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palo1

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I have just started dipping my toe into WE and Alw and I are enjoying it hugely. Are there other HHOers training or competing in WE at the moment?

This last weekend we had a fun training session for EOH and I was delighted that Alw was so cool about the Varra in trot both out of and back into the barrels. The bridge needs more confidence but slalom poles, rein back and 2 barrels are all feeling good. I've made a bridge to practice on at home and even considering a teeny, tiny competition if there might be one reasonably local! If not, we will just keep going with the training.
 
I do Police Horse type training with all of mine. Previous ones have done Trec. Current horses do a garrocha, go over a bridge, open a rope gate etc. I am booked onto a 2 day WE clinic/camp soon with H. However, he isn't naturally the bravest, so we shall see! The idea of working hard in canter will horrify him LOL.

He is ID X Connie but can look quite Spanish in the way he collects.
 
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I had a few clinics last year in WE and Trec and enjoyed both.

Had my first competition last weekend. No idea what I was doing but thought I’d just go for it. Everyone was very friendly and helpful. Looking forward to doing my next one and hopefully improving.
 
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Yes! I did some training and a couple of training competitions last year, as well as the Spring camp at Unicorn. I find it really useful for my horse and it helps my dressage as you do a million transitions without stressing about them.

Everyone is really friendly I've found and it's a very inclusive sport. I'm hoping to do some regional comps and a couple of Nationals this year but depends a bit on how it goes. I'm hoping to do Inter B.

Whereabouts are you based? I assume you've had a look at the ABWE website?
 
Matafleur said:
Yes! I did some training and a couple of training competitions last year, as well as the Spring camp at Unicorn. I find it really useful for my horse and it helps my dressage as you do a million transitions without stressing about them.

Everyone is really friendly I've found and it's a very inclusive sport. I'm hoping to do some regional comps and a couple of Nationals this year but depends a bit on how it goes. I'm hoping to do Inter B.

Whereabouts are you based? I assume you've had a look at the ABWE website?
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I'm in the Brecon Beacons/Welsh border and have found a lovely coach that is also able to offer WE. It's very early days but it really seems to be a good thing for both horse and rider. I'm loving how the EOH reveals some additional training needs!
I'm hoping it will be a fun way to progress, especially as I haven't felt enthused by any training or coaching for ages - it's great to have a bit of an aim again.
 
Matafleur said:
Yes! I did some training and a couple of training competitions last year, as well as the Spring camp at Unicorn. I find it really useful for my horse and it helps my dressage as you do a million transitions without stressing about them.

Everyone is really friendly I've found and it's a very inclusive sport. I'm hoping to do some regional comps and a couple of Nationals this year but depends a bit on how it goes. I'm hoping to do Inter B.

Whereabouts are you based? I assume you've had a look at the ABWE website?
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I have looked at the ABWE website but trying not to do too much planning! How long has it taken you to progress to Inter B? What have you found most tricky in both the dressage and EOH? I'm hoping to really consolidate some basics, having had a bit of time out, but would love to think of more advanced stuff.
 
palo1 said:
I have looked at the ABWE website but trying not to do too much planning! How long has it taken you to progress to Inter B? What have you found most tricky in both the dressage and EOH? I'm hoping to really consolidate some basics, having had a bit of time out, but would love to think of more advanced stuff.
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Hmm, hard to say really, I only did 2 little comps and some training at Novice last year but my horse also competes Medium dressage so that really helps. If you have decent simple changes then Inter B is really accessible as you can choose whether you want to do simple or flying changes. My FC are not reliable yet so simples for us this year.

The Dressage I find quite straightforward, if a bit different from pure Dressage,but the levels are a bit strange. EOH, the bull is definitely the worst for me. My horse is very patient but I am hopeless. We will only be trotting it, even at Inter B.
 
Matafleur said:
Hmm, hard to say really, I only did 2 little comps and some training at Novice last year but my horse also competes Medium dressage so that really helps. If you have decent simple changes then Inter B is really accessible as you can choose whether you want to do simple or flying changes. My FC are not reliable yet so simples for us this year.

The Dressage I find quite straightforward, if a bit different from pure Dressage,but the levels are a bit strange. EOH, the bull is definitely the worst for me. My horse is very patient but I am hopeless. We will only be trotting it, even at Inter B.
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Thank you - that is interesting. We are a long way from Medium but the WE approach and my coach seem to make elements of that more possible! My mare is really interesting to work with and train: bull and varra no problem but the bridge is a work in progress. She has had a funny old time with one thing and another so is still green at 'outings' and rather prone to anxiety but I think WE is helpful for her - she loves variety!
 
Meredith said:
My riding club holds WE clinics reasonably regularly. They seem very popular. I went once but sadly felt ignored and felt I'd wasted my time and money.
I think I'm not too far from you so send me a PM if you'd like more information.
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I'm sorry to hear that - it's so disappointing when that happens. I am currently including the WE in my 1-1 lessons as it takes me so long to get anywhere from home that I'd rather do that than a clinic. There is very little available within 2 hours of home so it needs to be good for me to want to go!
 
dixie said:
I had a few clinics last year in WE and Trec and enjoyed both.

Had my first competition last weekend. No idea what I was doing but thought I’d just go for it. Everyone was very currently and helpful. Looking forward to doing my next one and hopefully improve.
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Fantastic stuff - I don't see any low level competitions anywhere near me so I'll have to improve before I go anywhere!
 
@palo1 would you mind sending me the details of who you are training with?
I think we're quite close geographically and WE is something I want to have a go at this year 😉
 
I've been to two clinics recently - just working on the obstacles. I really enjoyed them. Having no idea what to expect I didn't realise how technical it was, nor that there was a dressage element.

