Hunter trials: Tetworth or Isleham?

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Gingey

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Trying to decide which hunter trial to enter as they are both on the same day.
Haven't actually done either hunter trial before, have hunted at Tetworth but never been to Isleham at all- not really sure why, just never got round to entering anything there!
Any advice as to how the courses normally are/which might be better for an inviting, confidence-building round to start the season off for a sometimes nervous ex racer?!
Would normally be heading to Poplar for the spring ODE but can't make it this year.
Thanks!
 
I'm doing Isleham and so is jesstickle so you get to meet us if you go :). If you do the 2'6 at isleham I'm fairly sure theres no eliminations ;) never been to tetworth though so cant comment on what its like there.
 
Tempting as that is, think I might be keeping a low profile as although my gelding has been Mr Cocky and Confident out hunting, I can't guarantee that he will feel the same way about hunter trials when his friends aren't there jumping next to him..! Hence not sure I'll be wanting to meet anyone, will probably just want to pick myself up from the mud, catch the horse and scuttle off home :o :p :D
Seriously though would be nice to see some HHOers, if I go will definitely keep an eye out for your gorgeous yellow pony
 
Ha its yellow ponys first hunter trial so I'm not going in with high hopes :p. He has done one course at the end of camp where he spooked at every fence judge :rolleyes: so going for finish in one piece aim :D. I think its also BH's first hunter trial also so there is no shame.
 
Isleham 100%

I have done both, and tetworth is nice, but Isleham is round a proper BE course and is very well run by PC (Suffolk Hunt I think) and they are very friendly, and if you win a rosette Clem the owner normally gives them out and he's really nice too.

Isleham has ditches and a water complex which tetworth doesn't, although tetworth has some nice steps you go down and round some woods and then up again. Also lots of rabbit holes to watch out for at tetworth.
 
Isleham :) of late I think Tetworth has been a bit plainer than it used to be, and although Isleham has some ditches I don't think they're in the 2'6... Isleham also tends to be really well organised.
 
I am scared to slink in now and tell dh that actually I've changed my mind and I'm going to go to Tetworth :o

Simply because they have a pairs class and I think BH will be better with a tow for his first ever attempt!

Anyone going do feel free to come and say hello. BH is quite recognisable to most of you I'm sure and I'll be shouting at him for being a knobber most likely, just in case there was any doubt! :D

I was going to go Isleham but I needed to go schooling before and it just isn't going to happen in time so I chickened it. No way was BH going in any water without a lead without a practise first, it took me half an hour to get in there last time! There are Tetworth photo's on the facebook group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/139213466149011/

but you'll have to ask to join if you want to see them (obviously you'll be allowed, it might just take time!)
 
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dafthoss said:
:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad: JT!!!! tut tut tut
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I know, I know. But honestly BH wouldn't get round. He's a bit of a pansy and the water would be out of the question. If he gets a tow round Tetworth he'll be fine and then we'll go schooling at easter and he'll be well away. He's only been once and he had a lead for the scary things so sending him off alone would no way work. He isn't a particularly bold horse and I don't want to make it miserable for him!
 
Had you all spotted that Ely Eventing are running a Hunter Trial on 1st April, starting with a schooling round at 2'3 which can be run as pairs and with a formal 2'9 pairs class so BH doesn't have to be on his own going through the water?
 
Dee O'Dorant said:
Had you all spotted that Ely Eventing are running a Hunter Trial on 1st April, starting with a schooling round at 2'3 which can be run as pairs and with a formal 2'9 pairs class so BH doesn't have to be on his own going through the water?
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I had not :) Are you volunteering to give us a lead Dee? :D

Will speak to the person I have planned as my lead and see what she fancies. Unless dh fancies a pairs class with me of course? BH could do both Tetworth and Ely I'm sure :)
 
ISLEHAM!!! :D this will be my new boys first outing!!

the courses will be full up height wise but its generally inviting and has a nice range of fences, be warned thou he has been known to throw in skinnies even in the lowest class!! and the ditch will be in the lowest class but will have a nice little alternative; 11 years of being at soham and district pony club you tend to learn his course off by heart!!!

cant comment on tetworth... never been :)

hope to see some of you guys there!!!

:D
 
Yeah I was saw the ely one not looked at the schedule as I was on my phone in my lecture today :o. But yeah I'll do pairs with some one, no gaurantees that he will be any good as a lead through the water but the fences shouldnt be a problem.
 
dafthoss said:
Yeah I was saw the ely one not looked at the schedule as I was on my phone in my lecture today :o. But yeah I'll do pairs with some one, no gaurantees that he will be any good as a lead through the water but the fences shouldnt be a problem.
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well, at least it'll be a good craic. You and me stuck at the water unable to get through, we'll look like right wallies!
 
I've got lots of photos of Tetworth both the 2'6 course and the 3'3 if you want to see any, and a video of my daughter and I going round as a pair (I was meant to be giving her a lead on her 11.2 but she had to give my 16hh a lead over a couple :).

