A rider who took a national TREC title on her 28-year-old New Forest pony urged others “don’t rule the oldies out!”

Mary Weston was referring to her mare Cape Clear Casey with whom she took the level 2A individual class, one of a number of veterans to be victorious at the 2022 championships, and Mary herself was 75 when she took her victory. There are three phases to a TREC competition: orienteering, control of paces and obstacles. The combination, or pair in a pairs class, with the most points is the winner.

Mary’s first pony was also a New Forest – “My mother, bless her, bought a four-year-old and taught me to ride and backed the pony at the same time,” – and she has been competing in TREC since 1999. She bought Casey seven years ago, after she lost her Welsh cob Jack.

“Both my daughters thought I was crazy as she was 21 and 13.2hh; they thought I was on the rebound from Jack, but it turned out to be a wonderful decision,” Mary told H&H. “She’s lovely, and a real pocket rocket. She loves hunting – or did until I decided it was too fast for me and I couldn’t cope any more – and is just a very nice person. She took to TREC like a duck to water.”

Mary and Casey headed to the TREC GB National Championships at Higher Counthill Farm, Oldham, (13-14 August) after what had not been their most successful season.

“I did five competitions before it this year and got lost in three of them!” Mary said. “So I’d said the national would be our swansong, and no one was more surprised than me at the end of the orienteering to find I was in the lead by some margin.”

The second day involved the control of paces test – a “corridor” 150cm wide and 150m long, along which Mary and Casey had to canter as slowly as possibly and walk as fast as possible – followed by 16 obstacles including bending posts, a bank, a ditch and a maze of poles. Points are lost for touching poles in the maze, for example, and awarded for completing that obstacle at trot rather than walk. And when the two days’ scored were finalised, Mary and Casey came out on top.

“TREC is about the bond between yourself and your horse; you can’t buy a made TREC horse,” Mary said. “The horse has to trust you and understand what you’re asking, and it’s very much a test of rideablity.

“That was my individual swansong, although I’ll still do pairs,” said Mary. “She’s earned her stripes.

“TREC is a lovely sport and you go to some glorious places but I need the safety of someone else with me so I don’t get lost!”

Casey will now have an easier winter, Mary said, adding that her win, as well as the fact the level four national championship went to 23-year-old Bradley, with Jackie Bennet, and one of the level two pairs winners was Judy Clarke on Rusty, aged 26, shows that veterans still have a huge amount to offer.

“Don’t rule the oldies out!” she said.

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TREC (which stands for Techniques de Randonée Equestre de Compétition) is a multi-discipline sport which originated in France. It began as a test of the skills required by French equestrian trek guides and grew into a competitive sport, which has now become very popular in the UK. It’s designed to improve the partnership between you and your horse, as well as teaching practical skills.

A full TREC competition consists of three stages, generally run over one or more days. The stages are:

POR (Parcours d’Orientation et de Régularité), which roughly translates as ‘test of orienteering and regulating gaits’). This involves orienteering over a set route at a set pace, navigating by an OS map and compass. To make sure that competitors haven’t gone off track and are maintaining a regular speed, several surprise checkpoints are positioned around the course.

MA (Maîtresse des Allures), which translates to control of paces (COP). Here, you’ll ride a corridor of a set length and width, going out at as slow a canter as possible and back at as fast a walk as you can. This is designed to test your horse’s training in his natural gaits and grew from the trail rider’s occasional need to leave a ride to perhaps go for help and then return to it without causing mass disruption.

PTV (Parcours en Terrain Varié) or ‘test over varied ground’ phase involves tackling a series of obstacles, designed to be or simulate natural hazards that you might find out riding in the open countryside. These can include anything from water and bridges to gates and mounting from the right hand side. If you have an inexperienced or young horse, you can choose not to complete certain obstacles in return for receiving zero points on them.

There are also arena competitions available which normally include the PTV and MA phases only.

