TREC obstacles today

[Jane&Ziggy]

Before I broke my wrist Sid and I were booked to do a fun TREC obstacles day today, just up the road, a 15 minute walk. We were supposed to be doing ridden but my sharer didn't quite fancy trying ridden so I changed the booking to the first in hand session and we did that.

Sid was perfect. I mean he was perfect. He was on his toes when we came into the venue (field belonging to a friend of mine) but once he had said hello to the other horses he settled and was brilliantly behaved throughout.

I don't think he has ever done a TREC competition or seen the obstacles, but this was his first attempt:

Then we went on to the S-bend, which he did brilliantly with only one foot fault. The tarpaulin and the ditch were easy. We trotted the bending poles and he stayed perfectly with me and kept his feet to himself. The low branches is something we do often anyway so we trotted briskly under the 14.2 level and he ducked nicely. I wasn't sure what he would say to the squeeze, which was three or four pool noodles attached to jump wings, but even when we had to push them aside he was absolutely perfect. The Maypole presented a bit of a challenge as I only had one hand, but Sid was patient while I got hold of the rope and then walked completely smoothly around with me until I could put it back on the pole.

His final brilliance was to come through the narrow canter rails with me at trot, behind me because there wasn't room for me to be beside, perfectly straight and in lovely form.

I wish I had some pictures but my sharer wasn't allowed onto the practice field with us and couldn't get close enough to take anything worthwhile. But we had such a good time.

The icing on the cake for me was that whenever we were waiting for somebody else to have a go Sid rested his muzzle on my shoulder or my arm and huffed at me.

Such a good day. We'll do more of this!

 

[Jessey]

He’s a cracker isn’t he! Good lad it’s great you were able to do something fun even in plaster

 

[diplomaticandtactful]

well done, what a brilliant boy.

 

[Skib]

I am quite surprised it involves running directly in front of a trotting horse. Isnt that a major No in health and safety? I got rebuked for walking ahead of Ella as I led her back to her box one day. I was supposed to be by her shoulder.

 

[carthorse]

It's the handler's choice @Skib , they don't have to take part if they feel it's too risky with the horse they have.

Realistically horses don't want to run us over, if only because we don't make for good footing. Some do gain confidence by having a handler to follow, the day I came off in the river even if the bridge had been wide enough to lead Luka from the side he wouldn't have had the nerve to go without following me, he was shaken, scared and needed a safety net. Personally I don't like leading from the shoulder, too much horse in front of me for me to stop them if they do go, with a looky horse that may spook they're seeing things before I do, and also I've been crashed through too many times if they jump to the side or in some cases deliberately barge. For choice I lead by the head, but if that's not an option with many horses I'd rather be a bit further forward than further back.

 

[carthorse]

@Jane&Ziggy what a star he is! He did the bridge like a pro and sounds like he took some pretty spooky stuff in his stride. I suspect Luka would be far less accepting, though with him it does seem to depend on what mood he's in and, on the ground whether I can go first so any hungry monsters eat me

 

[Jessey]

I am quite surprised it involves running directly in front of a trotting horse. Isnt that a major No in health and safety? I got rebuked for walking ahead of Ella as I led her back to her box one day. I was supposed to be by her shoulder.

In an education setting it’s a no, but what we do in reality is often quite different.
I lead 4 horses at once to turnout, not BHS/health and safety at all
but something I’ve done for years as it was expected of us when I worked as a groom and I know my 4 well enough to know they’re fine.

 

[Jane&Ziggy]

I am quite surprised it involves running directly in front of a trotting horse. Isnt that a major No in health and safety? I got rebuked for walking ahead of Ella as I led her back to her box one day. I was supposed to be by her shoulder.

Yes, the safest leading position is at the shoulder. But what if you can't, for example, you're on a narrow track on a slope? The whole point is to replicate the kind of difficulties you might encounter on an adventurous hack, and the designers don't make allowances for horses being led rather than ridden. You can always choose what gait you use for an obstacle and you can miss an obstacle out entirely if you want to so it's up to the handler what they do or don't do. I could have walked but Sid is not a bargy boy and he was being so good that I knew trot was safe. Because walk is slower it gives a lot more opportunity for drifting which is what I wanted to avoid.

Ridden, I would probably do this obstacle in canter to get the highest marks.

BTW my brother asked me what TREC stands for and the French translates as "competitive hacking techniques" which I think is great.

 

[newforest]

I love Trec but mine doesn't.
For Trec your horse is meant to be okay at following you directly behind.
Sometimes you will come across very narrow places where you physically can't be beside each other.
I like mine too be able to follow or go on front. Life isn't by the book, life happens.

 

[Trewsers]

Hungry troll alert. Lets not feed them

 

[carthorse]

Troll has been banished!

 

[Bodshi]

I did an indoor Trec training day years ago with Raf. It was great fun, although mounting from the 'wrong' side was a challenge for both of us. I would have loved to have done more of it but round here there only seem to be competitions and I just want to play. I am going to a clinic here in a couple of weeks though - I thought it would be fun!

Home Page

An adventure park for horses and ponies for fun, agility, horsemanship, riding, for hire.

www.collinghamhorseadventurepark.co.uk

 

[Jane&Ziggy]

@Bodshi that looks amazing! So much fun!

 

[Bodshi]

I know, I'm really looking forward to it. I think it would be actually more beneficial for AJ but I don't think we're quite ready, it would be a long day away from home, so I'm taking Raf - something a bit different for him and hopefully I'll learn some stuff that will help me with AJ too.

 

[Jane&Ziggy]

@Bodshi After Saturday I think I would feel confident taking Sid around there but I would love the water obstacles, they are rare in our hills and he likes water

 

[newforest]

I did an indoor Trec training day years ago with Raf. It was great fun, although mounting from the 'wrong' side was a challenge for both of us. I would have loved to have done more of it but round here there only seem to be competitions and I just want to play. I am going to a clinic here in a couple of weeks though - I thought it would be fun!

Home Page

An adventure park for horses and ponies for fun, agility, horsemanship, riding, for hire.

www.collinghamhorseadventurepark.co.uk

This looks like fun as it's all at your own pace.
They do an indoor type trec thing here, but that would suit her more as its there already on the path and doesn't look like it's fake and you put it there

The nearby stables does mounted games but not sure if that's just for kids. I might ask if they wanted to offer a session for the kids at heart, or those of us who didn't get the growing up memo.