Kelsall Hill or Eland Lodge?

Gamebird

Gamebird

Well-Known Member
Joined
26 April 2007
Messages
8,807
Visit site
Looking for an April Novice, both of these are about 3hrs easy motorway driving for me but have never done Novice at either before. Have been in the last 2 years to do Intro to both with babies. It was before Kelsall had a Nov (though I believe they caused a few probs first time they ran one?). I thought Eland Lodge Nov(despite the backlash) looked a bit tiddly, but then I had ridden round Belton the previous day.

Any recommendations? - plan would be to go from one or the other to Belton Int the following weekend (providing Carthorse has put his SJ @rse in gear by then, otherwise it will be Belton Novice
mad.gif
).
 
Great minds really do think alike!!!

I was thinking of this today, but was going to post in a few weeks..and..I was going to post about competing alone yesterday.

Mine(hopefully mine anyway) went clear at Kelsall last season, so I was think either that or Eland, considering it will probaby be our first N together. Ideas for me too pleease!!
 
last years kelsall novice in april had quite a few questions with angles skinnies and turns. definately one of the hardest novices i did last year. But they did change it for the second one so i dont know what it will be like next spring.
 
Kelsall's first novice had a v tricky combination at 4 which caused a LOT of glance-offs. The water was also VERY strong for such an early event and caused a number of horse falls
frown.gif
- some were definitely rider error though - there was an alternative at the water but not many took it
confused.gif
. Also some trouble at a strange trakhener. They did seem to realise that they had gone a bit ott though by the autumn event. They don't generally try to catch people out.

*prepares to be shot down in flames*
I think Kelsall tends to suffer from more bad riding than some events because lots of people school there, do the farm ride, clinics etc etc and so get a bit blasé about it and over-estimate their abilities.

Haven't any direct experience of Eland's novice but it does seem to cause carnage! Have walked it and been fairly horrified!! Double of trakheners on a right angle of about 5 strides followed by angle the other way to an owlhole. Also scary swan's nest full of eggs in the middle of the water.
shocked.gif
 
Eland is lovely, but had a few questions that caused a problem, namely the corner under the trees on the homeward run, and the double of trakehners... however, they have apparently completely changed the course.....
tongue.gif
 
Hard to know, isn't it? I do think some of these Equestrian Centre based courses tend to end up a bit more fiddly and a bit less bold than some of the more old-fashioned established courses. I had heard that Kelsall Hill had knocked the Nov back a few pegs after their first try but I still maintain that Eland looked a bit small and fiddly after Belton.... Hmmmm.

Re. Kelsall inviting bad riding: I took an ex flat-horse round for its first ever ODE. Finished 11th despite a late 40's dressage and a pole or two SJ.... Most people had XC time faults in the 20's. I cruised round at a sensible speed and was the 2nd fastest time of the day
shocked.gif
. Either I'd got so used to Nov/Int speed that I'd forgotten how to do an Intro or everyone else stopped half way round for a picnic
confused.gif
.
 
Eland was fab: Fraser the Hunter did his first novice there, it had a bit of everything but in a very accessible way (doubel of trakeheners were a bit
crazy.gif
though.) Was not meaty like Belton but you could easily be caught out by technical stuff or out-of-context stuff like the carved duck in the second water. Educational in making a horse think, as opposed to Belton making you ride forward and boldy. (Disclaimer: this is all My Very Humble Opinion).
 
I did Belton the day before then thought the novice looked small at Eland but having spoken to various people who rode it(all who are decent riders with advanced horses etc) they all said it was not one to be underestimated and actually wasn't half as easy as it looked.

I HATE the surface for SJ at Eland which always feels dead to me but been having lessons on a similar surface so maybe i'll be better on it by then! Double of trakeheners XC does always cause huge number of probs but as said above they've changed it all it might not even be open at all until after the event they're doing so much!
 
Thanks sw123, I wasn't going mad when I walked it then. I couldn't believe how few double clears there were over what looked to me (perhaps barring the trakheners) like a PN course.
 
Can't comment on Eland Lodge but did Novice at 2nd Kelsall last year and would recommend. Plus point is ground always good so should run whatever weather. I thought course well built but there were some questions, e.g. double of skinny hedges on an angle going downhill tho this rode well. Slightly bizarre was shortly after water where you had to double back to a jump, bit like doing a long-winded alternative, I guess the idea was checking whose brakes/steering was working (mine weren't so good
blush.gif
). Downside was dressage on a hill - although arenas may have moved this year.
 
They have rebuilt some of the fences at Eland, but they are extending the track through a new section of wood. It won't be ready for a while yet!
 
Come to Kelsall because I'll be there grooming for my sister on the Sunday. Our RC area qualifier was there last year and the course rode really well
smile.gif
I would happily go back especially as the going's really sandy so should be good whatever the great British weather throws at us before then!
 
I have just had a message from Eland to say it may be open for limited people before the BE event in April but otherwise schooling will be after the BE event.
 
I work (and live!) at Eland Lodge. As well as managing the yard, I keep our website up to date. I have updated the cross country course page to include pictures of all the fences. I have changed the BE90, BE100 and Novice links to show which fences are in this years course. I have added the names of the new fences currently being built and will add photos of them as soon as they are finished.
Go to the following web address and click on the relevant course buttons at the bottom of the page (you can also see what was in last years course) http://87.237.62.35/facilities_cross-country.htm alternatively go to www.elandlodge.com - click facilities then cross country

If anyone would like more details on what is going on at Eland please feel free to ask away!!
 
[ QUOTE ]

I HATE the surface for SJ at Eland which always feels dead to me but been having lessons on a similar surface so maybe i'll be better on it by then!

[/ QUOTE ]

Great News - we are having our surface treated with progel at Eland next week so it will be more like riding on a waxed surface. This should make a huge difference and will be ready well in time for BE
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top