Funrides, etiquette and nerves

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Daisy2

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I am thinking of taking my horses on a cotswold farmpark funride glos, the horses are happy hackers so we have not been to any shows etc, however previous owners may have.
I am unsure what they would be like in the company of more than 3 horses (we are happy hackers and they are sane and ploddy but show signs of life now and then he he).
Is there an eitquette and are people polite etc, or do others come galloping past:eek:

I would really like to take them out and have fun but am little apprehensive of what to expect.

What was the first time like for you and your neddies and any advice/experience appreciated.
 
I'm just a happy hacker and have no interest in or desire to compete (tho' I keep telling myself we'll have a go at Le Trec "one day"); so when my yard had a Fun Ride I was a bit apprehensive, having mainly hacked solo since Pony Club days (not that I'm anti-social, its just that due to work commitments etc the only time I was free is during the day and normally other riders are otherwise engaged - so have always hacked solo).

I went with another friend with her youngster, who needed bringing on a bit and giving a bit of confidence, and we had a fantastic time!! My cob was just right for giving confidence to the youngster (who had a phobia about going through running water) plus the fact it was nice to have someone to ride alongside.

Since then, we've done two more pleasure rides, tho' on one we had to come home as an insect flew into my eye and I couldn't see.

You need really to speak to people who've done this particular ride before, as I heard about a Fun Ride which a local hunt did and apparently someone was galloping around blowing the hunting horn (should've known better) and all the horses were spooked up because of it. I'd planned to go on this particular ride, and my friend's horse went lame at the last minute, so am glad I missed it in hindsight as I don't think I could have coped with that.

A good fun ride will be well organised and properly stewarded and before the ride commences you should be asked to sign in and give you and your horse's details etc., then on the ride itself there should be marshalls at various checkpoints and especially if you have to cross a road or whatever.

I know Endurance UK do "taster" rides as well as "Trec" and they would be well organised. If you spoke to the organiser beforehand and explained your anxieties I'm sure they would be all too happy to help; perhaps pairing you up with someone, or whatever, or perhaps letting the faster people go on ahead rather than pelt past everyone else at the gallop.

Good luck!
 
I have done lots of Fun rides, and have to say it really does depend on the ride itself. I have to admit I’m one of the ones who like to do go them fast (always safely), but always slow down to pass, and shout ‘are you happy for me to pass’. We have had people (mostly kids I have to say) come flying past us, and also had someone use Bodey’s bottom as a bumper because she couldn’t stop her horse (we did have words).

It’s one of those things you just had to do to find out I think. But they are really good fun (I have 3 already booked in so far), so think you should give it a go!
 
They will love it.

I took my rather inexperienced 6 year old gelding to Stockland Lovell and Badminton last year.

SL was a bit nuts to start with, but once on the ride proper there were plenty of places to blow off steam and other places were everyone just plodded along at a walk or trot.

Badminton was much the same and a very well planned route that was pretty safe at any speed.

On both the rides I went with a friend and we kept our own company. Inevitably you catch up with some people, and other catch up with you. 99% of the time riders passing call out and ask if it is OK to pass. There are a few who come belting past, ignoring others, but we only really had that a couple of times at either ride.

Fun rides are just that and if you are worried about others, you can wait for a quiet spot, or set off early / late so that you can have a little space to yourself.

My lad can get pretty excited, but after a couple of good blasts, he'd run off enough energy to settle down and he was as good as gold, and his subsequent behaviour was improved, not that he was naughty before, just a bit laddish.

Weather permitting, we are off to our first fun ride of the year next weekend, up on the Mendips, I am really looking forward to it.
 
I've been on a few fun rides and the majority of people are polite and reasonable but unfortunately there are a few who are not so really you have to be prepared that you might get someone passing you accidentally or deliberately at a rate of knots. Even if they are in control they may just be going faster than you and you have to be prepared to allow people to pass.

I would never pass anyone except without warning and in a controlled manner but TBH its really irritating to get a lovely wide open space to have a bl**dy good gallop on and then get a group of people at snails pace meandering along - there are so few safe spaces to do this these days I let it go to my head a little. On my first fun ride I thought I would be really sensible but ended up galloping everywhere I could safely do so within my horses fitness capability :D
 
Thanks all, we will give it a go and hopefully get hooked!
The next one is at the end of March but I think we'll get a few more hacking miles under our belts first and go in April, we genrally hack about 7 miles 3x a week and more in the summer so I think their fitnerss should be reasonable as long as we take it easy:D
 
I just realised that is Adam Henson's farm.

They have a fun ride pretty much every month and I would have thought they were pretty well organised if they run them that frequently.

I just downloaded the entry form, and I think the OH and I might go along to one in a month or so, especially given the number of available jumps.

If it's not too far, why not go along an take a look on a day they are running a ride. If you like what you see, you can attend the next one.
 
Brillliant idea! Yeah there is one on the 28th March, I'll go on foot, its only 5 miles away from my house and check it out at least then I will have an idea of what to expect.
 
The best thing to do on your first funride if you are wanting to take it fairly steady is try to go towards the end of the day. (ie if last horse is 1pm then aim to set off just before then)

You normally find (especially on the ones early on in the season) that people who want go fast go earlier as the ground is better and isn't as badly cut up.

Still no guarantees that you won't get the odd person go flying past, but you certainly reduce the chances.

Fun rides are good for happy hackers as they enable you to go places that are normally unavailable and it is mainly away from roads.

Good luck.
 
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