minor ride time gripe -- why is this a good idea? [Archive]

asterix

Jul. 9, 2008, 06:14 PM

2016 RoyalCrown KTug

Jul. 9, 2008, 06:27 PM

Yeah thats no fun . . . . good luck though! :cool:

flyingchange

Jul. 9, 2008, 06:50 PM

Yeah, I know. I don't know what to do with myself for four hours. I guess I'll plan to walk my course then instead of getting there early to walk. Although i hate not walking my course before dressage. I get a scarey feeling that I am not on top of things if I have not walked my xc before dressage.

LexInVA

Jul. 9, 2008, 06:51 PM

This is a very puzzling question and one worth answering. Perhaps it's due to an overly large class or something?

LSM1212

Jul. 9, 2008, 07:08 PM

You could be doing Hunters instead.... talk about hurry up and then wait. :D

The one thing that is exciting me about doing some Eventing. RIDE TIMES!!!

But sorry about the long break. :(

Though, I think, I'd personally prefer a break in between than going back to back. :) Will give you and your horse time to rest, eat/drink, etc. and relax a little, watch other riders, walk your course (as you said) and have plenty of time to get ready again and warm up.

JMO... and coming from a newbie.

Jazzy Lady

Jul. 9, 2008, 07:12 PM

Firefox

Jul. 9, 2008, 08:48 PM

Believe me, I know how hard it is to organize a HT, and I am eternally grateful to all those who do for our benefit...
but...
for the second time my greenbean has MORE THAN 4 hours between dressage and jumping. In the middle of the summer. Is that really necessary??? Why can't these phases be, oh, I don't know, 2 hours apart. 4 hours??????
Poor guy. :(

My guess is having 4 dressage rings then funneling to one XC and one SJ course, those early in the day I have a little over two hours between and I am late in the prelim group, they almost need to give a break in the dressage rings so that the Xc and sj can catch up, hummm

mythical84

Jul. 9, 2008, 09:01 PM

Basically it has to do with the number of entries. The more entries there are, the more likely the 4 hour wait thing is bound to happen.

As Firefox said, there are 4 dressage arenas being funneled into 1 stadium arena and 1 XC course.

So organizers have the choice of taking less entries and making times more reasonable, or taking more entries and thus earning more $$. Obviously the answer there is a simple one for most HTs. :) The other option is to split the phases up onto different days, in which case you would be spending loads on moolah on fuel for multiple days or stabling.

It sucks, but at least you get to event. I'll be at a hunter show doing the hurry up and wait thing. :o

GreyDun

Jul. 9, 2008, 09:10 PM

Believe me, I know how hard it is to organize a HT, and I am eternally grateful to all those who do for our benefit...
but...
for the second time my greenbean has MORE THAN 4 hours between dressage and jumping. In the middle of the summer. Is that really necessary??? Why can't these phases be, oh, I don't know, 2 hours apart. 4 hours??????
Poor guy. :(

This is like deja vu from a few weeks ago... I feel your pain. :( It sucks, but try to stay out of the sun and make the best of it... stock up on lots of ice, gatorade, snacks, etc. Does your trailer have an awning? Or perhaps you could take one of those quick pop-up tents? Those are great! Good luck!

asterix

Jul. 9, 2008, 09:23 PM

hahaha, no awning or popup -- just a bored greenbean and a hot black dog.
What I don't understand is that Prelim, T, and even N have shorter wait times. Perhaps it is very bottom heavy -- I am in something like OBN-D and there are also JR divisions....
fc, we will have to chill out and find ways to entertain each other!
and Jazzy, I much prefer 3 phases in 4 hours, but I've only run up to Prelim, so I can understand the exhaustion factor must be more of an issue! At BN I think it's over-stimulation, not exhaustion! :D

Jazzy Lady

Jul. 9, 2008, 09:26 PM

If it was dressage, stadium and then xc... 3 in 4 hours, or even 3 hours is GREAT. I'd love it. I have a problem with running stadium so close after xc for the upper levels. The horses don't get a chance to rest.

I love close together with a greenie! lol.

pooh

Jul. 9, 2008, 09:45 PM

I had the complete opposite one year at BN - did my dressage and was actually late for my stadium warm up ( they were scheduled 30 min apart) and then went right to XC. Thankfully the horse was great about jumping from one to the next and delt with the speedy tack change.
Now if I was in your situation with my new pony, I'd be in trouble. He gets bored after being on a stationary trailer for more then 10 mintues and gets into trouble.

Ajierene

Jul. 9, 2008, 09:53 PM

One thing I liked about moving up, especially in Fair Hill is that time between rides increase as the day goes on. Novice runs first, so less time between rides.

The show in May, the person at the trailer next to mine did dressage 40 minutes after me and jumping an hour before me....kind of crazy.

The first year I showed, not only were the times between ride times long, but I got to stadium, which was still running after cross country, and they were running late (it turned out an hour late). Ended up messing up my show because I didn't want her to cool down to much, wasn't sure when to warm up, when people were going to go....

asterix

Jul. 9, 2008, 10:55 PM

if I had my experienced horse, i'd toss him on the trailer and go watch stadium. But I suspect my greenbean will be good as gold for a while...and then decide he's hot, bored, and tired.
Too bad I can't give HIM a beer :lol:

KBG Eventer

Jul. 9, 2008, 11:08 PM

asterix

Jul. 10, 2008, 10:33 AM

yeah, but you generally give beer to make a horse sweat. Standing around in the midday July sun for 4 hours...he's going to be sweating plenty.

pharmgirl

Jul. 10, 2008, 10:48 AM

Sorry asterix :(! That truly sucks. I know they are trying to get more entries in, but at what point is it not worth it?

