Gatcombe - Novice BE (anyone done it?)

[Kraft]

I understand courses change, year to year, event to event, but i am looking at ending the season at Gatcombe in September by having a go at the Novice.

What are peoples general feel for the course? How experienced do you feel the horse needs to be, ie, how many runs Novice should they have before having a go?

My horse is starting Novice at the begining of May and if all goes according to plan aim to do 7 Novices before Gatcombe, my horse is proving to be bold xc and as he is a TB will easliy make the time.

Please do say if you feel Gatcombe is a big ask for a horse only starting on Novice this year.

All comments appreciated.

 

[kick_On]

little Gatcombe is a lovely xc track, sj track will the most difficult phase-IMO. I'm also planning on doing in autumn, i've been and groomed at passed couple of year events and it's lovely, always inviting, big BUT not horrible IMO at all.

 

[archoak]

Duke did it in his first season at Novice and flew round, the only fence which seems to catch people out is the corner - you need a really good line to it. Ditto re the sjing

 

[worMy]

see I didn't think the SJ was that difficult (and me and belv suck at SJ!!)
We've done a clear SJ there and an almost clear SJ (effed up last double badly!).
It's big enough, but lovely flowing track, nice big flat arena and rides well!
XC is fair, but nothing overly hard!

I love little gatcombe,,although the courses never seem to change much at all!

 

[dieseldog]

When I tried eventing I did Gatcombe Novice after having done 2 PNs. Me and the horse had never done BE before, and it was probably only the horses 6th time on a XC. I always thought it was a very nice course.

 

[Kraft]

Thanks everyone, ohhhh i cant wait now!!!

 

[abbie29]

I agree with the SJ comments - my horse is a rubbish show jumper and the course is usually up to height but there's lots of room. The XC is fair but I think you need a fit horse. There's plenty to think about all the way round. When I went, the last fence was a combination. I loved it, there's a real sense of achievement in completing!

 

[Mbronze]

Hi, I wanted to do Gatcombe at the end of the year too.

I believe the one in September you have to qualify for, so you could technically do the first Gatcombe event of the year but the one in Sept you have to qualify for. I don't know exactly how you qualify though (stand to be corrected, but was told by a prof eventer!)

 

[abenton]

it was my 3rd Novice, its a nice inviting course, i did the one in september last year, you only have to qualify if you are doing the 1*, not the standard novice, unless they have changed it this year, but the schedule isnt out yet so cant check! enjoy it, its a lovely event!