Hunter trials: Tetworth or Isleham?

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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Oooh!! I want to go!!
 
jesstickle said:
I can probably make that happen :)

ETS: perhaps you and Dee's big mare could make a pair?
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Eak! I would love that :) Charlie and I shall have to start practicing leaving the ground :o

When I ride Charlie out with DOD's big mare they spend the whole time each trying to get their nose in front. Big mare snarls at Dunbo if he tries and then he pulls little grouch faces and we all laugh at him. It could actually be quite a good way to make sure he goes forward instead of pretending he's never seen a log before :rolleyes:
 
There are pics of last Autumn's HT fences on their FB photos page here if that's any help and you can download a schedule from their wall too.
 
Wow glad to see Cambs hunter triallers out in force!!
Llewelyn, I joined the FB group so have had a look at the photos on there, sure there would be people on here who'd like to see them though if you wouldn't mind uploading.
Opinion seems very divided re Isleham v Tetworth...! (Lolo, don't like the sound of scary ditch/skinny combo :( ) Think I'm currently leaning towards Tetworth, only really cos it's a couple of quid cheaper :o and a little closer/easier to get to for us. Haven't entered yet though so decision is not final..... :rolleyes:

Thanks for the Ely photos Rosiefan.

Laafet, yes I do really like Horseheath (happy memories for me- got my first XC clear round and placing there!) but like I said due to unfixed portables last year will be approaching with caution this time round.

I would offer to be various people's pairs partner but think my boy needs to prove he will actually get round a course competently by himself before adding those who'd like a lead into the equation :o :p ...Ask me again in time for summer competitions..

jesstickle, an offer of friendship is of course a deal breaker :D :p

Also just remembered Trumpington will be happening too so that's another one to make my decision making harder!


...By the way, a question for you all seeing as I seem to have a wealth of Cambs XC knowledge right here: given I'm potentially going to be doing 2+ hunter trials over Easter, and I need to have a schooling sesh too...Anyone know the cheapest place to XC school for an hour or so? :o :o
 
Re Horseheath and the unfixed portables, that problem was all fixed when I went round there in Autumn. I too had a very good look at all the portable type fences as was there the time that horse had the accident at the corners.
Brent Pelham is a really good one to go to.
I went to Trumpington last year but was disappointed, it is a long course and took all day as everyone was falling off and there were hold ups on course, plus a horse died which was no ones fault but rather tarred the day.
I feel so jealous of you all as my boy is not yet ready to return to jumping since his Op but will be there in the Autumn with him and I will be grooming for my friends at Isleham, Horseheath and Brent Pelham coming up.
 
Lolo said:
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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That ditch to roll top, OMG that is where I came adrift from the 14hh ace jumping pony. Poor boy, locked on, jumped ditch well then took off and made a massive effort to get over it, resulting in me being unseated (I was a little unfit and getting tired so my fault). I haven't seen it since and the gutting thing is I would have jumped the alternative fence had I been told not to be so silly. That was before we then watched horse after horse stop at it.
 
Was that last year? I think I may have watched that...

I have the combination on video somewhere- Al didn't even try it as if he clonked it and upset himself, it would do him no good. She did the ditch and then looped round.

The fence judge told the course designer off when he came round! He said it was bad riding, and she rather frostily informed him it really wasn't :D
 
Laafet said:
Re Horseheath and the unfixed portables, that problem was all fixed when I went round there in Autumn. I too had a very good look at all the portable type fences as was there the time that horse had the accident at the corners.
Brent Pelham is a really good one to go to.
I went to Trumpington last year but was disappointed, it is a long course and took all day as everyone was falling off and there were hold ups on course, plus a horse died which was no ones fault but rather tarred the day.
I feel so jealous of you all as my boy is not yet ready to return to jumping since his Op but will be there in the Autumn with him and I will be grooming for my friends at Isleham, Horseheath and Brent Pelham coming up.
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Hmm, yes, was fairly unpleasant to watch. Was glad I had already been round and got over them successfully.
Oh no, not another one to add! Too many choices!
Agree re Trumpington taking an age- though Horseheath not much better in terms of a long day, I've found. I didn't go to Trumpington last year (sorry to hear about the horse dying :( ) but having hunted there this winter I really would like to pop the course in slightly more style :D
 
Hi everyone, thought I'd reopen this thread again to see where everyone decided to go, and how we all got on! :) Plus what you're planning next...
(hope people do actually read this and reply or i'll look like a bit of an idiot.. :o )

I'll go first then ;) We settled on Tetworth in the end, bit of hassle due to the fog first thing (but the organisers did do all they could to keep everyone happy!) which meant quite a long wait, did the le trec 'clear round' whilst we were waiting and was very pleased with my boy who was very bold over the scary tarpaulin, fake ditch and everything else- only thing we failed at was opening and shutting the gate, oh and stepping out of the ring over the terrifying rope on the floor :o :rolleyes: For the actual thing, he warmed up like a pro, 100% confident, and then flew round the pairs feeling fantastic! Led over about half the course, really keen and bold, and finished barely sweating and feeling like he could've done it again! So very pleased, great start to the season :)
Planning on Trumpington and Horseheath next I think.

How about you all?!
 
We were 8th in the pairs at Tetworth. Which ones were you? We were a big grey and a big bay following with a red faced person trying to stop the bay hurling itself at the fences flat out!! :o

My horse finished so full of running I went to catch up with the draghounds after and the beggar has stepped on something sharp ( I reckon at least) so now wish I hadn't as I was meant to be at Ely on Sunday. Grr!

Glad you had fun, it was a nice little event I thought :)
 
I went to Isleham. Lovely course & brilliantly run :) a little bit twisty in places but that was actually a good thing for my boy who can get a bit cocky about stuff.
It was my lads first attempt at any XC so I specifically chose it because of the 'no eliminations'...as it was it wasn't an issue at all & other than a wobble at the water he was brilliant & flew round - I was mega chuffed that he didn't even question the ditch.
Was very, VERY happy :)
 
I groomed for my friends, one came 1st in the Intermediate PC class and the other two were clear in the Open Intermediate with one coming 10th. I'm going to be grooming again at Horseheath and they were considering going to Trumpington. I can't wait to get my boy back jumping, I just need to give him time post op.
I do like the no eliminations at Isleham and Horseheath in the Novice classes too Glamour Puss, it makes me feel a lot more confident to get on with it.
 
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