‘ Better than a sack of potatoes’

‘Better than a sack of potatoes’ Backsteppers’s guide Mike Watts

Introduction • Preparation • Event • Dressage – Cones – Marathon • Review

Preparation • Training, practise • Equipment • presentation, axle width • marathon – stopwatches, maps… • understand the scoring & rules

Standing presentation • Spares kit

Dressage Groom • silent, seated • hat, gloves • stay on – 5,10, out..

Cones • silent, seated • hat, gloves • stay on – 5,10, out..

Marathon • get timings ready • know the stopwatch(es) • know routes on sections and obstacles • work with driver on your directions • decide what to do if things go wrong • error of course in an obstacle • horse refuses to go through water • something breaks… • check vehicle and spares • mount maps and timings on vehicle

Sections: • A: any pace, D walk, E any pace [500m – walk/trot] • (may also have B walk and C fast trot) • Minimum time = time allowed less: • A: 2 mins • B/D: no minimum • (C: 1 min) • E: less 3 mins • 0.2 penalty for every second fast • 0.2 penalty for every second slow

Timings • Ready reckoner • Hold ups

Obstacles • ABCD…. or… • whole turnout over line • timing – nose to nose - 0.2pts per sec

Afterwards • Check score • posted… • queries are fine

‘Better than a sack of potatoes’ Have fun, take care, Backsteppers’s guide Mike Watts www.mikewatts.com

‘ Better than a sack of potatoes’