There are four main levels of competition, with the difficulty levels rising with each one.

Gina King is an international TREC judge and trainer of international judges as well as a TREC GB national judge and approved judge trainer. She first became involved with the sport while living in France, and despite having no idea what to expect soon became “seriously hooked”. On her return to the UK, she set about helping to popularise the sport with taster days and TREC training while still competing herself.

“If you’re thinking of trying TREC, I’d say go for it. I doubt you can find a better all-round challenge and certainly not one that will be anything like as much fun!” she says. “There are so many ways you can get started — there’s something to suit everyone, from TREC tasters or training and arena TREC all the way through to full affiliated competitions where you could enter with a friend in the pairs class.

“For the rider, TREC encompasses many aspects of horsemanship, encouraging tactical riding and awareness of your environment. You gain experience from riding different areas and varied terrain, developing practical skills that enable you to negotiate the countryside safely, and it all helps to build a much closer bond with your horse. You both gain mutual respect as you work together developing skills that are easily transferred into other fields of equitation. I haven’t yet met a horse that hasn’t appeared to enjoy it. They seem to thrive on the challenges, and I think they really appreciate the diversity and variety involved.

“As a sport, it’s very inclusive. For any training or arena events you probably won’t need any special equipment as you can just use appropriate riding clothes and tack for hacking safely. To compete in a full competition you will need some compulsory items, for example a headcollar and rope, emergency ID, first aid kit for both horse and human, whistle and a mobile phone. A full list of compulsory and recommended items can be found in the TREC GB rule book available to download on their website. Don’t forget your reading glasses! You will need also highlighter pens to copy down the route, ideally a really thin gel nib so you don’t miss any detail.”

Gina recommends practising at home by making use of any natural obstacles you find out hacking, working on your horse’s walk and canter paces and practising orienteering.

To find events in your area, take a look at the TREC GB events diary, your regional BHS event page or local riding club websites.

For all the latest equestrian news and reports, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday

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Summer isn’t just about competing, competing, competing. Whatever your budget, there are loads of other things you can do with your horse to make the most of the long, balmy days…

1. Sign up for a camp

Many local riding clubs run residential camps where members can spend two or three days with their horses, having lessons and having fun, with none of the distractions of everyday life. Check out your local Riding Club website for more information.

2. Take your horse on holiday

If you can never quite relax on that week on a Spanish beach because you’re missing your beastie so much, then why not take him with you? Not to Spain, perhaps, but there are loads of places in the UK where you can holiday with your horse. The BHS website has a list of approved equine B&Bs — visit www.bhs.org.uk to find out more.

3. Ride on the beach

If you’re one of those people who’ll be ticking a point off the bucket list by riding on the beach, then why not make that dream come true this summer? Not all beaches are horse-friendly, so check the list on the BHS website, as well as their guide to safe beach riding, before you set out. www.bhs.org.uk.

4. Give TREC a try

Whether you’d like to compete in this discipline, or just enjoy exploring the countryside with your trusty steed, TREC (orienteering on horseback) sounds like an excellent way of whiling away the summer months. There are lots of TREC events taking place — just don’t forget your water bottle and map. Visit www.trecgb.com to find out what’s happening near you.

5. Do a sponsored ride

Summer is sponsored ride season, and what could be better than having a fabulous ride on your horse, possibly over a course of optional jumps, while also raising money for charity? Double win. You can find details of sponsored rides and fun rides taking place across the UK on www.ridingdiary.co.uk.

6. Box him somewhere new for a hack

Do you know your local hacking routes like the back of your hand — or hoof? Time to venture further afield. You can find details of great hacking routes on www.bridleways.co.uk. If you’re boxing any distance, it may well be worth teaming up with a friend to share costs and have a companion to ride with.

