So what has British Eventing done wrong?

[TheMule]

I think BE have probably lost Moreton from the calendar after messing them around not giving them a change of date. Their BE event is still on the provisional list but at just 2 weeks after this CC date it seems unlikely that will go ahead?

I have to say though, I do think it's a pretty ungenerous move by the CC to put this one on at the same time as Kingston Maurward (literally just down the road) are trying to launch their first BE

 

[LEC]

Bramham entries are terrible - probably due to being so close to Chatsworth and Bicton combined with a wallet whomping £255 for stabling.

West Wilts needs 400 entries by tomorrows ballot and everything is down. Unaff is holding entries open much later.

I think costs are biting and probably masked by so many cancellations and abandonments earlier in the season.

 

[Squeak]

Bramham entries are terrible - probably due to being so close to Chatsworth and Bicton combined with a wallet whomping £255 for stabling.

West Wilts needs 400 entries by tomorrows ballot and everything is down. Unaff is holding entries open much later.

I think costs are biting and probably masked by so many cancellations and abandonments earlier in the season.

I have to admit getting as far as logging in and starting the entries for an event and my PAYG membership and I just couldn't bring myself to do it. £60 membership (fair price but still adds up) + £120 entry+£10 PAYG fee and then there would have been ~£100 fuel. Instead I entered a closer UA that was £95 entry fee and £50 max in fuel, the entries were also open later so that I could be more confident of what the ground is going to do.

I've had a lot of outgoings at the moment so it just wasn't possible to justify it. I reckon there could well be a few people who have had the same thought process as me though

 

[ihatework]

I have to admit getting as far as logging in and starting the entries for an event and my GOBE membership and I just couldn't bring myself to do it. £60 membership (fair price but still adds up) + £120 entry+£10 GOBE fee and then there would have been ~£100 fuel. Instead I entered a closer UA that was £95 entry fee and £50 max in fuel, the entries were also open later so that I could be more confident of what the ground is going to do.

I've had a lot of outgoings at the moment so it just wasn't possible to justify it. I reckon there could well be a few people who have had the same thought process as me though

I get your point (and don’t disagree) but you do know you don’t need membership for GOBE don’t you?

GOBE are free membership and cheaper than registered runs because they are non competitive.

I know this because I looked it all up this weekend when having a look at the calendar later in year seeing what unaff/GOBE/PAYG was like versus just buying a half season ticket.

 

[Squeak]

I get your point (and don’t disagree) but you do know you don’t need membership for GOBE don’t you?

GOBE are free membership and cheaper than registered runs because they are non competitive.

I know this because I looked it all up this weekend when having a look at the calendar later in year seeing what unaff/GOBE/PAYG was like versus just buying a half season ticket.

Oops blonde moment - I meant PAYG! I will edit my post

 

[teapot]

See someone on Twitter highlighting the difference between how owners are treated for the Chatsworth YEHC with regards free tickets versus owners for other classes.

No idea what the difference between the two is to enter, but surely if you want those YEHs back in years to come, you treat the owners the same?

 

[ihatework]

See someone on Twitter highlighting the difference between how owners are treated for the Chatsworth YEHC with regards free tickets versus owners for other classes.

No idea what the difference between the two is to enter, but surely if you want those YEHs back in years to come, you treat the owners the same?

What is the difference in how they are being treated?
I’ve owned horses entered in the YEH and FEI classes at different times and haven’t been treated any differently.

However, the YEH was a few years back, it wouldn’t surprise me if it had changed a bit.

YEH is cheaper to enter I suspect, than 2 people buying big standard entries on the gate. So tbh, I could see why just a pair of day entry tickets might be appropriate rather than a whole weekend, access all area and hospitality wristband ….

ETA - just looked it up. BYEH entry at Chatsworth this year is £44.50 and it’s essentially just a fancy unaff showing class. Day entry on the Friday is £17.50. So I would expect as a minimum 2 passes into the event. Wristbands for just the day into hospitality maybe, but then the same would apply to Pony club and arena eventing - where do you draw the line?

 

[teapot]

What is the difference?
I’ve owned horses entered in the YEH and FEI classes at different times and haven’t been treated any differently.

However, the YEH was a few years back, it wouldn’t surprise me if it had changed a bit.

YEH is cheaper to enter I suspect, than 2 people buying big standard entries on the gate. So tbh, I could see why just a pair of day entry tickets might be appropriate rather than a whole weekend, access all area and hospitality wristband ….

Saying they get one ticket for the Friday only whereas other owners are getting free weekend passes. No mention of what that weekend pass actually is. There is now a follow up to say the YEH is seen as a ‘subsidiary’ class hence the difference.

