New Forest P2P on Boxing Day: experiences anyone?

gelderlander

gelderlander

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Would love to have a crack at this but I don't know the Forest at all and am worried that the starting point will be difficult to locate for someone like me who isn't a local (apparently it is kept secret until the day before the race). Has anyone competed at these races who would like to share their experiences?
 
Point-to-point
Posted on October 29, 2013 by New Forest Trust
Point-to-point just means a horse race in most parts of the country, but the New Forest is one of the few places that has a ‘proper’ point-to-point, where riders race across open country taking any route they like between the starting point and the finishing point.

To make the job harder, the starting point is kept a secret until just before the race. The competitors turn up at a meeting place where they are weighed-in (the race is a handicap), then the starter leads them off through the Forest to the actual starting point. Some riders might have no idea where they are when the race begins, and the competitors can set-off in different directions. The races are usually held on Boxing Day. Today the organisers of the race are very concerned about the safety of the horses, riders and spectators. But not so long ago the riders didn’t even bother to wear hard hats.

I found this on the New Forest Trust site.
Looks like you've only got to find the meeting place and they take you to the start.
I know my dad grew up in the forest and he said it favoured local folk because they obviously know their way around the forest and the quickest routes. They also know where the holes and bogs are too so know where to avoid!

Apologies if this is no help whatsoever! Just thought it might help as no-one else has replied!
 
I really wanted to do this when I lived in the New Forest a few years back but do remember it's mainly for New Forest ponies and the ladies open has a max height limit of 15hh (at least it did about 7 years ago). Men's open has no height limit but I do know I couldn't do it with my 16.2hh being female. The NFED web site is the source of all info (or was!) as I said left about 7 years ago. There is at least one DVD about it as well, again NFED prob the place to look. Don't know where you are but they publish the finish line so the trick is to hack out from there in the build up in order to get to know the area.
Keep us updated if you have a go, good luck
 
I did the kids race more than 10 years ago. Very dangerous and you need to know the forest well. But.. I loved every minute. I wouldn't want to do it on a horse (just spend a day with NF hunt and you'll see why!) and the weight limits would put me off the adult races. Plus my horses are far too precious these days!
 
It does help if you know the New Forest - which race would you be entering? The children's races have escorts (and along with the veterans do not cross any roads).
The Adult races don't have escorts and it really is a case of take your own line (you can cross the finish line from any direction) - if you don't know where you are at all you might not end up following someone with the best route.
You can generally work out where the start points are likely to be, vicinity of the finish is given. Children and adults are 1.5miles as the crow flies but not crossing any roads (start point may be hacked to from the meeting point). The adults are 3miles, again maybe a hack from the meeting point. However the meeting point needs to have enough parking space for the trailers and lorries to drop off and the finish needs to have plenty of space to park all the spectators plus the lorries and trailers. This does help to narrow it down a bit.

You will find lots of people in the preceeding few weeks going out and riding the various routes they think are options.

It is great fun, you do need a pony that is very sure footed and nimble. You do expect to get muddy and there will be fallers but its a huge adrenalin rush too! They do have a few non-locals each year who come with their foresters
 
Sportyspots said:
I really wanted to do this when I lived in the New Forest a few years back but do remember it's mainly for New Forest ponies and the ladies open has a max height limit of 15hh (at least it did about 7 years ago). Men's open has no height limit but I do know I couldn't do it with my 16.2hh being female. The NFED web site is the source of all info (or was!) as I said left about 7 years ago. There is at least one DVD about it as well, again NFED prob the place to look. Don't know where you are but they publish the finish line so the trick is to hack out from there in the build up in order to get to know the area.
Keep us updated if you have a go, good luck
Click to expand...
Thank you everyone for bothering to post - all advice and info gratefully received :) I am female, not quite yet a veteran, with a young NF pony that would be eligible for the Novice race, I believe. I want to compete rather than win, and would be happy enough just to tag along behind a few riders just to complete without getting lost (my biggest fear)! Does this sound feasible, or are these races best just left to the local riders due to their superior knowledge of the terrain?
 
The novice race is usually quite busy and I am sure there will be a few that will stick together that you can tag along behind - I think there is some headcam of previous year which will give you an idea of the going etc.

If you to the nfed.co.uk there are some forums on there and someone there can probably offer some more advice and you might even find someone to buddy up with.
 
gelderlander said:
Would love to have a crack at this but I don't know the Forest at all and am worried that the starting point will be difficult to locate for someone like me who isn't a local (apparently it is kept secret until the day before the race). Has anyone competed at these races who would like to share their experiences?
Click to expand...

Entries are now closed, sorry only just spotted this, if you want to see what its like, this is us last year (headcam):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtGFxiJMYxs

All the rules of part-bred or pure forest are on the official entry form, these can be found on the New Forest Equine Directory and on the New Forest Pony & Cattle breeding society.

The meeting point is found out on Xmas day, the start is un-known until you are escorted there on the day, when at the start you are told where the finish is :-)
 
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