Talk to me about Le Trec and can you do it side saddle?

sidesaddlegirl

sidesaddlegirl

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A lady that I know took her horse to her first Le Trec event on the weekend and told me about it and I am intrigued!

From what I gather, you do "things" like go under stuff and walk over things like you would on a hack??

This is something I would like to try as Hattie is pretty bomb proof for a TB and pretty much goes where I tell her too.

Does anyone know here know anything about it? Do you have to jump in it? Can you do it side saddle? Are there different levels?
 
Hi

I know a little..

A Trec competition is usually broken into 3 stages.

The first is called "control of paces" where the rider has to walk the horse as quickly as she can a certain distance, points are deducted if the pace is broken, they then have to canter as slowly as they can (again points deducted for a break in pace).

The second is a series of obstacles. These are supposed to be the type of thing you may encounter out on a hack, they may include crossing a bridge, bending around poles, mounting and dismounting, a small jump, negotiating an "S" bend. Each obstacle is marked seperately (the marking can get quite complex as you are marked for style, pace and something else that I can't remember:)). You do not have to do every obstacle, if you don't want to jump, just leave it out.

The third part is the orienteering, where you use a compass to follow a set route and have a nice hack:D

Some Trec groups run "mini-trec" which just includes the obstacle section.

Don't see why it can't be done side-saddle, you would need to ask the club running the event.
 
Off topic here, but I have a question which has just popped to my head. Are you able to mount from the ground when riding side saddle? :)
 
Hi

I did some of the 'indoor' winter series, which is what i think your friend probably did (was it at Brooksby college? i was up there with a friend that was competing) which only includes control of paces and hazards.

I did it last year, and i have to say i absolutely loved it. as the previous poster said full Trec is split into 3 phases, that can take place over a whole weekend.

The control of Paces when i have done it was a slow canter and fast walk (the person with slowest and fastest in the class respectively gets the most 'points'

The Hazards section, is the part with walking over bridges, doing a 'maypole', rein back between two poles, lead or ridden through an S bend of poles (you or your horse cant touch any poles if they're on the floor and you're walking through them), 'low branches' which are set at 8" above your horses withers (so dont overestimate their height!) which you ride under, a jump is normally included, a stand and wait, re-mounting is included, sometimes offside, sometimes nearside from the floor (and you get marks for how graceful you are!). all of the hazards are scored individually, for some of the ridden ones like low branches, you'll get 10 points for cantering through cleanly, 7 for trotting and 5 for walking etc. you can opt out of any of them so long as you let the judge know before hand and you get a 0 for those. so if you dont jump, you dont have to.

The third part, which takes place in full trec is the outward bound bit, effectively a (very short) endurance ride, with the added twist that you only have 10 minutes to mark the route down on your map!

It can be done individually or they have pairs classes, and yes you can do it side saddle (i was looking at the rules at the weekend - sad i know!)

here are some photos of me and my girl last year at Brooksby (we won our class and made it into equestrian life - one of my proudest ever moments!)

The Stand & Wait - they arent allowed to move a foot and leaving the circle gets you a 0 score)

LeTrec-lookicanstandstill.jpg


The most hugest jump over a tiny fence ever (this was followed by a jump over a ditch that was equally extravegant!)

LeTrecHeaugeJump.jpg


and on our way out - very proud mummy!

LeTrec2.jpg
 
Yes you can do it in a side saddle! :) Someone did a competition we ran on one :)

All the infomation about Trec is on the BHS website :)
 
Yes you can ride side saddle - any tack acceptable as suits your horse. And of course it excludes you wonderfully from having to undertake an off-side mount!
 
Hedwards, yes it was the Brooksby College one she went to on Sunday!

Hmmm, leaving out the jump is ok but the mounting may be a problem! Some ladies can get on from the ground on a side saddle if they are flexible enough, I sadly, am not! LOl, I can barely get on from the ground on a normal saddle with the leather let down on the bottom hole and Hattie is only 15.3 and I'm 5'9"!!! Can i have my "helper" give me a leg up or maybe I should invest in one of those nylon and plastic stirrup attachments they sell?

LOl, I have an off-side side saddle too so I do have to mount from the off-side as well :D

Hattie is good at standing and waiting as I often leave her in the middle of the school if I need to get off and position trotting poles, etc. She just stands there and falls asleep!

That video was FAB! Although Hattie doesn't do "slow" canters when out hacking so getting her to calm down before the S poles will take some practice. Everything except the jumping and mounting from the ground, I think we could do!
 
I'd definitely recommend you have a go, it is very relaxed but a lot of fun - i really hadnt expected to enjoy it as much as i did - it helped that my mare was a star that day!

The getting on was probably the hardest things i had to do, we had a mounting block, but it was from the 'wrong' side, and my mare just kept turning around. If getting on from the ground isnt an option, you can use a mounting block - just means you'd get a 0 or a very low mark i believe (potentially there are different rules for side saddle and this sort of thing)

my friends and i did do some practice before hand, planks of wood on the floor which we led and rode over, pole corridors to ride through in walk, trot & canter, as well as the rein back, the weaving (more difficult than it looks), we even got a tarpaulin out and had the horses walking over that - the joys of having a non-spooky pony! so it is technically something you can have a go at, at home, if you look at the BHS trec rule book and website you should find some useful information and pictures of the hazards.

Give it a go if you get a chance!
 
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