Nervous & Excited - MK 3 Day

S

Safina

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Entry form....tick
Cheques..... .tick
SAE..............tick
Horse & Rider....wibble

Thats it, the form is ready, cheques are signed, envelopes addressed and stamped, dressage test learnt, horse getting fit, rider is terrified........and its sent!

Anyone else doing MK3DE in May or have any words of wisdom re: preparation for me? Its too late to get the form out of the post tray so all hints and tips gratefully received.
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Saf - you'll be fine!

Are you doing class 1? I promise it is small and straight forward - even Buster wil make it round the SJ
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Are you going to the training day? I think if you go on that you will feel much better
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Yes....class one. Class 2 is more like our current height but I think with the extra added pressure I'd prefer to be in my comfort zone.

I've done 2 XC sessions at MK and I've got a 3rd doing the R&T's and Steeplechase before the day.

My trainer is working hard on our dressage trying to get soft transitions and straightlines which the boy is awful at but getting better.

Its just the SJ but now that the clocks have changes I'll try to fit in a gridwork session at least once a week.

Phew - thanks, its just helps putting it down in words.
 
Daughter did the Open last Autumn on her 14.2, had a great time, loved the R&T and Steeplechase. It's great fun with a fab atmosphere. I was chief groom and lorry driver.

You need to be organised in the D box.

Print off their rules and suggestions and put then somewhere you can see them on the day.

Are you stabling there and staying over?
 
Thanks Thistle - I am staying over. Have currently got 2 grooms (and a pregnant sister who can organise but no manual labour for her) and a the suggestions from MK re: the D box.

I am most concerned about silly things.....the vet examination (what am I supposed to wear!) and whether the beast will nap on the R&T sections.
 
In the Autumn it was absolutely peeing down for the trot up so Bee wore trousers, wellies and a bomber jacket and baseball cap.

The lady who was really smartly dressed in a lovely skirt suit and court shoes did look a little silly wringing wet and slipping all over the place though!

A smartish jacket, trousers, some sort of hat and shoes you can run in is best.

If you have any friends going and need to stable together make sure they have your cometitor number to bag your stable too.

Shouln't nap on R&T unless you are first to go as there will always be another horse in front. Get used to regulating your speed as some of the course is too rough to trot but there are some canters.

Take a bike to 'walk' the R&T and allow plenty of time - it's a long way.

If they have the same caterers they are reasonably priced and excellent. A roast dinner for £5 or £6.
 
Ooooh me too! Ditto all the above apart from forms and cheques being quite ready to post, figure i'll post on sat as open date is mon 2nd.
Very glad its not just me thats like an over-excited small child at christmas! i've done it twice before and it is brilliant. am also hoping to do the training day as haven't done it before but need to sort transport out first. Also need to start some 'proper' fast work on fat hairy pony otherwise we won't get round phase A....
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We'll have to have a mini hho meet-up!
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Hi Legend - hurrah, another HHO'er.

I switch between nervous and totally over-excited! I am doing loads of prep but feel a bit silly as I am only doing class 1!

How did you get on on your previous attempts?
 
I'm only doing class 1 too, i figure until i can get round in any vague attempt at style that is the best place for me! Previous attempts....oh the shame.....erm
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, first time i couldn't get over the first steeplechase fence, so don't bothering being nervous, you won't be any worse than that!
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Last year was much better but we had lots of time faults xc, so are aiming to do lots more fast work as prep.
 
I'm not jeleous you're going
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(repeat to self), I'm not jeleous
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!!

I've done this twice (Sept's 2004 and 2005) and had an absolute ball. Cannot recommend highly enough how good it is and fun. the people who organise it are great and really friendly just ask if you need any info and they're really helpful. I wore my normal dressage/sj gear for the vet trot up but so long as you're neat and tidy and wearing your number it's pretty much anything goes. Walk R&Ts on dressage day, and if you have time XC, but as you are in class one and I think you go last on XC day, you should have plenty time on that morning to go have a look.

Get your entry in as early as possible (post it the day before opening day) and the chances are you'll get accepted. Just make sure you and ponio are fit, I did lots of interval training in canter 2 laps of 2 mins 1st week, 3 laps of 3 mins 2nd week building up to 5 laps of 5 mins etc just so you both have lots of stamina to do the R&Ts/XC day.

Can't think of much else, but if I do I'll PM you. I might have a checklist of the things I took with me - if its of interest, let me know and I'll email it. All I can say is HAVE FUN
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Edited to say: for the vet trot up you'll have to trot up a track and round a tub of flowers, make sure that as you go round the flowers you're not blocking the vets view of the horse - go round them with you on the outside - I think if you go left round them rather than the right you should be in the right place!.
 
Aw thank you so much Ludi - great tips and its lovely to hear so many positive experiences!

We are going on Friday before so I am hoping to walk the R&T and the XC all in one then the XC again on the dressage day so I am sure of the course.

Feel better about the vet run up now - sister (aka chief groom, organiser and bossy boots) suggested lots of good outfits as well. I was rather taken with the tweed skirt suit suggestion but thought that might be a bit OTT!

The beast is competition fit now but interval training is a must - we are practicing troting/cantering/walking a KM so I get a good idea re: timing.

My problem is I can cope with all the prep, get the beast fit, do plenty of SJ/XC and dressage training then on the day the beast will spook the whole way round the dressage, nap or tank the whole way round the XC and hit every pole in the SJ!

Oh well...its the taking part that counts!
 
Pic of trot up in 2005
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Horses dont need to be super fit as R&T and XC are run over fairly slow speeds.
Little tip for the steeplechase start box.
Dont stand at the start line, go right to the back of the box then go when the starter hits 2. You will cross the start line on go but already be moving well. Can save a few vital seconds.
On R&T 3 dont bring horse back to walk as soo as you finish the steeplechase. Continue cantering for another 30-45 seconds gradually slowing. This is much better for the horse and will put you well up on the clock allowing you to walk the last Km so no prob with heart rate at vet check in 10 minute box.
 
Brilliant tips 4F - thank you. I will remember both of those and put them into my game plan.

Sadly I cannot see the run-up pics at work but I'll log on at home later and have a nosey.

Are you judging/commentating?
 
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Are you judging/commentating?

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Really not sure what my involvement will be this year.
Wife may well get roped in to judge one of the dressage sections in which case I will be press ganged in to writing for her.
May well be in XC control on day 2 provided I haven't got SJ somewhere.

Have lots more tips but would take too long to write out.
 
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