Pleasure / sponsored rides - what are they like?

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Gorgeous George

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As per title really, there is one very near me (I can hack there) at the end of April round one of the UK chaser courses, all the jumps are go-roundable (I won't jump), I really want to go but I am really worried that there will be lots of people haring round and that George will just get too excited with all the horses and I will end up in a pickle
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Unfortunately a friend who was going to do it with me is unable to make it so I am a bit stuck there. Just wondered what people's experiences of these sort of rides were like.

Thanks.
 
I go to most of the Cotswold Farm Park ones and every one is different, depending on who is around! We tend to go first thing and that puts paid to millions of brats galloping up our derrieres
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Fact is you won't know how G will react until you go. You mustn't get into a battle with him if he DOES get fresh. I wouldn't advocate going to your first one alone BTW, it is always good to have a nanny as if horses come past and you are on your tod it will prob upset G.
 
I've done a couple and one was much better than the other. You are right, it depends on the other riders! On the second one I rang the organsier first and because people set off at different times I went with other riders who wanted a quieter ride. We had a few canters but came back to walk if any horse got strong. Ring the organisers and find out abit more. Worth doing - very enjoyable.
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They are great fun for peeps that are confident when their horse is very very excited
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I went on one 16 years ago on my old boy and he blew a fuse, but fortunately did not bother me but really tired me out and my friend rode him the last few miles back
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From reading your previous posts, I would perhaps suggest that it may not be the best idea
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.... so very sorry if this sounds rude
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I would hate to see you lose your confidence
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So you could always look towards next year
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i did burghley last year on my 17.2 19yr old escorting my son on his pony. My horse was a silly idiot jogging the whole way round but everyone who was there was great, they always checked before going past and the marshalls were really friendly and chatty. it was a fab experience and will do it again this year. we evan had a girl on her own joi us half way round and it was great to chat

have a go everyone there will be understanding
 
absolutely no offence taken and I think you are probably right! I guess as I don't have transport when I see something close to home I get tempted! Maybe I will go up on foot and see what it's like and then I'll know for next year
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Most rides are lovely, I've never been on a bad one yet! As Weezy said, there is no knowing how your horse will react; you just have to see how he goes! Ellie has never played me up at a sponsored ride, but she did get very frisky and fresh when I took her hunting!
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Some rides you may find they wont let you start on your own; I always argue the toss with them though, as I dont have anyone to go with either and they normally relent and let me go alone!

Treat it as a normal hack; I'm sure you will have a lovely time!
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I have been on a couple and have always gone in a group but you do what you are comfortable with, we was all set off at different times so we didnt have any problems of people overtaking to set horses off,
I really enjoyed the ones I went on and my horse was lively but nothing that would scare anyone just nice and off my leg.
I think its different for each horse but all the ones I went with was fab,

You will really enjoy it
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Ooh I'm going to that one hopefully! It does depend on the other riders though. Sometimes if you go on your own and there are horses in front of you, your horse might try to catch them up.

But as Eagelstone said, if George is being a bit fresh at the moment maybe it would be better to do one later in the year with less jumps and horses roaring about!

Essex bridleways association run quite a few during the year and have a few jumps at the end so you wont have people flying up behind you. Also they try to send you off with gaps between groups. There website is
www.essexbridleways.co.uk

Hope this helps
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It does depend on how busy it is and if its mostly lanes and tracks or open fields. Some can be absolute mayhem and I've done some where no-one's turned up and we only saw one other pair of riders. Some are full of hunt blokes and crazy kids racing over hedges. The safest bet is to start off doing farm rides that are open every day, not just as a one-off. These are normally much quieter than than the ones that are only on a few times a year. Excellent fun but you do need to expect your horse to get excited and think you'll be able to manage him.
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i've been on lots and love them, but my horse doesn't get too wound up - he tends to jog and bounce a bit and wont stand still to start - have to keep him walking around or he rears up and he's normally extremely sane - the atmosphere really gets to them. luckily he doesn't mind being overtaken because there's a lot of that! not sure what my new horse will make of them, but he's been hunting so hopefully he should be fine.
 
They are really good fun!
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It's just like one long hack
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Most people keep it at a steady speed and are usually considerate to other riders and their horses.

I think you should go for it! You will really enjoy it!
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I always find they are much better if you can be one of the last to go- as there will be no one cantering past you to upset horsey. Plus take a friend as its far more fun and safer.
 
Either ring the organisers and ask if there is a group you could join that want to go slowly. Or post on here!!!There might be someone else who would like to go. I wouldnt go on my own for my first one in case I had an accident. I would go with you but it is a tad too far away!!!!!!

I would go!!! But then I love them!!! So a bit biassed!

