buzzles
Well-Known Member
I didn't get to go xc today. I had RC ODE on and was really looking forward to it as I havn't been xc in ages, not since last spring. It was only local and I was just going for a bit of fun, hence the RC! I knew the ground would be hard but I said I'd do dressage and showjumping anyway. OMG, the dressage arenas were so bad! When I was warming up I thought the ground wasn't that bad as although it was hard, it was pretty level but I think they picked the worst part of the field for the dressage arenas as they were really rutted and on such a slope! The horse went quite well but tripped a few times which upset him so he got a bit tense and the arena was surrounded by xc fences so he was somewhat distracted!! We were 6th after dressage and then went showjumping which wasn't too bad, there was a good covering of grass and it was fairly level and the course was nice and we went clear!
Then walked the xc course, they had done no work with the ground whatsoever!! I mean, I knew it would be hard, which wouldn't have been too bad as there was a good covering of grass but it was so rutted and poached it was unbelievable, I nearly went down a few times on my ankle when I was walking the course so there was no way I was going to expect my horse to go galloping around it! The ruts were really deep and there had been no effort to break them down or level them even around the jumps, I've prepared xc courses before and even if they'd put some sand down around the fences or spent a while with a rake and shovel I'm sure the conditions could have been improved. The jumps were big enough (1/1.10) and there were huge hoof print holes a few cm deep on both the landing and takeoffs, I know it was only riding club but after paying your entry fee the least you expect is that some time may have been spent making the xc rideable and safe. I watched some horses go before I left and they were all jumping very badly and there were a few nasty falls. Everyone I talked to who did run said it was terrible. I'd imagine there will be some sore horses tomorrow.
Anyway sorry for the long rant but I was so annoyed with the organisers and told them exactly why I'd withdrawn, of course they said there was nothing they could've done but even if they'd run a harrow or rotovator over the ground it would've loosened the soil and broken up the worst of the ruts. I got the impression they weren't even aware of how bad it was as they just drove around the course yesterday and stuck flags on the fences!!
I was so disappointed that I didn't get to go as I think my horse would have loved to do xc again as he missed all the hunter trials due to injury but I'm glad I didn't as I don't think it was worth the risk. So I'm going working hunter/showing with him tomorrow which I wasn't going to do if he'd run xc today. And I got home just in time to watch the last few riders showjump at Badminton, I'm so glad Lucinda won as I love her horse, she reminds me so much of my own little chestnut mare, full of attitude and scope!!!
Then walked the xc course, they had done no work with the ground whatsoever!! I mean, I knew it would be hard, which wouldn't have been too bad as there was a good covering of grass but it was so rutted and poached it was unbelievable, I nearly went down a few times on my ankle when I was walking the course so there was no way I was going to expect my horse to go galloping around it! The ruts were really deep and there had been no effort to break them down or level them even around the jumps, I've prepared xc courses before and even if they'd put some sand down around the fences or spent a while with a rake and shovel I'm sure the conditions could have been improved. The jumps were big enough (1/1.10) and there were huge hoof print holes a few cm deep on both the landing and takeoffs, I know it was only riding club but after paying your entry fee the least you expect is that some time may have been spent making the xc rideable and safe. I watched some horses go before I left and they were all jumping very badly and there were a few nasty falls. Everyone I talked to who did run said it was terrible. I'd imagine there will be some sore horses tomorrow.
Anyway sorry for the long rant but I was so annoyed with the organisers and told them exactly why I'd withdrawn, of course they said there was nothing they could've done but even if they'd run a harrow or rotovator over the ground it would've loosened the soil and broken up the worst of the ruts. I got the impression they weren't even aware of how bad it was as they just drove around the course yesterday and stuck flags on the fences!!
I was so disappointed that I didn't get to go as I think my horse would have loved to do xc again as he missed all the hunter trials due to injury but I'm glad I didn't as I don't think it was worth the risk. So I'm going working hunter/showing with him tomorrow which I wasn't going to do if he'd run xc today. And I got home just in time to watch the last few riders showjump at Badminton, I'm so glad Lucinda won as I love her horse, she reminds me so much of my own little chestnut mare, full of attitude and scope!!!
