Scottish Folks - Knock hunter trial

[mandylou]

Hello,

This is a long shot as there doesn't seem to be many people as far north as me on here

Anyway, here goes:

Has anyone on here done knock cross country by Huntly? I'm taking my young horse next month and I'm trying to decide whether to enter the mini (60cm) or the novice (80cm) - Those of you who do open please don't laugh at me Now the height is not an issue for him but he is young and very new to cross country so I am leaning towards doing the mini to give him the confidence etc However, part of me wants to do the novice just to push him a little more becuase I know he is capable. Does anyone have any pictures of the novice course or can anyone advise on how scary it is? Is there a jump into water?

Many thanks

 

[muffinthemule]

Hi Mandylou

If you check out Animal Snapper Photography, foxphotographics or Peak Photography you'll get some photos of previous events to get an idea.
I really like the course at Knock and there is a wide variety of inviting small (and big!) things there. The main water is lovely (ramps in and out) and I don't think at that height you would be using the other water which doesn't tend to jump as well.
What might be best to do is enter the Hunter Pace instead of the trial then you can pick and choose what you jump all the way round??
Very friendly owners at Knock and events tend to be well run. Really nice day out.

Enjoy! We'll maybe see you there

 

[mandylou]

Thank you Muffinthemule. That's very reassuring, sounds like it's nice course to take my boy to Good idea about the hunter pace. I wasn't really sure what that entailed but if I get to pick and choose each fence then that would be ideal for us! I'm really excited now

Hopefully see you there!

 

[MagicMelon]

I'm just as far North as you Knock's my second closest XC course.

I do open, but I'm not about to laugh at you! A young horse has to start somewhere! If I were you I'd probably do the mini since he's so new to it. You can always do the novice next time. I only say that because I know there is one fence normally in the novice which two of my past horses always had a hissy fit about even though they were established enough horses to go clear intermediate no problem, they ALWAYS refused point blank to go near this little fence - its the one to the left of the open trakhener. Its a thick log (only small) hanging over a ditch with water in it. I think it confused my horses as you couldnt see much of the ditch. But that always put me off doing novice there because of it!

There are two waters. There are walk-ins into both. One has an island which the novice or mini jump up onto then off again, but they have no choice but to get off it!

Do they not have a hunter pace afterwards? If so, you could always do that and aim him at the novice fences but can always switch to the mini if need be.

 

[mandylou]

Thank you MagicMelon! Sometimes It feels like we are so out of the way up here he he

That's very helpful, I have now decided to enter the hunter pace. Like you say, we can pop over the stuff that we feel comfortable with and miss out the ones that could possibly knock our confidence (& jump the smaller, more inviting option). I just want it to be a good experience for him (& me) so that we both get braver & better at it!

Thanks again