Bebe and Rio do TREC!

[Yann]

We had the TREC competition at our yard today, and we entered in the pairs class. Neither of us have done it before (or much else competitively for that matter) so it was something new. I got off to a bad start and completely forgot to leave enough time to walk the obstacle course, so everything was a mad rush, and we only just got down to the control of paces area in time, with no warmup. I must confess I was quite nervous and excited, much to my surprise, but poor old Rio's eyes were on stalks, so much happening and so many things, horses and people where there normally aren't any! We got nul points in that section anyway, I think you need to canter on the spot and walk like the wind to score anything, and I don't think we quite kept canter anyway.

The obstacle section was really enjoyable, arranged around our XC course, and despite being a nervous wreck, and napping badly a couple of times Rio did really well, I finished it with a big grin on my face:)

So on to the orienteering section, which we ended up riding with rucksacks, which wasn't ideal. We guessed our pace (too slowly as it turns out) and managed to ride most of the route successfully. Home advantage wasn't everything, we had a bit of a treat as some of the route crossed farmland we don't normally get to ride, which was great. Again Rio was a bit of a nappy monster at times, as we kept going different ways to the ones she was expecting, but Bebe came to the rescue and gave her a bottom to follow:D

Learned lots, and can't wait to have a go again. If anyone gets the chance try it I really would because it's great fun, and you don't need to be a special rider or have a special horse (in that sense!) to have a go.

Just wanted to add a huge thankyou to all the helpers who made it possible, particularly our very own Nat17 and Jake's mum (and to maya-m for taking the pictures).

Anyway much to our surprise we came 2ND!!!!!:D

Here we are on the way down to the start of the obstacles

[Yann]

And here's Rio exercising home advantage in the water;)

[Yann]

Here we're going down a step in style:D

[Anth.P]

Wow, looks great, well done on coming 2nd! You must have a real sense of achievement! Don't know much about TREC but am definitely curious. How long did each stage take? And what pace did you ride at? :)

Big pats for Rio! :D

[Yann]

The first stage was over in minutes, the second stage took about 15 minutes to actually do, and then we were out for about 2 and a half hours on the orienteering. Like all competitions though there's lots of waiting about in between.

You have to get round the obstacles as quickly as possible, so I cantered and still got time faults. The orienteering is at different average speeds, but is mostly at walk and trot, but in hindsight a lot more trotting than walking. One section required cantering / galloping too to do it in the time, we call part of it the 'flying mile' anyway:)

[Anth.P]

Ah, thanks for that Yann. It definitely sounds like a lot of fun! Were there many competitors? I'll have to get along and see a TREC event, I think there's one at The Yorkshire Dales Trekking Centre sometime this summer. :)

[Yann]

About 30 or so at a guess, all shapes and sizes horsewise. Be well worth going to have a look if you can, I'm sure you'll wish you'd brought Pol if you do:)

[Anth.P]

Wow, a good turnout, makes your 2nd place look even more impressive! :)

My interest is most definitely piqued now! :D

Might be a bit too much for Pol as he's getting on and his back legs mightn't be up to the length of the orienteering. A horse I exercise on the yard called Sailor I think would suit TREC tremendously though. :)

[galadriel]

Congratulations to both of you :) Looking great.

[nat17]

25 actually!! I know them all personally now as well! Got to fuss them one by one at our checkpoint!!

I really want to have a go, it looks like loads fun, and well done Yann and Bebe for coming 2nd!!:D

[Jakes Mum]

Well done to both of you and your wonderful horsies :D
What a fantastic result, even more so with it being your first attempt :D

Judging was brilliant fun and so interesting too. As nat17 says, we got to meet each and everyone personally, although nat17 did all the fussing, whilst I stayed sat comfy in the car, doing the times, keeping warm :o Must be old age creeping in ;) :D

Yann and Bebe, you have both been a real credit to your yard :)

[nat17]

I did do all the fussing! Also, Jakes Mum told me off!! We were doing the start also and one fell and one dales x came to start and was too busy drooling to shout go! I just stood and stared drooling at the stunning horses!;)

Good job she knew what i would do as she recorded the time herself!:D

[katieB]

That looks so much fun! Well done on the 2nd place. Have you got any more photos stored anywhere? Im going to see if theres any events near me, id really like to have a go

[nat17]

Katieb , you and ellie would have a excellent time, its like an exciting hack with brill things to do!

