Speed and mpm and what now!? Help please!

[JustKickOn]

Having never done a one day event before, I braved the decision and entered one a few weeks ago. It's a pre-intro at Solihull, so hopefully a nice inviting XC..

Just looked at the schedule again and noticed that it says....

Show Jumping
Max. Height 80cm
Speed 325mpm

Cross Country
Max. Height 80cm
Speed 435mpm

Erm, what is the speed and mpm all about?!
I don't have one of those fancy stopwatches that eventers have, nor can I afford one either.

What is it all about and what must I keep in mind when riding!? (Provided it isn't cancelled, and the ground is ok to run on)

Thanks
L

 

[Jnhuk]

It is just the average speed you need to be doing to get round the Sj and XC to be near the optimum time without incurring time faults.

I wouldn't worry too much about the speed in SJ. Just keep an active and forward going canter as normal and I would be surprised if you'd get any time faults.

The XC speed increases the higher up the levels you go. If you are that bothered about getting to know the speeds for XC you could practice
eg for 350mpm - measure out 350 metres and try to get a feel for the speed you need to cover that distance in a minute.

I am sure other folks will have better explanations but hope that helps

 

[coss]

435mpm - so you want to do just under 1km in 2 mins. If you've got a long stretch that you can measure for galloping on, time how long it takes and convert

 

[Renvers]

just as jnhuk says measure it out and time it i think for xc it is a good steady canter pace.

Is it the ODE next weekend? If so i might see you there I am likely to be fence judging. Good luck

 

[JustKickOn]

Haven't really got a long stretch available for galloping on between now and the evnt unfortunately, might just have to chance it and kick on at the stretches in the event!

Renvers, yes it;s the one next w/e on the 12th I'll be wearing black and red and yellow star colours, will let you know my number if I get it before the event and let you know so you can give me a wave/scrape me up off the floor!!

 

[coss]

it is a fairly forwards canter from the little i know. Slowing up for fences then cracking on

 

[JustKickOn]

Forwards canter is a speciality, so we could very well be ok getting round near the time! Thanks all.

 

[dieseldog]

The speed is like coss says a forward canter, however it depends how the course was measured. Some people wheel it really tight, overs go around the houses when measuring. So in theory a forward canter should work, except it won't as the course builder may have measured a total random course. If you can keep an eye on the scores and see what faults people are getting, if they all get faults for going too slow - kick on, faults for going too fast - take a pull.

 

[star]

if it's your first one I wouldn't worry about the speed. In the SJ think about keeping a decent pace and not using the entire ring as they normally put the course in a huge ring and people get time faults because they do these huge loops to all the fences. You dont need to cut in tight, just ride a smooth round. On the XC ride at the speed that is safe for you and your horse. Afterwards you can look at how many time faults you got and learn to judge the right speed but to start with concentrate on a nice clear round. You dont need to aim to win your first event. You're not allowed a stopwatch till Novice level anyway - they want you to learn to judge speed. Time faults also applied if you go too fast!

 

[Mike007]

Sound advice there from Star, have fun!