TREC

Lately I have been somewhat thoughtful in terms of riding, part of me enjoys it greatly but the other part of me is constantly aware that these horses really don't want to be ridden if they had a choice.

I doubt they get up in the  morning thinking: "Right then, come on, someone saddle me up so I can go out. I want to compete, I want to do high jumps or elegantly move around in a menage."

On the other hand it is very clear that they do enjoy going out, because they can see different scenery. To me the grazing pasture is similar to how we feel about our desk jobs in the office - 'stuck' in there all day long and any chance to get out is taken immediately.

I know that 'Mr F' loves new surroundings, but he'd probably love them even more if he could see them by just being led. Which of course we do quite regularily but the distance we can cover this way is restricted of course.

Sometimes I much prefer to just be with them and observe these horses. Although I don't look much into the future unless its necessairy, nor do I look in the past as that is gone. Yet I do sometimes ponder if I would want another horse once 'Mr F' is no more. And I think I wouldn't, despite the fact that I feel very drawn to these beings. As a rider, I don't think I do them justice, for a start and I wouldn't want a horse if I cannot have it with me where I live so I can check up on it at any time I am at home.

And I am not interested in competing, neither dressage nor show jumping interest me.  Yet I did actually very much enjoy polo. Although we were part of a team, it was just me and the horse, both equally relying on being able to trust each other (see the polo post in May 2016).

But 'Mr F' is too tall and also too advanced in age to start a career of this kind. Although I must say he is perfectly used to me swishing anything from rope to plastic bags to fly swatting leavy branches next to his head while we ride and he doesn't blink an eye! I am sure he'd cope with the polo malet ... 

Hacking out in big groups is also not really my cup of tea as I am not interested in chatting when I ride and often there are riders that don't control their horses.

It is not that I don't like people but I want to concentrate on my horse rather than just being a passenger nor do I want to deal with other horses out of control, I quite often have my hands full with 'Mr F' or at least in the past we have had some quite disasterous rides.

And so, every know and then pondering over the rider - horse relationship, I went to listen to a talk about TREC - Techniques de Radnonnee Equestre de Competition.  

The name gives it away: the origins of TREC are in France and it was introduced to the UK by the BHS (British Horse Society) in 1998.

It is designed to test the skills of both the rider and the horse and consists of 3 separate parts:

- Mounted orienteering

- Demonstration of control over the horse's paces

- Obstacle course

Usually done solo or in pairs. 

 

I must say I really liked the mounted orienteering side of it. 'Mr F' loves to explore and so do I. Perhaps one day I might give this a try. I wonder if I can attach saddle bags to the barefoot pad ... not sure if my map reading skills are up to scratch ... 

The control of the horse's pace is where I would certainly fail as I have not trained this with 'Mr F' other than when hacking out, which isn't quite the same.

But the obstacle course sounds great and I guess that 'Mr F' will probably be quite good in dealing with it all since we have done so many 'silly' games over the years.

I think anyone that likes to work with their horse but doesn't fancy show jumping or dressage but wants to go on adventures, TREC is the thing to do. Or you can organise your own with a group of people. Nothing sounds nicer than to go out into the wilderness, just you and your horse ... :)

For those readers from the UK: here the link to the TREC GB Website.

We shall see. Currently 'Mr F' is a little unsound, 2 days ago he showed some mild lameness although today it was no longer noticable. I will take him out for a ride later today and see how he is doing.