What a hysterical sport! Has anyone else done a TREC?
Clearly we didn't get hopelessly lost in the orienteering phase or I wouldn't be sat here typing this - but what a strange thing to go and do - it brought me out alternately (every 10 mins) in wreaths of smiles at being able to ride my lovely lil western hoss out across fabulous countryside and have him behave so beautifully; and a cold sweat whenever we had no clue where we were or how to get back...
The plus sides, however, far outweighed the minuses (all that crazy kit you have to carry and all Those Rules I kept forgetting): Basically - when in moments of non-cold sweat - I found it a charming licence to trespass on gorgeous countryside (spot a fabulous canter track, 'investigate', jog back nonchalently and advise all fellow treccies 'oops, map reading error, you don't want to go that way'); everyone - both organisers and competitors - was really friendly and very impressed with my relaxed horse; and Tommi obviously spent the time I spent doodling on a blank OS map constructively trying to work out how he was going to achieve the optimum time, and set off at a cracking trot I didn't know he possessed!! And being able to show off that lovely pleasure lope in the CP phase...
What a blast!! A nice change from shows and the traumas that can be some 'pleasure rides'! I'd definitely have another go sometime.
