First timer at British Eventing – tips and advice

LFD

LFD

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I’m competing in my first BE80T on Saturday and wondered if any seasoned eventers had any tips/advice?

I’ve competed in each discipline individually but never the three in a day.

It would be good to know whatto expect on the day, common rookie pitfalls etc.

I’ve read through the BE handbook but nothing is better than first hand advice!

Many thanks in advance J
 
Get your hat tagged with the secretary before you get on
Take cash with you for start fee
No whips/callers allowed in the dressage
Useful to check out the sj warm up - they don't always run to time and sometimes they just put numbers down on a board
Walk the xc course properly - count the fences (!!) be aware of where the flags are for your course
 
Get your tack checked as soon as you arrive at the dressage warm up to save interrupting your warm up routine.

As it's 80T, don't be afraid to ask the trainer for advice...or ask random bystanders to tell you what the SJ course is because you're panicking that you've forgotten :)

Where are you going?
 
Are you local enough to walk the courses the day before? I have to do that if I can as I can't be doing with thinking about fitting it in on the day (whether UA or at the one BE I've done), and remembering my DR test, and remembering not to fall off in the DR warm up ;) I walk my courses the day before, take pics of all the fences so I know I've seen them all having had a TE at one UA last year for missing out a XC fence..

Use the trainers - I did Stafford BE80(T) a couple of weeks ago and found it really useful to chat to them about various things. They will warm you up if you ask. I did some UA ODEs last year which was good practice but must say I found the BE fantastically well organised. The stewards and trainers were great, I was never lost or worried about anything once I arrived. Even down to needing to be towed off the field at the end of the day; before I'd even turned off the engine, having realised I was stuck, the tractor had spotted me and was on the way.

I have to write a plan of what time to do everything, for the day before (bathing, plaiting, tack cleaning, course walking) and on the day... go to bed, get up, shower, drive to yard, roll up plaits, load, drive there, etc etc... time to get on for DR warmup, how long to warm up for.... and so on.
 
Thanks all - smja, I'm going to Dalkeith. I am close so will go and walk the course on Friday. That's a good tip to take photos of the jumps. I have jumped the wrong one once in the past to will make sure I keep a close eye on the flags and count the fences on my way round.

I didn't realise the extent of help you could get at 80T from the trainers - I'll make full use of any help on offer!

I've started a timing plan for the day so will also include one for the day before too.
 
Definitely make use of the 80 trainers! They're there soley for you so make the most of them! Sometimes I wish we had them for the higher levels! Ha!

And remember, it's meant to be fun!
 
I take photos of the SJ course too, my memory for SJ courses is terrible!! Flick through them before each phase then, while you're tacking up (take a helper to tack up for you!!).

I thought the trainers were great at Stafford. I saw someone having real trouble with their horse which was totally overexcited, and one of the trainers spent a good half hour with her giving her a lesson, basically. I got the most from the SJ trainer - I asked her some questions, she warmed me up a bit then watched my round and gave me some feedback. Really useful!
 
Yes - that's a good point, it is meant to be fun and I'm sure it will be on the day :-)

SJ pic too - again, good tip!
 
we are walking the xc on the friday night too, and then going local somewhere for a pub dinner! I'm not competing until Sunday but have friends who are there on Sat.

I have a to do list for all my things to pack and do in the morning of the event. message me if you want to try and meet up? what are your times?

do you have everything - medical arm band? number bib? take your hat on arrival to the secretary tent and get it tagged when you pay your start fee.


so here is what I do sort of step by step: (lets say my dressage is 8am and I've already walked the xc the day before)

early morning, get up, dress, feed horse, bath, muck out and plait. grab a cuppa for the journey and load the dogs into the lorry!

set off with an extra half an hour of journey time to give you a bit of leeway.

I also aim to arrive in plenty of time, I'd rather be early and let my horse have a graze and chill than be late (which I've done before due to braking down - was very stressful!)

If my dressage is 8am, I work on the basis that I'll be aiming to start tacking up at 7am, for me this includes studding up, remember studding time in your plans too! So getting on my horse for 7.30am. (he only needs half an hour warm up). with this in the plan, I'll be dressed and ready to start for 7am.

working backwards, start getting dressed about 6.45am, so need to arrive at the showfield for no later than 6.30am. ideally I'll aim to be there at 6.15am.

so 6.15am, with an hour of journey time plus the half hour then I'll be setting off at 4.45am!!

to be honest, this plan has worked for most events. at a set off time of 4.45am would mean I'd stable overnight!!


so moving on. on arriving at the show, I drop the ramp, check horse, offer water. get start fee, dogs, passport (and hat if first event). I'll head to the sec tent, collect my number and get hat tagged, walk the SJ course and have a wee! taking photos of the SJ is a great idea. as is the xc course - especially if you walk it the night before.

head back to the lorry and get out all my gear for the rest of the day - I put out my dressage saddle cloth, hat, gloves, boots etc. in another part of the living/car boot, I put out the things I then need for SJ - sj bridle, boots, spurs, breastplate and in another section (could be a bag if easier) i put out the xc gear - boots, saddle pad, whip, BP and xc hat. Lastly I put my number in my number bib and then I'm ready for the start.

I usually stud up before getting changed so thats what I do next. if you aren't sure about what studs, most people in neighbouring lorries are happy to advise but generally go with your gut feeling as you know your horse.

then at the time of your plan, tack up and away you go for your section.

for the BE80, on arrival you'll be introduced to the trainer, make use of them if you need them! Once you have finished Dr, move onto SJ - on arrival at the SJ warm up, watch one go and check you know the course, and check if they are running to time. I usually aim to warm up when there are 6-8 in front of me, but that all depends on how much warm up you need and how long its been since dressage. when planning your SJ timing, imagine each rider is about 1min30sec to 2min per round (depending on course length) so 8 before you will be around 12 to 16 mins before you.

following SJ, go back to the lorry and look at the brochure/photos of your xc course to prepare yourself for the last phase.

most of all have fun.

hope this helps!
 
When it's your turn to start XC the starter will usually count you down from 2 minutes, use that time to walk through the box (you can enter from the front as well as the gap on the side) to get your horse and you used to it! Don't forget you must start from in the box (I know it's obvious but believe me I've seen people not pass through the flags to start and are therefore eliminated - gutting). Once you've jumped the last keep going until you pass through the finish flags (that's when they stop the timing) and pull up gently. Oh and a word of thanks to any volunteers you happen to pass goes along way:-). Good luck and enjoy)
 
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If you check the web site they should provide you times of when the trainers will do course walks for the SJ & XC for the BE80. This may be very helpful for you?

I'm helping out at Dalkeith on Sat, so I'm hoping the weather stays dry! Good luck and have fun :)
 
When you get to the Secretary's tent also check your times. Look at the plan of the course after you have walked it so you know you haven't missed a fence (and have walked the right course!)
 
After you have finished and recovered, at some point remember to go into the Secretary's tent and say thank you to everyone for putting on the competition.
 
Wow - thanks everyone so much for all of your advice. I have a few extra things to add to my list now!

My groups time slots look quite good, from 10.30 for dr, 12.30 for SJ and 13.00 for XC.

ArcticFox - I'm going to join the 80T trainer for course walk at 6 on Friday but will message you to see when you will be there as a second walk would be good.

Thanks again to everyone for taking the time to post - it's greatly appreciated!
 
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