I can try to post some if you like? I am not putting the video on here as have no wish to embarrass myself totally :)

For what it's worth I love Tetworth and will probably go to take photos of friends, so give me a clue what you look like and I will take some pics.
 
Ha we will wait untill the pair after us and just follow them in :D

He has done both the waters there before and has popped off steps in to them and over a jump in the water to be fair to him but you can just never tell when he will decide its shark infested :rolleyes:.
 
Llewelyn said:
I've got lots of photos of Tetworth both the 2'6 course and the 3'3 if you want to see any, and a video of my daughter and I going round as a pair (I was meant to be giving her a lead on her 11.2 but she had to give my 16hh a lead over a couple :).

I can try to post some if you like? I am not putting the video on here as have no wish to embarrass myself totally :)

For what it's worth I love Tetworth and will probably go to take photos of friends, so give me a clue what you look like and I will take some pics.
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I for one would love to see any pics you may have. Just to make sure there are no real horrors for me to worry about!

I'll be the one on the bay horse in my siggy accompanied by a rather sexy fleabitten grey TB :)
 
Also on 1st April is Calvert Cup (BE Nov standard) and also a PC run but open to non members BE100 and BE Nov equivalent. This is the old Graveley BE course and will be well run. It's over lovely undulating parkland just N of Stevenage.

See Puckeridge PC website for more info
 
Hi,if you're looking for a simple straightforward course to get you going, I was recommend tetworth. Few rabbit and molehills dotted about, but as long as you walk your line and take it steady, think it would be fine. The ski jumps a bit :eek:, but is only in the open. It is quite a long course, so bear that in mind.
Isleham on the other hand is full up and in my opinion can be quite technical, doubles of skinnies, deep coffin with running water to a skinny, jump within the water, etc perhaps a bit much for a less than confident, or inexperienced horse.
Isleham generally has only hunt type plain fences, tyres, straw bales, so nothing too much to look at.
Good luck, whichever you decide to do. :)
 
Ooh thanks for the replies everyone, read them with interest!
Feeling really quite torn now. Was feeling more inclined to go for Tetworth, having jumped the hunt jumps available when out hunting and didn't really have any issues, but Isleham does sound good. :confused:
Llewelyn, would love to see pics of the course if you don't mind! Like I say, think I got the gist from hunting there, but just in case they slip in lots of non-hunt jumps...
Topaz Tiger, that's ideally exactly what I'm looking for. Not too worried about long course as he's happily doing longish fast hacks, ridden 5-6times weekly, etc etc so hopefully fitness not an issue (maybe mine though :p )

Dee O'Dorant, yes thanks, got Ely down as a possible. Also looking at Horseheath (15th April I think?)- although am approaching that one with caution, as have had a blast there in the past, but last year (/year before..?) there were some unfixed portables so will be thoroughly coursewalking and withdrawing/notifying organisers if anything like that again.

Thanks all, look forward to seeing you at one or the other! :)
 
You won't have any problems with course design at Ely. Tina Ure is a BE course builder in her own right IIRC and courses at Ely are always beautifully prepared.
 
Dee O'Dorant said:
You won't have any problems with course design at Ely. Tina Ure is a BE course builder in her own right IIRC and courses at Ely are always beautifully prepared.
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Ely is lovely. I'm glad you pointed it out as I wouldn't have noticed it. Hopefully we'll make it to both, assuming I can use the car! Who knows, OH might even deign to come and take a photo or two for me, but I won't hold my breath!
 
I suspect we'll be there in some capacity or other so might be able to grab a few snaps for you:D Will have to send daughter round on big mare. I dont' think she'll want to attempt it on Alfie!
 
Isn't it typical that just as I find myself being in the horsey loop in these necks of the woods (and am starting to recognise a few people out and about) I am seriously contemplating a move back home. Sod's law that is! It is a Fine City though, how could I possibly resist :D
 
I'd say Isleham, it is a nice course. One to look out for is Horseheath, nice gallopy straight forward course. Plus they let you continue on even if you get eliminated at the first fence! Which a lot of places don't do anymore.
 
Dee O'Dorant said:
Had you all spotted that Ely Eventing are running a Hunter Trial on 1st April, starting with a schooling round at 2'3 which can be run as pairs and with a formal 2'9 pairs class so BH doesn't have to be on his own going through the water?
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This is where Al is headed as she was unimpressed by Isleham's course last year.

The 2'6 was very small, with the 90cm suddenly being whack up to height with totally random fences in it- one question you'd be hard pushed to find at a BE Novice, let alone a PC Novice! It had a jump in the water and the ditch they leave plain for the BE90 had a very skinny roll top a stride and a half up the slope, with nothing around it to make it more inviting. I watched 15 people go through, and only 2 cleared it because ponies found themselves on a loser of a stride faced with a full up fence with no wiggle room- only the very forwards and bold got through.

It's run by a nice PC but the course was the only one we considered a bit random of all the PC events we attended throughout the year, of which there were many!
 
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