Pony Club ODE or BE- which do you prefer?

S

Sunny_Star

Well-Known Member
Joined
27 June 2007
Messages
1,116
Location
Eggland
Visit site
Was just wondering what people who do both PC eventing and BE eventing preferred.
I've only ever done 2 PC ODEs, and the first went really badly because the stupid tack check people said I had the wrong numnah, wrong browband, and by the time I had changed all my horse's tack I had no time to warm up for sj so had to go straight in the ring..grrr
And then the jumps were 3ft3", I was told they were going to be around 2ft9-3ft height.
Anyway did one of these little BE training classes last year and loved it! And luckily they didn't have a problem with my numnah OR browband!

I was just deciding on whether to prioritise PC eventing or BE this year, I'm doing GCSEs so have been limited to one event a month for a while.
Doing PC is good because you get to be on a team sometimes I guess.

Anyones opinions would be useful
smile.gif
 
PC tend to be a mixture of heights xc and IMO not always safe. Better to do a proper BE course once a month and know the jumps have been professionally inspected.
 
Same porblem as you!! I am doing both - last year I did PC. Some are fanatastic! Others arent but I have had no problems with any so far - have not done A BE event myself hpwever have always found them very nice nd helpful when grooming for people etc. I am prioritising BE unless I get into a team, which is unlikely - I also do not want such a commitment in the teams, unless I feel that it is worth it!
x
 
PC is completely random & still do it (well child does) but can't wait till he's ready to INtro, so much safer & well run - though lots more expensive.
 
definitaly BE, the courses are much better built and generally have a better atmosphere. at some PC events i have been to the state of the xc fences and esp the ground seem to b somewhat of an after thought. although some of the bigger pc events ie: areas are normally around BE courses which makes them much better!
smile.gif
 
BE most definatley. this is just my experience but i have found BE has a lot less of the PC mothers and is a lot better organised...also i find the courses that PC use which arent BE courses are not up to scratch quite often. Also you have less cliques and gossiping. But PC is much cheaper!
 
If you are going to do PC ones, try and do the ones which also hold BE events, as you'll know that the jumps should be ok, and then u can gauge how well ur doing against BE courses. Don't think this makes much sense but hopefully u got the gist!!!
 
The problem when I went to the area (not because I wanted to qualify or anything, only went cos it was near!) was that they whacked all the jumps up to a height I wasnt really comfortable with.

I then went to another PC ODE and the jumps were supposedly "novice" height but were more like 2ft6"!! Not that I had a problem with that, I just didnt like the inconsistancy.

I went to watch a PN BE event last year, and it looked all very well run and the sj course was nice and fairly simple.
I am thinking more of BE now because it seems you know what you're getting, I think I am too rubbish to get onto my PC eventing team anyway
frown.gif
 
Some PC are round BE courses which can be very good however they wouldnt usually ahve the facility to do anything to the ground so then you have nice jumps but rubbish ground!! Also not presented as well so lacking groundlines and things (which BE would add on the day) can make them look more upright/less inviting.

The tack checks drive me mad, i have a lovely horse who is v good XC when you can hold him. I can hold him safely in a myler combination. I can't use a myler combination in the PC because at the tack check before jumping out comes a ruler and the shanks are too long to be PC legal! Therefore i would have to go in another bit and be dangerous!

Some BE events have PC sections whcih are quite good.
 
Definatley BE. PC are so fussy for tack inspections and always take hours to put the results up. Most of the time at BE by the time you have put your horse away and walked back to the tent the scores are up then you can go home! Also the courses and the ground are much better at BE though it is very expensive!
 
well, still think that pc events are really good, as most of ours (actually all of them bar one) are run over eventing ireland courses, and the pc events are usually held the week after the EI event, so that the course is still good and all facilities are there. and at specific events there is a proper pony club course, specically for pc and only pc runs over it, and it is a very good course up to 2f9, when then the 3f3 is run over the PN course.

over here, in my pc anyway, you are always on a pc team unless there isnt enough members to make a team - at our area trials there is usually 5 novice teams, 6 intermeadiate teams and 2 open teams. our dc is a believer that there isnt enough pc courses run, so we all do EI and then are usually picked for which team (ie. which one will quailify and which one will come 2nd
tongue.gif
) from there affiliated results.

tack inspectors may be fussy, but thats because there are children on the xc course and some people try to cheat in pc events ( I know!) and tack checks are nessacary to make sure that the tack is up to standard. at a 2 phase on sunday, there was no tack checks and there was a pony doing the xc in blinkers!!!!!!

the heights are always put up for the areas - thats the idea, make them tough and only the best will go through! a novice pc is usually ranging from 2f6 to 2f9 anyhows, and intermeds are 2f9-3f3 whilst opens are usually 3f3-3f6.
our areas last year where run at loughanmore, where EI events are held - the course is tough and up to height but we expect it - it is a quailifer so there should be a competition!

however, also agree with the timing of affiliated events... so much quicker!
tongue.gif
 
i have the same problem as you!!! i am takin 2 gcse's early but i am going 2 combine the 2. PC IS CHEAP!!! BUT BE HAS BETER COURSES!!! and i think people dont realies how competitive the pony club is, and the standard of some of their odes. and as you start getting to intermediate + in pony club...the courses become more decent, its only realy novice that the heights alter.

good luck!!

xx
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top