So...BE Burgham - what was the verdict?

Noodlejaffa

Noodlejaffa

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For various reasons I wasn't able to pop down to Burgham either to compete or spectate (see earlier report!), so was wondering what everyone's thoughts were about the weekend.

Was it a good new BE venue? Was it a good place to watch the action and was the shopping good?! I heard the xc was very technical at the lower levels..is this the case?

So pleased they had such lovely weather for it after the horrible week of weather we had beforehand.
 
I didn't go but I did hear that the negative thing was that there were over 100 stables with only one tap for water. there were only 4 taps in the whole showfield and it was a 45minute wait to get a bucket for your horse.

I think that people were cross about this, the weather was really hot so it made it worse.

I'm sure it will have been noted though so next year should be different
 
hi i went as spectator as my horse is on the sick :rolleyes:

i was there sat and sunday and had a great time :D


ground was unbelivedly good after all the rain we have had , even had a little bounce in it but didn't really churn up

course was a hilly course 1 was a small log
2- big roll top
3- big table which caused carnage in the 90 although i think we had a fair few 1st timers and other than it being up to hight i couldn't see what the prob was
4phesant feeded (max hight)
5 -water splash
6- through a stream in woodland (caused a few probs in to darkness) then a hayrack
7-small barn type thing after a steep hill
8-open oxer (log pile)
9- steeplechase
10- corner with a tree planted on the "out" side making it easier
11- rails to ditch
12 - tiny rail after a steep down hill
13- back through woodland streem to a log
14 - through a pond to a hedge
15 brush fence
16 - flower/veg box

it did seem to need a fit horse as a few were finishing quite tiered
i didn't think it was all that tectnical but maybe not for a 1st timer because the course went from tiny log to max hight roll top to max hight/spread table :eek:

the sj was in a busy ring (think large county show ) stands and tents on 3 sides then pony club games/ showing classes the other side but good flat ground

the dressage was way down the road in a nice quiet spot

there was loads of trade stands ,more than the average ODE at this level
its easy as pie to get to as it is just off the a1
lorry park was nice and close

got vip treatment with a BE membership card :D waved card on way in and got told to go straight to vip parking :D right at the front next to the entrance witch was lovely as its the 1st time ive felt any effort was made for members :)

it was also nice to see the big guns showjumping ,i am really exited about it as its just 10mins up the road from me and looks to be a great event i was gutted i didn't have my horse there

the food was good and reasonable priced ,plenty choice etc


bad points that i'm sure will be teething probs and sorted out for next year
xc stuards HAIRNETS !!! :( so so many on xc had hair flying all over the place ,it is my pet hate and i felt like cutting it off :p some were even making it difficult to read numbers

car parking , normally at BE events they are very organised ,cars lined perfectly etc if we had parked were we were told we couldn't have got out untill the surounding cars had left they were parking too close

entrance policy , i had to show my pass about 5 times ,normally i have paid/showed pass in car on entering
here i had to show it on entering , then again at the box paying thingy, then again at the gate were they were then taking a ticket after paying for it at the box
this caused problems as i was running back and fwd to the dressage ,so was going in and out all the time, could of had a much easier system in place

the stabling was really expensive :(
and a few fence judges were less than plesant , just because i'm not carrying my hat bag/number when walking the course doesn't mean i'm an idiot
one shouted at me to get of the course ,all she needed to do was blow her whistle thats what it for ! :(

congratulations burgham i had a great time and can't wait till next year :D
 
We stabled at Burgham on the Friday night only, ready to compete on the Saturday. Stabling ran well with just minor teathing problems, ie water and parking. Main problem being wagons arriving late at night or even early hours of morning to find few parking slots left. Organisers did their best but may be something to consider for future?

Had a stoll around the stands and arenas on the Friday afternoon. Everything was well laid out and presented really well. Thought it was a little quiet, spectator wise. Also BE show jumping ring wasnt set up til very late and even though there were signs telling you where the dressage arenas were, there was no sign of them so spent a lot of time looking for them when they wernt even set up.

The cross country course was very well presented. Thought there were enough questions with the majority of fences up to height. Thought the four water efforts were a good use of the natural terrain. The ground was perfect as was the weather.

The stewards were very good overall (xc could have had a few more whistle blowers), the SJ steward was excellent and kept everybody informed and moving under difficult circumstances after one dressage section was running very late because a judge had broken down on the way there.