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7. Do a pub ride

Many country landlords are happy for riders to tie up outside their pub to enjoy a refreshing drink — it’s a good idea to ring first and check before you ride over, though. And take it easy — you need to remain in control when riding, so it’s not a good idea to drink and ride…

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A coloured mare who was rescued as an emaciated three-year-old (pictured below right) is now competing at international level TREC.

Jigsaw and Lynne Mabbitt were in the GB TREC team at the European Open Championships in Italy earlier this month (5-7 September).

The 15.3hh coloured mare was found starving by the RSPCA in 2003 when she was three-years-old, with a yearling foal still suckling.

The foal was weaned and recovered but was put down after contracting grass sickness.

Jigsaw was covered in lice, had diarrhoea, internal parasites and a vulval infection, but she made a full recovery.

She was rehomed with Lynne Mabbitt as an unbroken four-year-old in 2004.

“Despite her background Jigsaw has always been a confident little horse and is a pleasure to handle and to ride,” said Lynne.

“The sport of TREC has seen us on a long mutual journey competing all over the UK countryside. Taking Jigsaw to compete in Italy has been a delight and a privilege,” she added.

The GB team came eighth in Italy and Lynne was also 33rd in the individual rankings.

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With an emphasis on horsemanship rather than horse power, TREC offers riders an interesting but relatively safe competitive challenge.

How did it all begin?

TREC originated in France, where it developed as a means of testing and improving the skills of trail ride leaders in the equestrian tourism industry.

It was introduced to the UK in the 1990s and remains a sport based on the skills required for hacking.

What is TREC?

The 3-phase sport tests rider navigation and the horse’s ability to tackle different terrain and natural obstacles, without undue demands on either bravery or bank balance.

“You can be as competitive as you like,” says Amanda Marfleet of TREC GB. “It’s a sport in which you have to use

your head — it’s really a mind game.”

How does it work?

There are 4 competitive levels in TREC, from the easy and encouraging mini TRECs to the more demanding events at international level.

The 1st phase is orienteering on horseback (POR), where riders follow a route on a map at

speeds predetermined by the organisers.

“It’s nothing like as fast as an endurance ride,” says Amanda, explaining that at level 2 you’ll cover up to 20kms in around 2-3hrs, with some trot and the occasional canter.

“You’ll need a stopwatch and basic map reading skills.”

The timed control of paces (CoP) phase calls for solid flat work foundations, as competitors must canter as slowly as possible along a narrow track before returning at the fastest possible walk.

Finally, an obstacle section (PTV) recreates natural hazards you might encounter out hacking — such as a gate, steps up, a river crossing or a jump. All obstacles are optional, but you’ll lose points for missing one.

“You get the chance to ride around some lovely places,” says Amanda. “And you’ll learn by your mistakes. It’s easy to make progress.”

What sort of horse do you need?

TREC does not require a particularly athletic or well-bred horse. Retired show hunters, retrained racehorses and native ponies compete side by side.

“You can ride any kind of horse, provided he’s well educated and fairly brave,” says Amanda. “Something sensible is good.

“You may have to stand to do a gate or canter into a checkpoint, or, if you’re lost, maybe ‘bush bashing’ or riding chest high in bracken.”

What are the benefits of TREC?

As you can compete individually or in pairs, TREC can be a confidence-builder for both horse and rider.

Trainer Kelly Marks of Intelligent Horsemanship believes a TREC competition can be a good early outing. “I have a nice young horse who I think will make an eventer,” she says.

“I welcome every chance to get him out and about, so a low-key event like this is ideal.

“If you buy a horse that’s done TREC, the chances are he’ll be pretty well rounded.”

The competitions

Summer TREC competitions are usually run over 2 days.

“They’re extremely good value at around £45-60 for the whole weekend,” says Amanda, adding that there’s a small extra charge to “corral” your horse overnight.

“In winter, when we run the CoP and obstacle sections indoors, entry fees are £10-15 per class.

“You can compete abroad from level 2, choosing your own event, or you could try for the national team at level

4.”

What should you wear?

