Wayne DuPage X-C

[the bag]

I walked the x-c at Wayne this evening and have a few comments and wonder what you all think.
First, the courses look nice. Well decorated and some very interesting questions. The place looks pretty good (especially compared with last years "green" event where they avoided mowing and aerovating). But the ground is still awfully rough and hard. It was obvious that they had aerovated some, but it sure could use a bunch more. The machine was sitting on display by the start box, but no one was out on it. Glad I'm not riding.
One other thing: I thought there was a new rule that all portables need to be staked. I didn't see more than 10 jumps total with stakes. And what about those #1 logs? OMG! I could have pushed any of them over. One of them wasn't even attached to anything; just balanced on a loose stack of boards with little tiny wedges stuck loosely behind the log. Where is the TD on this one? People scream about safety, so rules are written to try to do something. But how is it that these rules are ignored? Again, glad I'm not riding.
I'm sure someone is out there right now fixing these things and all will be well by the time the first horse starts in 12 hours.

[deltawave]

I'm sure someone is out there right now fixing these things and all will be well by the time the first horse starts in 12 hours.

Yes, probably. So why the rant? :confused:

[flutie1]

Yes, probably. So why the rant? :confused:

Rant? Wailing about Laine Ashker is a rant.

This posting is IMO a pretty intelligent critique by someone who seems to know what he or she is talking about regarding XC courses.

[Glimmerglass]

Yes, probably. So why the rant? :confused:

I concur with flutie1 - that's no rant. An offhanded remark but certainly no multi-paragraph twisting complaint session.

Three riders from my barn are there and I know they'll do well.

[the bag]

Feel free to consider it a minor rant. These are serious safety issues that really need to be addressed. I'm not competing there, so don't really know what to do except express my frustration and concern.
I really do hope these issues are corrected, but there was no one working while I was out on course.

[FlightCheck]

that's what rider reps and tds are for.

Safety concerns are not whining - please let SOMEONE know your concerns before horses start.

[groom]

Did anything get fixed?


Hopefully the log got secured, but it seems unlikely that all of those portables were magically fastened down.

I too have noticed quite irregular enforcement of rules at events. It is most striking at a venue like Wayne where dissimilar organizations use the same facilities. I was at Maui Jim in July and noticed that every portable was fastened down, even the giant Advanced ones, per the rules. (and every inch of every gallop was aerovated, because flutie1 loves horses more than money!)

Of course this problem is largely because organizers are free to hire any qualified official they prefer, and bad organizers often seem to prefer bad officials. C'est la vie, mon ami.

[Cabarett]

It never ceases to amaze me the amount of inaccurate things that some people come up with.
I can assure you that EVERY portable fence at Wayne Du Page was secured per the rules before the first horse went out on course. Anyone choosing to believe differently is obviously missinformed and should not believe slanderous hearsay.
The ground here has been aerated continually up until Sat. morning.
If someone was on the course when the equipment was at rest, please don't jump to conclusions. Perhaps the man went to dinner.

Get the facts straight people. Go to the horses mouth.

[groom]

the horses mouth.


Erin?

[Cabarett]

The horses mouth?
How about the GJ, TD and Course Designer.
Ask the proper people and quit slandering officials and organizers.
Surely you have better things to do with your time.
Go to the movies if you enjoy fiction.

[clm08]

I am amazed at the criticism! I am at Wayne, JJ'ed all day today, and there were no issues whatsoever with the jumps and galloping lanes. In fact, I saw the aerovator on the course again early this morning before the first rider went out. I don't know which logs the OP saw that had not been fastened, but I did see many horses hitting logs and some of the portables and everything stayed securely in place, and horses went about happily. There were a few rider falls, fortunately none that required medics to attend to. I didn't hear any complaints about the courses from any of the several riders I know who are going Nov-Int. Tomorrow is BN, but I don't anticipate any problems in that division either.

Thank you organizers, CD and TD for taking all precautions for a safe and good XC run! My daughter did her move up to training here and had a couple of stops but otherwise finished feeling really good about herself and our good pony! This is the first training for our horse and he finished confident and feeling like a million bucks. I have no complaints whasoever!

[the bag]

I am very happy to hear that the portables were all secured and the footing improved since last evening. Thanks for correcting a potentially dangerous situation.

[groom]

The horses mouth?
How about the GJ, TD and Course Designer.
Ask the proper people and quit slandering officials and organizers.
Surely you have better things to do with your time.
Go to the movies if you enjoy fiction.


Slander? Fiction? Are you stating that the op misrepresented the state of the courses on Friday afternoon? Or are you responding to my snarky comments?

[boppin along]

I have to speak up here. I have been going to this HT for years and years and I have to say the Erin and Dan do an outstanding job from start to finish with utmost concern for the courses, competitors and horses safety in all directions.
I think I smell someone trying to stir the pot here and cause some trouble.
It is obvious by the replys and look how they are new to the BB.
It's no secret that there is a rif .

Rise above them and keep doing it like you guys do, right on!

[cdeventer]

I rode the intermediate course today and found it challenging and fun. There were no last minute changes to make the course ridable and no divisions were decimated by any single fence. I find the fall Wayne event a fun and enjoyable event. I feel as a competitor that my horse and myself come first. This is not true of all events.

[RiddleMeThis]

CLM I also jump judged today at Wayne and my experience was the same as yours.

BTW What fences were you jump judging?

[Threeday33]

I, too, have been riding and coaching at Wayne DuPage for many years and want to chime in here. Dan and Erin do a fabulous job and this year's event was no exception. I rode a novice and training horse and had students at BN-P so I walked all of the courses except intermediate. The courses were beautiful and definitely fair for the levels. All of us and our horses had terrific experiences on xc and throughout the weekend. Thank you for a great event!!!
Chrissy

[clm08]

Riddle,
I was at fence 7/8 for Int/Prelim/Trn and 6 for Nov. Had a great view of most fences around the Maui Jim water. What about you?

I watched part of the BN XC this morning and saw when the TD requested and Dan and a couple of volunteers quickly spread sand on part of the course that was slippery and caused one horse to fall while taking a tight turn after the water jump. It only corroborated my positive impression from the day before, that they took every precaution to ensure a safe ride for everyone. Thanks Dan and Erin for another great experience at Wayne HT!