BTW does anyone want a slow pootle round Highclere???? Bit of cantering and jumping but no going crazy?
 
Can you put on here exactly what one it is? maybe someone on here has done it before so can give you an idea what it's like?

There's one near me that i wouldn't go on in a million years as it's renowned for being a free for all! OK if you are brave or go hunting but I am not that brave! Good idea to go and look first, although if it's really nice and sedate and a beautiful sunny day you may regret not taking George!!

Also if you do go, go with someone else just in case! and it's nice to chat on the way round, but someone who wants to go at the same pace as you, no point them wanting to go slow and you wanting a good blast, or your horse wanting a good blast! or vice versa!

I also found some to be really expensive if you can't get enough sponsorship and have to pay for transport it can work out being a very costly day out, so worth taking that into consideration if you go further afield!
 
Have to agree that you want to find someone who definitely wants to go at the same pace. I went with people once who wanted to hare round. They had told me they were just going to go at a steady pace but they were on hairy experienced nutcase ponies not a young 16.2 TB.
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I was not a happy bunny!!!!
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So perhaps best not to go unless you are absolutely sure of the people and what they mean by going steadily!!!
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I am doing my first one at in about 6 weeks time. I have no idea how he will react but I am guessing he will jog the most part of it........

I am goint with a nanny and have chosen one I can cut short at 8 miles if necessary.

My thoughts are you will never know until you try...
 
They really do vary, depends on the terrain and the riders. A lot of the hunt-organised ones are quite fast, and the people who hunt tend to have horses who aren't bothered by being in large groups or passing/being passed.

Other rides have no jumps, and often attract endurance people, who again might want to pass and go fast, but will often be alone or in pairs.

Then there's rides like the one we did today, no jumps, and advertised as suitable for nervous/novice/youngsters/kids etc, so there were quite a few people out for an amble in the sunshine, we just asked to pass and trotted past where necessary.

If it's a UK Chasers course, why don't you just go and hire it with a friend on a 'normal' day, rather than when everyone is goi ng to the fun ride?
 
What about 3 or 4 of you hiring a box for the day and going somewhere different for a hack out - you could do it at your own pace and plan the route so it's a gentle confidence boosting ride
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hi. i would agree and say no dont go just yet. sorry! i did my first one on my young boy last year, he was impeccably behaved even when someone elses horses threw her off and galloped at full pelt up to mine, he stood still, while the other ran off across the field, but i dont think every horse would do that. it is not just your own horse you need to worry about, there can be up to 3/400 others there and if another goes mad, it might be more than yours can handle? i went with a friend and it was amazing but i trusted my boy implicitly, just be careful and if you have to ask the question about whether to go or not, then maybe youre answering it yourself in your own way? keep up the good work tho, i love reading your posts, youre doing so so well together x
 
Pop a card in local tack shop/freepaper. Asking if anyone in the area would like to go with you. You can meet them there. There maybe some one local in the same boat as you. Just make sure you state that you want to take it slow and its for fun. I have done a couple and they are great
 
Absolutely great fun, but, may blow George's mind a little. I wouldn't go on your own in case you do get into difficulty. If I were you, I'd wait until someone can go with you, and get as early a slot as you can.

I'm doing the Canter for a cure at MK in May, which I'm really excited about but also a little apprehensive!
 
If you and I were nearer I'd come with you to keep you company. They are such great, great fun. I used to really enjoy doing them with Amy, and can't wait to do some this year with Thumper.

Don't go on your own. Firstly, it's much nicer to go in company, and secondly if it's your first time - better to have company for George. He will be much more settled.
 
I adored each and every one I did when Rosie was in work. I suppose they vary from area to area but here the hacking is unrivalled, great going and the horses absolutely adored it.

We always aimed to go early as my mare always wanted to pass everything anyway, and it also meant it wasnt quite so exciting for them! THey were always well behaved, much better than local hacking. My tips:-

Go with a friend
Aim to be first off or early
If you dont go early try and start when things are relatively quiet so it is calm
Dont chat so much that you miss the markers (like I did once and ended up doing 4 miles extra)
Get into a rhythm, a slow trot is great and eats up the miles, if George is fit enough.
Try and short one first and see if you like it.

I think you will love it, it gave me loads of confidence and got my horse very fit!
 
I'd love to go on one too, but am a bit of a nervous nelly. I've been on some before with my old pony who was used to hacking in large groups (my current horse gets excited in more than a four), people not being polite when over taking or overtaking at speed was still an issue. I'm hoping that a friend will bring her bombproof horse and nanny me on a sponsored ride at the end of the year, try to start very early or at the end. I hope you and George have fun.
 
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