BE80(T) - Anyone done one?

[gem]

I've been having a nosey on the BE website (I've never done any eventing before) and noticed they do a training version of the BE80. I'd really like to try this with Saffy next year (provided she doesn't kill me at our first xc practise on Tuesday...). Our dressage is getting there - entering our first novice in a few weeks. Her jumping is definitely improving and I'm trying to get her used to all sorts of ridiculous things under jumps XC hasn't been attempted yet but will report back on Tuesday (possibly courtesy of NHS wi-fi).

So anyway the point of this post - has anyone had any experience at this low level? Is it strictly for beginners or do pot hunters tend to do it too? Do you get any type of feedback etc?


Thanks in advance

[CityLights]

dont know much about the new classes but they did do Grasshoppers show jumping for alittle while which was like you did a jump round got some feedback and then did it again and it was almost alittle like a working hunter class where you would get marks on style and such as well as going clear,

i think the new clases are restircted type classes where only horses and riders at certain ranks or grades are allowed to compete so you shouldnt get any really high level riders or high graded horses doing them just the people that should be doing them like yourself who havent had much expereinece doing eventing

[nic]

Your question would probably be better answered on HHO ( as much as some people may not like it, its very good for competition questions)

BE80 (T) is a supposed to be a training event but have read a few posts on hho that says there may or may not be someone there to help you/encourage etc, I think it would depend on the event.

You cant pot hunt at BE

Riders with certain points ( points can only be earned at Novice and up) can enter lower levels like BE90 but they are entered HC. They only do this for babies or something thats been a bit poo/off form
I may be rusty/slightly off in my information.....its been a while....youre probably better off asking Casper-Cb

[gem]

Thanks ladies!

S&W - That sounds like just the kind of thing I want to be doing. I'm hoping to get her out to some indoor jumping (as well as dressage) over the winter so she'll come into next season ready to go. Might be wishful thinking though, will have to see how transport goes!

nic - Eeek I might have to venture over there then. They'll probably tell me I'm crap and my horse is useless based purely on a sig pic but I'm sure there are *some* nice people on there I hadn't thought about the points system - duh! You're right though so yey we might not be *completely* out of our league!

[cocopops]

BE 80 consists of one of the BE90 dressage tests, either 91 or 92, both of which you can download from the BE website, a course of 8-12 showjumps of 80cm, with one upright and one ascending spread at 85cm, it will include one double. And an 80 cm cross country course, which may include open ditches and a ramp in and out of water, there is a 5cm tolerence on the height of jumps though, so you need to be prepared for 85cm.
There are BE accredited trainers on hand all day to help you warm up and answer any questions you may have, they also do a course walk.
I think the restrictions are the same as BE90, which i believe is the rider not to have ridden at advanced in the last 2 years and the horse to be grade 4.

[gem]

Thanks cocopops! Just had a look at the tests and she could manage them no problem. If only the xc was as easy Like I say I won't be attempting any sort of eventing until next season and I'm yet to see what her attitude is to xc. If her SJ is anything to go by she'll probably need a good nosey at the fences beforehand but this is improving so hopefully by next season her confidence will have grown a lot more. I was having dreams of jumping massive spreads last night!

I'm going to try and find a XC course near to where we're moving (I imagine myerscough has one) but failing that we have access to miles of hacking through woods so hopefully I'll be able to scope out some natural jumps. Have you got any reccommendations for school work? I know for ditches you can put tarpaulin etc between 2 poles but if there's anything else it would be much appreciated

Thanks again!

[cocopops]

Black compost trays from garden centres are good too, and just anything "different" Conifer branches, hay bales, rugs over fences etc, you can make a corner out of sj's. Practice your forward seat too, as you need to be able to hold yourself out the saddle for about 5 minutes, and dont want to be tired otherwise you will affect there balance. Also practice a jump on the short side of school, so you really push on down the long side, and then steady for the corner and jump, and push on out of the corner again up your long side, you need to make sure they come back to you before a fence, but push on again asap afterwards, otherwise you'll have problems making the time.

[gem]

Thanks those are some good ideas. She'll definitely need to be a LOT fitter before we attempt anything. She's very fit for school work and can manage an hour of hard work but when we get out in the open it's like the air sucks all her energy away! We went for a gallop up a hill yesterday and she couldn't manage anything more than a medium canter, even with my pony club kicks! We haven't had much chance to do any fast work out of the school though (all road work near us) but that should all change once we move