Holly Hill - someone talk to me about the BN course

[texaseventer]

My barnmates are talking me into going to Holly Hill. We are doing Meadowcreek next weekend, BN. I'm getting ready to move up to Novice but would like to do another BN and move up in the spring.

I have friends who have ridden Novice and above at Holly Hill but no one who is familiar with the BN course. Can anyone tell me about it?

Thanks!!

Mandy who is the proud no-longer-foster-mommy of Joy the wonder horse!

[archieflies]

Hey, see you at Meadowcreek! It's going to be my first event, so I haven't ridden the course at Holly Hill (or Meadowcreek, really!) but I have gone and watched. The BN jumps looked big to me at the time, but I'd never ridden cross country before! I don't really remember anything that stood out as difficult or overly technical, probably a bit easier than Greenwood. You might scan through some pictures from Jim Stoner or someone to get a feel for some of the jumps.

[texaseventer]

Yeah, I'm trying to look at Jim's pics but it's the same 2-3 fences...

Oh well! We may just have to go for it! :)

What is the name of your horse, I'll look forward to seeing you at MCP!!!!!

[purplnurpl]

It's a whole bunch of logs. maybe one rail road tie bundle. trot through the water.
It think there is a coupe also.

very easy rolling course.

[texaseventer]

What do you think the friendliest move-up-to-Novice course is then? I walked GW on the weekend, it looks pretty nice and friendly! :)

[purplnurpl]

Pinehill is the best move up for every course. So I've heard.
Though the course that I did was my 2nd at that level. It wasn't easier, just different and not maxed.
HH was maxed and straight forward - PH was smaller but everything was off of a blind turn. lol.

[tx3dayeventer]

Pinehill is the best move up for every course. So I've heard.
... PH was smaller but everything was off of a blind turn. lol.

That only because they have soooo many trees :D

Holly Hill BN was lots of fun but the last time I did it was in 02. :eek: it really has been that long since I have been to HH!!!

[texaseventer]

Thanks Meredith and Kristen!!!!

I have done the PH novice years ago (in 2000 to be exact!) but it's been a long time. I still have a couple of days to try to make up my mind about holly hill... just trying to decide what to spend my hard earned money on ;) NOW THAT I OWN MY PONY!! WAHOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

:)

[tx3dayeventer]

Congrats Mandy!!!!!

You will have a blast either way :D

[archieflies]

What is the name of your horse, I'll look forward to seeing you at MCP!!!!!

Capital Kiss. :) She'll be the silver dapple TB mare going around like a giraffe in dressage. Can't miss it. If you'd like us to further stand out, I'm sure we can provide some impressive bucks and maybe even run over the judge. But I've been assured that no matter how awful it is, as long as our test resembles the guidelines for BN test A and we at some point come close to stopping (being near X is optional, I hear), we'll be allowed to go on and enjoy the jumping part of the event. :) That is the point, right? Dressage is merely a test of one's ability to survive until the party starts.

[Divine Comedy]

On the same note, I am seriously considering entering my first prelim at Holly Hill (i.e., entered but can drop down to T if needed), and was wondering if anyone could tell me about it. My horse is a freaking rockstar XC, I'm actually more concerned about SJ, but I'd still like to know what I may have to encounter out in the fields. I've looked through Jim Stoner's pics, so I have an idea about the water, but that is it.

[Kairoshorses]

Capital Kiss. :) She'll be the silver dapple TB mare going around like a giraffe in dressage. Can't miss it. If you'd like us to further stand out, I'm sure we can provide some impressive bucks and maybe even run over the judge. But I've been assured that no matter how awful it is, as long as our test resembles the guidelines for BN test A and we at some point come close to stopping (being near X is optional, I hear), we'll be allowed to go on and enjoy the jumping part of the event. :) That is the point, right? Dressage is merely a test of one's ability to survive until the party starts.

Hi--I'll be on Paycheck, the OTHER formerly grey now almost white giraffe. I just moved up to Novice this fall, and I'm doing Meadow Creek and Holly Hill (just finished Greenwood, and we got fourth!). I think MCP is a really easy BN--mostly logs, and the last two times, no water at all. One drop off. And only a few fences that are table-like. It might be a good one to move up at. I've never done Pine Hill; Holly Hill is closer to us by two hours (and it's 10 hours away), so I figure I'd go to another state rather than go FURTHER to compete in TX!

I've only done BN at HH once, but it was last spring, and SO FRICKIN' GORGEOUS with all the purple clover all around. It was like riding in a path through a carpet. It was worth the price just to be allowed to ride through that. Totally amazing.

--Becky

[texaseventer]

Oh yay two more in the giraffe club!! YAHOOO!

Well, I got eliminated at Pine Hill last year for jumping OUT of the dressage ring ... LOL and I wasn't allowed to continue. (That was an expensive dressage test, let me tell you). So as long as you keep all 4 hooves in the ring you are good!!!!!!!!!

Kairo- what # were you at Greenwood? I was your dressage in-gate steward on Saturday morning, I was the redhead in the cowboy hat.

