Maryland Starter Trials and good starter events in MD/VA

[AlterSplash]

I am new to Area 2 and I am looking for some low-key friendly starter events for my gelding this spring. He is 6 and competing training, although somewhat green to the level. We moved from the west coast in november and we’re getting ready to start going out this season.

I had planned on taking him out to the Maryland Starter trials at Loch Moy farm, which I was told by fellow boarders is a great starter. I ended up not entering because we haven’t been able to have a cross country school with the weather. I did go over today and walk the course as I live very nearby… I was pretty impressed and it wasn’t what I was expecting for an early starter course! Pretty tough, especially by starter standards, and some design choices I wouldn’t have made. I’m glad I ended up skipping this one as a first event. Seems like a lovely venue but maybe not for greenies.

Is this typical of starters in area 2? I know this is where the big kids play, so maybe I’m just a weenie. But I do have a lot of miles at training and prelim, and that was what I would expect from a solid recognized course. Do the starters in this area tend to have courses on par with the recognized events, or are most geared towards those moving up? Is everyone just coming back North and already in the swing of things? I guess I assumed a lot of us would be in the same boat (weather hasn’t allowed much xc practice) and it would be a friendlier… well… “starter” course for early in the season!! On that note… any suggestions for good, confidence building training courses in this area (MD/VA)would be good.

Posted under an alter so no one gets offended- not trying to criticize but you never know.

[Highflyer]

The Loch Moy starters have a reputation for that. There aren’t a whole lot of starter Trainings in MD unfortunately. The one at Full Moon is usually ok-- that’s where my T horse is going to start. It’s on 4/6. Other than that, there isn’t really anything in MD that has T for a while. I’m up by the MD/ PA line so I don’t usually go to the VA ones. Plantation Field in PA has one 5/10 that is good. But check out the Maryland Spring Hunter Pace Circuit-- they’re a great place to get a horse out and galloping.

[asterix]

I would agree with highflier. The loch moy unrecognizeds can be very uneven in terms of course design, and I would not assume that they will be soft or friendly (parts, yes, but all, no).
Full moon does nice unrecognized - they have a pipe opener next weekend which is a great way to get exposure for your horse at low cost (they are also running a dressage schooling show the same day and doing schooling SJ rounds).
Their course is VERY hilly so that is a consideration.
Other than that you are fairly limited in terms of unrecognized trainings until Waredaca in the summer. I am also less familiar with VA unrecs…

[gottagrey]

could try Waredaca? Sometimes Seneca Valley Pony Club has some starter trials or runs unrated divisions but those tend to be at the lower levels. Iron Bridge has a good starter trial but I think the highest level is novice.

[piaffequeen]

The Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, VA has 2 really nice starter trials-3/29/2014 - 3/30/2014 & 8/30/2014 - 8/31/2014 The day before the trial you can school the course fences. Great place!

[eventgroupie2]

I second Virginia Horse Trials next weekend (29th for x/c schooling and the trials on the 30th). My husband and I are the x/c starters and timers and it is always a fun, friendly event. I’m not sure of the closing date, but Penny usually will take one more if she has room. Come join us! :yes:

[JenEM]

[QUOTE=gottagrey;7491708]
could try Waredaca? Sometimes Seneca Valley Pony Club has some starter trials or runs unrated divisions but those tend to be at the lower levels. Iron Bridge has a good starter trial but I think the highest level is novice.[/QUOTE]

Waredaca does do a nice starter event, and does do Training, but they’re not until the beginning of June. Seneca’s starter trials are nice, and IMO a good starter course, but at least at the fall one they didn’t run anything above BN. Having done a lot of the starters at Loch Moy, I’d say their courses are definitely solid for the level, occasionally with move-up options.

OP, have you looked at the MDCTA’s calendar? While I can’t think of a lot of starters with Training, there are a lot of places that run CTs that do, so that may be a an option for at least getting out and about.

[DancingArabian]

Not sure if you’re familiar with it, but a lot of events advertise in the Equiery: www.equiery.com

I think PA and VA have their own magazines as well, but some also advertise in the Equiery.

[JenEM]

@DancingArabian;7491780

Not sure if you’re familiar with it, but a lot of events advertise in the Equiery: www.equiery.com

Their online Coming Events section hasn’t been updated since last summer, which drives me batty! I agree that if you can pick a copy up somewhere, they’re likely to have a good long list of a lot of options for doing something every weekend between now and Thanksgiving

[DancingArabian]

[QUOTE=JenEM;7491831]
Their online Coming Events section hasn’t been updated since last summer, which drives me batty! I agree that if you can pick a copy up somewhere, they’re likely to have a good long list of a lot of options for doing something every weekend between now and Thanksgiving :)[/QUOTE]

You have to check the classifieds section or the digital version of the magazine. The magazine is free and is available online at their website.

To get to the classifieds from their main page, click on “Buying & Selling” in the black bar at the top and then “events shows and races” on the left.

You can read the digital version on their page by clicking the image of the front cover on the right.

(Didn’t know they had a coming events section! I think their website is undergoing changes or something.)

[JenEM]

[QUOTE=DancingArabian;7491877]
You have to check the classifieds section or the digital version of the magazine. The magazine is free and is available online at their website.

To get to the classifieds from their main page, click on “Buying & Selling” in the black bar at the top and then “events shows and races” on the left.

You can read the digital version on their page by clicking the image of the front cover on the right.

(Didn’t know they had a coming events section! I think their website is undergoing changes or something.)[/QUOTE]

Huh. I wonder when they went to that format. The “Coming Events” section under Horsin Around had had a list of stuff on the website for years and years. It was so much easier to read than having to click through every ad separately!

