What exactly IS roads & tracks?

[PortPonies]

I thought I was pretty savvy on the long format vs short format discussions, but as I struggled to explain the Olympic format to my non-horsey family members, I realized I had absolutely no idea what I was talking about.

How exactly do the phases work? My understanding is:

Dressage first (usually on its own day?)

Endurance phase:
Roads & tracks (length? speed? ???)
Steeplechase (lenghth? height? speed?)
Cross-country course
Vet check

Stadium jumping (also usually on its own day?)


Between struggling to explain the rudiments of long-format eventing to my family and reading the thread a while ago on people attempting long-format training events with nary a clue how it all worked, I guess I'm one of the clueless! Please, someone fill me in, particularly as to the timing and sequence of the endurance phases and vet checks.

[tbeventer]

You're pretty close! Congrats!

So, the best way to describe roads and tracks is as a warm up/cool down for Steeple Chase and to cool the horse out a bit before their 10 minute vet box, where you want them to completely recover in that time. On Phase "A", you want to go out at a good trot, but make sure you get a little canter work in before you head out on steeplechase. Then, you're off to a gallop (usually described as 3/4 race pace by the Brits), and over fences that allow the horse to develop a rhythm and force them to be in front of the leg. Then, you go right into phase "C", once again roads and tracks, where you may continue a nice canter for a stretch, then back to trot, take little walk break, and finish at a nice leisurely trot. Enter the vet box where the horse and rider get to checked over to make sure their prior outting hasn't done any damage to either, a quick drink, and once approved by the vet, you're off and ready for Phase "D" or Cross Country.

As for speeds and distances, I believe it is covered in the USEA rules and if not, then I'm pretty sure it's in the USEF rules, although it's FEI. (I'd have to go back and check to make sure) Complicated, right? However, distances and times are given to competitors at the briefing of a 3-day, although it may give rough estimates in the Omnibus, just like XC.

Whether you agree with the short format versus the long format is a thread that has been on COTH for quite a while off and on. It tends to rear its ugly head when there are accidents--specifically fatal to horse or rider. My horse's German Breeders (both once Intl. event riders) both feel that more issues have risen because the long format has gone the way of the Do-Do. Pippa Funnell even commented that horses like her own won't do as well in the short format because they need to blow off steam in the speed and endurance before venturing out XC. However, horses are now able to have faster recovery times after short format events, thus allowing them to run more in a year.

It's a catch 22... so each individual has to decide. One Olympic rider once told me that they were glad to see 1* and 2* events continuing to have long formats available because it teaches good horsemanship, while the riders best be good horsemen when they get to the 3* and 4* level. Tough decision, but in the end, we no longer use horses for military purposes, so its tough to continue to event the same.
Hopefully this helps a bit.:)

[SLR]

http://useventing.com/start.php?id=26 This explains it very well. Also there are the jogs before dressage and show jumping

[RAyers]

PortPonies,

Nothing personal, I promise but this is sad and proof the long format is gone. We have finaloly gotten to a point where there are more and more riders who don't know what it was. Now I feel really old.

Reed

[denny]

See my Ledyard thread.

As I came down the hill behind Eddie Hogan`s house, near where Gen. Burton used to live, almost at the end of the 2nd roads and tracks, I could hear the roar of the `73 Ledyard crowd as some rider made his/her way around xc.

Talk about scared s***less! It ranks right up there with one of the worst moments of my life, so bad that 35 years later, I get nervous again, just thinking about it!!

[snoopy]

PortPonies,

Nothing personal, I promise but this is sad and proof the long format is gone. We have finaloly gotten to a point where there are more and more riders who don't know what it was. Now I feel really old.

Reed


Sad indeed.

[RunForIt]

PortPonies,

Nothing personal, I promise but this is sad and proof the long format is gone. We have finaloly gotten to a point where there are more and more riders who don't know what it was. Now I feel really old.

Reed

Reed,

Take heart, this is really one more reason for being glad you've lived in the time that we have!

You use mathematics constantly - think patterns - sooner or later the numbers, the patterns will emerge, and road and tracks will come back. we may be cavorting as new molecular structures, but sooner or later, the numbers,... I'm betting, the numbers, the patterns will bring back roads and tracks...we won't be old, we'll be eternal. Think about what you know by heart - numbers. Data will save eventing....and Roads and Tracks! :cool:

LC-B

[RAyers]

I said this before, the first time I ever did Phase B all I could think about after crossing that finish into C was, "Why wasn't I a jump jockey when I was a kid!!!!" Boy, Arch Kingsly would have had competition! ;)

I learned more about what horsemanship was getting ready for that than all of the previous horse trials.

Reed

[Ajierene]

Reed,

Take heart, this is really one more reason for being glad you've lived in the time that we have!

You use mathematics constantly - think patterns - sooner or later the numbers, the patterns will emerge, and road and tracks will come back. we may be cavorting as new molecular structures, but sooner or later, the numbers,... I'm betting, the numbers, the patterns will bring back roads and tracks...we won't be old, we'll be eternal. Think about what you know by heart - numbers. Data will save eventing....and Roads and Tracks! :cool:

LC-B

I wonder if they said the same thing when Eventing first went from 5 days to 3 days, eliminating the endurance (55 km of roads and tracks and a bit of cross country) and following rest day; moved dressage from last to first, shortened the steeple chase and endurance phase to add an 'endurance day' with roads and tracks, steeplechase and an added cross country jumping phase, also moving stadium jumping to being last.