There’s no dress code for TREC, but most competitors prefer short boots and chaps. An appropriate safety helmet is a must, as is ID for both horse and rider.

Hi-viz and reflective gear is required for the POR phase. Riders must also carry equipment, including a compass, a whistle, a torch and waterproofs.

A body protector is compulsory for the PTV phase.

Find out more

There’s a good UK spread of TREC groups, so finding somewhere local to start shouldn’t be too difficult.

The BHS website (www.bhs.org.uk) lists plenty of information for beginners, along with details of the new £20 riders’ licence required for affiliated competition.

In October, the BHS will hand over the administration of the sport to TREC GB.

Find out more at www.trecgb.com

Find out how in-hand showing works

This article was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (19 June 2014)

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Now that the spring season has begun, why not try driven TREC? It’s a fantastic way to get to see new countryside and has the advantage that you drive routes that have been safety assessed and are stewarded. Your assistant on the carriage also has a full role and there’s a real sense of achievement when you complete the event.

TREC events take place in most regions. Here in Wales we have developed a Welsh TREC Championships which provides structure and means every area puts on a least 1 TREC, although of course they can do as many as they wish which don’t have the qualifiers for the first 3 placed entries.

There is an agreed mark scheme for the 3 phases of TREC, with the weighting on orienteering the route and completing the drive within a time window that relates to the size of your equine, so small ponies have a more generous allowance than horses. Times are not tight and allow for periods of walk in the trot work. It is up to the driver to consider the terrain and choose when to move forward faster.

Driving being sociable there is plenty of opportunity to chat about the beautiful scenery, even while the groom is map reading the route!

The welfare of the horse is a prime consideration in all 3 phases. The 1st phase is to harness up and put to while being assessed for safe practice. Correctly fitting harness and carriage are essential and the cleanliness of the equine and tack is checked to ensure there won’t be rubs — and the horse has to be sound with good hoof care to take part.

The drive is monitored and horses are expected to return from it happy, with lots of energy in the tank to do some fun skills. Hi viz for all — the driver, groom, horse and carriage (Janice Sidebottom and Paddy pictured right) — is integral to the competition, with a large proportion of the 1st phase “presentation” marks.

Taking part in a TREC event is actually a great way of checking you and your turnout are as safe as possible when driving out, especially when on the roads, because of the checks done beforehand and the emphasis on carrying really useful spares to cope with possible issues, such a stone in a hoof or broken piece of tack. It’s also expected that you carry a basic first aid kit for human and equine use as well as mobile phone for emergencies!

The skills section is much enjoyed — and again marks are awarded, with the high marks only achievable if the tasks are completed with harmony between driver, groom and equine. If the horse shows resistance or the driver or groom impatience then the marks reflect this. But there is always the option to miss out a task completely if you don’t mind forfeiting the marks for it. This means no horse or human need to be overfaced!

Tasks are chosen that show the driver’s skill in steering and changing pace, the horse’s obedience and trust in its driver and groom, and the good communication of all 3 together.

The groom is fully involved in many of the tasks, which often involve a bit of fun and ingenuity. Mr J and I are pictured above left at a TREC task testing smooth driving — the groom had to avoid dropping the egg off the spoon.

For example, pegging out washing on a line tests the horse is bold and unfazed by flapping objects, yet will stand still for periods of time, that the driver can steer accurately and hold the carriage still, and the groom can be methodical and efficient. All 3 need to be communicating effectively to manage the task calmly and efficiently. It’s also great fun to watch and to do!

Skills are also assessed as part of the course, for example negotiating a gateway between fields or going through a ford (Sian Burrows, above right).

There is also a cones course to drive and in Wales this is done without breaking pace to achieve full marks.

As people complete the last section socialising gets underway, with horses resting with their haynets and humans sharing refreshments. Finally there is a presentation with rosettes for both driver and groom (competitors at Langorse Lake pictured above left) to commemorate a fantastic, interesting day out in the countryside!

