We just haven’t yet. It’s stuff like that (ditches in front of fences) that he’s green with. Definitely going to take him to Eland for a play - don’t wanna be caught out by that!
 
The reasoning was 'they brush through it' mine's never brushed through anything in his life :D
I don't think he would notice the ditch much, but there's a few low, wide jumps that he may be wary of so definitely good to go and have a play. I'm going to soon as well as I came 5th and got some vouchers that I can use on xc hire :)
 
I am always on the hunt for smaller height events. I freak out enough about competing so taking out the added stress of the height is perfect for me.
 
Eland is a lovely friendly venue and it's a wonderfully built course. Some smaller courses are deceptively hard, because the jumps are trappy and badly built. Eland's 50cm course is miniature proper XC jumps. It's just fantastic. Have a wonderful time.
 
Eland is a lovely course, and the Newborough Leap at 50cm really does only have a minimal ditch so I wouldn't worry too much. If you can get there for XC schooling beforehand so you're comfortable with the course it will take away a big element of worry.

Also they run fab hunter trials if you'd prefer the fun bit without the stress of the other two elements :)

(Big Eland fan here - it's my local 'proper' XC course)
 
Ah enjoy! ODE are great fun!! If you have tack changes just put in everything in reverse order so you have the stuff you need first ontop - makes it easier to change your gear between phases! I always make a list of all the stuff I need to bring so I dont forget anything!

And bring plenty of water & snacks for yourself or even better a picnic! Enjoy, they are a great day out!
 
AFB said:
Eland is a lovely course, and the Newborough Leap at 50cm really does only have a minimal ditch so I wouldn't worry too much. If you can get there for XC schooling beforehand so you're comfortable with the course it will take away a big element of worry.

Also they run fab hunter trials if you'd prefer the fun bit without the stress of the other two elements :)

(Big Eland fan here - it's my local 'proper' XC course)
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Definitely planning on going for a play there beforehand. Hopefully with my instructor! I was thinking of entering the hunter trials but can’t do the one on the 8th and the ODE just gives me that bit more time.

I’ve never been but people rave about it so much around here. I’m Leics/Notts border so it’s close but not super close
 
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