So what has British Eventing done wrong?

[Squeak]

and, annoyingly, none of it takes place at any of the really good training facilities that I'd bother to go to (Somerford, Vale View, Kelsall etc.) - so I don't go. I was really hopeful for the normal mortal's training originally, but there just isn't anything worthwhile for me in the current offering.

Quite a few of them seem to be during the week too which makes it impossible for people who work full time.

Eta - I think Jon Rogers is possibly doing some at Somerford? He trains there quite a lot anyway so I'm not sure what the benefit of doing it with BE is instead of with him direct ....

 

[RachelFerd]

Quite a few of them seem to be during the week too which makes it impossible for people who work full time.

Eta - I think Jon Rogers is possibly doing some at Somerford? He trains there quite a lot anyway so I'm not sure what the benefit of doing it with BE is instead of with him direct ....

Yeah looks like they've recently added one on a Tuesday in March. But, like you say, it's a Tuesday - there's no way I can get to that.

 

[MagicMelon]

I feel like BE has had its time, whatever its doing isnt working. Really, we need a totally new association to get going with unaffiliated type events (which could go bigger level-wise than usual RC type events). In NE Scotland where I am, there used to be unaffiliated eventing all the time which was great as you had choice and you could play with your green horses round those without the massive expense of BE being your first few events. Nowadays its rare, theres really no point in eventing anymore. Even BE's other type of events such as the arena eventing are expensive - we've never had it near me, however a new venue has started it, I was really excited to go to these but its £30 a class, so £60 to pop round twice round SJ and XC/WH fences in the arena sadly puts me off. Maybe thats the going rate these days, but I do feel its far more elitist now than eventing ever used to be.

 

[LEC]

I feel like BE has had its time, whatever its doing isnt working. Really, we need a totally new association to get going with unaffiliated type events (which could go bigger level-wise than usual RC type events). In NE Scotland where I am, there used to be unaffiliated eventing all the time which was great as you had choice and you could play with your green horses round those without the massive expense of BE being your first few events. Nowadays its rare, theres really no point in eventing anymore. Even BE's other type of events such as the arena eventing are expensive - we've never had it near me, however a new venue has started it, I was really excited to go to these but its £30 a class, so £60 to pop round twice round SJ and XC/WH fences in the arena sadly puts me off. Maybe thats the going rate these days, but I do feel its far more elitist now than eventing ever used to be.

Standard price for arena eventing - £35 a class round here. I just don’t bother at that price and I feel it adds no value. Medical if using solid jumps is more expensive. Plus the effort.

 

[LEC]

Bye bye Gatcombe. I always wanted to ride at big Gatcombe and never managed it.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Bye bye Gatcombe. I always wanted to ride at big Gatcombe and never managed it.

Where is that posted? I've not seen anything. Such an iconic venue.

 

[asmp]

Where is that posted? I've not seen anything. Such an iconic venue.

Festival of British Eventing

Festival of British Eventing

www.festivalofbritisheventing.com

 

[millitiger]

Oh no
I wonder if Little Gatcombe will still go ahead in September?

 

[ihatework]

I suspect our top riders are to blame for the loss of big Gatcombe. They just haven’t adequately supported the open.

 

[teapot]

To think the Open used to be so well supported and valued as an event, the BBC would televise it.

What a loss of what I’d call a proper traditional horse and rider educating /step up venue.

 

[LEC]

Oh no
I wonder if Little Gatcombe will still go ahead in September?

yep - its organised by MES so very different in expectations and what is offered.

 

[Squeak]

Bye bye Gatcombe. I always wanted to ride at big Gatcombe and never managed it.

Ditto, came so close a couple of times but wasn't to be.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Oh no!

Rosie Williams' statement suggests hope of getting Gatcombe back into the calendar, I certainly hope it would be possible, but the Phillips' statements seem much more final

 

[RachelFerd]

Absolutely gutting about the Festival. Grew up round the corner from it but then didn't actually manage to ride there for the first time until 2022.

Had a brilliant experience in the RoR Int-Nov class, jumping double clear and finishing 4th in glorious sunshine. Went back last year for the national nov champs (int level) and jumped a clear in the SJ out of an absolute bog and then the XC was cancelled. Gutted as really though it was going to suit him through and through. The park was absolutely trashed with mud - I'm not surprised to see it cancelled, but absolutely gutted as it really was one of my favourite events.

