Start of season deliberations - your thoughts please

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suzi

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We completed a few unaff ODEs last year and Pulborough BE80T. I'm hoping to do our first BE90 at BCA in June.

Plan was PC hunter trial at Tweseldown on 16 March, then RC hunter trial at Coombelands 13 April with hopefully some other unaff HT / ODE. Then RC ODE quals at Coombelands on 24 May.

I have yet to get out XC schooling as venues that have been open are not within easy reach (travel time has been limited due to other commitments).

I'm now concerned that with Tweseldown cancelling their BE in early March that the PC Hunter Trials won't go ahead.

I could enter Swalcliffe 80 but it's a 2 1/2 hr drive, I've never been there, and it's a lot more money than the PC event which, if it runs would be £35 quid and diesel for a 45 min journey.

We are not as fit as I would like, but not hopelessly unfit.....what's Swalcliffe like?

What would you do???? I'm in a massive quandary!

There is always the possibility that I would enter and get balloted.....

And it would use one of my 4 tickets that I can compete on this season - was thinking of half year membership this year....

ARGH!!
 
Can't help with the rest but you would be on a training ticket for an 80T so you can have as many of those as you like. BE90 and above on day tickets which you can do 4 so doing the 80 shouldn't affect future plans at 90.
 
Not a ODE but there is a hunter trials at Rackham on 6th April which isn't far from you - there's also one on 16th March if it goes ahead. I've decided Swalcliffe is too far for me so early in the season, there is an unaffiliated ODE there on 4th May though (rather far to go for an UA). Also, have you considered Chilham BE80T - it's not exactly local but it's a really easy drive, I did it from Guildford in just under 2 hours I think last year. Fabulous setting.
 
ConnieX said:
Can't help with the rest but you would be on a training ticket for an 80T so you can have as many of those as you like. BE90 and above on day tickets which you can do 4 so doing the 80 shouldn't affect future plans at 90.
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I thought this was the case...and then had doubts!! Thank you.

MCTM said:
Not a ODE but there is a hunter trials at Rackham on 6th April which isn't far from you - there's also one on 16th March if it goes ahead. I've decided Swalcliffe is too far for me so early in the season, there is an unaffiliated ODE there on 4th May though (rather far to go for an UA). Also, have you considered Chilham BE80T - it's not exactly local but it's a really easy drive, I did it from Guildford in just under 2 hours I think last year. Fabulous setting.
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Horses are just south of Guildford near the A3 so interesting to hear that Chilham is do-able. I didn't have the Rackham HT in my diary either, so thank you.

Wouldn't get to Swalcliffe on the 4th as I have an exam a couple of days later and other reason for thinking of going was that the RC champs are there (although I am by no means expecting to get placed let alone qualify!) and it would be nice to go for a nosy about.....
 
There's also a hunter trial at Munstead 30th March which will hopefully run.

Swalcliffe is stunning. I'm from Tunbridge Wells but went to the rc champs last year with friends to have a nosey and loved it. Very hilly though so fitness required.

I'm hoping to get to chilham 80 as my first too :)
 
rising_promise said:
There's also a hunter trial at Munstead 30th March which will hopefully run.

Swalcliffe is stunning. I'm from Tunbridge Wells but went to the rc champs last year with friends to have a nosey and loved it. Very hilly though so fitness required.

I'm hoping to get to chilham 80 as my first too :)
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Munstead will be a small 75cm or a full up 90...and I don't think we are quite ready for that yet. Which is a shame as it'd only take me 15 mins to get to!

If Swalcliffe is hilly that might make my mind up and I'm not sure we'll be fit enough for a hilly course in 3 weeks time.
 
Swalcliffe is lovely but agree a long old hike, im in southampton but lived about a mile from the course a few winters ago ang schooled there alot, it a great course and keep trying to make an excuse to go up there again!
 
suzi said:
Munstead will be a small 75cm or a full up 90...and I don't think we are quite ready for that yet. Which is a shame as it'd only take me 15 mins to get to!

If Swalcliffe is hilly that might make my mind up and I'm not sure we'll be fit enough for a hilly course in 3 weeks time.
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Swalcliffe is on a hill side but its not horrendous. I have taken horses for their first 80cms there with no galloping but horse was full TB so fitness not an issue. If your horse is on the chunckier side then you would need to be doing plenty of canter work.

Providing you increase your canter work at home, then fitness shouldn't be an issue for BE80. I think the the speed is only 435mpm so just do long canters with your flat work and jumping. There are course pictures on FB and shoestring eventing.

What about another unaff event nearer to you?
 
