Ground - how to decide?

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crystalclear

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What do you look for in ground when competing outside? Any discipline really but mainly xc. I know this could sound like a silly question, but how do you decide whether to compete or not? Hard rutted ground is obviously not good. What about soft ground that hooves imprint in or such and would make rutted ground at a jump, would you compete then as it's soft or how do you decide? How do you decide if ground is too hard also, is there something you do to help decide especially whether to compete or not? Pictures welcome

Thanks
 
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I prefer mine to jump off sandy ground then if it rains it doesnt get too deep and if it does get a bit rutted it breaks up easily
 
I would be less concerned about a horse going xc on softer ground than hard, a well prepared fit horse with suitable studs can be taken at a sensible pace on soft ground and is at less risk of injury than going on the firm where it can be tempting to go faster with the risk of an injury. Generally if the ground is very wet the events get cancelled as it cuts up too much and they cannot risk damaging the land so the decision is out of your hands, a horse leaving an imprint sounds like decent ground and most would be happy to gallop xc on it.
Hard rutted ground is not safe, especially if near the take off or landing and I would not be happy running but have rarely encountered this as most are well run and the organisers spend time and money getting the ground safe.
Show jumping is another matter, somehow it seems to be missed out in the preparation especially at unaff events, the ring is often squashed in somewhere with no thought given to where the decent ground is and the warm up area can be downright dangerous especially when very hard or it gets like a total bog with horses slipping into the fences.
 
Be positive covered most, I don't like to be able to hear footfall, but my boy is quite senstive to hard ground so I'm more cautious than others, - he's an irish bog monster so deep is fine for him
 
Thank you - very helpful so far and making a lot of sense. So to help get it in proportion also, the pic below is just before a jump. How would you feel about this and this is before the class had started and often two or three classes going iver this, just to help me further understand

image_zps405adda3.jpg
 
At a low level comp that would be fine, I would prefer to see a bit of work being done to at least start the day with a well prepared course, it shows lack of care but that does not look as if it will get too deep and unless it rains may even get better over the course of the day as it levels out, if the whole track was like that I may be less happy but it looks as if one or two horses have recently schooled over the fence.
 
crystalclear said:
Thank you - very helpful so far and making a lot of sense. So to help get it in proportion also, the pic below is just before a jump. How would you feel about this and this is before the class had started and often two or three classes going iver this, just to help me further understand

image_zps405adda3.jpg
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Personally that would be fine for me, there is some indent but not deep enough to get stuck or give any 'drag' when the horse takes off, ground still looks sturdy despite not having much grass covering on it and doesn't look slippery - but its hard to tell from pictures the true state of the ground, depending on the fence i would jump either side of the centre if running later in the day
 
I like ground to not feel rock hard under me when I walk. Rock hard ground, I don't like. If the whole course is rock hard I would not compete. If only a small bit is rock hard I would compete and maybe trot over the very hard section.

If there is a bit of give in the ground, that is ok. This I like and will happily compete. Soft ground is ok too.

Soft ground after a lot of rain, I consider dodgey as it can be awful in front of and after jumps. If my competition is on early I may take part, but if it is on after the pony singles, pony pairs and horse pairs are on, I probably won't compete as the ground will be dreadful at take off and landing (assuming I'm dong horse singles). So it will depend on running order as much as anything.

I am relating how things are in Ireland. The turnout for xc is usually big and novice horses and ponies do the same course. Some of the novice fences will be included in the training course for horses and ponies too so potentially, there is well over 200 horses/ponies over the fences before my competition which is novice horse singles. If the ground is soft you can imagine the state of take off and landing. This is why running order is important. Maybe xc is organised a bit differently in the UK.
 
They often do have classes over the same jumps like under 16 then pairs then over 16 so the ground can be used quite a few times before a jump
 
I'm sorry to be the one to say this, but if you don't have the experience to tell whether the ground is suitable for your horse, then you need to ask yourself if you're experienced enough to be taking him XC in the first place. There's no point putting pictures up on the Internet for random strangers to advise you; there is so much more than can be caught in a photograph. If you're not happy, don't compete, simples.
 
JennBags said:
I'm sorry to be the one to say this, but if you don't have the experience to tell whether the ground is suitable for your horse, then you need to ask yourself if you're experienced enough to be taking him XC in the first place. There's no point putting pictures up on the Internet for random strangers to advise you; there is so much more than can be caught in a photograph. If you're not happy, don't compete, simples.
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This, sorry. You should know from practice what is good ground and not as it can be quite specific to the horse. And if not happy, either don't compete or ride to the conditions. I've ridden some filthy muddy Xc before but just took things steady.
 
