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Club Member Anna Weston's report on competing in the World Le Trec Championships in Austria

Following another successful TREC season I was asked to join the British TREC Team with my horse Caspian the Wizard (Wizzy) to travel to Austria in September to compete in the 2010 European TREC Championships and what can I say about Austria but what a ball?! This was our third appearance on the national team but the journey of 1000 miles was by far the longest. We travelled out a week before the competition to give us some time both for the horses to recover from the journey and for us to become accustomed to the Austrian maps and the local terrain, both of which were extremely different from home.

 The horses were transported by a professional company from Dover and Wizzy’s journey from Warwickshire to Austria was scheduled to take 2 days in total including stops at Dover and Frankfurt racecourse.

 Wiz came off the box in Austria bright eyed, bushy tailed and on the hunt for a nice patch of green stuff. He was like a pro, reserving his energy during the build up to then put it to full use when it mattered.

 We spent the first few days familiarising ourselves with the maps and the area on horse back in the car and on foot. We stayed in army barracks, the beds were hard and the food fantastic, our chef worked us hard and lie-ins were not an option, going down to do the horses 3kms away and being back for breakfast by 7.30am having fed, hayed and mucked out. 

Training over and we got stuck into the serious stuff. The orienteering course was just stunning; my altimeter was my lifeline as we rode below clouds, through clouds and above clouds but thankfully they cleared just at the right time for me to see the stunning view of the full length of the valley. It was so very different from our competitions – they just plough through undergrowth and don’t seem to care.

Wiz was just amazing with how he coped with the terrain. I lost count of the number of times he looked at me during the orienteering to ask whether I really did want him to climb that ridiculous hill or plough through yet another patch of impenetrable trees and those looks don’t half make me feel guilty but follow me he did and his led step down training came in handy as we found a good three foot drop stood between us and the correct route! 

All the squad passed the Sunday morning vetting so we looked forward to the day ahead with the Control of Paces and PTV (obstacle) phases, true championship courses with a lot of questions requiring focus for both horse and rider. The Control of Paces (slow canter, fast walk) brought my biggest regret as I hadn’t noticed the slight decline and kept pushing on in the walk, Wiz jogged and we threw a good walk score away. Not to worry, time to focus on the fantastic PTV course. Memorable moments: an Austrian horse galloping out of the immobility and back to the stables; clearing the low branches set for a 14.2hh pony due to Wiz’s fear of the measuring stick; a collision of my knee and a rather sturdy bending pole; spectators on the course and a whole lot of fun. Wiz was incredible and we came joint eight in the phase scoring 131 out of a possible 160! 

The closing party was fantastic with lots of drinking, singing and kit swapping so I’m loving my new international wardrobe! More photos and a longer (do you really need it?!!) write up can be found in my blog on www.horsehero.com under Celebrity Blogs. 

I’d like to say a massive thank you to everyone who contributed to the White Horse TREC Group Development Squad’s fund; the level of support was extremely generous and when you’re already worrying about getting a pony fit, the right shoes on his feet and the right food in his belly to have a little of the financial worry removed is wonderful. Now to start saving for Portugal 2012!

Launched this year at Your Horse Live and a wonderful Gift Idea.
 

Pony Tales Club
The Ultimate Pony Book and Gifts Club

Providing excellent educational information to encourage children to learn more about ponies, horses and riding, through reading, writing and drawing.
Aimed at pony enthusiasts aged 4-10 years.

Pony Tales Club packages are produced every three months, delivered direct to your home. Packed full of books, activities and gifts for the pony lover and costs just £20 per package.

Each issue will feature a hose or pony breed, with our exclusive magazine, gifts, puzzle book and stickers, including a different hand painted Schleich Model to collect.
The Introductory first Package also includes a Membership Badge, Rosette and Pony Tales Bag to hold all the gifts.

We will be donating 10p from each Package sold to Redwings Horse Sanctuary.

Making Learning Fun
Www.ponytalesclub.co.uk
or Tel: 01295 670900

Annette Falkingham

Pony Tales Club Ltd
1 Hunters Moon, Flecknoe, Warks  CV23 8BD
Tel: 07710 770594

BHS Gold Membership

   This could help BRC members who require cost effective personal liability horse and personal accident insurance.



