| Author | Message | ||
     Fiona Powell Username: Fionap Registered: 12-2003 |
How much fun can it be? Single horse, Holland https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kltuPYppHck Pony tandems https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_DwBZo2O-E&list=UUqj1fRcd6fWzo5Y_YeQkVCg Pony fours https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmOFxqh1ZXE&list=UUqj1fRcd6fWzo5Y_YeQkVCg&index=1 9 FEI World Cup https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONedR9zhuj0&list=UUqj1fRcd6fWzo5Y_YeQkVCg | ||
| Deirdre Luff Username: Pinkpink Registered: 01-2010 |
Ginny I agree with you, in that I have no desire to just gallop around a massive obstacle and driving a Tandem is not the best combination to achieve success in a world cup format. I too have got to an age when remembering the test is achievement in its self. I also agree with the fact that the mixture of competitors that attend the indoor competitions is part of the attraction, it's great to be able to keep the contact of friends throughout the winter and fun to meet newcomers to the sport. What I would most like to achieve is to shorten the day, as a multiple competitor I am usually the last to leave. I’m getting older and day is long especially as I work full time. Anyway a thought, do any of you oldies remember doing Prix Caprilli dressage tests in your youth. They were popular in the 70s. Dressage with jumps strategically placed throughout the dressage arena. This might be away of combining the dressage and cones phases and would avoid the need to walk the cones as they would be in prescribed places. It would promote accuracy in the dressage as it would give beginners a guide to using the arena correctly. It would reduce the setup time needed for the organisers and potentially allow for less hire time for arenas or more entries as there would be more time. It would not provide extra time for the judges to sit around as it would take place within the test time. It would not be possible to time cones in this format but the pressure of cones within a dressage test would increase the difficulty factor, hence possible knockdowns, it would also promote accuracy rather than speed because it would count for more. I have put a link for and explanation of what Prix Caprilli is, and its benefits to training, for anyone interested, https://onthebit.wordpress.com/2009/10/26/what-is-a-prix-caprilli/ It’s just a suggestion, (even if a long one). If we don’t keep challenging ourselves we could lose momentum. Indoor driving is our best advert for carriage sport for all at present. Like Ginny I just like getting to our indoor party at Keyso. Proof of surviving the winter, and excitement of the thought of warm balmy evenings to come at outdoor events. Deirdre | ||
| Ginny White Username: Ginnyw Registered: 11-2006 |
Last year at the finals i had a go at the Saturday evening competition,(in the dark! we really should have taken lights!) although i have quite a fast pony and love the obstacle challenge i do not enjoy world cup type events, and having watched it at the finals 2 years running thought quite boring to watch. And I hope this is not the way the sport is going. Am I alone in this thought. Dressage is sadly the key to major success in most driving competitions and so speed may give others a chance to succeed, scurry competitions have been fun to watch for years and i think well supported. People with no interest to going fast, coming purely for a fun day out with friends, will never get placed again. But as much as i enjoyed watching in awe the teams of four at Olympia Christmas show, i wonder how this type of competition is going to promote the sport of driving, half intelligent people i'm sure will realise you don't need 4 horses to get involved, but it is still promoting the feel of a huge monetary need and massive commitment. Not as is mainly seen, the ex child out grown pony, or adult fun hack and drive pony from Fell, Dales, New Forest, Welsh, plus crosses etc. With 2 wheelers and old 4 wheel carts in all sorts of transport to get to the event. Safety and fun for all must not be forgotten. |