For those in Wales who qualify there is a TREC Championship in the autumn, which this year will be held over a weekend at the wonderful Pembrey Country Park, with extra beach driving opportunities.

If you haven’t already tried TREC I would wholeheartedly recommend it.

Emily 

All Emily’s H&H blogs

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TREC is heading for its biggest change since being introduced to the UK in 1998. The British Horse Society (BHS) has announced it will not support the discipline after this season.

A review found that TREC — a 3-phase competitive sport — required the BHS to make “a significant investment” each year, as its governing body.

The BHS’ Lynn Petersen said: “We have decided to focus all our resources on our charitable aims of education, access, safety and welfare.”

The board voted TREC unanimously as “an unsustainable and inappropriate use of funds”. Only 580 riders competed affiliated last year, but the unaffiliated sector seems to be thriving.

Although the BHS has been synonymous with TREC, there is hope for an independent future. Several competitors, organisers and judges formed TREC GB last year due to concerns that the BHS was not in a position to develop the sport.

TREC GB is still in its formative months, but its vision is “to run the sport via a democratically elected committee drawn from the TREC clubs”. A formal handover will be discussed with the BHS this month.

“We expect TREC to continue and blossom as a sport for those wishing to develop a ‘partnership’ with their horse,” said Mary Weston of the TREC GB steering committee.

This article was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (27 February 2014)

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Next year’s British Horse Society (BHS) TREC Championship of Great Britain will be held in the Dartmoor National Park on 3-4 September 2011.

The championship venue, Holwell Lawn, Widecombe in the Moor, is situated against the backdrop of Hay Tor, in the heart of the national park.

The championship will offer classes for level 2 and 3 individuals and pairs, and level 4 individuals.

The level 3 and 4 competitors can expect challenging POR (orienteering) routes, including work at higher altitude with steep climbs and descents, while the PTV (cross-country trial) will run over a cross-country course and will include natural obstacles such as water, inclines and woodland.

BHS senior executive Sarah Phillips said: “We are delighted that the 2011 BHS TREC Championship will be held at such an established venue as Holwell Lawn and we are looking forward to welcoming the TREC community to the championship.”

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The sport of TREC will receive its biggest showcase to date — in a Pro-Am Challenge at the Royal Windsor Horse Show next month.

Olympic dressage rider Laura Bechtolsheimer and Intelligent Horsemanship founder Kelly Marks will go head to head leading a team of professional and amateur riders at the SEIB British Horse Society (BHS) TREC Pro-Am Challenge at Royal Windsor on 16 May.

TREC originated in France as a mixture of orienteering, long-distance riding, obstacles and control of pacing.

During the event at Windsor, competitors will take part in obstacle courses and pacing tests that will mirror the kind of things they would encounter while out hacking — such as small jumps, crossing a bridge, negotiating an S-bend, and timed cantering and walking.

Top riders from each of the disciplines — show jumping, dressage and eventing — will compete against paralympians, riders from the Army, two team members from the new BHS TREC Pro-Am Challenge.

Laura Bechtolsheimer has already signed up for the pro-team, with Ms Marks on the amateur side. Anna Weston and Anthea Kendrick will be the two GB TREC members showing everyone how it is done.

Royal Windsor Horse Show takes place from 13-17 May. The SEIB BHS TREC Pro-Am Challenge takes place in the brand new BHS Frogmore Arena on Saturday, 16 May at 5.55pm.

For more information, call 0870 143 2208 or 01753 743907, or visit www.rwhs.co.uk.

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British riders put in a solid performance at the World TREC Championships at Lamotte Beuvron in France to secure fifth position in the team competition.

Fourteen nations entered, including the French who achieved an impressive win on home soil. As the creators of TREC, the French put on a tough competition true to the origins of the sport.