Someone else has replied saying they were chatting to 4* owners last year who felt they were being treated like second class citizens.

 

[ihatework]

Saying they get one ticket for the Friday only whereas other owners are getting free weekend passes. No mention of what that weekend pass actually is. There is now a follow up to say the YEH is seen as a ‘subsidiary’ class hence the difference.

Someone else has replied saying they were chatting to 4* owners last year who felt they were being treated like second class citizens.

Well it kind of it a subsidiary class I’m afraid (speaking as someone who has been an owner in that class). It’s unaffiliated.

Hell, if you were to get a full weekend wristband, I’d just enter a fictional horse, withdraw it on the day and say thank you very much organisers

 

[LEC]

I am guessing rider and groom also would get an allocation?

I have done arena eventing at Blenheim. I think we had tickets for 2 of us for the day and that’s how it should be. I wouldn’t ever expect tickets for whole weekend.

 

[teapot]

Well it kind of it a subsidiary class I’m afraid (speaking as someone who has been an owner in that class). It’s unaffiliated.

Hell, if you were to get a full weekend wristband, I’d just enter a fictional horse, withdraw it on the day and say thank you very much organisers

So is BE not involved with the YEH classes at all then? That makes far more sense re the allocations.

I’ve got no view either way - was just interesting to see someone moaning and saying if the horses get to that level they won’t be entering that event as the repercussion.

 

[humblepie]

I am guessing rider and groom also would get an allocation?

I have done arena eventing at Blenheim. I think we had tickets for 2 of us for the day and that’s how it should be. I wouldn’t ever expect tickets for whole weekend.

Yes I agree with you. I have done classes at Blenheim and had 3 passes for the day. Was there to compete not spectate, though did give the spare pass to a friend. It is a bit different to having a horse there for the duration eventing.

 

[RachelFerd]

I mean, I'm entered for the arena eventing and very happy with the situation - myself and my other half will get in free, and my arena eventing entry is cheaper than us both getting spectator entry on the Saturday.

YEH entries thinking they are owed the same level of passes as an FEI entry is a bit laughable really if you consider the massive difference in entry fees and membership costs.

 

[LEC]

I went on the BE call about fixtures yesterday and one of the things which makes BE higher cost is that they contract medical services at the beginning of the year so pay a premium. Which makes sense as guarantees them the medical provision they need at every event. I have also seen unaff often advertising for Drs late notice as someone ill which BE would be covered for. Rosie was pretty horrified at the end as all 36 on the call did unaff and BE. Mostly because of the calendar. The call was pretty chaotic and a lot of dumb comments and I am not sure they will be able to draw many conclusions as each person has a slightly different issue with the calendar though feast and famine was a clear issue.

 

[shortstuff99]

Chatsworth now cancelled. Not sure where horses are going to get their Olympic runs in, maybe they will do the Lumuhlen 4star.

 

[LEC]

Bicton will be fantastic ground. We haven’t had the levels of rain in SW this week and the ground can take it at Bicton plus dr and sjing on a surface

 

[TheMule]

So, as predicted, Moreton BE has cancelled in favor of them running a Cotswold Cup after being messed around by BE over re-scheduling their rained-off Spring event. Rosie was very defensive/ evasive about this in the recent online meetings, but they can’t really afford to be losing organizers like this- I doubt Moreton will run BE again and it's a great venue.
That means there's nowhere for me to run all of July, and very few SW options in August too. Just as I get a run in and get keen to event again, looks like I'll have to just SJ for a few months and hopefully get an Autumn campaign in.

 

[iknowmyvalue]

So, as predicted, Moreton BE has cancelled in favor of them running a Cotswold Cup after being messed around by BE over re-scheduling their rained-off Spring event. Rosie was very defensive/ evasive about this in the recent online meetings, but they can’t really afford to be losing organizers like this- I doubt Moreton will run BE again and it's a great venue.
That means there's nowhere for me to run all of July, and very few SW options in August too. Just as I get a run in and get keen to event again, looks like I'll have to just SJ for a few months and hopefully get an Autumn campaign in.

Having the same issue here. Yet other months you can’t move for events!

Thinking of doing Port Eliot and West Wilts in August, west wilts is pushing it on distance for me but sadly I’m just back from a week away for chard so don’t think that’s fair on him. Even September is looking sparse, yet in October there’s loads!

 

[Squeak]

It seems hard to believe that the last weekend of May we're still having events rained off

 

[Squeak]

Having the same issue here. Yet other months you can’t move for events!

Thinking of doing Port Eliot and West Wilts in August, west wilts is pushing it on distance for me but sadly I’m just back from a week away for chard so don’t think that’s fair on him. Even September is looking sparse, yet in October there’s loads!

