If you enjoy trail riding and would like to test
your skills against others who trail ride then the new sport called TREC could add some challenges to your trail riding jaunts.
Developed in Europe to encourage better horsemanship and safety TREC challenges the horse and rider to travel by map
and compass cross country and to show mastery of obstacles common to most trails.
“Who would have thought the Europeans would
be such avid trail riders, but they are”, stated Mary Harcourt, President
and International Representative for the United States Equine Tourism Organization.
“The USNETO was formed as the American
affiliate of the Federation International Turismo Equestre”, added
Harcourt. “The purpose of the FITE and the USNETO is to promote eco-equine tourism-in other words, see the world
from the back of a horse.”
To promote safety and good horsemanship while
riding the countryside the FITE
developed the sport of TREC to help riders see what kinds of trail riding techniques were needed to accomplish this.
Upon moving to North Carolina Harcourt felt the
trail riding opportunities were perfect for TREC competitions. Clinics started in 2001 have progressed to full competitions
open to any and all riders.
“We have several levels in the competition
so that riders can get started where they are comfortable and then progress as they become more skillful. Currently US competitions
are held in levels 1and 2. Levels go up through 3, 4 and to the international level. Competition levels are determined by
the distance of the trail and heights of the obstacles.
A competition consist of three phases plus a
pack check and a vet check. The first phase or trail work requires the horse and rider to follow the official course using
a map and a compass and to travel at official speeds. Unknown check points are placed on the trail and riders must pass through
them in the correct order and from the correct direction. Points are lost by traveling to fast or to slow, missing a check
point or coming in from the wrong direction.
The second phase is designed to show the rider’s
skill and the horse’s training. It’s called the Mastery of Gaits. The mastery of Gaits consist of a marked corridor
150 meters long.
Riders must canter their horse down , without
breaking or stepping out. Then they must walk back, again without stepping out or breaking. Slowest canter and fastest walk
according to the official rules gains the most points.
The final phase consist of 16 obstacles selected
by the competition organizers from a list of 26 approved by the FITE. These obstacles are dispersed over a wide area
, often encompassing a total distance of 2000 or more meters. The obstacles can vary from something as simple as mounting
from the wrong side to crossing a bridge or water to jumping a hedge to loading in a strange trailer. All obstacles are designed
to mimic conditions the horse and rider might encounter on a trail ride. A total of 10 points-7 for the horse and 3 for the
rider- adds to the score received in the other phases.
While high score may win the competition, each
horse and rider combination has a score on their abilities and skills, which gives them a clear picture of their strong points
and where they need to improve.
“This year will be the 4th year
a SANDHILLS TREC COMPETION has been held at the CAROLINA HORSE FARM in
Raeford, North Carolina”, stated organizer
Mary Harcourt. “ CHF and it’s owners have gone out of their way to provide us with a super facility for all phases
of the competition except the trail with map and compass. That part is conducted
at the Hoffman Gamelands due to the enormous land area with no development”, continued Harcourt.
Scheduled for April 13, 14, 15 this year’s
SANDHILLS TREC COMPETITION should offer something for those new to the sport and those returning.
Organizer Harcourt stated “we’re
going to have divisions in Level 1, Youth (under 18), Level 2 Simple and Level
2 Extreme. The distance for Level 1 will be about 12 km with obstacles needing
to be jumped at about 2’3”. All other distances will be about 24
km. with obstacle heights being about 2’6” for Youth and Level 2 Simple and
about 2’9” for Level 2 Extreme. “ The main difference between Level 2 Simple and Level 2 Extreme will be
in the difficulty in the map work.”
For more information about the sport of TREC,
clinics on TREC at the Carolina Horse Farm and the SANDHILLS TREC COMPETITION contact:
Carolina Horse Farm-Wendy Wensel at
gallopracer8@yahoo.com
SANDHILLS TREC COMPETITION-Mary Harcourt mharcourt@earthlink.net
