Undecided about trying XC

[Courbette]

Hi all, bit of advice wanted. Long story short I'm taking my part-loan to camp next month and have the opportunity to try XC for the first time. I have a very love hate relationship with jumping but have decided that i'd like to give it ago on a grassroots course with tiny fences and a pony who had been there and done it all muliple times before. The downside is as a commited dresage diva I don't have the correct hat or a body protector (both required). I've put my name down earlier today as I've been offered the use of a body protector (although i've not tried it on yet) and have just sat down to buy a new hat to discover inflation has very much been at work since I last treated myself to a tackshop spending spree. Having just totted up how much the hat and body protector will cost i'm now getting cold feet. This isn't something I envisage being able to do regularly even if I decide I want too but I do fancy giving it ago. I suppose my question is am I mad given I have none of the gear and no idea

 

[Red-1]

I think you would have fun. However, a body protector does have to fit to be of any use. If the loan one fits (have a look online for a fitting guide) then an up to standard hat doesn't have to be too pricy. I just had a Google, £50 gets a brand new, up to spec one.

I think jockey skulls are safer for general riding anyway, if you do come off, the peak doesn't act as a lever to ram the hat down.

Have fun!

 

[Lintel]

YOLO!

 

[Courbette]

My old body protector was a horrible tartan one last seen in 2004 (around the time I stopped jumping). They have changed completely!! I’ll see if I can try the borrowed one on and then I still have time to swap my lessons if needed. I love watching eventing and oddly think some of the small XC jumps look more inviting than show jumps. Might be different once I’m looking at the them from the back of the pony!

 

[Keith_Beef]

YOLO!

FTW!

A body protector doesn't need to cost the earth. I got a Dainese from Padd in late November or early December 2019 when they were being sold at 70% off. I needed one for TREC.

I'd been wanting to get a jockey's skull for a while, because I find that the peak on my Decathlon helmet hinders visibility when I need to duck under low branches in the forest, and got an Charles Owen Pro II Plus from Amazon for about €160 (I'd been trying to get my local tack merchant to get some in for me to try, but after several months I just gave up on him)... It's a bit more than I was hoping to spend, but you only get one head.

 

[abbijay]

Definitely go for it, assuming it's Somerford the grassroots is a lovely field and you don't have to do more than trotting up to a 6" log on the floor, splash into the water and walk up a step. It is just a playground but if you get confident there are other things you can try too.
I would suggest trying to borrow or get a second hand body protector. A new hat (that fits) is never a bad investment, you can keep it as a spare for if your main one gets rained on/sweaty or dropped! The champion/charles owen basic skull caps are up to standard and don't have to cost the earth.

 

[Courbette]

Definitely go for it, assuming it's Somerford the grassroots is a lovely field and you don't have to do more than trotting up to a 6" log on the floor, splash into the water and walk up a step. It is just a playground but if you get confident there are other things you can try too.
I would suggest trying to borrow or get a second hand body protector. A new hat (that fits) is never a bad investment, you can keep it as a spare for if your main one gets rained on/sweaty or dropped! The champion/charles owen basic skull caps are up to standard and don't have to cost the earth.

Yes Somerford. I've not been before so not really sure what to expect but I had a google and really want to give it ago. I need a new hat so will get a skull cap and am going to try on a couple of loaned body protectors. I've been riding for years but a lot of my current clothing is from my last big spending spree a good few years ago and I have ended up where a lot of my riding clothes either don't fit (lockdown cake) or need replacing. I have just had a bit of a splurge on show gear and new boots and got my camp place at short notice and had a bit of a panic when I was looking at what I still needed to buy. After years of wanting to have a share pony I can do more with it is a good dilemma really

 

[SpotsandBays]

You won’t know until you try it! I have a love hate relationship with jumping and XC. If I think about it I feel sick to the core with nerves but when I’m out there I love it! Don’t put any pressure on yourself to do anything you’re not comfortable with. Even just having a play in and out of the water would be fun! And you can do that at any pace you feel comfortable. I second getting yourself a skull, they’re not particularly expensive, and you could use it for hacking etc and save your current one for best?