[AlterSplash]

Thanks all. I am used to starters being a bit softer than recognized courses, so this just took me a bit by surprise. He has done a recognized training, and will do more this season, but I just wanted to let him start with a couple of easier runs (not too technical, size is not an issue, he’s just not ready for tricky combinations). We haven’t been cross country since we moved so he is going to be rusty. I appreciate all the suggestions, I am going to check out the Virginia Horse Trials!

DancingArabian, thanks for the tip about the equiery, I will check it out!

[kcmel]

If you are on Facebook this page does a good job of listing all the unrecognized. Not sure how far down into MD they go, though.

https://www.facebook.com/DelawareValleyAmateurEventersAndEnthusiats

[SpyglassEventing]

This is so timely, as I’ve had 2 conversations this afternoon/evening with Carolyn, who owns/runs the MDHT empire, about this very issue (I was there all day volunteering).
I have taken issue with many things at the unrecognized HTs the last year or so, but am at fault for never talking to Carolyn about it. Unfortunately, a lot of us must have been silent because she was truly surprised to hear what I had to say! Basically, I told her that 1) starters are most useful if they can be relied upon to have inviting courses. They should not be MORE challenging than the recognized courses! 2) the courses should be relevant, meaning that the questions asked should mirror those asked in recognized competition. Oftentimes I feel like the course design of certain combinations is not only just difficult for the level, but is a “trick” designed to test horse/riders pairs in a way not tested in a recognized HT (in a way that even when done successfully, is not rewarding or educational for the horse).
Anyway, just wanted to speak up here because the MDHT starters may have some changes coming-- Carolyn assured me that she is VERY receptive to feedback, and has already come up with some ideas to change things for the April starter. I’m sure it won’t fix everything, but it’ll be a start!

[pologirl27]

[QUOTE=gottagrey;7491708]
could try Waredaca? Sometimes Seneca Valley Pony Club has some starter trials or runs unrated divisions but those tend to be at the lower levels. Iron Bridge has a good starter trial but I think the highest level is novice.[/QUOTE]

SVPC will run their unrec HT on the last weekend of June, 6/28 and/or 29. It only goes through BN though. Also sign up for the MCTA mailing list. I think you can do this without being a member. If not, check their calendar. It is MASSIVE. Lists ever possible clinic/schooling and show.

[MoonLadyIsis]

I stopped doing a lot of starter horse trials for this reason. I would rather look at the omnibus and make my decision. As far as VA goes, good starting ones are CDCTA and Loudoun County. Morven has stiff courses (good opener if you did novice as a knock the rust off) Kelly’s Ford has some stiff courses, but their spring trials usually aren’t that bad. (it is mostly on flat land, terrain isn’t that much of an issue)

[Duckz]

[QUOTE=SpyglassEventing;7492452]
This is so timely, as I’ve had 2 conversations this afternoon/evening with Carolyn, who owns/runs the MDHT empire, about this very issue (I was there all day volunteering).
I have taken issue with many things at the unrecognized HTs the last year or so, but am at fault for never talking to Carolyn about it. Unfortunately, a lot of us must have been silent because she was truly surprised to hear what I had to say! Basically, I told her that 1) starters are most useful if they can be relied upon to have inviting courses. They should not be MORE challenging than the recognized courses! 2) the courses should be relevant, meaning that the questions asked should mirror those asked in recognized competition. Oftentimes I feel like the course design of certain combinations is not only just difficult for the level, but is a “trick” designed to test horse/riders pairs in a way not tested in a recognized HT (in a way that even when done successfully, is not rewarding or educational for the horse).
Anyway, just wanted to speak up here because the MDHT starters may have some changes coming-- Carolyn assured me that she is VERY receptive to feedback, and has already come up with some ideas to change things for the April starter. I’m sure it won’t fix everything, but it’ll be a start![/QUOTE]

Thank you for speaking up, and thank you for volunteering! We had a lovely time there yesterday, Lincoln is showing my friend the ropes at BN and he thought it was great fun. But the roll top to the double down bank at Training level was a bit much I thought. And a down bank early on a BN course is a stiff question, not to mention that house one stride after the first water.

Does Fair Hill still do starters, and do they go past Novice? That was a good one a few years ago.

[cnvh]

Fair Hill’s starter trials are LOVELY! I’ve done them twice; I believe they run Elementary (18") through Novice.

http://fairhillinternational.com/fhi-horsetrials/

I can’t speak to how technical the divisions are; we only did Elementary.

[bornfreenowexpensive]

[QUOTE=AlterSplash;7492277]
Thanks all. I am used to starters being a bit softer than recognized courses, so this just took me a bit by surprise. He has done a recognized training, and will do more this season, but I just wanted to let him start with a couple of easier runs (not too technical, size is not an issue, he’s just not ready for tricky combinations). We haven’t been cross country since we moved so he is going to be rusty. I appreciate all the suggestions, I am going to check out the Virginia Horse Trials!

DancingArabian, thanks for the tip about the equiery, I will check it out![/QUOTE]

In Area II a lot of the starters can be as hard or harder than a recognized. So you really need to be careful! That said…there are a LOT of places to school where you can go and knock the rust off.

Depending on where you are…there may be some venues closer to you in PA if you are close to Loch Moy (closer than the VA HTs for example).

Plantation HT and Fair Hill both have starters–and I know Plantation at least goes up to Training. Both are good xc course but can be stiffer—tend to often be the same course as thier recognized. They ride very well though. I’m about 15 minutes from both venues…and ALSO routinely go to the events at Loch Moy.

[Janet]

Te Area II website usually has a pretty good list of the unrecognized competitions.