The British team comprised Anthea Kendrick, who finished best of the Brits in 14th place, former world champion David Hay-Thorburn, who finished 28th, 2006 European bronze medallist Hilary Barnard, 35th, and 2007 British Champion Anna Weston, who would have finished 13th but was ruled out by the vet.

Britain also fielded two individual riders. International debutante Daniel Nolan put in a promising performance to finish 26th, with Paul Turner 32nd.

Britain had two representatives in the Young Riders European TREC Championships, held at the same time and venue as the seniors.

Julia Knight-Jones, 20, who was part of the bronze medal-winning young rider team in 2006, finished 26th, while Anne Bolton was vetted out. Anne, 17, had put on a very impressive performance in the POR on her international debut when her horse tripped between the finish and the vet check and trotted up lame.

Chef d’equipe Rob Jones said: “You can’t help but feel a little bit of ‘what could have been’ when you have the misfortune of having horses vetted out. However, there were some really promising performances.”

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Anna Weston and Cathelyd Black Boy (Jack) tackling the PTV course at the After Dark TREC competition in Lincolnshire on 23 June. Anna was a member of the GB team at the European TREC Championships on Exmoor in 2006.

Do you have any “hat-cam” competition footage that you would like featured on the H&H website? Please email carol_phillips@ipcmedia.com

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A duo from Carmarthenshire celebrated their second win on the bounce at the BHS TREC Welsh Championships last weekend (16-17 June).

Theresa Nazer and Pauline Crossland, both from Carmarthenshire, scored a decisive victory in the Level 2 pairs category to take the competition for the second year in a row.

The Pembrokeshire event, which was sponsored by Chevron, attracted almost 100 competitors from all over the country. There were a record number of entries for Level 2, with Nottinghamshire-based Rachael Wilmot and her Fell pony Grindle taking the individual title.

Helen Weston and Sarah Thurnell (pictured right) took the Level 3 pairs class, meaning that Helen now holds all four TREC championship titles.

Deborah Swan from Hampshire notched up her first championship when taking the Level 4 class for the most advanced competitors. Deborah and her ride Urban Legend picked up a bronze medal at the European TREC Championships last September.

TREC is a competition that is designed to test rider and horse combinations through a range of activities, including orienteering, control of paces and a cross-country course.

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British riders scored one gold and two bronze medals at the TREC European Championships at the weekend. Young rider Kate Ellison, 20, scored an individual gold medal while the young rider team took bronze. Not to be shown up by the younger riders, Britain’s senior team also scored a bronze medal, with France winning gold.

In fact France swept the board at the Exmoor-based championships. Not only did the French senior team score gold, but so did the young riders: senior team member Pierre Guillaume took individual gold with compatriot Nadia Fontaine winning the silver medal.

The 42 kilometre course was demanding and required plenty of stamina. “As befits a European championship, the course was technically difficult and arduous and a number of competitors found it more challenging than they could manage,” said Rob Jones, TREC national organiser.

At 7.10pm 40 competitors were still negotiating the final phases of the course and officials took the decision to stop the competition at 25 kilometres. All competitors went into the second day with only the penalties up to the 25 kilometre mark, including those who had already completed.

Gold medal winning young rider Kate Ellison, who is just 20, partnered Spice of Life in the championships. Ellison’s performance helped boast the team up the leaderboard, but good performances from Kathryn Bean (Danny), Helen Paine (Flossi) and Julia Knight-Jones (Fleetmeed Ross) secured the bronze medal.

The bronze medal-winning senior team consisted of Hilary Barnard (Rhinefield Impulse), Caroline Brammer (Rhubon), Deborah Swann (Urban Legend) and Paul Turner (Magic).

Austria went home with senior team silver and individual bronze, while Portugal earned young rider team silver and individual bronze.

For full results, visit www.equinetourism.co.uk or www.eurotrec.com.

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Britain’s squad for the 2006 TREC European Championships has been announced. The Championships will take place on Exmoor (15 September to 17 Septermber) at East Luccombe Farm near Minehead. A total of 12 seniors and four young riders will be representing Britain in the first international TREC event to be held in this country.

