MD/VA peeps: xc schooling for novice?

[asterix]

OK, the husband horse is ready to go Novice, I think (er, is signed UP to go novice at MHT), but we need to get out next week and school over some good solid Novice obstacles.

FPP or Gordonsdale? (Wingreen is too far away) Any other idea? Last time I was at Gordonsdale I didn't pay much attention to the sub-Training things, so I have only a vague idea of what's there. I feel like maybe FPP is the way to go, if footing holds up....

advice, please!

[LisaB]

Wingreen has a ton of stuff. And you can practice more complex stuff at the lower height too.

[asterix]

I know, I know, but the drive is a KILLER from Waredaca. We can't really justify it on a school day :) -- Gordonsdale/FPP is about as far away as we can do...

[LisaB]

eww, yeah, understood! That bitch of a drive works both ways, ya know?

[siyafunda]

All we have on our farm is a bunch of greenies going BN and N. We school regularly at Gordonsdale and find lots of fun options to play around with - there's a good bank complex, water has some decent options, there's a novice coop, various and sundry logs, a log pile, good ditches etc etc. They recently repainted a bunch of stuff as well (RED) so there's that. :) Plus the footing over there is so so nice - they do a really good job on that. It's $25 - which I think is a bargain.

ANother option in the area is Surefire. They have plenty for the Novice horse as well. I believe they charge $50/horse.

Good luck and have fun!

[flyingchange]

Hey A,

Why don't you just go to both?

If you have to pick, then I'd say Gordonsdale. Simply b/c of the awesome water complex, they have the required ditches, there is a coop in the fenceline, steps, top-of-hill novice jump, blah, blah, blah. Some downhill jumps, a tire jumpe :eek::eek: Plus great footing and room to gallop.

Have fun!!!!

[asterix]

Well, sure, with all my copious spare time, I'll just take the week off and do a tour of schooling options :lol:
OK, I'm hearing votes for Gordonsdale. My biggest concern is big, solid novice fences, as that's what my horse needs a little bit of support from me for. He is an old pro (at least in his mind :winkgrin:) at water, ditches, banks, etc. It's just nice big fences we need to jump.
So we got those at Gordonsdale, right?

[Dr. Doolittle]

Yes, but keep in mind that none of the jumps at Gordonsdale have been on "actual courses", so all measurements are approximate! ;)

I think that some of the "Novice height fences" may actually be bordering on "Training Level height fences--but your boy will be able to handle it--easily! :D

[flyingchange]

I dunno ... I figured you could go to FP on a weekend day and hit Gordonsdale some afternoon next week??? sorry!

[tarheelmd07]

If you want to check out options in Maryland, An Otherwise Perfect Farm in Upperco (right down the road from Shawan Downs) has a good selection of jumps (most of the portables were used at Shawan Downs for the MCTA HT back in the spring) -- lots of portables, plus single/double bank, water, sunken road, ditches, etc.

[Speedy]

Gordonsdale or Surefire.

[asterix]

oh, fc, I was laughing, sorry! I wish I could go schooling twice in the next week but I might end up divorced if I did (only so far I can push this "I am making him more trained for YOU, honey" argument :D).

Dr. D, if the Gordonsdale jumps are a bit on the stiff side, that's FINE. This is all about mental jitters -- pony thinks he is superman and if you ride him with confidence he happily jumps novice + already. But I have not been out and about much since Piko went out of commission -- and suddenly novice fences look big on the munchkin (I know, he's almost 17hands, but...). So I tend to just sort of sit there. So...need to go jump some slightly biggish things to reset my eye and re-engage my instincts.

As for otherwise perfect farm, it is great -- we are doing a clinic there with JW before Waredaca, so I'm saving it for that -- the munchkin still benefits from seeing "Brand New" things on a regular basis. (something is only ever Brand New once, I have discovered -- the dreaded white coop at Seneca was Brand New at schooling in June; in September, it was "please, mom, give me a break. That is SO June" as we whizzed over it at mach 10)

yes, I am in love with him. I just want to make sure I ride him right!

[Dr. Doolittle]

oh, fc, I was laughing, sorry! I wish I could go schooling twice in the next week but I might end up divorced if I did (only so far I can push this "I am making him more trained for YOU, honey" argument :D).

Dr. D, if the Gordonsdale jumps are a bit on the stiff side, that's FINE. This is all about mental jitters -- pony thinks he is superman and if you ride him with confidence he happily jumps novice + already. But I have not been out and about much since Piko went out of commission -- and suddenly novice fences look big on the munchkin (I know, he's almost 17hands, but...). So I tend to just sort of sit there. So...need to go jump some slightly biggish things to reset my eye and re-engage my instincts.

As for otherwise perfect farm, it is great -- we are doing a clinic there with JW before Waredaca, so I'm saving it for that -- the munchkin still benefits from seeing "Brand New" things on a regular basis. (something is only ever Brand New once, I have discovered -- the dreaded white coop at Seneca was Brand New at schooling in June; in September, it was "please, mom, give me a break. That is SO June" as we whizzed over it at mach 10)

yes, I am in love with him. I just want to make sure I ride him right!


You are SO lucky to have a horse with such a remarkable, sensible brain; and who is a good-looking guy (with great presence!) to boot...no wonder you want to (cough, ahem) keep him for yourself :D

Poor Mr. asterix...

I know how you feel: when I ride the greenie I've been training for the past couple years (or any other greenbean who would likely--and justifiably--gawk at the bigger fences), 2'6" looks HUGE! :eek:

When I ride Her Majesty, everything big now looks like a piece of cake--but I've prepared her SO thoroughly that (like Piko) it SHOULD, at this point, feel and look (and ride) like it's "no big deal"...(And really, if it doesn't feel that way, then clearly you haven't been doing your job--or your homework-- well or thoroughly enough; Gee, REALLY *so* not an issue in your case ;))

Trust your boy (and yourself, Geez, woman--you are WAY too hard on yourself! :rolleyes:) He has tremendous scope (clearly!), and it sounds like you just need to re-acquaint yourself with your inner "upper-level event rider woman", and once you do--everything will just fall into place when you get out on course! :D)

[tarheelmd07]

As for otherwise perfect farm, it is great -- we are doing a clinic there with JW before Waredaca, so I'm saving it for that -- the munchkin still benefits from seeing "Brand New" things on a regular basis. (something is only ever Brand New once, I have discovered -- the dreaded white coop at Seneca was Brand New at schooling in June; in September, it was "please, mom, give me a break. That is SO June" as we whizzed over it at mach 10)


Asterix, we'll see you at the JW clinic then, as I'm going to bring the giant OTTB, and I've taken the whole day off to watch :D Not that I wouldn't be hanging around anyways, since I board at AOPF :)