[snoopy]

I wonder if they said the same thing when Eventing first went from 5 days to 3 days, eliminating the endurance (55 km of roads and tracks and a bit of cross country) and following rest day; moved dressage from last to first, shortened the steeple chase and endurance phase to add an 'endurance day' with roads and tracks, steeplechase and an added cross country jumping phase, also moving stadium jumping to being last.


Good point...very good point. I am actually caught up in thought about it.

[LexInVA]

Random asinine questions...how much land would theoretically be required for a well done long format event consisting of whatever is sensible, what are the topographical requirements of said land other than spacious and flat, and what are the biggest inconveniences/difficulties that those who would partake in such an event have to deal with? I'm just curious.

[RunForIt]

Random asinine questions...how much land would theoretically be required for a well done long format event consisting of whatever is sensible, what are the topographical requirements of said land other than spacious and flat, and what are the biggest inconveniences/difficulties that those who would partake in such an event have to deal with? I'm just curious.

not so asinine...how many of those courses still exist? Rolex? Foxhall? I don't think its the land, it's...

How many want to get in on the action and have actually approached USEA/FEI for the go-aheads? I have heard of one venue request by an organizer for a long-format 3day here in GA, but was said to be turned down - don't know the reasons.

Its the lack of numbers of competitors sending in entries, DIRECTLY ASKING FOR LONG FORMAT 3-DAY events that remains a huge roadblock to watching riders go out on Roads and Tracks in the midst of a proper 3-day.

[Jealoushe]

PortPonies,

Nothing personal, I promise but this is sad and proof the long format is gone. We have finaloly gotten to a point where there are more and more riders who don't know what it was. Now I feel really old.

Reed

Me too and I'm only 24

[Jazzy Lady]

The numbers speak. People will choose easier over harder. The yr's these days can get their qualifications for YR's by doing 4 prelims and a longer HT (CCI* short). So why not do that?

YR's is supposed to test these riders abilities as horsemen and riders. Why can't a Long Format CCI* be required for qualification. And then the competition still be run as a long format.

It's EASIER to run a short than a long, for competitors, riders, horses... etc. So they will choose the easy route.

Midsouth is hosting both long and short CCI* this year. I guess numbers have been dwindling for the long so they added the short. It will be intersting to see how many riders choose long and how many choose short.

Numbers speak.... unfortunately. When given the choice, they will chose the easy button.

[missamandarose]

not so asinine...how many of those courses still exist? Rolex? Foxhall? .

Is Foxhall still intact? I hope so! I fear it will be gobbled up by developers soon enough. Watching a long format xc/endurance day is so amazing. I hope some day aLF returns to Foxhall!!

[cllane1]

Is Foxhall still intact? I hope so! I fear it will be gobbled up by developers soon enough. Watching a long format xc/endurance day is so amazing. I hope some day aLF returns to Foxhall!!

Sadly, Foxhall is not intact as an equestrian facility anymore, although I believe that part of it now belongs to Carl Bouckaert and Chattahoochee Hills, which is a great new venue!

[kimbrawner]

:no:While I know there is the new Chattahoochee Hills, there is also a Foxhall planned community at least near where the old Foxhall used to be. I guess thats what happened to the roads and tracks.

[poltroon]

So did Roads & Tracks ever have jumps on it? Or is it maybe that some of the older courses had optional obstacles?

[RunForIt]

Sadly, Foxhall is not intact as an equestrian facility anymore, although I believe that part of it now belongs to Carl Bouckaert and Chattahoochee Hills, which is a great new venue!

Which is positively MARVELOUS!!! Some of the best experiences of upper level eventing - courses, horses, riders, and FUN BEYOND COMPARISON - for me happened year after year at Carl's event at the old farm, now Natalie and Mike's home. I am so happy that eventing lives on at different ends of our GA borders - Pine Top Farm, Poplar Place Farm, and Chattahoochee Hills! :yes: :cool:

[tbeventer]

Galway still runs a long format CCI* in the fall! Sadly, they are leasing the property from developers who have purchased it, so it's only a matter of time before we loose another World Class course. :(

For those that are missing the long format, there are events that are unrecognized that run full, long format horse trials... including a BN course! One such event is Lincoln Creek in Washington. It's wonderful that they have the ability to run a full format event... all in two days! I'm not sure how much longer it will be taking place, but that's where I was fortunate enough to get my first taste of the full format quite a few years back. They ran it like the training 3-day, as a clinic type situation, complete with a vet check and everything. For those competing under training, they simply had to gallop two laps of a huge field for steeplechase and training and prelim had some great fly fences. The greatest part was seeing which horses were the fittest at the end of the event when they posted scores and TPR's.

As for turnout, they always had a full group of eventers at each level, except maybe prelim. Definately worth the trouble to teach the youngsters what it's all about and for the babies fresh off the track (like mine was), let them gallop on steeplechase! It made for one of our best XC rides ever!