Hey everyone! About a year ago, I discovered this video of the Loch Moy derby cross and fell in love with the concept. It’s been on my mind ever since. I love how the arenas are stringed together with banks and a ditch in between. The water complex is so cool!! I’m curious if anyone has seen these elsewhere: an XC schooling area on prepared footing spread out over some distance. I’ve seen single arenas with the derby style competition, but the space in the Loch Moy example really intrigues me.
I live in Seattle, where our eventing season only runs from May 15 to Oct 2. You may be able to school on the east (re: dry) side of the mountains in late March (3–4 hours away if the pass is open), but most of us don’t school until late April/early May. Our last school is in late Sept/early Oct. (I grew up riding in Area 3 so this is… a little painful ) It doesn’t rain as much as people say, but it doesn’t get a chance to dry out either. The mud is a real thing, but the weather is pretty mild, all things winter considered. I think our area could benefit from something like this and looking into some research.