The whole event had a lovely country show, big event feel to it, especially when the SJ was next to the Pro SJ arena.

A BIG thumbs up from us and we will def be back next year and hope to stay longer.
 
My friend went along and really enjoyed it, although she did say the unfortunate thing about having the likes of the whitakers bouncing around in the ring next to the BE course, just made the intro fences look tiny! :eek: :D
 
Wasn't convinced about the layout of tradestands - there were a few here, there and everywhere. I think they were expecting even more so would have maybe joined up a bit. But they made a huge effort, were very friendly and helpful. There was a hogroast and band laid on on Saturday night - all competitors and tradestand people got in free. Did think it was quiet quiet spectator wise - heard Friday was very quiet.

Did manage to walk the course on Friday night and thought it looked quite a straightforward PN, even some of the novice looked doable :).

Thought there was maybe too much importance put on the showjumping (but maybe I'm being a bit biased :D) - 2 big rings, with the BE ring at the back of these 2. Was great to watch the likes of the Whitakers, Tim Stockdale etc and this did attract crowds.

Definetely had the feel of a busy county show rather than a BE event. Have heard they also want to run BD there on the same weekend next year.
 
they did run dressage last year along side the sj
i took my horse for the experience and took a companion for to keep him company so i could have a look around
unfortunatly companion pony went mental when he seen the fun fair and mine was very looky so don't know how they would work BD in amongst that lot :eek:

DHB i was gutted for you ,if i had a tractor i was about ready to come and drag you up the a1 :(
 
Agree about parking, they need someone on parking.
SJ was a bit busy but fine. Dressage was close to the car park yet out the way so ideal really.
Ground was good, XC up to height and quite technical. Horse was a complete pillock unfortunately :(
 
angelish said:
they did run dressage last year along side the sj
i took my horse for the experience and took a companion for to keep him company so i could have a look around
unfortunatly companion pony went mental when he seen the fun fair and mine was very looky so don't know how they would work BD in amongst that lot :eek::(
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Agree about the fun fair!! Was a bit surprised to see that there:eek:

Angelish - was nice to meet you finally. Hope you had a good day and didn't spend too much ;p
 
it's my 16 year old daughter's first year at BE and after 5 pre novices including a 10th, 7th & 6th she decided having looked at the novice courses at Skipton, Floors, Richmond & Hexham that she could give it a go. It was definitely not a first timers novice course although she got round after a hiccup at the water and was really pleased with him, would have made the time if it hadn't been for the water problem, but it's given her confidence that if she can get round that one she can get round most and she'll go back next year for another go and she's put her entry in for novice at Richmond. Ground was fantastic and jumps well presented with a hill to sit on where you could see both the water jumps (the second novice one was a big wooden duck sitting on a nest in the middle of the water). We're hoping it becomes a really big event as its just up the road from us and I believe the plans are to run an intermediate and advanced next spring.
 
dominobrown said:
Agree about parking, they need someone on parking.
SJ was a bit busy but fine. Dressage was close to the car park yet out the way so ideal really.
Ground was good, XC up to height and quite technical. Horse was a complete pillock unfortunately :(
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Oh no DB what happened - I saw you retired and meant to ask :(
 
Noodlejaffa said:
Yes, this weekend wasn't a good weekend for some of us transport wise. Including you and I, I know four of us who all had the breakdown service out. Fortunately all horses involved fine and dandy.
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Ah so you didn't get it to start after all :(

However can you trump having to get 4 police cars and a rolling road block??!:o:o:eek:
 
I thought overall it was great. We had 5 there over Sat and Sun and I have to say the treck from the stables to the dressage was a killer!!!!
 
DarkHorseB said:
Oh no DB what happened - I saw you retired and meant to ask :(
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I am not 100% happy with him but I have no idea what is wrong.

Normally he warms up for dressage quite nicely and is a pillock in the arena. On Sat he had quite rearing fit in the warm up :confused: we got some odd looks and set off a few other horses :o
He was completely switched off and distracted during his test.
SJ warm up, really backing off fences and put in a few nasty stops which he never does. He was more foward in the ring but had two down, because if I asked him to come back to me he was ignoring me.

