Weston Park or Belton Intermediate

blackhor2e

blackhor2e

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Hi All,

Was just wondering whether anyone had done either of these and had a preference?

The horse I ride is tricky a la dressage, sj's very well and is good with technical xc.

I have ridden Weston at novice so have a little bit of knowledge about it but never been to Belton.

Any info would be much appreciated before I get some entries in.
 
Hi, never ridden either but considered doing the Junior trials at each a couple of years ago. I was recommended to do Weston as a first Intermediate rather than Belton as the XC was supposedly less stiff and everything was a bit less atmospheric. I've heard that the SJ is always tricky at the Spring Weston fixture though. Hope that helps a bit - all second hand from other Juniors and Caroline Moore, and obviously the events might have changed.
 
Been to both and are both very nice events. Belton is not on the soft side xc and if you have a tricky dressage horse I would say Weston as your right at the other end of the grounds ( but u do have to walk through xc fields ) both tend to ballot too.
 
Golden_Match_II said:
Hi, never ridden either but considered doing the Junior trials at each a couple of years ago. I was recommended to do Weston as a first Intermediate rather than Belton as the XC was supposedly less stiff and everything was a bit less atmospheric. I've heard that the SJ is always tricky at the Spring Weston fixture though. Hope that helps a bit - all second hand from other Juniors and Caroline Moore, and obviously the events might have changed.
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Thank you for your reply, I've seen the weston park course because I have been to the novice there last year, and you are right about the sj poles they were being knocked everywhere :-)
But I've been to chatsworth the last couple of years and the horse seems to love the atmosphere, crowds don't bother him that's why I was wondering about belton as he is a bit of a know it all on the xc
 
dingle12 said:
Been to both and are both very nice events. Belton is not on the soft side xc and if you have a tricky dressage horse I would say Weston as your right at the other end of the grounds ( but u do have to walk through xc fields ) both tend to ballot too.
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I thought they were quite popular events hence why I'm asking now, the Weston dressage I did last year caused a lot of excitement to cross the xc course! What is it about belton that makes it harder for a tricky dressage horse? (as mine loves to throw himself about at the start of the season ;-))
 
I don't know where they do the Int dressage, but assuming it is in the same place as the Nov, I don't think there would be an atmosphere issue etc.

SJ is top end at both events so personally that wouldn't influence me. If he thrives at events like Chatsworth then Belton would be a closer match than Weston.

I have done the Nov and both and personally would struggle to say which was tougher. Belton perhaps bigger and bolder but all on the flat. Weston more technical and hills but you know that.

Weston would be wetter than Belton IMHO and the ground was a bit iffy in places last year at Belton again IMHO.
 
I think the Intermediate dressage is in the quieter arenas away from the stands, but the ground at Oasby (fairly close by) was on the firm side last weekend so assume Belton will be similar unless we get rain.
 
The normal intermediate at Belton do dressage in outlying arenas as do the novice but the U21 is in one of the show arenas in the middle of the stands so quite an atmosphere.

The horse walk from the lorry park to the show jumping is long and narrow, past the cross country and can get quite buzzy. Course is top end with trade stands on two sides. Cross country is probably big rather than technical.

Would agree with comments regarding ground though Belton is all on old turf so likely to be better than Oasby.

Haven't done the Spring Weston for many years - I seem to remember the ground can get very deep if wet.
 
Thanks Horsemad12, I think I am leaning towards Belton considering the flatter ground although slightly iffy, he is technically great but perhaps a bold course would suit us both at the start of the season
 
ITPersonnage said:
I think the Intermediate dressage is in the quieter arenas away from the stands, but the ground at Oasby (fairly close by) was on the firm side last weekend so assume Belton will be similar unless we get rain.
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That is good to know, I prefer firm to soft anyway. No need to go like the clappers I just need a good, sensible run!
 
JAMESTOWN said:
The normal intermediate at Belton do dressage in outlying arenas as do the novice but the U21 is in one of the show arenas in the middle of the stands so quite an atmosphere.

The horse walk from the lorry park to the show jumping is long and narrow, past the cross country and can get quite buzzy. Course is top end with trade stands on two sides. Cross country is probably big rather than technical.

Would agree with comments regarding ground though Belton is all on old turf so likely to be better than Oasby.

Haven't done the Spring Weston for many years - I seem to remember the ground can get very deep if wet.
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I'm not under 21 so it looks like maybe the quieter arenas for us which is a blessing :-)

I did Weston last year and the ground was ok, but they put wood bark chippings on the ground which acted like a slide for us, wasn't impressed with that to be honest.
 
dingle12 said:
just area is quieter at Weston for dressage belton has a lot going on plus xc when I've been has been on the tougher side so if first intermediate I would say Weston. But both fab event.
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It's our first intermediate of the season, but not a first intermediate for both of us if you get what I mean? Thank you though for helping me decide.
 
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