Can you explain it all for me?

[suzii]

I am very interested in Le Trec for the future with me and Sprite, I have seen Kelly Marks do it at Windsor and it comes across as a sport where you have to have a true partnership in order to be successful. I also think that it could be good for me and Sprite generally for building confidence and "control" when hacking.

Problem is, I don't really know that much about it. The Trec at Windsor was an altered version so we just saw the obstacle course and the fast walk/slow canter section. Is it just orienteering on top of that or is there some jumping involved as well? Also, how would I go about training Sprite for it - with regards to equipment etc

[spotti]

I think Rac would be the ideal person to ask about Trec as she does the 'proper' version (the original amazing french one!) but long story short, TREC seems to involve an orienteering bit (map reading etc), an obstacle course (including the odd jump, fast walk/slow canter, walking over a 'bridge', walking away from your horse and expecting him to stay still etc), and then something else...

I think I've muddled that up quite a bit but you get the jist. TREC training is good fun, I would love to have a real go myself, but for now we just play about learning things (including playing with an umbrella!!!).

[fleabitten]

Spotti - i think the fast walk and slow canter is called 'control of paces' and its a separate phase.
Heres a few websites: www.trec-uk.com and www.bhs.org.uk/Riding/BHS_TREC

[scattymare]

I've done a Trec training day wich was the controlled paces and obstacle course.
A full competition invloves orienteering as well.
The idea of the controlled paces is that you canter as slowly as possible along a narrow corridoor then walk back as quickly as possible. You get points allocated for your time but if you break pace you score zero.
The obstacle course is supposed to simulate natural obstacles you might meet out hacking - so may include a small fence. We did thinks like low branches (ducking under low poles) an s-bend - negotiating an s bend of poles without knocking one and things like that. The beauty of Trec is if you don't want to do an obstacle (like jump for example) you just tell the obstacle judge.
I found it really good fun and am hoping to do a full competition at some point. I think it's something really anyone can have a go at.

[bonnyben]

Echo everything Scatty says!! It really is the most amazing fun, you don't take it too seriously which means you relax, your horse relaxes and you get a laugh as well as building up trust and a partnership.

Can fully recommend it. ;D

Only probelm I am finding is that there are very few competitons (up here anyway), they seem to be holding them this year in Inverness-shire or Aberdeen-shire, too far for me.

But if you get a chance, so for it suzii ;D

[racaille]

Thanks Spotti!

Yeah, the point about le TREC is that is tests you and your horse on things that you might meet out hacking (Technique de Randonée Equestre en Competition- as you know, randonées are what I do a lot of, ie long distance).

Putting it simply, it's a test of how much your horse trusts you and how well you function as a partnership. So there will be jumps - the kind of thing you might meet out hacking, so think cross country - but sometimes there will be a jump that you will have to manage in hand, for example (can't tell you how many of these Paco and I do out and about when the take off or landing is not guaranteeed). There may also be water obstacles, bridges, low branches, jumps up or down .... anything you might have to tackle out in the wild.

And that's just the PTV.

The POR is the orienteering phase. This is really good fun but you need to learn to read a map as it can be very tricky .... but you can do easy ones at entry level where it is all marked out for you.

And the control of paces ... it sounds easy but it's so not!!!

However, it is brilliant fun! When you are starting out, it is good to do the team events cos it's just a laugh!

The BHS has a good site that explains everything and also events everywhere.

Personally, I'd love to see more people doing le TREC as I think it's a good competition - open to absolutely everyone, regardless of how posh or not their horse or pony is - you can opt to do only the things that you are comfortable with, and the people are generally fun and laid back.

So do it!

[spotti]

Rac - you've just sold it to me all over again! I so need to get myself strong again so we can ride...we neeeeeeed to have a go!!!

Suzii, I think you also asked how you could train Sprite for TREC - basically desensitise him to everything and anything, work on controlling your paces, learn how to read a map, and I think you already have a good bond from the ground so any in-hand stuff should be relatively simple (still, it wouldn't hurt to brush up on it . Basically play about with him, keep him fit and just enjoy being together

[yann]

Spotti, they did actually hold a couple of level 1 TREC's at the yard a few years ago, with all the obstacles around the cross country course and the control of paces track in the end field where they grazed in the winter. It was seriously good fun and we obviously had a slight edge with the orienteering as I already knew most of the tracks. Rio was in her prime and we placed in both competitions, only time I've ever competed and succeeded at something

[spotti]

WOW! That sounds awesome! I hope they have one again 'cos I'd LOVE to have a go

[yann]

Don't know if it will happen any time soon, I think the woman who organised it is busy doing other things these days, there was also a problem making the orienteering routes different enough without doing too much roadwork year on year, and some of the ground that was covered is no longer rideable.

[suzii]

Is there training equipment you can use to stimulate the obstacles? For the TREC at windsor it was all done in a school so for branches they had a little row of high up, lightweight pole things and they had a bridge and things like that. I suppose I could improvise and create a makeshift course?

[suzii]

Also, I don't want to be doing much jumping with Sprite, certainly not for a while due do confidence and not wanting to strain his back - will this be a problem?

[spotti]

Not at all, TREC is a sport where everyone can join in - it doesn't matter what the horse or rider is like! Some even do in-hand TREC or I've heard of doing bits whilst driving the horse!!! Also if you don't want to do a certain obstacle (e.g. a jump) you just tell the judge of that obstacle that you don't want to do it and you don't have to .

As for simulating the obstacles, low branches are tested using jump wings and jump poles anyway (as far as I'm aware) so just play with that. And you most definitely can invent things...just play around and have fun! You might want to start off just playing with one thing at a time until Sprite gets the idea and then you can gradually build up a bit of a course and do a few things in one session.
If you want some ideas of things to play with, I'm full of ideas!!! If you've seen the video of Faith recently, we've been playing about at transforming into Super Pony , and that's just one of many things that we play at. So if you want some inspiration you know where we are

[suzii]

That sounds great thanks - is the video on the video board?

[yann]

I've simulated low branches using jump wings on crates and bamboo canes, and it did seem to help when we were faced with the real thing. You can get them to walk across boards to simulate a bridge, gates are gates and pole corridors and the maze are easy to replicate if you have enough poles at home. Other than that things like, backing up, immobility and being mounted from the ground without walking off are useful everyday skills anyway It's great fun training all this stuff and the best thing is that it's all directly useful day to day too, good luck