OP it is tricky to judge but you have to learn somehow. I have frequently done dressage and SJ and if he hasn't felt forward enough with the ground in the SJ then I don't go XC, I haven't but you could easily start and do the first few and if your horse is slipping or not feeling happy in his jumping - just pull up and stop - there is always another day and it's not work risking an injury or a dent to your confidence.

Without being able to stamp on it in person the ground looks just about perfect for me - it's not deep and looks dry so not going to get like a bog with another 50 riders over it - equally they are leaving hoof prints so it's soft enough - I'd have some small studs in to stop slipping as there is no grass coverage but just before and just after a jump it's how i'd expect it to look.

If that were my fields though 3 days after the photo it would be too hard and those small ruts would be like concrete (our ground dries out very fast!) and then I wouldn't go over it as the ruts risk a nasty brused sole.
 
If you don't ask you don't learn. I've been riding for 25 odd years and won two HT last year on each of my horses, everything I've learnt I've done my self. No one in my family is horsey and I haven't just been given things, I've had to find out and haven't had the luxury of growing up competing in xc. I backed my youngster on my own and she's the one who was out winning last year. I worry about my horse and some people will take their horses around anything regardless of thinking about ground. I'm not one of those. Sorry some of you feel like that but I thought this may be a friendly board to ask for advice. Thank you however for those of you who have offered genuine help. Much appreciated.
 
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crystalclear said:
That's a bit of a statement. If you don't ask you don't learn. I've been riding for 20 odd years and won two HT last year on each of my horses, everything I've learnt I've done my self. No one in my family is horsey and I haven't just been given things, I've had to find out. I backed my youngster on my own and she's the one who was out winning last year. I worry about my horse and some people will take their horses around anything regardless of thinking about ground. I'm not one of those. Sorry some of you feel like that but I thought this may be a friendly board to ask for advice and now some people are asking if I should compete and they don't know me?? Thank you however for those of you who have offered genuine help. Much appreciated.
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So, you probably do know which ground is good to go on:)

From one post asking about ground we have no idea if you've been riding 6 months or 20 years. If you've been riding 20 years your gut with a dash of caution should be enough to tell you if the ground is ok :)
 
You are right if you are unsure ask someone that is, hopefully, more experienced, that is how we learn the internet is a useful tool but someone actually there would be of more help as they can see the bigger picture.
Do you use studs? they can be a minefield, people use different ones depending on the ground and also the horses preference, trust your instincts and listen to your own horse, some prefer to jump on hard ground others love the mud, if you are unhappy go home and save them for another day, in the long run your horse comes first not winning another rosette.
 
be positive said:
You are right if you are unsure ask someone that is, hopefully, more experienced, that is how we learn the internet is a useful tool but someone actually there would be of more help as they can see the bigger picture.
Do you use studs? they can be a minefield, people use different ones depending on the ground and also the horses preference, trust your instincts and listen to your own horse, some prefer to jump on hard ground others love the mud, if you are unhappy go home and save them for another day, in the long run your horse comes first not winning another rosette.
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That is exactly what I think - thank you. It was my youngsters second HT (well she was 6!) and we only ever go to have fun but won out of 32. I was in shock. My mum dear of her, walks the course with me but she always says I know best, but of course I don't. It would be nice to walk with someone more experienced but there isn't really anyone around. I decided not to compete. I was concerned with some of the take offs and landing. One landing was a little boggy even though they had sand on top and that was before anyone competed. We have also had a bit if rain overnight. My horse is the most important thing so prefer to leave it. Yesterday I was undecided hence my post.

My horse is currently only shod on the fronts. I have thought about studs, I thought about it last year. My farrier asked how she was going and she wasn't slipping or anything and it was coming to the end if the year so he suggested leaving it. This year I'm considering studs but go on what my farrier says, as again, I've never used them. He said that she will need to be shod on the back also as it's important studs are in there also? If she did have them that would be another question in itself
 
You made the right decision for yourself and came home no harm done other than to your pocket.
Studs are a whole new thread really but as a basic rule the hinds are the ones that tend to require them as the back end is doing the pushing and is more likely to slip so studs give a bit of help to prevent this, I often just use them behind for xc so that the front feet do not get extra concussion and they can move a little on landing which may prevent an overreach injury, go with your farriers advice and see whether you really need them before shoeing behind unnecessarily, it may be you have to use them when you move up a level or you sj on grass which can be far worse than xc for slipping.

Often when you walk the course there will be other people, do not be afraid to approach someone and ask their opinion.
 
Thank you - I will go with what my farrier suggests. I don't do things unnecessarily with them so that's good. He is great as all which always helps. That's right, that's what he was saying about back feet only. I jumped her on grass for the first time last year and she came third. I can never work out when ground is too hard. I guess there's no real way of knowing unless you hear the noise it makes when you stamp your foot or similar. I appreciate your help, thank you
 
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