09/06/2025
English TREC Championships
Where to start?!
Well, I’m going to start by saying that I am not looking for advice, I’m just giving you my report, I’ve already spoken to a professional and have some plans.
Last weekend I was super proud of us both and really happy with the young horse I was bringing on (still am, so this isn’t a negative post, its just the reality of a youngster), this weekend. Wow. What a difference!
Day 1 – POR
Absolutely stunning ride with views for miles and some fabulous canter tracks, clambering up mountains and winding our way through some very low branches!!
First TREC outing this year and first one with Caz and I as a team again for a couple of years, we were a bit rusty and made some silly errors.
One we absolutely knew about but we had reached our “I’m fed up riding now” point so chose not to re-trace our steps to correct ourselves. Maybe we should have, but it didn’t change the outcome so who cares!
Day 2 – MA and PTV
Started with a walk up Roseberry Topping to take in more of the views and to set us up for the day as we weren’t on until late morning.
We discussed how to deal with both horses going to the MA/PTV course as it was at least 1km away from the corralling field, I didn’t think I’d get Flixy to go on her own so thought heading up together would work best.
We got there are it was quite exposed and windy, Flix didn’t like the whirling/whistling noise my tabard was making but got over that reasonably well once I figured out why she kept trying to turn around. Caz and I tried to separate a wee bit to warm up but Flix wanted to keep Annie in sight so it was really hard. I stood next to another horse and Flix did settle a bit.
Annie headed off to do her MA and Flix was content to watch, I decided to wait until Annie had gone to the PTV before trying to warm up (didn’t really need it too much after a hack to the competition field). Flix started to get more anxious as Annie left and I tried to calm her by getting her to walk around and just chatting to her. She wasn’t very receptive and started doing a couple of small broncs and rears. We were on a steep hill and it was slippy, so mindful of the big rear she did on Thursday evening I decided to get off. Shortly after I dismounted Flix just lost it and got away from me despite my best efforts to hang on.
I have never shouted “LOOSE HORSE” so loud in all my life.
She set off down this steep hill, through a pile of rocks until she got to Annie.
Caz obviously heard me shouting and had jumped off Annie ready to catch Flix. Flix was superbly balanced and despite galloping flat out down a steep, slippy slope, came to a perfect halt in front of Annie.
After speaking to the TD about some options, I got back on. Flix lined up beautifully next to the rocks she had just galloped through and we went to the MA together with Annie.
I was very kindly allowed a lead into the corridor as Flix was not for going past the timers etc. We got into the corridor and successfully trotted 75 m (the length of the corridor) away from Annie and then turned to walk calmly back.
At this point I thought maybe we were sorted and Flix would settle, on the walked down Caz and I talked about the options for the PTV (it was a winding course in a single field). I thought maybe Flix would be better going away from Annie rather than being left behind again so I asked if I could go first.
After another competitor gave me a lead into the start Flix and I set off. I told her it was just like an XC course and she would enjoy it once we got started….
Obstacle 1 was a foot bridge which she actually did beautifully (and scored 10/10 for). At this point I really did think we were going to be fine, onto obstacle 2 which was just a simple ride up. We got to the flags then something distracted her and that was it, I’d lost her concentration (the little she had) and she just shut down and I couldn’t got forwards, backwards, sideways or anything (not even upwards!).
It was Caz’s turn to go so after I managed to get out the field I got off to hold Flixy while Annie went round.
Unfortunately this was just too much for Flix to deal with and she’d veer between standing watching Annie intently to exploding. Pawing the ground, rearing full height, striking out, broncing and trying to get away. I knew I had to hang onto her no matter what as it would have been dangerous if she had got away from me.
It was scary.
Caz was checking back on us as she went round but of course Sod’s law says she only looked over when Flix was watching Annie and never when she was throwing herself around.
Eventually Caz returned, asking me if I was alright, to which I shouted “NO!” and Flix took a big sigh of relief that her pal was back. She was just completely and utterly mentally overwhelmed and couldn’t focus on anything at that time and was just in a blind panic.
We walked back to the track where I got back on and headed back to the corralling field where the horses happily settled back down!
What a bloody rollercoaster!
I know that people are bound to ask so here are some of the thoughts I’ve considered for why she was unable to control herself:
1. She was in season
2. She was getting hard feed during the competition
3. The field was very windy and exposed and several others had similarly wild horses
4. She travelled and corralled with Annie
5. She is turning 6
My priority is to help her learn that feeling anxious etc like that is ok, but exploding/showing her emotion like that is not.
I am going to try the following (in no particular order):
1. Taking the lead/leaving Annie on a hack and meeting back up with her after a short distance
2. Corralling separating at a comp
3. No hard feed
4. Acoustic ears
5. Groundwork
6. Going to a TREC comp herself
7. Going with Annie to a dressage or low adrenaline type comp and see how we do (she's been fine in the past)
