Sell your discipline/hobby to HHOers!

[RachelFerd]

Endurance for me.
I’ll caveat by saying my experience extends to handful of novice rides, crewing at one FEI event and all a few years ago now but it’s the first thing I’d aim to get back into if I get another ridden one.

I’m a competitive person but fall apart when I’m being watched - so this allows me to be competitive without being under direct examination.
I like that you can be technical, plot your route, speed, work on heart rate etc.
No need for endless polishing of horse, rider or tack (indeed, a lot of the tack can go in the washing machine, win)
You have to have a good relationship with your horse to be successful if you’re asking questions of them
See lots of different parts of the country and ride in places usually off limits
But even with all of that you’ll still get a frilly to show for it!

(Actually, I think those are all reasons I’m enjoying triathlon too ? )

I know it’s got it’s controversy and there’s a lot to still do from an ethics/welfare perspective but for me it wins all day long

I think if I wasn't eventing, endurance would hold some interest for me. Or maybe Le Trec as well. Anything where the focus is on long term fitness, training and performance rather than just on looking pretty!

 

[J&S]

I will buy into the endurance group, I agree with Chaps89 on all counts. I did it in a RC team in Devon/Cornwall, also years earlier I trained with a group in the New Forest but pony was only 4/5 so did not actually compete then.

I will attempt to sell you arena Trec, that is the winter series that does not require any map reading (definitely a win!). On first look into a school set up for this you think......"wtf do I do with that!!" After completing a round all I thought was, " Ooh, can do better than that". One needs a very well schooled horse or pony who can do walk to canter in a blink, stand motionless, have perfect rein back and go like heck when asked in a small space! Attention to detail is paramount, wrong way round a marker can cost a lot, a break in pace can be a minor disaster. It is a really fun challenge.

If my horse and I were young again I would have liked to try W.E, you could have sold me that.

 

[Jeni the dragon]

Event horse ownership! Like IHW says, rocking up a a slightly more reasonable hour, pat ponies, congratulate/commiserate with jockey. None of that bonkers riding bit!
You don't necessarily need hugely deep pockets but do need to be able to shrug off more horse/rider injuries without turning to drink! Who am I kidding!
When it goes right, it's absolutely epic!

 

[Caol Ila]

Existing and riding without a purpose. Not sure I can sell it. But selling anything has never been my strength. Just bringing on my green horses and figuring out what they want to do. I don't have any major agendas with them. I also don't have transport, so I can't go to things away from the yard.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

I’d definitely like to have an event horse for others to event! When I’m too old and crocked to do it myself

 

[Fieldlife]

If you’re interested, there’s often sessions over at GBEC. They’re for people on the yard as a general rule, but friends are welcome, happy to put you in touch with share horses owner if you’re interested.

GBEC as in Great Bookham Equestrian Centre? Thanks

 

[chaps89]

GBEC as in Great Bookham Equestrian Centre? Thanks

Correct

 

[Fieldlife]

Correct

Ooh please can I have details that’s very local. Thanks

 

[chaps89]

Ooh please can I have details that’s very local. Thanks

I hope you don’t mind, but I’m happy to pass them onto TFF as I know her IRL, as I mentioned it’s usually an on-site yard event but they’re ok with friends attending by prior permission, I’d not feel comfortable passing on details externally to someone I don’t know for that reason, sorry.
However the lady does sometimes arrange for Paulo some-one whose surname I can’t remember to come over from Portugal to do clinics that are open to all (dressage and WE) so it is still worth keeping an eye on their website for any

 

[Fieldlife]

I hope you don’t mind, but I’m happy to pass them onto TFF as I know her IRL, as I mentioned it’s usually an on-site yard event but they’re ok with friends attending by prior permission, I’d not feel comfortable passing on details externally to someone I don’t know for that reason, sorry.
However the lady does sometimes arrange for Paulo some-one whose surname I can’t remember to come over from Portugal to do clinics that are open to all (dressage and WE) so it is still worth keeping an eye on their website for any

Thanks I do keep an eye out for big clinics but it’s more the fun informal local stuff I’m after.

 

[Fieldlife]

I hope you don’t mind, but I’m happy to pass them onto TFF as I know her IRL, as I mentioned it’s usually an on-site yard event but they’re ok with friends attending by prior permission, I’d not feel comfortable passing on details externally to someone I don’t know for that reason, sorry.

Not sure they are private, as the GBEC website mentions her by name, calls her their resident expect and provides a link for anyone to enter for the May clinic. Unless things have since changed to a more restrictive basis?

 

[chaps89]

Not sure they are private, as the GBEC website mentions her by name, calls her their resident expect and provides a link for anyone to enter for the May clinic. Unless things have since changed to a more restrictive basis?

Yeah, they did one open to people off-site earlier in the year, generally they’re run in house
Her horse has been off games over summer so there may not be any scheduled soon but definitley worth keeping an eye out for.
I will mention that you’ve been interested though incase they do anything small again.

 

[shortstuff99]

Where do I sign up?
Looks great fun, a good number of things they use in Arena trek comps but with added speed and a good number more of v active obstacles!

If you're interested in having a go then training is posted on here and up to date on the Facebook page

http://www.workingequitation-gb.com/training-events-diary.html

 

[daydreamer]

I went to watch a Working Equitation competition at the weekend. Everyone seemed very friendly and supportive of each other. I liked that most of the obstacles seemed to have a point - a gate, stopping at a specific point and waiting, a small jump, going over a bridge etc. If you trained to have a go at the novice level I think you would end up with a good all-round horse. I also liked that I could see how I could train for some of the obstacles at home with equipment that is already around. The speed class was a lot of fun to watch and I think it would be fun to do as well, there were some very well trained horses in the Advanced class! It's definitely something I would be interested in having a go at in the future.

If I had to sell something I do now to other horse owners it would be the Masterson Method. Everyone can learn to do the Bladder meridian technique - you run your fingers very lightly along a specific path, stopping when you see a response and staying until you get a release. It sounds quite "woowoo" but I have seen some amazing releases from horses. It is great for just being with your horse, helps you to become more observant and aware of your horse and is relaxing for human and horse. There are also some other easy but powerful techniques like the withers wiggle, hind end wiggle and tail lift!

 

[SBJT]

Everything!

I’ve been trying to build an all around horse for years so I do many different things. Here goes….

Western
- trail / mountain riding
- extreme cowboy challenge - like WE but on steroids
- working cow

English
- Dressage
- Hunter / jumper
- working equitation

Others
- mounted archery - need to get a new bow right now but hoping that I can start again in the spring
- horsemanship, with a small dose of liberty - I’m not into the Parelli method but just good horsemanship and learning eith clinicians

 

[lme]

Rehab - a bit like snakes and ladders (accident prone young horse) but weirdly satisfying. Instead of competing, we have (somewhat more expensive) clinic visits. And we get to do lots of walking.