There is also Elmwood Hunter trial/ODE in April, which might be a bit closer to you than swalcliffe (but still a bit of a trek) or Kingsclere in April (they have 75 and 85cm). I have generally heard good reports re Swalcliffe but haven't been there personally.

Slightly hijacking the post but just wondering what Munstead's (actually) like. I have entered for the BE90 on March, and having seen some of the videos it looks fairly straight forward. My horse has been kept ticking over this winter (v lucky to have an indoor school to train in) but have not done that much canter work, as I usually ride at crack of dawn and so it's been too dark until recently. I figured his fitness didn't have to be supreme for BE90, what are your thoughts? Would love any info on the Munstead course.

He has been SJ to Newcomers and has done quite a bit of XC schooling (over Novice fences) and an unaffiliated ODE but need to step him up the levels fairly quickly, as he is a bit behind and I'm thinking of selling him later on this year. Was thinking of just doing a couple of BE90s to see how he goes and then going on to BE100 (there seem to be so many more BE100s closer to me too which helps). Fingers crossed it goes smoothly - horses always manage to surprise us!

Good luck with your planning :-)
 
It's frustrating isn't it! I was going to enter the BE80(T) at Stafford in March but that has been postponed until April. In theory I could enter but I haven't been XC since October and there is no where open for schooling within a reasonable distance. Have managed to get out SJ and have some DR planned, but every time I do get as far as an entry, the weather is then so bad on the day as to make it too dangerous to tow. My saddle needs checking but couldn't make it up to the fitter last week because of the 100mph winds by me and along the way.

I did do some UA events last year so for the time being I think I am going to just try to get out SJ and DR, XC schooling once the weather is better and somewhere is actually open. Horse is actually reasonably fit, I do intervals in the arena as ours is a decent size, and am within a 20 min hack of some nice gallops too. For the time being I think I'm just going to concentrate on schooling (flat and jumping) at home, then see if anything actually dries out!
 
Munstead is flat and is on sandy soil - so it's well draining. The lorry park is the main problem when it's wet (like a lot of places). I haven't competed there for a while so not in the best place to comment, it used to be a very straightforward 90 but I remember somebody saying they'd put in a scary trakehner last year which caused some problems. I'm sure somebody else will be along soon to give you a more informed view of the course.
 
If you look at spidge photography there are some photos of the trakenher. I think it causes a few issues because it was near the end of the course turning away from home. Sj can be spooky as it has jump for joy fillers.
 
vic07 said:
If you look at spidge photography there are some photos of the trakenher. I think it causes a few issues because it was near the end of the course turning away from home. Sj can be spooky as it has jump for joy fillers.
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Thank you! I couldn't find pics of the trakhener on Spidge, but shall be aware of it when I walk the course (fingers crossed no snow in March this year!!). I'm not worried about the SJ, as he's been competing quite a bit and has seen a lot, and is now up to Newcomers. Saying that, haven't taken him out to a party for a while!!
 
Found a picture of it:

DSCF0007.jpg


Difficult to know what the boy will think of it.. worth the heads up though, thank you! Plenty of leg needed...
 
Thank you vic - the fences look similar but in a different location, odd. It doesn't look so bad. WE'll give it a good go and hope for the best. Just want to get a good record, as want to sell the pony at the end of the summer (but thought I'd get in a few good events first), so fingers crossed!
 
Ah poo! Having decided to opt for the cheaper and more local hunter trials it's been cancelled. Knew it was a risk as they have already cancelled the BE but really thought it would have dried out enough.

Now back to the drawing board as can't really justify the late entry fee to Swalcliffe on top of everything else.

Anyone want to come XC schooling with me instead?

I'm not sure what to do now as I had thought I would do the hunter trials at Tweseldown on 16th then Hunter Trials at Munstead on the 30th round the BE90 course but I'm not sure now that will be a good idea.

Am jealous of everyone who will be out and about this weekend!
 
if it is any help,

my daughter did the pony club novice eventing champs there last October and the 90 course was lovely. fair and up to height mostly, with a roll top to ditch combination which claimed lots of eliminations (none of our guys thankfully!)and indeed a large trakehner( think more rider scarer than anything though!)
course rode very well they all told me.
MCTM said:
Munstead is flat and is on sandy soil - so it's well draining. The lorry park is the main problem when it's wet (like a lot of places). I haven't competed there for a while so not in the best place to comment, it used to be a very straightforward 90 but I remember somebody saying they'd put in a scary trakehner last year which caused some problems. I'm sure somebody else will be along soon to give you a more informed view of the course.
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