These are being offered in my area next year. I believe the format will be two 2-day events held over four days (I could of course be proven way off base when the omnibus actually comes out),
I have some thoughts, but am curious to see what others think, as I’ve never competed at anything besides the regular two or three day events.
Do you mean like an event on Thursday and Friday followed by an event on Saturday and Sunday? At the same venue but run as separate events?
[QUOTE=Highflyer;8416231]
Do you mean like an event on Thursday and Friday followed by an event on Saturday and Sunday? At the same venue but run as separate events?[/QUOTE]
Yes, that is what I’m asking about and what I think is on the schedule for next year for our area.
I wouldn’t think it would change anything for the average competitor with one horse? You would just do one event or the other. If you had multiple horses you might come for four days and do both but not with the same horse. We have events in this area that run some divisions on one day, some on two days, and sometimes run a few sections of a division on multiple days. (So Open Prelim on Friday and Saturday, Prelim Rider on Sunday).
It would probably just be like that. More work for the organizer, and more volunteers to recruit, but otherwise probably not a big deal. Unless I’m missing something?
the back to back horse trials I have ridden in where all three phases ridden the same day, so you did that two days in a row …the 2nd day the jump courses were slightly more technical…some riders opted to ride a higher level the 2nd day, using it as an opportunity to move up
I had heard some people thinking of this as a move up opportunity. I could see that with one day trials, same over 4 days total?
normandy, no
they’re back-2-back one day horse trials, generally shorter than normal courses so you could ride a horse both days without undue hardship on the horse, and, as sunhawk mentioned, choose to move-up the 2nd day. So, 2 horse trials over only 2 days. WAY less work for the poor organizers in the long run
[QUOTE=fanfayre;8416298]
normandy, no
they’re back-2-back one day horse trials, generally shorter than normal courses so you could ride a horse both days without undue hardship on the horse, and, as sunhawk mentioned, choose to move-up the 2nd day. So, 2 horse trials over only 2 days. WAY less work for the poor organizers in the long run[/QUOTE]
The ones held in BC will be one day trials held back to back? The dates on the tentative calendar show them as being over 4 days, which made me think it would be two 2-day trials.
I have done two days in a row at BN when a (starter) event was rescheduled because of rain, and it was fine-- but I have to admit I can’t really see doing this at a level higher than Novice and even then the footing and weather would have to be pretty good for me to even consider it.
Are you sure they are offering all levels at both? Area 1 has several venues that run their horse trials with 2 divisions Saturday and the other 2 on Sunday.
If it was really over 4 days and you do dressage and sj on day 1, then Xc the next day, then d & sj on day 3 and Xc on day 4. For a fit horse at bn/n that really isn’t that much work.
I would guess it’s more to accommodate a larger number of entries?
Would depend on the horse and level. For most horses that I have owned (primarily OTTBS)… They would be perfectly fine doing this at novice and Training level (and I wouldn’t give it a second thought). I probably wouldn’t do it above training but might if footing was decent (Use it to run one level then move up a level or build confidence by running a higher then lower level…I wouldn’t likely do it just to run the same level twice).
But it it really would depend on the horse and footing.
I think it is much ado about nothing when people are concerned about doing events back to back. Think about how much time under saddle each day and then compare to the normal work schedule. I figure if I do a 1-day HT, the horse has 30 minutes of flat and 20 minutes over fences, max, including schooling, with multiple breaks. If it is a 2 day HT, then the horse has even less.
There are 3 day long clinics with 90 minutes of work under saddle, and MANY jumps, and we do those. I doubt the horse knows the real difference between a competition and a clinic, unless the horse is smart enough to recognize white breeches and braids :lol:
If stabling and traveling is stressful, then this may enter into the equation.
What Winding Down just said. Exactly! Sissies. Around here folks do long 4-5 day weekend camp/trail rides. It was nothing for us to daily knock down 6-7 hrs out in the woods and steep! ravines. Back to back lower level is not much, unless you’re talking about the mental stress - to the rider. :rolleyes:
not trying to be snarky but I used to say to my horse at times ‘you know, horses used to work in the field long hours every day.’ They really don’t have it bad at all when kept the way they are by good ownership.
[QUOTE=pony grandma;8416553]
What Winding Down just said. Exactly! Sissies. Around here folks do long 4-5 day weekend camp/trail rides. It was nothing for us to daily knock down 6-7 hrs out in the woods and steep! ravines. Back to back lower level is not much, unless you’re talking about the mental stress - to the rider. :rolleyes:[/QUOTE]
Yep! And I just fox hunted my event horse for FIVE hours last weekend, and much of that time was galloping hard over uneven terrain with mud, coops out of nowhere, and 5-10 foot almost vertical muddy banks. Horse is just fine, actually more than fine. Best flat work ever two days later 
The BC events in question are going to be two, 2-day events, held over 4 days. It’s on the schedule and confirmed by the organizers. One of the shows only goes to Training (but will usually host a Prelim/Training combined test, so may offer that again). The other goes to Prelim.
As someone else said, your horse is going to do less work in 4 days than he normally would at home, or in a clinic situation. Of course horsemanship is required in determining how long you will warm up, how fast you will run XC, etc.
I think this is a great opportunity to get two events in for the cost of one trailer trip. I hope lots of people support these local events. At the AGM, we had concerns expressed by organizers that they aren’t getting enough support and we are going to lose the events.
Very popular for lower level rider/horse on the un-recognized levels in PNW. BAck to Back one-days.
Works a few times a season.
The format with two events back to back should not be that hard on a horse… much better than hauling for one weekend and again the follwing weekend to compete.
I think this is much better than running events consecutive weekends with double the travel, as I’ve seen many do around here. And like others stated, it really isn’t any more work than your horse would do at home over 4 days or at a weekend clinic (or as PG and WD pointed out, real trail riding or hunting). Less work for the horse than, for example, the long format T3D I did this fall. We spent 5 1/2 days at the venue with riding each day, some days multiple rides (dressage school in morning and then hacking R&T and steeplechase school in the afternoon on a non-competition day, for example).
As a volunteer coordinator myself, I cringe more at trying to get enough volunteers for back to back HTs…
If my horse was fit and sound (not battling anything or just rehabbed something) I would totally do this. Events are so far from us that I would absolutely love this opportunity.
I would do this at BN, N, and possibly T. I’ve never even aspired to Prelim so can’t comment on that.
When I did back-to-back one-day events 10-15 years ago, the organizers would make the XC course about as short as allowed and would also reduce the speed sometimes. Less walking for the riders and less pounding for the horses.
[QUOTE=Blugal;8416943]
When I did back-to-back one-day events 10-15 years ago, the organizers would make the XC course about as short as allowed and would also reduce the speed sometimes. Less walking for the riders and less pounding for the horses.[/QUOTE]
I’ll be curious what the courses look like considering the course designer usually puts on challenging courses.
I’m all for anything to get the numbers up – and had thought the benefits seemed to be in the logistics. Travelling once and getting more competition time, especially since both of these events are in areas where many are hauling in from a bit of a distance. I was curious whether people would enter them back to back. As I have not been around eventing long enough to have seen this.
As for less work, my horse doesn’t work that hard over 4 days, and I don’t do 3 day jump clinics. Granted, he’s well schooled and a teenager and I’m very conscious of a less is more approach with him. He’s also not a young super it TB.
Thabks Blugal for confirming the format, I was very disappointed to miss the AGM!
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
