We took a break last week but we are back with a bang with an overview of endurance day! If you have never competed in a classic three day before, read on and have all your questions answered, or hopefully at least most of them!
We
all know that the draw of The Classic is endurance day. The thrill of
the chase is truly exhilarating but there is a lot to consider and
manage other than just galloping and jumping all the things! The morning
of, depending on what time your phase A start time is, you may want to
consider skipping your horse's grain bfast and restricting/slowing hay
consumption. You will also want to have assembled all your items for the
assistance area by steeplechase and the 10 Minute box. Suggested items
for each are...
Assistance Area by Steeplechase - everything can fit in a 5 gallon bucket for easy carrying
- Halter with number and lead (chain or rope halter if necessary)
- Shoe pulling tools
- Hoof pick/Packing/Rubber glove/Diaper/Vet wrap/Duct tape to wrap foot or hoof boot (test fit before competition on unshod foot)
- Water for rider
- Small towel
- Scissors
- Spare reins
- Hole punch
10 Minute Box
- Everything from assistance area by steeplechase
- 2 buckets/2 sponges/2 scrapers filled with cold water (one bucket can be the one used to carry assistance area items) - I suggest getting ice if the weather is warm
- Smaller bucket and dosing syringe to offer water/rinse horses mouth
- Extra set of shoes with studs already in matching what horse is wearing
- Magnetic dish and wrench
- Towel(s) - multiple if the weather is wet
- Cooler for horse if weather is cold/rain sheet if weather is wet
- Chair/Jacket/Water for rider
- Spare gloves for rider if weather is wet
- Spare bell boots
- Tape for boots (if using)
- Different bit/bridle if needed
No
more than an hour before your Phase A start time, you will want to put
your things in the 10 minute box. Advise your helpers that they will
then move these items to the Vet Box after you leave the 10 minute box
for XC (Phase D). You then prepare your horse and yourself as normal for
XC as you would at an event. The difference is that you do not warm up
for Phase A. Phase A IS your warm up. Do not be late for your start time
of A, so arrive (mounted) a few minutes before your start time to walk
around and be ready to go. On Phase A, you will warm up yourself and
your horse by mostly trotting but you should plan on having a little
canter as well.
Plan to arrive at the start of
steeplechase (Phase B) about a minute early so you can take a breath,
refocus, and shorten your stirrups if necessary. There is a 1 minute
break built into the timing but you don't want to risk costly penalties
(1 per second) by being late and this time will be eaten into if you are
late (so don't be late!). Have a helper be here (with your assistance
bucket) to check your shoes before and after Phase B and to assist you
if needed. The end of Phase B IS the start of Phase C, so keep that in
mind (next week we will share some helpful endurance day timing tips).
Phase
C is recovery from Phase B so it is longer than Phase A and you can
walk some to allow your horse to catch their breath. The penalties are
the same as for Phase A (1 per second) so plan on arriving at the 10
minute box about a minute early (again, don't be late!). Arriving
several minutes earlier than this is unnecessary and means you didn't
allow your horse the recovery intended on Phase C. If you arrive late,
you will still have 10 minutes in the 10 minute box and your Phase D
start time (XC) will be adjusted. The 10 minute box is for cooling out
the horse and allowing the rider to regroup and focus on the task at
hand (XC). Next week's timing tips will also include more specific
guidelines on timing in the 10 minute box, but a helpful overview from Max Corcoran can be found here
on the groom/helpers responsibilities in the 10 minute box and vet box.
Most riders like to get on 2-4 minutes before the start of XC to
prevent being late to the start box (again, don't be late!).
As
mentioned above, your helpers should move your 10 minute box items to
the vet box while you are out on XC. After a double clear XC round (as I
know everyone will have), you will arrive at the vet box and cool out
your horse. Max also goes over this process in the aforementioned
article but you can also find helpful tips here.
Another great reference article
on an overview of the day is this one by Cindy Collier Rawson. The
second part of the article specifically covers endurance day.
We
hope you found this post helpful and next week we will share those
timing tips from the great Chris Donovan to ensure you have a successful
endurance day! Please comment with any questions or if you would like
any other topics covered as we count down to The Classic!
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