Talk to me about the Novice / Training 3-day

[curlykarot]

Let’s talk about the novice (or training) 3 days. It is a thought that the novice 3 day might on on my competition calendar at the end of the year. I’d like the hear from those who have done it, what they thought.

Specifically, I’m an adult amateur who works a 9-5, not in the fittest shape of my life and competes on a budget. I lease a draft cross who would also need to get in shape. My biggest concerns are the time it takes to get the horse fit and the money aspect (doing enough competitions leading up so we are ready + the cost of the 3 day itself). What were you expecting time & money wise when you first thought about doing it vs. what it actually came out to?

Thanks for the insight!

[asterix]

In the fitness front, I have a couple of observations. I’ve conditioned a very big WB to be quite fit for the T3d, and a big draft cross running Training. I’ve also volunteered for the T and N 3 day a number of years as I am based at Waredaca.

I’ve seen a lot of heavier novice horses looking exhausted halfway around the cross country course. It’s really hard to watch.

I followed a program adapted from Sally O’Connor’s (now quite old) book about prepping for a long format one star. We reduced the speed and distance numbers by the same ratio that the competition numbers were reduced, if that makes sense.

It’s a 10 week program. What this means is that 10 weeks out your horse is very fit and comfortable for, in your case, novice horse trials on similar terrain to the 3 day, running at the top novice speed.

For 10 weeks you need to be able to ride consistently 5-6 days a week, with a conditioning day every 5 days, and extra walk hacks on as many days as you can manage (so if you have a dressage day, you tack on a 20 minute brisk walk out and about. Every time.).
You will need to ride sometimes in the dark or in the rain. You will want to die of boredom. You will think it is ALL worth it when you cruise around steeplechase and then conquer the hardest xc course you’ve ever done with your horse and he finishes feeling great.

Just as an example, the training level program I used had, at its peak, one conditioning day of a 25 minute trot in terrain with an additional hour long walk hack, and another conditioning day with 4 and 5 minute canter sets, with a minute sprint at prelim speed embedded in some of the sets. Every 5 days I’d be doing one or the other.

It’s an awesome and fun and doable goal, but do your horse a favor and make sure you can find the time to give to him for those last 10 weeks.

[EastviewBlue]

I did the N3D at Waredaca in 2013. I’m not the fittest rider either and I was traveling out of state 4 days a week, every week. My barn mates pitched in a would hack my horse around the field and hills once a week and I rode the other 4 days. My horse did fine with the endurance day. I didn’t follow a set program because of my work schedule but I was dedicated to riding 4 days and getting help for the fifth. The days you don’t ride, go walk for 30 minutes. It will help your fitness. The 3 day is immensely fun, educational, and worth the effort! Good luck!

[Hunterkid]

We are hoping to eventually get to a training 3 day

[AKB]

Talk with Glenda Player at Playland Farm in Maryland. I think she has done both the Novice and Training 3 Days at Waredaca with an Irish Draught Sport Horse.

[Highflyer]

I’ve done the T3D twice, both times on TBs, and did not find the fitness aspect especially challenging for them-- but they were competing at Training fairly regularly and in consistent work.

I know there was someone doing the N3D on a draft cross the second time I did it whose horse really struggled-- I jump judged after I rode and even on course it was clearly tired and I believe didn’t pass the second jog.

As far as money-- it is expensive. I think with the entry/ stabling/ hotel/ food/ gas I spent close to $1k. Obviously you can save money if you are local enough to not need stabling/ hotel (although I would probably still stable unless you’re really close, so that you can attend the clinics and stuff.) But it is worth it, IMHO, to do it at least once.

[Duckz]

I competed my draft cross in the T3D in 2012. I researched a lot of fitness regimens on this board and got some suggestions from folks (thanks asterix!). IIRC I did one long walk hack/week (~2 hours), 1 day of trot sets/week, and 1 day of gallop sets/week, working up to longer and faster sets. My mom and I share the horse and she was happy to help with trot sets and such, which was really nice. Sometimes we would ride him 2x/day.

He was definitely fit enough for the competition, he cruised around steeplechase with no problem, but we did pick up time faults on the D phase. We’ve never been able to get around a 470mpm training level course without time, and this was the longest and hardest course we’ve ever done! But he jumped clear and got me home safe, and the next day he was clear over stadium. There are pics in my signature from steeplechase and stadium (Lincoln).

Financially, it was a lot. The qualifications were easy enough to get, I would have been doing those HTs anyway. The actual T3D costs included: entry, stabling, housing for myself, trainer fee, gas, etc. I think at the end of the week it came close to 1k. Folks who live closer to Waredaca will be able to do it cheaper.

I am so thankful I was able to do the T3D with Lincoln. He’s retired from Training level now, but I’m thinking his current leaser might be interested in the N3D. OP, draft horse owner to draft horse owner, you need to make sure both you and your horse are fit. It’s a LOT for these big guys, but so fun and so worth it!

[curlykarot]

Thanks for the replies. I think my biggest concern (aside from $$, that’s a constant) is fitness for the mare I ride. I’m not positive of what my riding schedule will look like 10 weeks out. I know I can get her fit enough for a regular novice ht, but I don’t want to be ‘that’ person on endurance day whose big horse is struggling. Not fair to the pony!

This gives me time to schedule and see if the amount of fitness can be worked in.

Luckily, I live within an hour of waredaca, so hotel will not be an expense and I can pack food.