From your post on another thread - West Wilts is a lovely step up event if you're wanting to give 100 a bash.

 

[TheMule]

From your post on another thread - West Wilts is a lovely step up event if you're wanting to give 100 a bash.

It can be…. It can also be quite technical and a bit so it's quite a hard event to go to IMO. It's one of my closest but I don’t go very often. The ground can also be rock hard (not that that looks likely to be an issue currently!)

 

[iknowmyvalue]

From your post on another thread - West Wilts is a lovely step up event if you're wanting to give 100 a bash.

Ooo thank you, that’s definitely something to look into. I’m probably running there September too, so I’ll ask my instructor what he thinks. Do you know anything about Bricky or Little Gatcombe for first 100? Those are my other late season events by which time I might have located some brave pants

 

[Squeak]

Ooo thank you, that’s definitely something to look into. I’m probably running there September too, so I’ll ask my instructor what he thinks. Do you know anything about Bricky or Little Gatcombe for first 100? Those are my other late season events by which time I might have located some brave pants

It's a couple of years ago since I went to WW so if @TheMule has been finding it a bit hit and miss then she will be right.

Although now it's been said, I did have a Novice that had some fairly technical elements and a really huge tree trunk there but my horses always went well and had confidence building rounds and I always used it a confidence building run or step up - maybe because I'd seen a few soft courses there I thought of it as a soft course and so merrily kicked on

Sorry, don't know about the other two but I think I've heard LG is fairly inviting.

 

[TheMule]

It's a couple of years ago since I went to WW so if @TheMule has been finding it a bit hit and miss then she will be right.

Although now it's been said, I did have a Novice that had some fairly technical elements and a really huge tree trunk there but my horses always went well and had confidence building rounds and I always used it a confidence building run or step up - maybe because I'd seen a few soft courses there I thought of it as a soft course and so merrily kicked on

Sorry, don't know about the other two but I think I've heard LG is fairly inviting.

https://timandjonelle.com/west-wilts-ec-tuesday/

 

[ihatework]

https://timandjonelle.com/west-wilts-ec-tuesday/

They have WW xc spot on there.
I feel mean saying it, as we need good reliable venues - and there is so much good about WW.
The main SJ ring is lovely, but the warm up is very small, so I'd only take a horse that is solid with others in close proximity.
The XC is random - especially the bigger tracks. I'd happily run a greenie 80/90 if the ground was ok (it can be hard), but I'd think twice about stepping up to 100/N there on anything that may have an 'if' about XC confidence.
The tracks are for the most part small. Nothing to get your teeth into or even setting the horses up for the level. Then you will get some random question that is particularly tricky on the horse especially as they will have been piddling around over easy stuff up until that point. It's all a bit weird.

 

[Squeak]

They have WW xc spot on there.
I feel mean saying it, as we need good reliable venues - and there is so much good about WW.
The main SJ ring is lovely, but the warm up is very small, so I'd only take a horse that is solid with others in close proximity.
The XC is random - especially the bigger tracks. I'd happily run a greenie 80/90 if the ground was ok (it can be hard), but I'd think twice about stepping up to 100/N there on anything that may have an 'if' about XC confidence.
The tracks are for the most part small. Nothing to get your teeth into or even setting the horses up for the level. Then you will get some random question that is particularly tricky on the horse especially as they will have been piddling around over easy stuff up until that point. It's all a bit weird.

I'm questioning my life values now - I always thought of WW as an easy run I'd consequently always thought that my Novice clears at WW were nothing to be proud of as it was an easy course but happy to now think of them as something of an achievement

 

[LEC]

I'm questioning my life values now - I always thought of WW as an easy run I'd consequently always thought that my Novice clears at WW were nothing to be proud of as it was an easy course but happy to now think of them as something of an achievement

It used to be almost under standard. In last 4 years they have built horrible tracks. Especially at Novice. Trappy and nasty courses.

I am pissed off about Moreton. I am pissed of with how shit the BE calendar is this year. Everytime I start trying to make a plan to move up to novice and it’s blown apart.

 

[VRIN]

Frenchfield may event was the last one - another one lost..

 

[Chiffy]

This really affects those of us in SW Scotland. The Cumbria events were the only ones we could do without overnight stabling. So few events up here now.

 

[RachelFerd]

This really affects those of us in SW Scotland. The Cumbria events were the only ones we could do without overnight stabling. So few events up here now.

a real shame isn't it - we were always happy to nip up the M6 to run at the Cumbrian events as it was a nice straightforward drive, and the events were consistently well run