TREC (Technique De Randonnée Equestré De Competition) is the newest international discipline in the horse world and was developed to encourage riders to school their horses to meet the demands of riding over rough terrain.

The competition is held across two days, the first of which involves navigating a course of up to 45kms working from a precise route, aerial photographs or using a compass. On day two, riders demonstrate their control of their horse’s paces over a set distance, before negotiating a course of natural hazards and simple obstacles.

Ninety-two riders will be competing from Europe with a line-up of Canadian and American entries in the open class. Britain’s selectors have named Kathryn Bean, Kate Ellison, Helen Paine and Julia Knight-Jones as the young rider team. Britain’s senior squad is as follows:

• Hilary Barnard
• Caroline Brammer
• Julian Brown
• Jennie Free
• David Hay-Thorburn
• Lorna Holden
• Madeleine Jacob
• Anthea Kendrick
• Deborah Swann
• Paul Turner
• Vanessa Warren
• Anna Weston

Reserves are Alison Elmer and Lynne Mabbitt.

The opening ceremony will be held at Dunster Castle on 15 September and all other events will start and finish, or be held in their entirety, at East Luccombe Farm.

The Championships are being organised by a local committee on behalf of the British Horse Society. For more information, visit www.equinetourism.co.uk and www.eurotrec.com.

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TREC selectors are scouring the country to find new Young Rider talent in a bid to field a team plus individuals in this summer’s European Championships.

Although they have assembled a long list of 28 seniors, so far they have found only five Young Riders, aged 21 and under. As host nation, Britain is entitled to enter one team and eight individuals in both the senior and Young Rider categories, all of whom will be eligible to carry the national flag on their jackets and saddle cloths.

TREC is a three-phase test of horse and rider versatility. A test of orienteering skills is followed by control of the horse’s paces in walk and canter, with the final phase similar to a cross country course, negotiating the kind of obstacles a rider could meet when riding across unfamiliar country.

National TREC organiser, Rob Jones of the British Horse Society, said: “There are many young people competing in TREC competitions or who ride well and have orienteering skills from their Duke of Edinburgh scheme studies, who could be well qualified for the upper grades of this sport.

“The selectors are of the opinion that there are many who are capable but lack the confidence to push themselves into a higher grade or even to tackle TREC itself. This is an ideal opportunity for them to advance in a sport, and at the same time gain experience of international competition.”

The European Championships, which is expected to attract competitors from at

least 10 countries, will be held on Exmoor on 15 to 17 September.

BSJA recognises young talent

Sophie Tobin, 25, has been voted The British Show Jumping Association’s show jumper of the month for January 2006.

Sophie from Flore, Northampton won the Ladies Grand Prix in Nantes with Orion II and was placed third with Unicento. She also finished third in the Ladies Speed class and second in the Ladies Accumulator at the same show. The judges felt that Sophie had excelled at the Nantes Show and was a deserving winner of the monthly award.

Sophie was presented with her award, a Charles Owen hat voucher, Taittinger Champaigne, an engraved crystal bowl, a leather head collar and a Show Jumper of the Month rug by Tim Stockdale.

Careers in racing

The British Horseracing Board has introduced a new section to its website — www.britishhorseracing.com — designed to offer advice to young people looking for career opportunities within British Racing. The Careers in Racing section includes a “virtual careers advisor”, a breakdown of different career options and details of the training courses available. Visit: www.britishhorseracing.com/careersinracing/

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A longlist of 28 riders has been announced in preparation for the TREC European Championships (15-17 September 2006). Selectors will spend the following months choosing the British team of four and eight individuals to compete for medals. “This could be our year for team Gold,” says the British Horse Society (BHS).

