Kirriemuir or Eden Valley intro?

applestroodle

applestroodle

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Just thinking and planning my first event, had in my head that i would start with Kirriemuir but someone suggested Eden Valley to me yesterday. They are both roughly same distance in each direction for me give or take a couple of miles and i wondered if anyone could offer any advice or help, looking for a nice first intro for green horse?

Thanks in advance :D
 
Still haven't made it to Eden Valley, but Alfie did Kirriemuir as his first BE, having only been round a cross country course once before (yes, I am mad). He didn't have any problems with it so would certainly say it was a good one for a green horse.
 
I haven't been to Eden Valley but Kirriemuir is a really nice event for a green horse/the beginning of the season - very flowing and no tricky questions. The dressage arenas have been in a nice quiet location when I've been and the going is great :)
 
Eden valley SJ is on a surface so if wet may be better for a baby horse.
XC wise ...Eden is a Douglas Weymouth course so will be 'brighter' in colour than Kirrie.
I did a preview for Eden last year for EWW. Have posted it below

"Eden Valley Horse Trials.

Where?
Nord Vue Farm, Armathwaite, Carlisle, CA4 9TN. Which is approx 7 miles from both junction 41 and 42 of the M6 motorway.

When?
Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th April

Which classes will run?
BE90 and BE100 will run on both days with a BE100 open section also on Sunday. There will only be five sections each day in this first year so entries need to be in well in advance to secure a place

Why?
Eden Valley is a long awaited replacement for the lost Brougham and Ivesley events which last ran in 2007/2008 and will hopefully sit well as an early season run after Witton.

What’s the venue like?
The farm is actually fairly hilly but in the first year the XC will run across the lower pastures. The going is very sandy and on old turf so it should enable the event to run even if the weather has been wet. The dressage arenas will be on recently re-seeded flat ground and the show jumping in a large outdoor rubber/fibre mix surface arena. There is some hard standing for the very long/heavy lorries near to the SJ with the remaining lorries parking just off the hard road leading to the farm alongside the XC. It is a very compact site with good views of the XC course.


What will the XC be like?
Designed and built by Douglas Weymouth, the XC will be very straight forward to provide a good first run of the season and suitable for first timers. Douglas describes it as “a true ‘amateur’ offering.” As with all of Douglas’s courses it will be built to a very high standard and beautifully presented.

There is a superb new water complex (25m x 18m) right in the middle of the course with a run in and jump out for BE100. There will also be a jump on and off a bank, a step to log, spreads, brushes, post and rail combinations and a short run uphill and sweep back down – no drops or downhill approaches to ditches. There are no woods to traverse just yet so it is a very open course but this will help make it a good cantering track.

What else?
Plenty of trade stands. Prizes in kind for all sections and rosettes to 10th place.
Also points awarded for the Cumbrian Challege Trophy which in 2010 will be presented at Hutton in the Forest (2). BHS trophy also awarded to the highest placed Cumbrian rider at the culmination of all four Cumbrian events.
"
 
Eden Valley has never run before. Last year would have been the first year but they cancelled as area where the dressage arenas are to be flooded. Having been to the venue to XC school it is not the best of land.
The fact the SJ is on a surface though - and it is a lovely big arena - is a big plus for an early event.
 
Kirrie is a lovely first event. My lad did his first intro there, had no issues XC (and he was very green too) and actually managed a placing :D The ground holds up well even if its wet and the dressage is away from the XC so less distracting.
 
How hilly is Eden? I have been there but before the xc was built. Just wondering how fit a horse it requires, as mine looks a bit like a show hunter at the mo :o
 
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