Sporting Days training course?

[FLeckenAwesome]

Hi guys,
Can anyone tell me about the training course at Sporting Days!? Is it a nice move-up course, or more of a later in the season course? Tricky? Easy? Fun? etc!? :)

Thanks!!

[HCH]

I think overall it is a "low-key", fun, course. It could be a move up depending on your horse. If your horse is not bold with water and coffins, then it might not be for you. You probably wouldn't be worrying about time at your first training, but it is not easy to make time bc part of it is through the trees and up and down a hill. The show jumping is usually straight forward. We have been there quite a few times with different horses for Novice, Training and Prelim and have always enjoyed it. We actually moved horses up to Novice and Prelim there, and Art did his second Training there.

[GotSpots]

They do change up the course a bit, but last year the Training there was fairly small in size, though with all the appropriate questions for the level. It's a fun course to canter around, and most of the questions were pretty inviting, though the coffinish thing in the trees was a bit "looky" (I would have liked them to have better defined the edges of the ditch). None of the fences feel like they are max Training height (the coops in the field in particular felt pretty small), but there's a lovely pseudo-corner thing that jumps well, and a nice turning question. As for whether it's a move-up or not, it depends on what your issues are. If the height alone is your issue, than it's a fine move-up course, but I'd be prepared for a few more substantive questions (nothing unfair or that you can't muddle through) than at a classic "move-up" course. I did think time was wheeled pretty tightly for Training level, but it's a fun course and nothing particularly scary out there. It is odd to SJ after XC at a one day - but it's a nice enough event and we have fun there. My only complaint was that you couldn't pick up packets the night before, and they were very understaffed in the secretary's office the morning of (and thus perhaps not as friendly as they might have been), and the hands down rudest parking person I have ever, ever met. They are also one of those one day shows that don't do an amateur or "rider" division, so you're stuffed in there with three of Philip's and one of Boyd's and two of Will's in every division. Some people mind this, others don't.

[yellowbritches]

(I would have liked them to have better defined the edges of the ditch)
I can't remember distinctly, but I feel like I breathed a sigh of relief when I walked the course as I think they painted over the glaring white paint of the sides of the ditches with black...am I remembering right??? I know it was a big concern of mine, as little mare was being a bit ditchy, and every time I'd been to Sporting Days prior to last spring, the ditches were VERY spooky, as they were BRIGHT WHITE and kinda came up at the horses out of the ground. It didn't seem as spooky last year.

Anyway, it has been a few years since I rode the training course (little mare did novice), but I remember it being fun and pretty flowing and straight forward. HOWEVER, when I rode it, I was on a horse that moved up to prelim a few weeks later (Sporting Days was our first event of the year). But again, last year with little mare I kinda kicked myself for not moving her up there, as what I saw of it looked great...she was a very, very bold, forward going horse, though, and the only thing holding her back from moving up was her ridability at times. I would venture out on a limb and say that if you and your horse are trucking around novice easily with no real issues (good at ditches, good at the water, etc), then it should be fine to move up. There is a trakhner, as well, but very inviting (big thick log that pretty much obscures the ditch).

[FLeckenAwesome]

Awesome info! Thanks guys :)

We seem to be over our (and by our I'm pretty sure I mean MY) ditch issues :)

[2016 RoyalCrown KTug]

Although SD's is known for being a bit on the easier side, if I remeber correctly last year they enhanced the course quite a bit, but I think they have nice move up courses. I moved up to prelim there and it was great.

[tarheelmd07]

Fleck beat me to posting this thread, as I was going to ask the very same question :) Thanks for all the info

Fleck - which sporting days are you going to? We'll be there for the Feb 7-8th one.

[FLeckenAwesome]

We're coming back from a very mild case of EPM and a sore back, so...I'm hoping for the March 15th one...though debating between that and Jumping Branch's march 6-8th show. Of course this is all pending how quickly he "fits" back up and how quickly my confidence is restored. We were ROCKING prior to the issues due to the back and EPM and that combined with the crappy weather and not going out.....

I may end up going novice, but we'll see.
Tarheel: Good luck and have a blast!!! Would you mind pming me the details?! Of course by then I'll have already signed up or not :)

[yellowbritches]

I think we are planning on doing the 3/15 one, too! We will also have a horse at JBF, but I'm not into making Vernon's first event of the year a three day...he's never done anything but one days. As much as I will be tempted to go training, we'll be going novice.

[FLeckenAwesome]

Awesome! I will see you there! I still can't decide.....and I only have til the 20th to figure it out!!!

[glfprncs]

Fleck...you might also ask Lellie her opinion, as she's ridden around there twice per year for quite some time. I only suggest this because I know you see her regularly, and she could give you some good insight specific to you and your horse.

[FLeckenAwesome]

Thanks! Yep, I plan on asking her on the 18th when she teaches me :) I have already asked to stay with her during either show though :) Yay!

[Eventcrazy]

Flecken, I attend the one last year in March a one day. It was our first training!!! I was really amazed how well it rode and how my horse really loved the course.

I took pictures of every fence on the cross country course that year. So that should be a help.

Please forgive the funny pictures of my puppy!

Sporting Day's Training (http://good-times.webshots.com/album/562832492lLOjhp?vhost=good-times)

[FLeckenAwesome]

OOOOh AMY You are my hero!!! That is awesome :) I do the virtual course walks too ;)

Thanks so much. That is a big help :)

[Eventcrazy]

Not a problem!!!

We had to lay over another day to rest up for our trip back to MS...so we got the camera out! I will try to take pitures of more courses. I am a visual learner and it really helps.

Hopefully it will help you feel better about going to Sporting Day's. I really taught it was a great move up course. My horse has no problems with ditches but he is not the boldest at water. So the course was perfect for what we needed to move up to Training.

We are planning to do our second Training at Rocking horse in March! So GOOD LUCK and have fun.

[FLeckenAwesome]

PS. CUTE Corgi's :)

[Nancy!]

Amy:

Great pics but really - please don't show one looking into the ditch:eek:. I already do that enough. :D Love the pups on the bench. My ACD (Australian Cattle dog) jumps all of my jumps. Makes me feel better - if she can jump up on them perhaps my horse can jump over. :lol:

Nancy!