This was the SJ last year - the rain was unbelievable

 

[teapot]

I suspect our top riders are to blame for the loss of big Gatcombe. They just haven’t adequately supported the open.

Just went down a results wormhole - looking at 60/70 entries in the early 2000s, just over 50 in 2014, 19 in 2022.

 

[dominobrown]

Don't think eventing is 'over' but its needs a major re-jig and out the box thinking as it's not sustainable at the minute. I haven't re-joined though I have 3 horses capable of eventing, its just just going to be £1000's to run one horse, especially with less events in the north.

 

[millitiger]

Bucking the trend I think I will be joining this year and haven't been a member for about 10 years.

The riding club discount was the deciding factor, it makes a big difference to membership costs.

 

[Squeak]

Bucking the trend I think I will be joining this year and haven't been a member for about 10 years.

The riding club discount was the deciding factor, it makes a big difference to membership costs.

Will you want to compete above BE90? If so the riding club discount wont apply

 

[Chuffy99]

We were at Poplar on Sunday, had a fantastic day, so well run and the going was great
So glad to be part of it

 

[Tiddlypom]

We were at Poplar on Sunday, had a fantastic day, so well run and the going was great
So glad to be part of it

Wow, what part of the country is that? Difficult to imagine anywhere near here with ground conditions suitable to both stage and run an event.

 

[ester]

Further east than me, they’re on sandy loam

 

[RachelFerd]

Yeah Poplar is a genuine outlier on ground conditions - if anywhere can run, it will be Poplar. But it is practically in the North Sea it is that close to the coast, and it is incredibly far away from anywhere

 

[Chuffy99]

It threw it down on Saturday when the big boys were there but the ground just absorbs it, the huge Lorrie’s needed a tow but they park them downhill
On Sunday bar a few wet bits the going was fabulous, only reasons they cancel is snow

 

[Ditchjumper2]

Poplar is local to me and they very rarely cancel. I used to fence judge there. Not quite in the North Sea but not far off A lot of pros go as it is pretty much guaranteed to run. In the past we had issues with light if there was a major hold up. I remember one year they sent them through much quicker at the end to make up time, that was manic but fun. Equally remember Oli Townend giving us a hard stare as if to dare us for penalising him for crossing his tracks. I got out of my car and walked the line.....to check lol. Equally had ground jury query a refusal given. I again demonstrated what had happened....they backed me Happy times, good lunch and refreshments

 

[dominobrown]

We were at Poplar on Sunday, had a fantastic day, so well run and the going was great
So glad to be part of it

Glad to hear it. Don't think its the running of events is the problem though. The organisers etc nearly always seem to do a great job at every event. Most venues, courses and organisers all around the country are fantastic. Shame its just not viable for many people anymore I would love to be part of it

 

[LEC]

I think Portman will go - entries are terrible as people stung with no abandonment last year and more terrible weather on its way. Will be a tragic loss but it’s shoe horned in between two events with excellent going which don’t abandon. Why it’s not in May as SW has a tragic calendar for BE in May and I will either be forced to travel 3 hours for Tweseldown or go unaff.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Yeah Poplar is a genuine outlier on ground conditions - if anywhere can run, it will be Poplar. But it is practically in the North Sea it is that close to the coast, and it is incredibly far away from anywhere

A friend braved a 9 hour round trip to go. Horse went well so she reckoned it was worth it! I wouldn’t travel that far though. Apart from something like Badminton grass roots if I ever made it. But being willing to travel may become increasingly necessary

 

[TheMule]

I think Portman will go - entries are terrible as people stung with no abandonment last year and more terrible weather on its way. Will be a tragic loss but it’s shoe horned in between two events with excellent going which don’t abandon. Why it’s not in May as SW has a tragic calendar for BE in May and I will either be forced to travel 3 hours for Tweseldown or go unaff.

Apparently it's because they run sheep on the land so have to do the event before the sheep go out. But it's a big shame, it's such a lovely event. Sadly I got stung last year as lost a lot of money, so I won’t enter again.

 

[millitiger]

Will you want to compete above BE90? If so the riding club discount wont apply

Yes, planning 90s for BE and 100s unaffiliated as want to have a crack at Badminton 90 qualification if we can

 

[ihatework]

Yup mine got stung with Portman last year and have chosen not to enter there this year. Accept we are part of the problem and as a result Portman might fall down