It’s definitely a bucket list item and would be great if time, money and a sound horse all came together!

[wildlifer]

It is an amazing educational experience, unlike any regular HT (I’ve been helping run Waredaca & So8ths for the past 5-6 yrs), and you should definitely take advantage of it if you have the opportunity. My horses conspire against me, so I STILL haven’t gotten to ride in the darn things…when I do, I will be the best prepared person for the 10 minute box ever, ROFL!

That said, fitness is very important. I have an Appendix QH who I took up to T (we didn’t make it to a 3DE before he was injured :() who is not a heavy horse, VERY athletic, but insanely difficult to aerobically condition. Basically, even for a normal HT, he needed to be Prelim fit to run T (i.e. needed the work you’d do for a ‘normal’ horse running Prelim). Heat is hard on him too, he sweats a LOT & has so much heart, he won’t stop himself!

I’d highly recommend reading this blog – this young woman had a similarly heavy draft mare & did the 3DE at Waredaca in 2013. We ended up giving her a special horsemanship award due to her exemplary performance in giving her horse her utmost! But she wrote an excellent series about the journey & the conditioning required:

http://beasteventer.blogspot.com/2014/05/how-to-condition-beast-eventer.html

[bambam]

What asterix said :). I think a fair number of people show up having insufficiently prepared fitness-wise and it is painful to watch. I did the T3DE with a WB who was heavy on the TB blood and I (mostly) followed asterix’s fitness plan. I am an AA who worked a ridiculous number of hours at the time and so had someone else riding my horse at least once a week and was doing conditioning sets in the dark at 6:00 am to make sure my mare got worked at least 5 days a week. I did this for about 2 months before the event. I think she needed the work and I am glad I did it. They don’t require very many qualifying scores so I do not think the qualifying HTs are really that expensive (you would want to do enough that you were solid at the level before you tried it anyway). If you can do it, you should. I got to know my horse much better doing that prep work even though I was already riding her 3-5 days a week before that.

[pologirl27]

I did the N3D this year on my TB. I had a plan and put the time in, so fitness was not an issue. Maybe you could find a college student interested in hacking? Getting to ride for free is super appealing to kids on a budget!

In terms of cost, I am at an entry level job. I trailered back and forth, which was time consuming, but my horse does better outside 24/7 anyways. I also stayed at home and packed food, so I really did not spend much outside the actual entry fee.

I hope to return next year- it was worth it for me.

[curlykarot]

Thank you Wildlifer. That blog is a good read. I’m lucky that if I decide to do this, I have some great trainers to help guide the conditioning schedule.

[Foxtrot_s]

Back in the day I used Sally O’Connor’s fitness program, too. Worked for me!

[wildlifer]

[QUOTE=curlykarot;7960344]
Thank you Wildlifer. That blog is a good read. I’m lucky that if I decide to do this, I have some great trainers to help guide the conditioning schedule.[/QUOTE]

Most welcome – the author was a super-sweet girl & really exemplifies my own philosophy of horsemanship: ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS put your horse first.

I am usually the finish timer of Phase D at Waredaca & I could see her heavy mare was tired coming up the last hill. I also watched, very proud of her, as she knew it & did not push or stuff her horse. When Ariat broke to a trot, her rider let her be & presented her to the last two fences at her own speed. The very second she passed the finish flags, she flew off that horse & handwalked her to the vet box.

I radio’ed in praise for her actions immediately, b/c it really was exemplary & I always try to recognize & call that out when I see it. The horse was not dangerously tired or even near the stage where I have great concern (which is more than I can say for a couple 3* riders at Carolina, shoving their horses through this spring), she was just out of gas.

That spirit of horsemanship & learning more about your horse, more deeply than you maybe have before, is really when the 3DE’s are about now, since many people didn’t experience them when, well, three day eventing was three day eventing.

Since I see you live in MD, even if you don’t end up riding, I highly recommend you come out & volunteer; it’s a great crew & I still learn new things every year that have changed the way I approach both my training & competing. Good luck!

[curlykarot]

Just wanted to post an update on this. We made it to the Waredaca Novice 3day and finished! Coming into October as the days got shorter, I had to take a couple mornings off work to get in my last trot and Canter sets but overall, the conditioning schedule was doable for an amateur with a full time job and a draft cross. If you have the chance to do this event, DO IT! I learned so much this weekend, its insane. I highly recommend it.

[Highflyer]

Congratulations!

[pologirl27]

[QUOTE=curlykarot;8374509]
Just wanted to post an update on this. We made it to the Waredaca Novice 3day and finished! Coming into October as the days got shorter, I had to take a couple mornings off work to get in my last trot and Canter sets but overall, the conditioning schedule was doable for an amateur with a full time job and a draft cross. If you have the chance to do this event, DO IT! I learned so much this weekend, its insane. I highly recommend it.[/QUOTE]

Congrats!!! I have no idea who you are, but I was there too in the N3D and had a great time. To complete on a sound horse is to win.

[asterix]

So glad you did it and had a good time! You all had SUPER nice weather this year

[curlykarot]

[QUOTE=pologirl27;8374637]
Congrats!!! I have no idea who you are, but I was there too in the N3D and had a great time. To complete on a sound horse is to win.[/QUOTE]

Thank you! We got the completion ribbon, which is what we came for. Our team also came in 3rd. We got sooooo lucky with the weather. Just beautiful!