I'm just jealous of anyone who can show at all (whether it's hunters or a HT ;)), since that won't be in my future for a LONG time.

gooddirt

Jul. 10, 2008, 10:57 AM

Buy a 2 gallon garden sprayer, fill it with ice and water, and spray your horse and yourself. Amazing how much it helps beat the heat.

flyingchange

Jul. 10, 2008, 10:58 AM

Sort of off-topic, but what is the parking deal there now? Last time I was there was 2006 and everybody parked at the bottom of the hill and hacked up a trail to the showgrounds. Now I hear you drive up the hill (mountain) and park at the top? Is this correct? I'm asking because where I park will influence what time I get there.

Also, how is the drive up that hill?

mythical84

Jul. 10, 2008, 11:00 AM

The drive up the hill really isn't that bad. I just put my truck in 4WD and up I went.

asterix

Jul. 10, 2008, 11:11 AM

I think they are parking everyone up top this year (that's what it says on the other thread) -- it's steep, but you should be fine -- just do NOT stop :D
I'm more worried about going down -- one wheel on my trailer completely locked up going down a steep hill the other day -- obviously that brake is sticking and I don't have time to fix it before Sunday. So if you are behind someone CREEPING down the hill, don't curse. It's either that or sledding down on a tire that doesn't turn at all :eek:

flyingchange

Jul. 10, 2008, 11:28 AM

OK. But I am scarey about driving up and down that hill! Last time I was on that road was the day before the HT in 2006, and they were still building that road. It was VERY scarey to me (and I have ridden/driven on some pretty horrendous roads - ie, backroads of Bolivia) ....

Anyway, I guess I'll put on my big girl boxers and drive up it.

asterix

Jul. 10, 2008, 12:04 PM

Hey, you can drag that scrawny TB of yours up that hill if I can haul my giant beasties up it, trust me! Last time I went to school up there I had a friend's horse, probably Andy's size, and my big man. If you're worried, put it in low gear or 4wd and go. But the main thing is, don't stop on the way up!!!

Mustang51

Jul. 10, 2008, 01:13 PM

Put your truck in 1st going DOWN the hill too. The engine braking will save your brakes some and hopefully no wheels will lock up! But on that hill it takes both the brakes and the gears to get down safely. I think also you would not want to use 4x4 going down the hill (going up you do though).

Good luck this weekend!

bornfreenowexpensive

Jul. 10, 2008, 01:38 PM

That's better than running all 3 phases in 4 hours!!! We had one event up here that you ran dressage, had an hour and a half and ran xc and ran stadium not even an hour after xc.... much fun on an exhausted horse at intermediate!!! That was a gripe.

Yeah...I did dressage, sj, xc and was done within 1.5 hours from start to finish once at Prelim. He was very fit so it wasn't an issue for him....I was tired but at the same time, was kinda of cool to be done and heading home at 10:30 am. I still had the day a head of me!

For Astrix....get some fans if you don't have any. I have a couple of small battery operated ones that work great and one larger one that I can run off the battery in my truck. It really helps keep every one cool. I bet your youngster will hang out just fine.

ideayoda

Jul. 10, 2008, 01:42 PM

I always take beach towels and several trunks of ice. Wet towels, put over horse standing in shade or trailer (and over your head if necessary). By the time the dressage is over/unsaddled/resaddles its at least 1-1.5 plus warm up for the rest. I think its a good time between.

oldbutnotdead

Jul. 10, 2008, 03:26 PM

A poster above wrote:
I think also you would not want to use 4x4 going down the hill (going up you do though).

Why? When hunting/driving on steep hills/bad roads I always used 4x4 going down hills.?

Mustang51

Jul. 10, 2008, 04:01 PM

A poster above wrote:
I think also you would not want to use 4x4 going down the hill (going up you do though).

Why? When hunting/driving on steep hills/bad roads I always used 4x4 going down hills.?

Ok, I'm not positive on this. And I dont' think it will make a huge difference either way.
Basically I'm thinking for the same reason you don't drive 4x4 on the road... Because the differential is locked, the wheels must turn at the same speed. So, if you're applying power to the wheels this will prevent all the power from being directed to one wheel causing it to spin out in bad traction. But under normal conditions this means the tires will slip a bit when in a turn because the outside one should be turning faster than the inside but it can't. So, it's that slipping that I would be trying to avoid.

Where I may be wrong is that you may want the engine braking to be applied to all 4 wheels... Otherwise I don't see how 4x4 helps you when you're not applying power. So, no I'm not really totally sure!!

asterix

Jul. 10, 2008, 07:05 PM

hmm. dunno, but it sounds good, mustang! I will put it in 1st going down hill. It's just one wheel that has a problem and if I am gentle I can avoid it (I know, i know, obviously I need to get it fixed but it happened yesterday and, well...).

Maybe I can get all my fellow COTHers to go down in front of me and I'll just lean on them :lol:

I will bring towels and ice and all, but, you know, it dawned on me today...he lives out full time. When it's truly wretched out they do head for the shade, but most days they are out grazing all day...if he weren't at Loch Moy, he'd be...in the sun...eating grass...
so I think he can probably hack it!!

I still think it's too long -- we will be done and cooled out well before 1 pm, no need to even think about tack again until 3:45....sigh...