EVENTING  - HORSE TRIALS  - ONE DAY EVENTS ( ODE )

This discipline contains 3 elements : A dressage test + one round of show jumping + cross country course with  18 – 21 solid fences to jump over all sorts of terrain.

 Both rider & horse / pony need to be fit  to cope with the 3 elements on one day. Disciplined & calm to ride a dressage test first,  accurate to jump clear over the SJ course & then have the stamina to canter & gallop over a long course with solid fences & combinations under all sorts of ground conditions, up & down hills , riding  through water complexes.

 Rider’s compete against others & them selves to do their personal best scores over the three sections.

 With these type of competitions start times are given for each stage & breaks in between, so that tack can be changed & riders can change their riding attire. This also gives the horse a rest, have a drink & nibble on a haynet . 

  There are different levels of classes for  riders & horse / ponies.

ODE  can start as low as 1’6”  fences & simple dressage tests – working up through the levels to Eventing at Areas:  Novice at 90cm , Intermediate at 1m & Open at 1.10m

 There are quite a few pony club competitions held throughout the year, for all the levels from mini – open classes. See the schedules page on the website. www.hertshunt.com

 This is a great day out as  riders  has the chance to compete in 3 sections in one competition.

We normally arrange some training dates at different   venues  to give members the opportunity of practicing over  on wide range of  courses, terrain & XC fences. Some of the courses will be out of the our area , ie; Lynham in Oxon &  maybe Aston- le- Walls in Northampton. For our more novice riders we are going to organise training at Great Westwood XC course, Watford, Primrose farm, Gawcott. 

MKEC at Hanslope which has several different courses with XC fences from 1’6” / 2’ / 2’3” – 2’6” /  2’9” – 3’6” .  With a good variety of jumps, including  water complex, ditches, hedges etc. This course is suitable for all levels & is within easy driving distance.

Competitions to go & watch:

Look on the Herts Hunt PC website for dates of ODE, Horse Trials.

British Eventing have lots of competitions during year at nice venues.

The Pony Club website main calendar: www.pcuk.org

 Chiltern & Thames magazine has dates of all the local competitions .