A Lovely Day Out At Trec
Mon, 27 June 2011 by Sally Tolson
Sunday 26th June saw the annual fun Trec competition hosted and organised by Julie Anne at her beautiful yard down in Goring. I'd asked Kate Riley to go with me, as I have no sense of direction and cannot read a map, and Kate, being far cleverer can! Thus we arrived, slightly later than planned, 10 minutes before our allotted time of 10.20am - oops! Clearly we had our Sunday heads on! This couldn't have mattered less as Julie Anne was totally relaxed and just told us to slot in once we were ready. So we watched a couple of competitors in the obstacles and control of paces, and then returned to our trailers. Not to get ready however, but to consume delicious chocolate croissants that Kate had brought, and coffee that I had managed to bring. After a leisurely breakfast we got organised and tacked up, including headcollars worn under bridles, with lead ropes rolled up and clipped to saddles, and saddle bags with our compulsory equipment.
Just to elaborate for anyone not familiar with Trec, the competition consists of 3 phases:
· the obstacles (more of which later),
· the control of paces consisting of slowest canter and faster walk over a measured distance,
· the hack/map reading section which you need the following equipment for:
1. Head collar and rope
2. Hi viz on at least riders body
3. Compass
4. Mobile phone
5. Pens for marking route on map
6. Map holder
7. Stop watch
Marks are given for each of the obstacles, the control of paces, having the listed equipment, following your map correctly, completing within a suitable time, and collecting a "ticket" out on the route - in this case a length of wool tied to a tree with same baler twine. (A spectacular failing on my part was not to spot and collect the said "ticket" although apparently I went past it twice!!)
So first off we went to the obstacles. Kate and Tom were up first and scored well, despite Tom having his "pony" head on which caused him to be a little headstrong at the S bend and clatter some poles!
Me and the Molly horse were up next, and judge Pip Edmunds was there to guide me and give a score, which for each was a maximum of 10. For the first obstacle I led Moll beside me as I tackled the 4 stepping stones, mounting decorously from the final one, having been told "No leaping!" (not that I am that agile!) in the rules! Next we trotted through the bending poles without incident. On to the gate - not our best thing, but we managed it in a timely manner. Then a log to jump "with style" which we did, despite the fluttering flags adorning it, though whether in good or bad style is a matter of opinion! Handed over to the next judge Fiona Wyles and onto the S bend, which Molly cleverly negotiated without a fault, placing her hooves daintily in the small space! Next the canter corridor of 2 narrow poles was keenly galloped through by Molly, and there was a bit of a braking issue at the end! Then it was through the scarey roadworks, including walking over a piece of carpet - Molly's ears nearly touched together as she eyed it suspiciously with a little snort but bravely she walked over! Then past the painted pigs (if they had been real we would have got nowhere near them!) and the dragon, before posting a letter in the post box. Finally down the royal mile with red, white and blue flags, and posters of the happy couple, all borrowed from a nearby house after the Royal Wedding by Julie Anne just knocking at their door to ask!, with Fiona's son Jacob ringing a noisy bell!
Next up the control of paces and again Kate and Tom went first with a beautiful slow canter down, and then a brisk walk back. Me and Moll did okay too, not breaking pace, which is the main thing that loses marks. Molly often likes a nice jog in the free walk during dressage so I was pleased she kept her walk! Julie Wynn and daughter Megan were our friendly smiling judges, and it was rumoured that they were susceptible to bribes of chocolate!
Off to the map room next (Julie Anne's horsebox!) and you have to copy their route onto a blank map. I did this at super speed as I had no intention of looking at it again! All responsibility for not getting lost was with Kate, who copied hers out rather more carefully using different coloured pens! Then we were off on our jolly hack, approximately 8 km to be ridden at aroud 6km per hour. Our route took us on bridle ways and very quiet lanes and the only thing to watch out for were those pesky cyclists! The views over the Chilterns were really lovely and we even managed a couple of little canters on the softer tracks. Kate did a brilliant job of map reading and we only got a little bit confused in the woods. We ended up doubling back and picking up the route again after a bit of head scratching! Note this was the point at which I should have spotted the "ticket", this being my responsibility as Kate was navigating. If I had seen it we could each have gathered a piece of wool to take back to show Julie Anne in order to earn us 10 marks! How could I have missed it when we passed it twice?! Still we had a lovely ride, taking just under an hour and a half.
Once back at Julie Anne's huge hospitality awaited. We were able to hose Molly and Tom down and then let them loose to graze. However Moll then spotted a delicious looking hedge newly planted, and just as she was choosing her first bite Julie Anne spotted her, so she was quickly caught and moved with Tom into the obstacles paddock. There her and Tom had a lovely roll each, and then indulged in some mutual grooming and general cuddling, as well as some train spotting as the track runs quite nearby. Moll in season adores Tom! Sadly the rest of the time she makes terrible faces and lunges like a snake when he tries to nuzzle up! Is very confusing for him!
For us there were lovely cheese and pickle rolls and cold drinks, as we sat in the sunshine waiting for the results. Happily Kate and I were joint second! So as well as a thoroughly jolly day out we got rosettes too! Many many thanks to Julie Anne and all her helpers for such a totally enjoyable day! I think I'm chucking the dressage for trec!