XC optimum times - really silly Beginner questions

Angua2

Angua2

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can someone explain xc times for me.

I did my first HT at the weekend and the optimum time was something like 300mpm. Um..... what does that mean in idiot language.

I have no idea what length the course was though (it was a level 1 PC course if that helps), as by this time it was all gobbldigook to me, and it didn't sink in.

Have to say I had a total blast though, but ended up with 60 penalties 26 being time whatsits.... not sure how that all works though, as I had one refusal and one "oops I should have gone over that one" where I circled back to do the jump but didn't cross my tracks.

I would just like to learn better what I should have been doing rather than having a total ball..... and that is coming from someone who was scared to jump at the beginning of the year.
 
well done , sounds to me that if u haddnt had a stop, and a whoops i went the wrong way, you may have not had any time penalties, at novice level if you keep up a forward going canter the time should be fine, for the first few i would not worry about the time just concerntrate on going clear and having fun!!
 
Angua2 said:
can someone explain xc times for me.

I did my first HT at the weekend and the optimum time was something like 300mpm. Um..... what does that mean in idiot language.
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I haved always presumed "meters per minute" but will be interesting to see if thats it lol.
 
Yes, mpm = metres per minute. If it helps you gauge the speed "relatively", most SJ optimum times are set at 325mpm, so the speed wanted at your competition would be a very steady canter.

I am a firm believer in leaving the time to be the last thing to worry about when doing XC for the first time or moving up a level. I would much rather have a nice, fun (and hopefully clear!) round and some time penalties, than risk a silly run out or scary moment by going too fast for me/my horse to react, especially when you are not established at that level.

Sounds to me like you did the right thing- you went out, had fun and both came home over the finish line happy and sound. :) Next time out I would aim for a clear round and not worry about the time. Then when you have a clear round (or two) under your belt, think about upping the pace to meet the optimum time. Although this may well happen naturally without you having to consciously change anything just through you and your horse getting more confident and setting up less for fences etc. :)
 
FigJam said:
Sounds to me like you did the right thing- you went out, had fun and both came home over the finish line happy and sound. :) Next time out I would aim for a clear round and not worry about the time. Then when you have a clear round (or two) under your belt, think about upping the pace to meet the optimum time. Although this may well happen naturally without you having to consciously change anything just through you and your horse getting more confident and setting up less for fences etc. :)
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Now this I can do!!!:D

TBH I had a total and utter ball. I did wish that I had done the longer intermediate course but there were some jumps that scared me silly (no point in running before you can walk) so I stuck to the smaller course and was disapointed when it was over..... bazaar coming from someone that wouldn't have done a HT at the begining of the year don't you think?!:rolleyes:
 
I use www.mapmyrun.co.uk to work out what is a 300m stretch on my hack gallop areas, then time my horse and me with a watch countdown timer for one minute then go for it and see how close we are to the time!

I have to say though it sounds like your time pens are prob just from the stop. I would totally agree with FigJam it's all about getting the clear then you will either find you have got the time right anyway or if not you can start to focus on a few tricks for upping your speed. I posted something similar a few months ago and was given the following tips:-

1) Rhythm make sure your horse has a nice rythm, even if it's slow the first time you try, you can always up the tempo a bit next time

2) Once you have your rhythm you can start to set out of the start box "on a mission"

3) Try to jump straightforward single fences straight out of your jumping stride rather than slowing up and placing your horse before a fence (you can practise this at home over smaller fences first or out doing XC schooling)

4) Kick on after each fence as soon as your horse lands so your horse accellerates away - look at the pros at badminton etc, this what they do after each fence with a gallop ahead.

5) When you walk the course look at the lines of where the course runs and try to find what is the quickest line

Knowing these things helped me a lot, but I would again stress, focus on jumping clear first as you may find you need to do very little or nothing at all to get inside the time. Hammering it round would just be dangerous if you didn't know you and your horse were capable of doing each fence clear.

Lastly - enjoy it!!!!! :D
 
Also not sure if this is useful but on an XC course, unless you present the horse to the fence you can turn as many circles as you like in between including crossing your tracks. you would only lose on time.

If you are coming to a single fence and don't even look at it but canter past (no presenting) then turn round and jump it, there are no refusal faults.

If you are coming to two fences close together (like a double) but they are seperately marked eg fence 10 and 11. then you can jump one fence, turn a circle and jump the second without incurring penalites - it just takes time.

if you are coming to two fences numbered say 10a & 10b, then they must be jumped together without any circling.

Also if you come to a fence (number 10) and it has a black line of tape on the flags, then it means there is an alternative fence you can jump if that one is scary, the alternative fence is usually a distance away causing you to take longer time to get over it.

Intro (BE90) speed on xc is 450mpm, I also use 'map my run' uk version http://gb.mapometer.com/en/
you can save your rides out and measure them - i used it to measure my field for interval training to see how long i was trotting for and how long galloping so I could work out how many times I should go round it!

I would love a gps tracker like the garmin forerunner as it records your speed while out running (hacking)
 
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