We have to get together and introduce ourselves at MCP! I'm bringing some champagne and OJ to get me through dressage... anyone want to help me drink it?! :)

Mandy and Joy

[Kairoshorses]

Oh yay two more in the giraffe club!! YAHOOO!

Well, I got eliminated at Pine Hill last year for jumping OUT of the dressage ring ... LOL and I wasn't allowed to continue. (That was an expensive dressage test, let me tell you). So as long as you keep all 4 hooves in the ring you are good!!!!!!!!!

Kairo- what # were you at Greenwood? I was your dressage in-gate steward on Saturday morning, I was the redhead in the cowboy hat.

We have to get together and introduce ourselves at MCP! I'm bringing some champagne and OJ to get me through dressage... anyone want to help me drink it?! :)

Mandy and Joy

I was #126, in ring 1. I remember you! The cowboy hat was great, and you all were really nice. Bless you!

I'm thinking that I might just join you in the pre-dressage lubrication. I need to RELAX. ;)

[texaseventer]

Becky

Ahhh! I totally remember you now! You were wearing glasses right? You made my job so easy! Your horse is so cute, btw!!!!! :)

For Meadowcreek - My horse's name is The Joy That Counts and we'll be seriously ready for some company for our pre-dressage warm up "hydration". :)

I'll PM you my contact info and maybe we can find each other before the butterflies hit Sat morning :) I'll bring plenty of bubbly and oj so we can have a giraffe dressage party together with our other new friend here too!!! LOL

Mandy

[Kairoshorses]

Becky

Ahhh! I totally remember you now! You were wearing glasses right? You made my job so easy! Your horse is so cute, btw!!!!! :)

For Meadowcreek - My horse's name is The Joy That Counts and we'll be seriously ready for some company for our pre-dressage warm up "hydration". :)

I'll PM you my contact info and maybe we can find each other before the butterflies hit Sat morning :) I'll bring plenty of bubbly and oj so we can have a giraffe dressage party together with our other new friend here too!!! LOL

Mandy

That's me. Don't you like the intellectual look it gives to me as I'm missing dressage movements? ;)

RE: pre-dressage: sounds like a plan!

[TB4Dressage]

Hey, can I join the party? ;) We were just at Greenwood doing BN, I remember the cowboy hat as well! I got confused in my dressage test, sigh, but we had a great XC so all is well.

HH is a lovely course! You will enjoy it. :D

[texaseventer]

YEAH! Come one come all! :)

Ok remind me of your number - I am sure I remember talking to you when you came out???

Do I need two bottles of champagne!?!? LOL

[purplnurpl]

I love HH cause there are no trees for me to run into.

here is a video of the water:
you'll have to fast forward until you find the part with the water.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXbuyTVNhho


They have an oxar to a skinny 3 stride line
and oxar to a corner 3-5 stride line
water with A,B,C,D
log one stride down a double bank
coffin on a downhill approach in trees
and an A,B,C,D sunken road

And then some boxes, rolletops, stuff inbetween.
Time can be tough to make.

[texaseventer]

Kristen what happened at the water when that person flagged you? Was there a hold on the course?

[TB4Dressage]

TE, I was #203, on a bay TB. Went in ring 2 I think. (still confused, LOL). We'll be BN at MC too...hoping to move up to Novice at the PH schooling show in December. :)

[archieflies]

Sorry I'm late to the party! Anything bubbly might cause me to fall off in dressage (and thereby miss the good part!), but I'll come by with my Dr Pepper!

Y'all help me brainstorm ideas... just occurred to me that I don't have a portable saddle rack to bring. Millers has the 2-rack over-the-stall hangers for $12.99 (cheapo!!) but their shipping's too slow. Do I leave the saddles in the trailer and walk them back and forth, or go totally white trash and have hubby ghetto-rig some sort of portable contraption?

Heck, y'all don't even need details to identify me by. Everyone's going to walk past my stall and be like, "Wow, that's definitely the new girl!" :D

But then if my mare can't learn to keep her shoes on, we may never make it there... :no:

:)

Bethany

[purplnurpl]

Kristen what happened at the water when that person flagged you? Was there a hold on the course?

the rider before me had a fall.

[tlw]

HH is a great event with super nice folks running things (especially Marty, the best show secretary in Area V)! For the Prelim, time will be very hard to make, especially if this is your first time at that level. My experience on the training level course over the last couple of years is that its stated distance is shorter than my wheeled distance (by between 75 - 100 meters and I wheel twice each show) so the intermediate times are off and it's too hard to make up time at the end of the course. If I remember correctly, most of the prelim rides had time faults as did all but one of the training this spring. That said, I love to ride there.

[Divine Comedy]

Thanks for the info! Yeah I'm not going to be concerned about time, just going to let my horse go at a pace that is comfortable and balanced. And again, may not even go P, but I am hoping to!

[Kat_Renee]

I've always liked Holly Hill... although i haven't been on it in about 8 years.... last time i was there it was very straight forward. I remembered it as being a bit small, but that could just be my memories!