He was ok xc, more foward but would not go off a long stride, always chipped in smaller and smaller strides. We were fine until the steeplechase fence which for some reason he pecked at really badly despite meeting it on a perfect stride. The next fence was on up to height corner and he was having none of it. Really backed off first time and then just didn't want to know (had another tantrum).
He wasn't galloping away between fences and was very spooky. Normally he eats up the galloping bits, and he was jumping like he was paranoid. I am going to have his back checked but he was just weird all day, even before we left in the morning he got into such a stress. :confused::(
Also what was weird he only did one poo since 6am to about 6pm :(
He seems fine in himself today, but still really rude and ignoring me when ridden (just hacked out). I don't know if something is physically wrong or he is having a confidence issue :(:(:confused:
 
dominobrown said:
I am not 100% happy with him but I have no idea what is wrong.

Normally he warms up for dressage quite nicely and is a pillock in the arena. On Sat he had quite rearing fit in the warm up :confused: we got some odd looks and set off a few other horses :o
He was completely switched off and distracted during his test.
SJ warm up, really backing off fences and put in a few nasty stops which he never does. He was more foward in the ring but had two down, because if I asked him to come back to me he was ignoring me.

He was ok xc, more foward but would not go off a long stride, always chipped in smaller and smaller strides. We were fine until the steeplechase fence which for some reason he pecked at really badly despite meeting it on a perfect stride. The next fence was on up to height corner and he was having none of it. Really backed off first time and then just didn't want to know (had another tantrum).
He wasn't galloping away between fences and was very spooky. Normally he eats up the galloping bits, and he was jumping like he was paranoid. I am going to have his back checked but he was just weird all day, even before we left in the morning he got into such a stress. :confused::(
Also what was weird he only did one poo since 6am to about 6pm :(
He seems fine in himself today, but still really rude and ignoring me when ridden (just hacked out). I don't know if something is physically wrong or he is having a confidence issue :(:(:confused:
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The not wanting to go on a long one and not galloping would suggest his feet to me. I have normally found this type of reaction on hard ground but from what I have heard the ground was not hard at Burgham was it?
His other behaviour does sound rather odd. They can all throw an off day but think good idea to get his back checked out. Where are you next?
 
I am at Hopetoun, I am dressage writing on the sunday. The ground is what I would describe as true good going at Burgham. Maybe he likes it bog wet??!
He was shod on the monday, tuesday morning shoe was hanging off, I managed to get it off but maybe there is a bit of bruising left as he seems sound enough. One of his front feet is really rubbish at the moment.
 
dominobrown said:
I am at Hopetoun, I am dressage writing on the sunday. The ground is what I would describe as true good going at Burgham. Maybe he likes it bog wet??!
He was shod on the monday, tuesday morning shoe was hanging off, I managed to get it off but maybe there is a bit of bruising left as he seems sound enough. One of his front feet is really rubbish at the moment.
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I take it you got the shoe back on for the event. I would see how Hopetoun goes and reassess after that. Has his behaviour been "normal" since Saturday - don't you just wish they could talk!!
 
A few years ago I broke down on the M90 just as darkness was falling, been driving for 4 hours, all by myself, had two horses with me (both of which I'd BEd that day) and there was smoke pouring out the side of the lorry. I have never been so scared!

Have also graced the M6 too - but eventually managed to limp into the services where we were stranded for 5 hours while they welded the lorry (with two horses still inside). I think I'd consumed most of the winebox by the time they'd finished (I wasn't driving!).
 
Noodlejaffa said:
A few years ago I broke down on the M90 just as darkness was falling, been driving for 4 hours, all by myself, had two horses with me (both of which I'd BEd that day) and there was smoke pouring out the side of the lorry. I have never been so scared!

Have also graced the M6 too - but eventually managed to limp into the services where we were stranded for 5 hours while they welded the lorry (with two horses still inside). I think I'd consumed most of the winebox by the time they'd finished (I wasn't driving!).
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Well whilst we were broken down and waiting for recovery my OH decided it was lunch tome and made sandwiches. At 6pm I suddenly realised I had eaten nothing all day. He told me I had refused a perfectly nice lunch - I mean how could I eat at a time like that!!!!:eek::eek::eek::mad: Not sure I could have even tackled alcohol till I knew we were safe!!
 
DarkHorseB said:
I take it you got the shoe back on for the event. I would see how Hopetoun goes and reassess after that. Has his behaviour been "normal" since Saturday - don't you just wish they could talk!!
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Oh yes farrier's apprentice put it on tuesday night. He seems pretty normal, well as normal as he can be. We will see on Sat and re-assess from there.
 
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