Rubicon
Comment here on your past experiences with the Rubicon Horse Trials. See the first post for a "how-to" of evaluations, and comment away.
posted by AKK @ 3:06 PM
3 comments
Horse Trials Info - ratings, feedback, and more!
This is a forum to find out about and give evaluations of USEA horse trials and events -- define what really IS "average, for horses with some experience at this level"!
3 Comments:
Rubicon is an A++ event
Dressage:
Dressage warm up was held in a large, mostly flat grass field. Plenty of room to spread out and have your own little "work area." Three rings were running at once. One grass ring held at the far end of the warm up (flat, nice footing) and two rubber/sand rings (one large arena w/ two rings inside)The two sand/rubber rings were a bit tight, but over all, still do-able.
Make sure to wear a watch or bring a helper as there was no "dressage stuart" sending people to rings. Though rings were close enough that you could figure out when someone was on next, on deck, etc.
XC:
Beautiful courses...picture a well manacured golf course, just add the XC fences!! All the fences are well built and in excellent condition. Expect a fairly "beefed" up course as most of the fences seemed close to max height. Several fences were shared with the next level up (ie- training shared a few prelim fences, novice shared a few training fences) Very inviting, yet still solid...lots of large tables. The courses ask almost evey possible question per level yet again in an inviting way. (not daunting or overwhelming, no trappy or really spookie fences, everything was presented in a clear way - very nice flow to the courses) Full coffins were on both the prelim and training courses and a 1/2 coffin-type combination was on novice. The bank complex, again asked all the questions, but in an inviting manner. Training had an off-set table type fence, a bending 5 strides up a medium sized bank, two strides to a large and slightly skinny log pile. I believe novice was similar, minus the first fence. Cant recall prelim's bank complex. The water jump was rather a pond (but a nice "golf course" pond, not swampy) in a horse-shoe shape so you actually went into the water once, jumped up a bank onto grass, cantered about 3 strides then re-entered the water. Very clever design. Again, asked all the questions at each level.
Time was definetly a big factor in my division. For both novice & training the times were on the faster side and due to the hilly land, not many people made time. (though if the course is ridden correctly, you should come in just under!)
Stadium:
Again, beautiful courses. All the fences were very nice, painted, looked like a mini-rolex! Held on a grass arena between the start of XC and the dressage warmups. The course designer uses the slight slope of the land and creates tough questions, bending lines, tight turns, fences at the bottom of a small slope. There were lots of rails. Still a very fun course to ride!
Facilities:
Again, A++. Trailer parking had ample room. Multiple port-a-potties, all volunteers were very nice and helpful. There were 3 different photographers when I was there. All scores posted promptly. 2 or 3 tack shops set up trailers. Food truck and a smoothie bar thing. Very nice long, flowing ribbons and prizes. (nice "rubicon" saddle pads to 1,2,3 and another prize for 1st)
Whoops...this is anonymous again. Just read the bottom of the page where it says to rate the events. So to add onto my original post:
terrain: 3
-stadium terrain is difficult as the course designer really uses it to ask questions.
-XC terrain is average, some slight slope to fences with one fence in particular being set at the edge of a hill. but nothing I wouldnt expect.
Jumps: 3
Many max height fences and combinations asking most every questions. Nothing trappy or spookie, still very inviting with a nice flow.
Time/distance: 4
-time was hard to make, fast speeds and the course was wheeled tightly. It is do-able if ridden correctly.
Nice info you have here! Thanks! Kevin
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