Isleham ODE 30th June. Having a wobble

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glamourpuss

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I have a pretty green but bold & scopey TB.

I was all set to enter the 90cm at Isleham on the 30th but I've been majorly put off as people keep telling me about how Clem likes to build his courses ;)

The horse has done the 75cm HT there last spring & was fine (minor wobble at slope running into water)
He also completed a decent 2' 9" ODE at the end of last season.
This year has been a slow burner for various reasons but I'm having regular lessons with an Olympic medalist eventer, he's been XC schooling, happily SJ 90cm classes.
I'm taking him XC schooling again on Friday, then Sun 23rd I thought I'd run in him in the 90cm SJ & HT at Ickworth.

Does this sound like a decent prep or would you expect a little more match practise before tackling something which is considered a bit of a higher end 90 class.
I'm just wobbling because he's too good to ruin with a hasty run :(
 
Hey, I walked the course for the HT at Isleham back in March (which got cancelled due to snow) - we were walking the supposed 2ft 6 course, and there were 90 fences in it! Apparently the ODE at Isleham a while ago was pretty much the same course, so I'm guessing the 90 class ODE will be VERY up to height! Sorry I can't help more!


Also, are you having an XC lesson at Ickworth on Friday by any chance? With a certain female? If so, me too!
 
Oh & thank you for the reply I think I might be better running in the 75, then doing a BE 90 where I know the standard is a bit more consistent :)
 
Our old grey horse did the 90cm ODE at Isleham as his first ever event and I have to say when we walked the course, I felt rather alarmed. It was up to height and there were a fair number of skinnies and a log in the water. As it happened, the grey horse jumped all of it without issue but he wasn't particularly green and was a very point-and-shoot XC horse. If the horse is good with skinnies, then I'd think about it but it wouldn't be my first choice for a very green horse.
 
glamourpuss said:
Oh & thank you for the reply I think I might be better running in the 75, then doing a BE 90 where I know the standard is a bit more consistent :)
Click to expand...

That sounds like a plan :-)

I'm at 5.30, I've been having a few lessons with her too, and after 2 XC lessons we had our best XC run yet! Then had a SJ lesson with her last week before my BE80, and had our best SJ for a long time! I sing her praises!
 
Have you ever walked the 90 there? Its hard to say if it will suit but there will be lots of skinnys and some on curving lines from other fences, it will be up to height and have lots of experienced combinations competing.
 
LoopieSteph - Having done the 90 XC at Isleham a couple of times, I would DEFO not recommend it for a first run at 90. The XC is twisty and Clem loves to chuck things in it that he really shouldn't, and would defo not be allowed in a BE 90, like a log in the water and ditch to skinny roll-top!! The BE in March has a new trakenher in it too, which was in the ODE in April as well. Its up to height, solid & techical. BUT once you've cracked it you can safely say you can do ANY 90 XC course :) Good luck in whatever you choose to do!!

If only I'd know about a XC clinic at Ickworth Friday!! I would have LOVE to have gone!!! :D
 
Smokes is there, we hope, in the 75cm class! It'll be a mini-HHO meet up :D

The 90cm class is usually a pretty big ask IMO, with very few learner options. The people who do well in that and the 1m are usually the ones who know the game well.

For a nice first 90cm ODE, can recommend Burghley- it's decent, but everything has an L option. Al managed to wagon Reg round the 1m for his 2nd go at that level, simply because it had so many options of something was too hard. If you go direct all the way it's a serious test, but if you take the learners it's sweet!
 
Awwww thank you guys I really appreciate the input. Seems like my gut feeling was right then.
Like I said he is as bold as they come & nothing phases him jumping wise BUT I'm wary that a horse as good as still requires the basics to be firmly in place & if I'm honest the technical side is what is likely to catch us out. Jump Isleham 90 in haste repent in leisure lol :D

Okaaaaaay I think I will enter the 75 unless instructor tells me otherwise.

Jesstickle I would love a hand/moral support...there won't be any childerbeasts to contend with just me & my wibbling nerves :D
 
LOL....I have just entered the 90cm (or 2ft11 as theyve listed it) class on the 30th June!

I tried to have a good look around at photos (like on the FB page for naff courses and eventing course walks/shoe string etc) And i didnt think it was too bad....although i cant really appreciate the true size of things on pics! One thing that did strike me was that there were quite a few combinations and yes skinny fences.

I would say mine is green(ish) but oddly- jumps skinnies without problems but can occasionally look at ditches. A couple of friends went there in march or whenever the last one was and said it wasnt actually that bad.

But now you all have me worried!!!! :confused:
 
Dusty85 TBH I'm probably being overcautious but having come back from one crashing loss of nerve I'm loathe to ruin it.
Just to give you an idea of how bold this horse is...the 1st time he saw a ditch was at the Isleham Hunter Trial. He popped it without any problem at all...bless him :)
I have big plans for this boy so a little bit of caution at the start of his career won't hurt :)
 
I don't know then. It's a lovely venue, with a great set up, but I wouldn't trust the XC to be a nice 90cm for a first go. 90% of it will be perfect, but those 2 or 3 fences that ask a question will ask in a fairly unforgiving way. PC 90cm isn't like a BE90- you're already halfway up the ladder as it where when you get to PC 90cm, whereas in BE you're only just starting. So the questions asked can be very different, and presented very differently in my experience.

I think erring on the side of caution is the better option in this case, especially as he'll have done his first 90cm the week beforehand. If it goes well, this will be a romp round for him and if it doesn't it'll be a nice confidence building run. Which is win-win...
 
You are absolutely right Lolo....ah well it will def be a HHO meet up if I do the 75 ;)
Just looking at Horsedates now sadly a real shortage of unaff ODE in July/August. I think I might enter the BE90 at Gt Witch. I gather that's a nice course :)
 
Glamourpuss- I am a livery at Blackwater. it is a nice course nothing usually too technical but very up to (and prob sometimes slightly over!) height.

David may run this years course over the meadows (across the road) as I suspect we are in for hard ground and it is always lovely over there. So chance for some new fences or things not seen in a little while. And a few more water complexes ha!
 
Agree with Dusty85, the 90cm at Blackwater is very nice. I can't think of a single skinny in it, and although it is very up to height it's still not unkind. I managed to get my old boy round it despite him not jumping more than 85cm happily!

I'll ask Al what else she's got planned, as it sounds like you and her will have a big overlap in events! Definitely look into Burghley 90cm (Photos here) although entries would need to be in soon!
 
Loopiesteff I saw that ODE but Ickworth is so much closer so would save a fortune in diesel, plus la famille are more likely to come & cheer me on/annoy me.
I've also seen that Stratford Hills are running a ODE the 30th as well....aaaaargggh another one to consider!
 
We considered Stratford, but the ground there is always rock solid. Unless it rains solidly until the event, it will be hard- pity, as Al really likes it there. But last year the ground was just about nice, and everywhere else had been rained off...
 
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