The instructor said organising competitions was difficult due to the amount of equipment that has to be transported/set up and of course insurance is prohibitive unless you get a good number of entries.

She is however looking into holding a comp, to include a 'clear round' class so that people like me can enter.
 
I've done some over the last couple of years - it's great fun! I had a few lessons with qualified instructors then went to the same camp as Matafleur.

It's a really good challenge, if you look at the results for Regional and National comps you'll see that it's possible to be eliminated in a phase and still be placed. There are a lot of ways to get eliminated in the EOH round... For example the bridge was usually ok for Chilli but we did a training comp last summer and he flatly refused to step on the black creosoted wood, thankfully Matafleur was on hand to give us a lead later in the day! Then there are 'silly' things such as not crossing the vara line before you've done that obstacle, not crossing the finish line until the end, opening the gate with your left hand. It means you need the practice and control and also some good course management, it's like dressage + handy pony + show jumping in one!

I hopped on Chilli last week for the first time in 8 months and wondered if he could remember anything - he went straight up to the sideways pole, turned 90 degrees and scooted along it like he'd been practicing all winter ;).

I wish I'd known about it 10 years ago when Pocholo was young as he would have been ideal, I did one lesson on him a couple of years ago and he thought it was the best thing ever.
 
I did WE clinics last year and year before. Absolutely loved it. Unfortunately the numbers dwindled so my local EC stopped doing them. I'm not prepared to travel hours to go training so unfortunately we no longer participate. If they start again I would be straight there!
 
Flowerofthefen said:
I did WE clinics last year and year before. Absolutely loved it. Unfortunately the numbers dwindled so my local EC stopped doing them. I'm not prepared to travel hours to go training so unfortunately we no longer participate. If they start again I would be straight there!
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This is the problem with a new sport isn't it? It takes time to really get the ball rolling and without enough people attending it isn't viable. But without running the events/training, there is no incentive for people to try it and take it up.

The calendar looks much busier this year than last and I hope it's starting to gain some momentum. I live in one of the best areas for it but it's still a fair bit further than I'd ever travel for dressage and even eventing.
 
We have done the clinics as found its a help for my hot horse and very stress free. But it is very cliquey and seems to have a very captive market with a certain type of lady round us. I also find the rules mindblowing and they seem to change like the wind. Was lucky enough to watch some over in Spain last year and that was amazing to see.
 
KC31 said:
We have done the clinics as found its a help for my hot horse and very stress free. But it is very cliquey and seems to have a very captive market with a certain type of lady round us. I also find the rules mindblowing and they seem to change like the wind. Was lucky enough to watch some over in Spain last year and that was amazing to see.
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How intriguing? What is the certain type of lady attracted to WE? I think I am one of very few people in my locality to be interested tbh so I am not experiencing any kind of group culture or cliquey-ness.
 
Someone locally is now offering up clinics for WE. I had a little look into doing one late last year but never actually got around to booking one in! I must have another look
 
palo1 said:
How intriguing? What is the certain type of lady attracted to WE? I think I am one of very few people in my locality to be interested tbh so I am not experiencing any kind of group culture or cliquey-ness.
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I've not noticed a particular 'type' in local training comps! All seemed very warm and friendly.

There does seem to be some politics and a 'split' at the top level, which sadly does seem to happen with these smaller sports and organisations :(
 
j1ffy said:
I've not noticed a particular 'type' in local training comps! All seemed very warm and friendly.

There does seem to be some politics and a 'split' at the top level, which sadly does seem to happen with these smaller sports and organisations :(
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It seems that they are implementing rules that really are not helping to continue the rapid growth of the sport. Which is sad.

We have lots of very wealthy older "ladies who lunch" and it can get a bit much sometimes! 🤣 It is like PC for the boomers! But good luck to them.
 
j1ffy said:
I've not noticed a particular 'type' in local training comps! All seemed very warm and friendly.

There does seem to be some politics and a 'split' at the top level, which sadly does seem to happen with these smaller sports and organisations :(
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Oh that is disappointing to hear but it is so difficult to get stuff off the ground, I imagine there are some very strong personalities involved. Hopefully as the sport grows, it will get easier. None of my friends are especially engaged with WE, though encouraging to me so I haven't seen any 'type' either. The training I am accessing is via a Classical trainer - Portuguese sort of school and that is hugely beneficial for me and my mare: the WE element is a lovely bonus!
 
Someone local is trying atm to set up a WE community here (NI) and I would love to get involved but lack of transport is killing us. I had a loan a few years ago at a TREC yard so did little bits and pieces there and loved it.

I am working on half pass along a pole with the pony anyway just for fun and could probably set up a rope gate 👀 If I can market it as like grown up pony games and get the yard kids involved maybe their mum can give me a lift to something with one of them 😂
 
smolmaus said:
Someone local is trying atm to set up a WE community here (NI) and I would love to get involved but lack of transport is killing us. I had a loan a few years ago at a TREC yard so did little bits and pieces there and loved it.

I am working on half pass along a pole with the pony anyway just for fun and could probably set up a rope gate 👀 If I can market it as like grown up pony games and get the yard kids involved maybe their mum can give me a lift to something with one of them 😂
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Yes! Emphasize the speed element 🤣.
 
KC31 said:
It seems that they are implementing rules that really are not helping to continue the rapid growth of the sport. Which is sad.

We have lots of very wealthy older "ladies who lunch" and it can get a bit much sometimes! 🤣 It is like PC for the boomers! But good luck to them.
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Which rules do you think are holding back the growth? I personally could do without competing in tweed during the summer months! Generally the rules seem fairly light though.

It will be interesting to see how the sport evolves going forward. The numbers at Novice and Junior levels seem quite healthy but the top is really just 2 people. I suppose the bottom of the pyramid is always widest but it will be interesting to see how many manage to progress.
 
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