Le Trec - Sunday 4th July 2010

As recent new members of the MBBA, my wife, myself and our two ponies wanted to support as many events this year as possible. Loading issues on the day of the Cranmore fun ride meant we did not make it, so we were determined to attend the ‘Trec Taster’.

We found the venue without any trouble and after signing in and paying up we next needed to decide if we were going to try the obstacles first or the orienteering. We decided on the orienteering, as we figured it would allow the ponies to blow off a little steam. Having made that decision we needed to equip ourselves with a map and a route. I had visions lists of map co-ordinates and six figure reference numbers, but organisers had made things much easier by providing master maps with the routes and directions marked on, all that was needed was to transfer the route to your own map, or one of the colour copies provided. This is where we discovered mistake number one, no map case!

Suitably equipped and with the ponies tacked up, off we went. Two hundred yards down the road we discovered mistake number two. We did not know where on the route we had started from! We returned to the start, sorted that one out, and began again with a few ‘hints’ from Ginnie and Robert (thank you both). There were a few challenges on the trec route, some we sorted for ourselves and some with other riders on the course, but all were resolved and we rode on.

I have to say that I was guilty of an assumption on starting this ride. I assumed that my gelding Harry would of course know the difference between horseback orienteering, where I need to stop from time to time and consult a map, and a fun ride, where we all charge along and canter whenever possible on large open areas of grass. I could not imagine how he could confuse one type of event for another. Riding through open fields and down lanes, with other horses in front and behind and all riders wearing bright tabards with numbers on! Never the less, we made it round in one piece and in a respectable time. We decided before taking a break for a bite to eat and a drink, that we would have a go at the slow canter – fast walk test.

Harry has a great collected canter, we often practice when out on hacks, he is also used to cantering in a nice straight line, both on grass and in the school. Did he show this ability in a dazzling display for the judges and onlookers? Did he heck as like; he fly bucked and bronced in a zig zag all the way down the field. After a suitable moment or two to compose ourselves, we walked swiftly and smartly back to the start. Onlookers however appeared to see a brown New Forest pony jogging like a London Marathon runner! My wife Wendy decided to show us both just how it should be done with a nice collected canter all the way, she then returned at the slowest walk her mare could manage…no dear it’s a slow canter and fast walk. Attempt two was much better, and so Harry and I decided to have another go. After the third fly buck almost unseated me, and as the timing judge was now laughing so hard she almost fell off her seat, I decided to retire (dis)gracefully.

After lunch, we went to have a go at the other tests. Bless them, both the ponies tried their hardest and managed every test. Wendy decided that as her mare has loading issues, which she is overcoming with the help of fellow MBBA member Kelly Johnson, then the trailer test might be best missed this time, a very wise move I think and typical of the day, one that the judges concurred with.

After the judges on the low pole accused Harry of having a big bum (I can’t imagine they were referring to me), Harry and I decided that we would show them what we were made of by cantering under the pole. Amazingly we made it on the second attempt, after I had assured Harry we were supposed to go UNDER not over the pole.

I would like to thank Ginnie and all the other MBBA members responsible for organising and running the event for an excellent day; Wendy, Folly, Harry and I had a great time and a lot of fun.

I look forward to seeing you at the next one.

Neil MacKinnon and Harry Brownhorse

Orienteering times - PDF Format

Walking times - PDF Format

Canter times - PDF Format>