Pachesham Equestrian Centre ODE

monte1

monte1

Well-Known Member
Joined
14 December 2009
Messages
1,191
Location
Hampshire
Visit site
as per the title, I am planning to do the ODE there on 26th September, can anyone comment on ground conditions the XC course layout and the venue generally please?

I want to take my youngster for a pop around the 70cm as a gentle introduction to eventing

thanks in advance ;-)
 
I personally wouldn't. Lovely venue, very friendly, well run and we won so definitely not sour grapes ;) but, unless they have revamped it recently (which they may have done -I haven't been for a couple of years) it is quite a spooky, twisty course with a water that involves going down a ramp into a water with built up sides. I took quite a seasoned campaigner (it was me that needed the practise) and he was fine but in the 80cm the second fence was a step down which I thought was quite a big ask for that level. Of course you know your horse best but I prefer more around the "edge of a field" type for babies so they can discover their rhythm a bit and it definitely wasn't that! Quite wet in the woods too.
 
thank you almostthere, I am in two minds what to do for the best, we have been out XC schooling several times now - he is more confident each time and I am discovering, pretty bold. went to Tweseldown on Saturday and did plenty there including steps, lane crossing, corners, jumps into and out of water, even ended up popping a few of the pre novice fences at the end. (eeek) But as it would be his first proper full xc course, I really wanted something inviting and confidence building where I could get into a rythymn as you said and not to much stopping and starting.

I may look for something else or perhaps a simple hunter trial might be the better option ?
 
monte1 said:
thank you almostthere, I am in two minds what to do for the best, we have been out XC schooling several times now - he is more confident each time and I am discovering, pretty bold. went to Tweseldown on Saturday and did plenty there including steps, lane crossing, corners, jumps into and out of water, even ended up popping a few of the pre novice fences at the end. (eeek) But as it would be his first proper full xc course, I really wanted something inviting and confidence building where I could get into a rythymn as you said and not to much stopping and starting.

I may look for something else or perhaps a simple hunter trial might be the better option ?
Click to expand...

As I said, it may have changed but it sounds like he is ok with the individual fences and different types so now you want him to learn that they will have to be put together ;). I personally think you will find Pachesham too disruptive to his rhythm. Suzi's suggestion of Munstead would be perfect. Tweseldown is also supposedly doing a HT on 18th October although no schedule out yet which might be even better since he is familiar with the venue??? I do love the babies some times :) :).
 
I would recommend it. I think it's a nice easy venue for babies and the 70cm is nice and simple. My 4 year old jumped around it last year and another 4 year old from the yard. Warm up is pretty quiet and spacious in my opinion. The water is disgusting though! So it's nice when they run the course so that's at the end. They generaly keep the course the same each comp, just change directions and the first few fences are simple. I was meant to be going but my lorry is off the road so have had to withdrawer.
 
Another shout for Munstead. A lovely course. As others have said Pachesham is a bit more twisty and can get a bit boggy in the woods. And yes the water is foul, I think you'd end up ill if you drank it!!
 
Munstead is great. Pachesham has good options at the lower heights - but two bits you do need to be aware of. The water is curious - it is basically a very sunken pond and can be disgustingly stagnant - although with all the rain atm it is probably fresh and flowing just now! The ramp down and up (there is a step option too) leads to a cutting higher than the horse's head which can be daunting. The other issue that is there are pigs in the woods. They are behind a low electric line to keep them off the track so you won't run into one directly but they can cause a surprise moving in the undergrowth or running toward you as you jump. The fences have been re-vamped since the previous poster jumped there - but we have found the ground a bit too deep on occasion. It is clay.

We go to Pachesham at lot - it is 10 minutes away. And actually I think the pigs are great. But I know others who don't!
 
Munstead is running over the BE80 course, so a bit bigger than the 70cm which you were aiming for - but it is nice. Also Tweseldown have hunter trials in October, can't remember the size they start at.
 
thank you everyone for all the information and advice, I have decided to go along and give it a go as my friend who is an experienced eventer is also going with two horses , she has been out to various events and been xc schooling with us several times - knows my boy pretty well now and thinks he will be fine there!

I have entered the 70cm, which is far smaller than we have been jumping but I figured I can use it as a schooling exercise and if he is spooky or unsettled we can easily pop them out of trot without any hassle.

just got to remember my dressage test not get lost on course and hope for good traffic conditions on the way there and back and all will be fine ....EEEK
will report back on how it all went :-)

thanks again to all !
 
thanks MCTM, will take a look as Tweseldown is lovely now, been XC schooling there a few eeks ago :-)

MCTM said:
Munstead is running over the BE80 course, so a bit bigger than the 70cm which you were aiming for - but it is nice. Also Tweseldown have hunter trials in October, can't remember the size they start at.
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top