The shortlist will be named in July before the final team and individuals are named prior to the Championships, to be held at East Luccombe on Exmoor in September. National TREC organiser Rob Jones said: “This is a fast-growing sport and the BHS is enthusiastic about staging a European event. We chose Exmoor because it is an area of outstanding natural beauty with a strong equestrian base.”

Helen Weston, from Kettering, Northamptonshire and her mother, Mary, of Tur Langton, Leicestershire are among those longlisted. Past team members David Hay-Thorburn, from Argyll and Hilary Barnard from Bristol have also been selected.

Shrewsbury’s Caroline Brammer, Jennie Free and Deborah Swan, both from Hampshire, Anthea Kendrick from Cumbria and Paul Turner of Powys, are all included on the list, which was announced by BHS national organiser Rob Jones.

Championships for Young Riders aged under 21 will be held at the same time. So far only five have so far been named as “possibles” for team and individual places – Kathryn Bean, from Yorkshire; 2003 individual title holder Kate Ellison, Ayrshire; Helen Paine, Pembrokeshire; Gabby Rowley-Conwy, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and previous team member Alex Wells, Nottinghamshire.

Fifteen member-nations of the international governing body FITE (Federation Internationale de Tourisme Equestre) are eligible to compete at the Championships, and so far nine have indicated they will be there, together with invited – but not competitors in the championships – riders from the United States and Canada.

TREC (Technique De Randonnée Equestré De Competition) is the newest international discipline in the horse world and was developed to encourage riders to school their horses to meet the demands of riding over rough terrain.

The competition is held across two days, the first of which involves navigating a course of up to 45kms working from a precise route, aerial photographs or using a compass. On day two, riders demonstrate their control of their horse’s paces over a set distance, before negotiating a course of natural hazards and simple, cross-country obstacles similar to those they might encounter on a long hack.

According to Jones, British competitors are taking the challenge seriously, and a national team has a good chance of clinching a medal on home ground next September.

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The sport of TREC (Techniques de Randonne Equestrian de Competition) tests a horse and rider’s ability to find their way across country using a map, while coping with obstacles and terrain that might be encountered on route.

This friendly sport, which is overseen by the British Horse Society, has been popular on the continent for more than 25 years, but has only recently reached our shores.

Competitions are made up of three phases which take place over two days. It is suitable for the vast majority of leisure riders.

Understanding the phases

Phase one, POR, is the Optimum Speed and Orienteering Course which takes place on day one. This is the ridden orienteering part of the competition. You have to follow a given route at an optimum speed. Along the route will be checkpoints.

• Points are given for how close you are to the optimum time when you complete the course.Phase two, CG, is the Control of Gaits which takes place first on day two. Along a track 2m wide and up to 150m long you must canter as slowly as possible. You then walk back along the route as quickly as possible.
• Points will be awarded for how slowly you can canter and how fast you can walk without breaking pace.Phase three, PTV, the Cross-Country Riding Course is the last section and takes place on day two. This is a timed course of 16 obstacles ranging from the ordinary, such as jumping a log or crossinga stream to the more unusual, such as crossing a foot bridge or riding under artificial low branches.
• Points are awarded for completing each obstacle and for style. Riders can miss out obstacles that they do not wish to attempt. They will not be eliminated for this, they just score zero points for that obstacle.Levels of competitionThere are four levels of competition ranging from level one, for those new to the discipline, to level four, which is approachingworld championship status.At level one the orienteering phase is up to 12 kilometres in length and the jumps in the obstacle section are a maximum height of 2ft. Riders can miss out any obstacles they choose.The competition is suitable for children as well as adults and can be ridden in pairs or even on the lead rein at levels one and two.Finding the right horseThe ideal horse for TREC is a laid-back riding club type which is obliging and easy to control. Native or cob types are ideal for the lower levels of competition. Temperament is much more important than breeding or type as the horse needs to remain calm throughout the two days.For further information on TREC contact Rob Jones at the BHS (tel: 01308 861149) or visit the BHS website at www.bhs.org.uk.

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