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Post by racaille on Feb 23, 2015 18:09:34 GMT
Well, afternoon.... on Thursday. It seems like so long since I've done a TREC but there are some programmed locally and my coach and I are hoping we can whip up enthusiasm for a team. If not, I can do it solo but it's not as much fun.  |
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Post by fleabitten on Feb 23, 2015 21:55:36 GMT
Havent heard any Trec reports in a long time!  id like to give trec more of a go this year if murphy gets better, i did one training day last winter with him and he was a pro at it even though he had probably never done anything like that before! trec is very slow to take off here so its quite rare to get events - although theres a new local trec group started, but i havent heard anything more since before christmas. Looking forward to hearing the report! and hopefully you can get a team! |
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Post by pboy on Feb 24, 2015 16:10:47 GMT
That sounds fun! I've never been to a TREC comp (they didn't exist in Hong Kong!) but I'd definitely like to give it a go too. Looking forward to the report!
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Post by racaille on Feb 24, 2015 18:02:03 GMT
Flea I think the reason it hasn't taken off is that it requires quite a lot of marshals so it a big thing to organise. Shame as it's such fun! And as you know, I like it because anyone can have a go and you can opt out of the things you don't fancy. Pboy, you must try it if you get the chance!
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Post by fleabitten on Feb 24, 2015 22:18:25 GMT
Yes i think that was the problem, getting volunteers to run the events, especially the proper ones with the orienteering and the obstacle phases, as opposed to training days.
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Post by brigadier on Feb 25, 2015 19:31:56 GMT
have a great time Rac- full report expected! I shall think of you whilst having my Spa day!
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Post by racaille on Feb 26, 2015 17:53:00 GMT
I had a fab day out! There were only three of us in the end - I don't think I have a team  - but we did have a laugh. There was a very nervous girl on a very green horse - I think the horse was more willing than the rider. I felt sorry for her as she was obviously sick with nerves. But the mare wasn't naughty, she just hadn't seen stuff before and had a look, but did everything that was asked of her. I know the girl wants to sell the horse and it is probably a good thing, she needs a steady eddy to have fun with and gain confidence. Then there was a woman on a very silly TB, the woman is hilarious but lets the horse get away with murder. My coach said: typical TB. Not at all like Sam  So we worked together but at different levels and Ol Paco was storming round! He was just full of the joys of spring - it was a wonderful, warm and sunny day and I was just in a T shirt plus BP, obvs - and on several occasions he had a few bucks just for fun. We worked on everything. The most fun were the log jumps - blimey did I just say that?  - and the contre haut and contre bas. The newbies were doing everything in walk but I wasn't allowed. Canter up the step was fine but I had to take a deep breath for the canter jump down which was also on top of a slope so you went on going down even after touchdown. So I asked P for a good canter - he was very happy to oblige - and looked up into the void and went for it! It was great so we did it several times! Then me and my big mouth: jumping a fallen tree trunk with a sharp turn afterwards and I said oh Paco expected to go on and do the next tree..... so that was what I had to do next time! He made it feel easy. We finished on a high with the U-bend exercise - we managed to do it in canter! Not easy for Ol P as it requires a lot of balance turning so tight in canter. I kept my legs hard on and supported him hard on the inside and he did it!!! Whahay! What a good boy! And buoyed up by my new brave pants, I have signed up to do the XC training day next week. So has TB lady. It'll be a laugh |
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Post by pboy on Feb 26, 2015 18:27:46 GMT
Your joy shines through!! It sounds great fun |
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Post by fleabitten on Feb 26, 2015 18:52:20 GMT
I agree with pboy, your enthusiasm comes right through, you sound like you had a brilliant day - maybe you and TB lady could do pairs TREC? And look at your confidence, you sounded like you just went for it - thats the spirit! Def worth getting new brave pants! well done! |
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Post by solomon on Feb 26, 2015 19:38:59 GMT
Good ole Paco. Eric the cart horse. P! Whatever you call him you can call him a great ride and a fabulous partner. Truly a diamond.
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Post by racaille on Feb 27, 2015 6:45:11 GMT
Yes, I know I'm lucky to have him, he really is a splendid little fellow! I do love that little horse.  And I feel a bit smug that a friend of mine years ago declined to buy an 'ordinary grey like every other horse down here' and bought a complicated Spanish mare because she was a pretty dun colour. Of course they are no longer together but my ordinary white horse is a treasure. Flea, sadly pairs do not exist. I don't know why a team has to be a minimum of three but there it is. However, the guy organising the TRECS locally is a big cheese in the discipline (all the family are champions) and he agrees with me so he lets people compete as individuals but leave more or less together. However, I need to have a long think about whether I do it with the silly TB. The lady is a hoot but as a pair they are a bit terrifying in terms of safety....  |
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Post by brigadier on Feb 27, 2015 11:48:43 GMT
Cant believe you were thinking Paco was getting to the end not so long ago. You've obviously had a terrific time. pity the other ladies mount isnt quite up to it- but maybe it will be ok now its seen everything....... or it might be worse!
Brave pants hurray eh?
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Post by racaille on Feb 27, 2015 12:03:15 GMT
Brig, the TB would be OK really, it's the lady who is away with the fairies! She is very nice but rides with washing line reins and the horse goes where he wants. At the top of the step (in walk) he obviously didn't feel much like going down it so he stopped. What did she do? Nothing. She laughed and let him turn back. When he jumps, she lets him peter out in front of the jump, then he does a great sheep leap over it and she gets unseated and says he 'can't jump'. He is skittish but I feel that she could be more 'present'. She is doing the XC next week and we still have 10 days to sign up for the TREC, so I'll see how it goes on the XC. If we do it as an unofficial pair her results won't have any impact on mine (not that I'm out to win  ) but equally I don't want any mishaps on the POR.  I think it was the vet who unsettled me about P's age! Like me, he's only as old as he feels and clearly he feels he's a spring chicken at the moment! |
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id like to give trec more of a go this year if murphy gets better, i did one training day last winter with him and he was a pro at it even though he had probably never done anything like that before! trec is very slow to take off here so its quite rare to get events - although theres a new local trec group started, but i havent heard anything more since before christmas. 
for so much hard work we thank ye!!
- but we did have a laugh. 
- and the contre haut and contre bas. The newbies were doing everything in walk but I wasn't allowed. Canter up the step was fine but I had to take a deep breath for the canter jump down which was also on top of a slope so you went on going down even after touchdown. So I asked P for a good canter - he was very happy to oblige - and looked up into the void and went for it! It was great so we did it several times!
And I feel a bit smug that a friend of mine years ago declined to buy an 'ordinary grey like every other horse down here' and bought a complicated Spanish mare because she was a pretty dun colour. Of course they are no longer together but my ordinary white horse is a treasure. 
) but equally I don't want any mishaps on the POR. 