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The tack room
First BE ODE next month, any advice welcome!
Rollingdinosaur · 18/04/2016 13:37
I am finally taking the plunge, and having a go at a proper affiliated ODE next month, if I don't get balloted out. I am excited, and somewhat terrified. I have done several unaffiliated ones, and not made a complete tit of myself, so this seems like the logical next step.
I would be interested to hear any tips, or ideas of what to expect, from those in the know. Will the standard be a lot higher? Will I look a prat, as a lot of my gear is on the cheap side, and I will be turning up in 4WD and trailer, rather than a swanky lorry. I am also not sure on the hat standard required, it mentions PAS 015, and kitemark. Does that mean it needs both? My hat has the kite mark, but not the other bit. I suspect that means I need a new hat, but I don't want to fork out for one if I don't need to. Any tips will be gratefully accepted, thanks.
Rollingdinosaur · 21/04/2016 16:38
Hijack away! Love the idea of a general get off your arse, and have a go thread. I think we could all do with some of that. 
I am going to ignore all the talk of how technical the fences are now though! 
I have also had a bad saddle experience. Got a saddle professionally fitted, or so I thought. The horse I had at the time thought otherwise though, bucked me off in fine style the first time I hacked out in it. Hit my head on the ground when I landed, and couldn't remember where I was. I went back to the supposedly ill fitting saddle that he was quite happy with after that!
I am very jealous of anyone going to Badminton. Every year I say I will go, and I never quite get round to it.
tootsietoo · 21/04/2016 17:42
By technical, I guess they are really mostly skinny. And a few combinations on curving lines. Not really scary!
I look forward to the time when I can be calm enough to check a stopwatch on course and worry about my time penalties blearynweary. I will be pleased enough to get spooky cob round!
IsItTimeForGinYet · 21/04/2016 17:50
Exactly. They aren't scary but they are definitely different. It's funny how fences seem to go through years of being in fashion and then virtually forgotten about.
Only spending the day at Badminton this year. Last year I spent the week there which was made even more special by WFP winning.
frostyfingers · 22/04/2016 10:02
I'm eyeing up an Eventers Challenge in May - a round of showjumps followed by shortish XC then back in the arena for another showjump......I've never evented but did Hunter Trials as a child and the thought of dressage turns me cold so this sounds like a good compromise. Dhorse is a fab jumper (I would never have jumped this hedge on previous horse) and has evented but his results weren't good so I thought this might be a gentle introduction. First task is to get some showjumping training in as the last time I had a lesson was a good 20 years ago!
I'm not sure I'll ever get round to eventing proper but a few low key outings would suit and keep us going until hunting starts again!
IsItTimeForGinYet · 22/04/2016 10:43
Frosty you sound like me! I haven't had a lesson for about the same amount of time and have my first dressage lesson booked for next week. Poor hunt horse is having to learn new tricks - I quite like a bit of stressage but am very out of practice. Your grey looks lovely! Who do you hunt with?
Rollingdinosaur · 22/04/2016 18:20
TimeForGin, I think you might be too late with your warning, for me at least! Been hat shopping today, so I now have all the kit I need. Frosty, I like the sound of the eventer challenge. I am not a dressage fan either, I just do it, badly so I can do the fun bit that comes after.
tootsietoo · 22/04/2016 22:30
but once you start to get the dressage it is also addictive!
on a high now as did our 80 today and went clear xc thank god! spooky cob flew, barely a hesitation, and SJ felt so much neater and tidier. just picked up 13 time penalties so need to kick on a lot more. roll on our first 90 next week!
totally addicted now.
lovely horse frosty fingers.
Gabilan · 23/04/2016 15:20
Congratulations tootsie
I love dressage. Get nervous about XC but enjoy it afterwards iyswim. Jumping - very variable but dhorse is so kind. I've gone from being rigid and holding the front end too much to thinking "oops, wrong, have the rein, do your job". I don't mean I drop him in front of a fence. I only jump small things and I trust him to have his head and neck completely.
frostyfingers · 23/04/2016 19:01
Well done tootsie, it's the best feeling in the world when it goes right. My lovely horse has had a ball rolling today, and is now very defintely not grey! Keep us posted re next week.
A friend of mine always says to me when I'm dithering "feel the fear and do it anyway" so I hold that thought when I'm feeling chicken.
nagsandovalballs · 24/04/2016 11:09
The best saddle fitter in the country is Martin Wilkinson. I have gone through 4 saddle fitters who all were glorified sales people (depsite being master saddlers). If he really is too far away, You need to find someone who is a member of the Worshipful society of master saddlers, not just master saddlers society.
I ended up boxing up my two mares to martin's (took two hours to get there!) but he was amazing, I'd rank him with a good farrier or vet. And my mares are already improving in their going since our new saddles. I spent so much time faffing about with saddlers who came out to me, but in the end travelling to Martin was the best thing.
Gabilan · 24/04/2016 14:17
I've heard good things about MW but I'm at the opposite end of the country. I'm happy with my current fitter - she managed to transform my horse in 2 weeks. The two fitters before that were, yes, glorified sales people.
Mind you, now his back's sorted and comfortable I can't stop the bastard. Still, it is spring.
frostyfingers · 26/04/2016 18:59
Oh lordy what have I done?! The Eventer Challenge has been postponed so I've now been persuaded to do a 2 phase at the same venue which will involve the whole XC course rather than a short course.....
I've also just got a timetable for some temp work and it involves working all week prior to said event so not much chance for practice. Frantically trying to find somewhere to go and see what happens when he sees a showjump and has to jump XC on his own rather than in a gang like out hunting or teamchasing! Only 80cm but enough to start with I think.
Any idea what the dress code is for the SJ - do I have to wear a jacket and then change into XC stuff or can it be XC stuff for both rounds?
Rollingdinosaur · 26/04/2016 20:59
frosty that sounds like great fun! When is it? I'd imagine it would be a jacket for the SJ, then change for XC.
tootsie, yes I've entered. I am nervously watching the number of entries going up, and wondering how many they can take, before they start balloting some out. It was up to over 180 this morning when I checked. I'm guessing those on a day ticket, like me would be first to go. I've been riding lots, and think we are both getting fitter. Found a small unaffiliated ODE to do next weekend, which should be good practice.
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