Versatile Trec

[joandlad]

I've entered myself and Murph into the walk/trot class in something being billed as Versatile Trec on 6th September. From what I can tell, instead of the orienteering bit you do a kind of dressage test in an arena which it says is "marked on accuracy and obedience of transitions rather than paces and way of going". Control of Paces is just at trot and walk. Then there is an obstacle course with 10 obstacles.

Need to do some serious preparation. I have no idea what obstacles they will have so not entirely sure what we need to practice! I expect they'll probably have a gate, a jump (which we'll leave out if it's any bigger than 2ft - I can't see it being bigger as it's just a walk/trot class!), s-bend, reverse corridor, hanging branches. Anything else?? Oh dear, thought it was a good idea but am now starting to regret it. Have visions of Murph picking off the hanging branch sticks one by one with his teeth!

[racaille]

It sounds great and don't worry, you'll have a wonderful time. Trec competitors tend to be a very relaxed and happy bunch!
The BHS website has loads of info on Trec, if you want to find out more about the PTV (obstacle course).

Things (other than you have mentioned ) that you might come across are a jump up or down, 'wrong side' mounting (do practise this as it freaks quite a lot of horses out for some reason!), immobility (tip: tuck your reins behind your saddle and back away from your horse keeping eye contact if possible, but don't put your hand up, it's not allowed. Here we are allowed to hold up one finger) and water.
Do get Murph used to the low branches, if the bar falls off onto his bum, he could give you a nasty surprise! Since the bars are set 20cm above the withers of each horse (but might be higher for a novice class) practise hanging off to one side as a classic mistake is to fold forward and knock off the bars with your bum!

Control of paces is harder than it sounds. You'll get zero if you break pace so it's better to let Murph take it at his own rhythm rather than, say, urging him on in walk and him giving a stride of trot.

Have a lovely outing and don't forget you can opt out of any of the obstacles if you think Murph would freak!

[florence]

This sounds so much more interesting than just dressage or jumping. I'd love to see more trec - either tv coverage or some competions locally. I don't think there are any at all round here.

[racaille]

The BHS is hugely keen to see Trec adopted on a wider scale because it is really the only competition that is open to everyone: there are classes for every level and it really is a fun day out. And you can do it on any horse - you don't need to have competition pony/horse.

My resolution for this coming year (which for us starts in the autumn) is to have a go at lots. P is a complete poof, despite having done millions of Trec, he doesn't like new things in the PTV. On the other hand, R is going to be a world beater I think. I just have to stay on him .....

[joandlad]

Am aiming just to have a fun day out but definitely better to be prepared and actually give it a good go than just turn up and have to miss out every obstacle. Think Murph will really enjoy it, he loves doing new stuff.

Thanks very much for the tips Racaille. No problems with the wrong side mounting except that we usually mount from a mounting block. Do you have to mount from the floor? Will definitely need someone to hold the stirrup if I do (treeless saddle isn't really designed for mounting from the floor!). Is that allowed? Umm, not sure how we can practice a jump up or down. Oh, there's an old sunken road jump in our fields where the hunt used to go though. Job for tonight! Immobility - If it's on grass are they allowed to put their heads down and eat? If so we'll be fine, if not we haven't got a hope! ;D Did some low branches stuff last night. Once Murph realised that he had to walk under them and not stand eating them he was fine. Will practice again whilst hanging off the side - must admit I did the classic bend forward last night. No worries about something scaring him. If anything all the in-hand stuff we did has made him too brave.

He can do a beautiful slow trot, almost passage so not too worried about the trot bit. Was going to just let him walk back at his own speed as he's quite quick off the leg and would be easy for him to break to trot if asked to walk too quickly.

Really looking forward to it now. If I get bitten by the Trec bug I will have to put a lot of time and effort into the orienteering bit as map reading isn't one of my strengths.

[joandlad]

Right have a list of obstacles for our class. They said they shouldn't really release them to me but as Murph is only 5 and it's our first attempt they made an exception. ;D

Gate, Corridor, S Bend, Plastic/Tarp/Carpet, Mounting Block, Stand in Circle, Branches, Bridge, Bending Poles, Step Up or Down.

Will have to practice gate as we've never encountered any gates whilst mounted. Shouldn't be too much of a problem though. Corridor - I assume this is forwards and not the reversing one?? S Bend will practice tomorrow night along with Tarpaulin. We did lots of tarp stuff before I backed him but not done anything recently. The problem will be stopping him picking it up with his teeth and waving it about. Umm, seemed like a good thing to teach him when he was 3yrs old. Not so sure now.

Quite glad we entered this as it's given us lots of new things to work on instead of the constant schooling pattern we were falling into.

[fleabitten]

joan - i did the gate thing on kieran last week and it was good fun - good thing he is small because it was a metal gate and the bar was low down! Im sure it will be a proper horse gate with one of those latches for riders to reach.