The TREC event

The TREC event went very well yesterday, despite what little I had trained with Giga, I'm simply so happy and proud of her. The first two parts, i.e., orientation ride and control of gaits went really good. It was mostly the last part with all the obstacles that didn't go so well. Among other things, to open a gate and to jump over a hedge (which btw. was not a hedge but a fence with two branches on), didn't really go that well. I couldn't get close to the gate, because she was not interested in standing still and she ran around the hedge!

However, I got many points for my style, which is mainly my horsemanship, which is pretty nice.

I have not yet received photos from the event, but I opload as soon as I get some.

What is TREC?

TREC is a fun and challenging activity for all riders and horses who enjoy riding in the nature. TREC is a test between horse and ride in how to communicate and collaborate well as a team.
It offers horseback riding in a varied terrain with natural obstacles and passages.



TREC consists of three tasks:

- The first task is a orientation ride, where the riders get a route marked in a certain speed. It's not about riding fast, but finding a ideal time to get past the finish line.

- The second task is the control of gaits. Here, one obtains the most points, you have to show a slow controlled canter (trot or tölt is also an option) and a forward energetically walk.  Here it is important to keep the horse at a steady pace.

- The third is a terrain ride with small manageable natural obstacles. The obstacles can be natural or constructed. Obstacles may include a jump over a log, open a door, riding up and down hills and so on. It's a bit similar to Western Trail, just more biased at what you encounter in the nature.


Each sample is evaluated by a judge.

Exciting day tomorrow!

It's tomorrow we're going to the TREC event. I have absolutely no high expectations when I literally haven't been practicing. I've had so many late days at work, so my energy has not been available to a lot of training with Giga. But I take the event as an experience and more a pleasant day in the company of my friends and many other great people and their horses.

However, I of course hope Giga behave exemplary. I'm looking forward to tomorrow, although I'm quite destroyed after a long weekend of hard work.

A very naked horse

After work, I threw myself into a big project - That was, to cut Gigas ENTIRE body. She needs to look nice on Sunday, at the TREC event. Plus she sweats a lot with that long coat she had.

It took about 1.5 hours. And now I have a very naked but beautiful and very clean horse. Fortunately, Giga is very easy to cut, she stands still and enjoys it despite the noise.

Go Away Spray

I purchased a product which, according the danish Irish Cob society should be a wonder product against sweet itch, lice, mites and many other things. Especially Giga is often affected by sweet itch. I have struggled with it since I got her and I've almost tried all various products the veterinarians have recommended.

But now I'll try this spray. It's been talked a lot about on various social medias. It's called "Försvinn Spray", (Go away spray) and it's a natural product , which of course is just even better!

I'm lookingforward to see if it works. Many apparently has great success with it.



Here is the link to their website: http://www.skogsapoteket.se/forsvinn-spray-p-20.html
I can recommend it so far in terms of price and customer service. I ordered it late one night and received it about 1.5 days after despite it being sent to Denmark from Sweden. And the price is extremely affordable.

The gate to Paradise is open

Almost literally has the gate to the horses' paradise opened. From now on is the gate to the huge summer pasture open. I always love to look at them the first day. They are simply so excited and eager, they can't stand still, it's almost like they don't know where to start.

TREC Training

Right now I use all my time to train up to TREC tournament next Sunday. It's going okay but Giga and I are quite rusty.

What I absolutely love about Giga is that she actually always does her best and I can always convince her, despite the things I command her to do can be frightening. However, she has a tendency to lose her temper, if she does not understand what I want her to do. She has trouble understanding the logic of that I sit on her back and have to open the fence.

I think the thread scares her a little as she probably thinks it's a electric fence. However, after many attempts I convinced her, and when she first understood what she had to do AND that she should take small and calm steps, it went actually quite good.







I look forward to Sunday, it could be a little fun if we were well placed. But I do it mostly for the fun of it. It's a pleasant arrangement, and two of my friends also participates.