SpottedCat
Well-Known Member
Can anyone enlighten me as to what the novice courses at these events are usually like please?
Also info on the SJ would be good too...
Thank you!
Also info on the SJ would be good too...
Thank you!
Goring Heath/Cleobury Mortimer Novice
- Thread starter SpottedCat
- Start date
tigers_eye
Well-Known Member
I did Goring Novice as William's first last year, I'd say it was a pretty good one for doing so. It has a fairly meaty drop at 3, and trakhener at 6 or 7, and a few toughish skinnies, but rides well. The sj was in a nice big arena with what I call the oxfordshire set of sj's! They had them at Gt Tew this year if you were there (the ones with the dolphins)!
SpottedCat
Well-Known Member
Fab, so I know we can do the SJs then!!
Did the meaty drop have a skinny as a part b? I only ask as he loves drops and is rather enthusiastic about them...so we launch, I end up with reins round my ears and although we have got away with 'haul and kick' at PN I am not sure the same approach will work at Novice....
By toughish skinnys - in what way, just narrow or offset or curving distances etc?
Sorry, millions of questions! He is a machine XC but I do not want to scare him as would hate to lose that boldness. I was planning West Wilts as the first Novice but a friend is unhelpfully getting married that day!!
Did the meaty drop have a skinny as a part b? I only ask as he loves drops and is rather enthusiastic about them...so we launch, I end up with reins round my ears and although we have got away with 'haul and kick' at PN I am not sure the same approach will work at Novice....
By toughish skinnys - in what way, just narrow or offset or curving distances etc?
Sorry, millions of questions! He is a machine XC but I do not want to scare him as would hate to lose that boldness. I was planning West Wilts as the first Novice but a friend is unhelpfully getting married that day!!
tigers_eye
Well-Known Member
No, the drop didn't have anything after it, just a long run down-hill to the water. There was a skinny after the water which I thought was tough but looked to ride well, it was a big box with trellis framing it on an angle (sorry, not explaining very well), but surrounded by this huge green field so quite understandable that a few horses cantered up to it and said "for god's sake mother... there's loads of room here if you hadn't noticed". Then later in the course there was a double of skinny white houses on 3 curving strides which I found I had to be quite determined at.
SpottedCat
Well-Known Member
Brill, that all sounds eminently do-able, thankyou!
Think the isolated in a field jump should be fine, have yet to go into a field with a jump in and not have him lock on and drag me to it!!
Ok, now to hear what Cleobury is like, then I will decide!
Damn all the rain, damn it to hell!
Think the isolated in a field jump should be fine, have yet to go into a field with a jump in and not have him lock on and drag me to it!!
Ok, now to hear what Cleobury is like, then I will decide!
Damn all the rain, damn it to hell!
BBs
Well-Known Member
Spring goring had a double of corners towards the end.
Its a meaty track but fair, Silllymare rode both her horses round the novice track as their first one and both went clear.
Sjing is big and bold and bright, but in a huge arena, big heavy poles too
Its a meaty track but fair, Silllymare rode both her horses round the novice track as their first one and both went clear.
Sjing is big and bold and bright, but in a huge arena, big heavy poles too
Bossanova
Well-Known Member
Goring is lovely. Wouldnt call it easy, you always have to get your teeth in and ride it but it's very rewarding.
It's pretty hilly, you come down a steep hill to a step up with a bounce to a skinny normally which catches babies out sometimes. There is an alternative though
It's pretty hilly, you come down a steep hill to a step up with a bounce to a skinny normally which catches babies out sometimes. There is an alternative though
SpottedCat
Well-Known Member
Thanks all. Not too worried about bright SJ as he has never been spooky and he did jump them all at Gt Tew! Just need to decide if it is too meaty for the first one or not - do not want to scare him. But by the sounds of it first timers do jump round it ok. Looks like Cleobury is a no go anyway as Novice is on Monday.
Decisions decisions....
Decisions decisions....
BBs
Well-Known Member
I guess its too far for you, but BCA is a super first timers Novice, and was thinking of running snoopy there if things went well.
SpottedCat
Well-Known Member
Too far and too late really - I want to do a few novices this autumn and if I am going to wait I will go to Monmouth instead. Still in two minds about Goring but I have a bit of time to decide.
BBs
Well-Known Member
Yeah monmouth is supposed to be lovely
Ask sillymare, she took Lexi round Goring this spring without hitch
I did think BCA might be a bit too far for you guys
Ask sillymare, she took Lexi round Goring this spring without hitch
I did think BCA might be a bit too far for you guys
wizzi901
Well-Known Member
if you mean Goring Heath in Oxon, then BCA is only 20 mins away?! I live in Woodcote which joins Goring (drive past the course on my way to work each day lol) thats as near as I will ever get to it!! BCA really isnt that far from Goring.
SpottedCat
Well-Known Member
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if you mean Goring Heath in Oxon, then BCA is only 20 mins away?! I live in Woodcote which joins Goring (drive past the course on my way to work each day lol) thats as near as I will ever get to it!! BCA really isnt that far from Goring.
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Maybe so, but you have to have a cut off somewhere! Goring is not what I'd call a local event to me, just happens to be running a novice at about the right time. BCA really is too late for me in terms of a first Novice.
if you mean Goring Heath in Oxon, then BCA is only 20 mins away?! I live in Woodcote which joins Goring (drive past the course on my way to work each day lol) thats as near as I will ever get to it!! BCA really isnt that far from Goring.
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Maybe so, but you have to have a cut off somewhere! Goring is not what I'd call a local event to me, just happens to be running a novice at about the right time. BCA really is too late for me in terms of a first Novice.