I really cant wait to have a bash at it!:D

[Bebe]

It was a fab day and I owe Yann a huge thanks for doing all the map reading during the last phase as I'm useless at it!

I agree with Yann about the canter & walk during the control of paces section. I felt like Bebe was going as slowly as possible but we still only managed to get 4 points out of a possible 30! I misjudged where the start of the walk section was and got an incomplete for doing a stride of two of trot when I shouldn't, but we walked too slowly to get any points either way.

The obstacles on the x-c course were great. I stuffed up going through the flags on the water obstacle, the very first one on the course, could have kicked myself! I felt like we flew round it in trot and canter but we were still over 2 mins outside the optimum time. I was scared to push Bebe on too much in case I wore her out for the last phase but she actually had bags of energy left. We didn't do so well on the precision obstacles where you had to really stop and be careful of what you were doing, Bebe was too revved up to be sensible for those though we did attempt everything except the trailer loading (she was really scared and wouldn't even go past it). She flew over pretty much everything else, she particularly liked the hedge, steps and ditch.

The last phase, orienteering/hack was brilliant. We got to hack on some beautiful farmland that is normally out of bounds to us and it was really challenging to try and keep up with the times. We did go too slowly in the end but on 3 of the 5 sections we weren't too far out.

The best part of the day for me, apart from the huge bonus of coming 2nd (which was a real shock!) was how well both horses behaved. Rio was a star in general, though she generally is! It was a huge test for me and Bebe as she hasn't been known in the past for her reliability or having brakes, neither of which were a problem yesterday as she really didn't put a foot wrong. All the other competitors were lovely and the atmospphere in general was really laid back.

Huge thanks to all the helpers, Nat17 and Jakes Mum and lots of other people spent the day judging obstacles, manning checkpoints, etc and without them the event wouldn't have been able to take place.

[Showjumper]

Way to go! :D:D:D I'm helping with obstacle building next month at a TREC training day and plan to learn as much as possible to be able to teach Dolly, having already learnt how the scoring works etc ;)

:D:D The photos are excellent :D:D

[nat17]

I cant understand why everyone is not doing it!;)

I was thinking about New rider mebers like yourself showjumper, that would enjoy it alot and its a nice way to get youngster used to stuff! I thought Jay O and Missy would enjoy it too!;)

[lizzy]

Well done, Yann and Bebe!

Lizzy

[Yann]

Thanks:) It is tremendous fun, we had an absolutely brilliant day and can't believe we even placed, let alone came second. I'm sat here admiring a big blue rosette on the desk in front of me:rolleyes: (nearly 40 and my first rosette ever:D).

There does seem to be such a nice relaxed atmosphere too compared to most competitive events I've been too, people are genuinely there to have fun and are so freindly, it's all very relaxed and informal. I'm dying to have another go sometime soon, but our lack of wheels is a bit of a stumbling block there! KatieB, if you get the chance then have a go, you won't regret it.

There aren't many more pictures unfortunately, the course wound its way round the fields for quite a distance and I was shifting a bit once we got going, Maya had no chance of keeping up with us. Mike might get cross with me anyway:D

Even though you don't have to be a brilliant rider or have a clever highly trained horse to do it it's still really challenging and tests all sorts of skills in the horse and the rider. It's that contrast that makes it so enjoyable. Never thought me 'n Ri would find something we could compete in but it looks like we did:)

[lizzy]

I think I can see a 4x4 and trailer any day soon..


Things are going to get expensive:D :D

Lizzy

[Yann]

Let's just say the thought had crossed my mind:o :eek:

[nat17]

Thats my problem Yann! Even though I would love to have a go and I am sure Podge would be a star, NO Transport! But one day you never know............;)

[Jay.o]

Nat, i would like to do it some day, but Mysy cant until she's four (I take it the same 'eventing' rules apply). We are doing our own little obsitcles on hacks though, we have just over come the lake at the bottom of the hill too!

Well done Yann and Bebe, and of course Nat and Jakes Mum for judging and Maya.m for taking the snaps!! :D It looks a load of fun and I cant wait. The nearest one to me is about a hour away in the car, so longer with the trailer unfortunately.

I will have to go and watch one one day!

[KarinUS]

That looks very fun! I wish we had something like it!!!