  Special Offer for BRC Members

  Join the BHS Today and Benefit from 30% Discount*
 
   BHS Gold Membership includes:

   Personal Liability Insurance up to £10 million for all the horses you own, look after and ride, regardless of age. (Terms, conditions and territorial limits apply)

   Personal Accident Insurance up to £15,000. (Terms, conditions and territorial limits apply)

   For full terms and conditions to the insurance policies please visit www.bhs.org.uk

   British Horse Magazine – exclusive to BHS members, sent six times a year keeping you up to date on the work of the charity

   *This offer applies to new members only (not renewing members) and each person applying must already be a member of a British Riding Club.
    Offer valid until Dec 31 2010.
 
   Gold Membership Offer - £39.90
   Junior Gold Membership Offer - £30.10
   Silver Membership Offer - £24.50
   Bronze Membership Offer - £12.60
 
   To Join call BHS on: 01926 707744 / 52 / 53
 
   Or visit: www.bhs.org.uk

Have you found the website www.algarveadventures.com yet?

Katharine Cook, ex South Warwickshire Riding Club member, now lives with her Portuguese partner, Hugo Oliveira, in the rural Algarve. She has opened a riding centre which offers great value riding and activity holidays.  My friend, Carol, and I went last week and had a totally fabulous holiday.  The centre, Quinta da Bica, is 40 minutes from Faro Airport and only 20 minutes inland from one of Portugal’s biggest tourist resorts - Albufeira, however, you might just as well be a million miles away as the scenery is just stunning. 

Although during the summer months the landscape is dry and dusky in April it is bright green and shows a sea of wild flowers. Katharine can offer instruction at all levels and has a selection of lovely horses and facilities including sand and grass arenas, a TREC course, horse and human accommodation and endless riding out.

Katharine collected us from Faro Airport and, after a quick cuppa gave us a guided tour of the centre and our accommodation.  After lunch and a short rest we had our first ride.  Neither my friend nor I are keen on lessons and very much prefer hacking.  We had 30 minutes in the 20 x 40 school and then set out down the drive for a lovely hack.  I am very nervous but Katharine gave me Perdido, a lovely old boy who really took care of me.  Carol rode Harvey who is a working livery. 

On our second day we started with a lesson using TREC obstacles.  Katharine is very clever making the lessons interesting and fun to take my mind off my nerves.  I rode Moreno and Carol rode Surf.  In the afternoon we went for a two hour hack.  There are many tracks over the hills and it's possible to ride along any of them unless the path is barred.  The sky cleared and the views were stunning.  In the evening four of us took two horses, Perdido and Lily, to the beach.  Katharine and Carol rode first and then it was my turn with Becs who is helping for the season.  My heart was in my mouth but with Perdido’s and Becs’ help managed to trot and canter the whole way up the beach and back. 

Wow!  What a thrill!

On our third day we went out all day on a fabulous picnic ride.  We splashed through the river, and flew up and down tracks on the hills.  At lunchtime we arrived at the old church where Hugo had delivered a delicious picnic.  After our lunch and a rest for the horses it was back in the saddle for a lovely hack home.  In the evening we visited a local trainer working his Lusitano stallions.  Lovely to watch but I was glad I didn’t have to get on one!

On our fourth day the weather was just perfect, and we set off for a long hack under a bright blue cloudless sky.  We did the Roller Coaster ride which is exactly as it sounds – steep up and even steeper down, but our horses, Jazz, Lily and Perdido took it all in their stride.  We had some exhilarating gallops up the hill tracks and fun splashing through the river.  In the afternoon we had a trip to the local tack shop and a bit of sight seeing.

On our last day we headed out for yet another epic hack, this time to the west of Quinta da Bica.  The track hugged the river for a while before turning away and on up the hill.  We passed old tumbledown buildings and pretty little farms and really enjoyed the beautiful scenery.  A wonderful hack to finish our riding holiday.  Then a bit of sight seeing and off to the airport.

Katharine and Hugo looked after us so well.  The holiday was geared to what we wanted to do in particular.  It is terrific value.  The cost of this fantastic holiday is just £50 per day all inclusive (riding/accommodation/food).  The airfare is extra but there are several budget airlines operating into Faro.

There are many other activities for non riders at QDB including quad biking, mountain biking, walking, kayaking, jeep safaris and fishing. The Quinta Apartment can sleep up to four people (a twin bedded room and a sofa bed in the lounge) and is available from £175 per week self catering.

I can’t wait to go again, if you would like to accompany me please call me on 01926 651931.  Either ring for further information or email Katharine on quintadabica@hotmail.com and please do look at the website www.algarveadventures.com - you won’t regret it!

Ruth Jones

5 May 2009

To View the document for Algarve adventures please click here