why doesnt BE have 'going reports' like racing?

[lucym]

just a thought really...and i appologise if it has been discussed previously

why in the weeks leading up to events cant the organisers update going reports to the BE website, so people know what the grounds like
there is a 'going stick' that racecourses use, that would judge the state of the ground, and would give standard measurements on a goings scale, so that conditions could be monitored

surely this would make sense so people could judge whether or not they wanted to run their horse,
what does everyone else think?

 

[sw123]

Because most organisers say good when actually its rock hard!!! They'd need lessons in good going first i think!

 

[Thistle]

It's so people don't withdraw!

 

[Sarah_Jane]

It is a thought surely there are measuring devices! I agree though organisers idea of going and mine are two different things. I rang up re Withington last year in the dry spell and was told the going was good, it appears concrete was more appropriate. At the end of the day I wasn't going to get my entry fee back so might as well have been told the truth!

 

[Baydale]

Ooooh Sarah_Jane, I was just about to do my entry for Withington!

Are you saying they're not great at doing anything to the ground there cos little fat Hector hates the hard going.

 

[Sarah_Jane]

I'm going to enter again this year on theory that it can't be as dry as it was last April. Withington does drain very well though and if we get a dry spell it will be hard. I had friends up there and didn't even travel last year. I will do the same this year if dry.

 

[Baydale]

Hmmmm, maybe I'll do Osberton the weekend after instead; that's always good going and a hell of a lot nearer.

 

[KatB]

Draycott do use the "going" stick used in racing. Was very very impressed with their ground last year. We are quite lucky in we have alot of events near us, so always have a good idea what the ground will be like coming upto the event

 

[Sarah_Jane]

In a time that horse welfare is so high on the agenda I am still surprised how little attention some events pay to going. I know it is virtually impossible in long dry spells to produce good going but some events seem to put very minimal effort in.

I guess I am also surprised how few riders really consider going as a major priority when choosing an event or deciding whether to run. Until riders start voting with there feet nothing will change.

 

[KatB]

Completely agree S_J, I went to a big eventing centre last year thinking because of its size the ground would have been worked on. However the ground on the XC was hard and rutted, and people were STILL running without a second thought. I had had a longish drive there, and didnt hesitate to WD after SJing.

Have to say the smaller events round us normally make a HUGE effort with the ground, so I suppose we are quite lucky.

 

[H-J]

[ QUOTE ]
In a time that horse welfare is so high on the agenda I am still surprised how little attention some events pay to going. I know it is virtually impossible in long dry spells to produce good going but some events seem to put very minimal effort in.

I guess I am also surprised how few riders really consider going as a major priority when choosing an event or deciding whether to run. Until riders start voting with there feet nothing will change.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree, my closest event (which I shalt name!) is always rock hard

XC and SJing and it never seems like any effort has been made, I really want to run Dexter this year as its close and one of the only ones close in that mth but if it has been really dry I just cant go because of the ground

 

[Thistle]

We won't run there either. Tetrathlon areas are there this year and Bee has said she is not available, shame really as she qualified for champs last year.

 

[tigers_eye]

It is a good idea, and should work for most events, however there are some places where the terrain is so varied you run across 3 different types of soil in one course.

 

[Baggybreeches]

[ QUOTE ]
It is a good idea, and should work for most events, however there are some places where the terrain is so varied you run across 3 different types of soil in one course.

[/ QUOTE ]

A racecourse track is specifically prepared for the racing, it isn't used for any other purpose, where as events are part of farmland or parkland, which has to be in use for the rest of the year. That is why there is often inconsistencies in the type of going.
That said there are many places that could do much more to help with going.