28 September 2008

What would you do? Le Trec!

Your idea sounds very like the concept of "Le Trec". Our local BDS
lady has just run one of these today so I'll describe how it was done.
It was the first time she'd arranged anything of this nature, so some
things worked and some didn't and next time (there WILL be a next
time) it will be even more fun. Incidentally, there may well BE rules
for scoring this sort of thing, but we couldn't find any so we ran it
on our own ideas!

First of all drivers and horses were checked over for safety. We got
marks knocked off for essentials missing (mobile phone, penknife, lead
rope, headcollar under bridle, harness spares that fit; helmet,
gloves; - but also less-essentials like aprons). Harness and carriage
suitability and fit were included, but the check also covered
visibility on the road - horse/driver with Hi-Viz items, and in my
case with cycle lights lit - and whether we were carrying any first
aid equipment, like a ziplock bag containing a bandage, a sealed
saline wash, water, and something to clean round a wound, like cotton
swabs.

Next we went for an 8K drive, solo, at 5 minute intervals. This was
done by reference to a printed guide; I believe other Trecs have done
orienteering style drives, but in this particular venue only one route
is really feasible so there wasn't much point in making it more
complex. We had to drive at a comfortable speed for our animals and on
this occasion no "window" of time was suggested for the distance - I
think this will be clarified for next time as nobody really knew what
they were trying to achieve without a target of any kind to aim for.
Ruby, who knows the route by now having driven it four times over the
years, knew exactly when she needed to step forward to make up time
and when she would need breathers on steep hills. She was a bit
puzzled by there being no hazards when we came back into the Park -
she appeared to have been looking forward to the ducking and diving thing.

We finished the drive, our times were logged, and then we had a break
for a couple of hours to cool the horses, to have lunch, and to
inspect the "problems" or as the organiser called them "the twiddly
bits". The overall time of this section was used to distinguish
between results.

The problems were: the first half of a standard cones course;
two "hazards" built of "road mending barriers", with lettered gates as
per a HDT (or CDE if you prefer). These were not timed in themselves;
walk past a flag hanging from on a horizontal stick, that swivelled on
a short cane fastened firmly to a wooden base on the ground, in order
to knock the flag with the offside wheel;
walk up to a "box" outlined by cones, turn and reverse in, stand
immobile for one minute, and walk out;
walk (or trot) so that first your off side and then your nearside
wheel passed between two pairs of parallel spars pinned down to the
ground, w/o touching either;
enter between 2 flags into a 15 metre circle spray-painted on the
ground, turn within the circle without crossing the painted line and
exit where you came in (easy peasy for Ruby who can spin the cart on
one wheel);
complete the cones course (which Ruby liked a lot, as it was very twisty).

Of these, I'd criticise the reversing manoeuvre, (1) because it was
placed very close to the main road, where motorcycles were screaming
past with some frequency. Just as I backed Ruby into the box
successfully, two bikes went by, behind her, at high speed, which,
since she was pretty collected in her reversing mode, made her stand
on her hind legs. I have suggested that box is placed elsewhere for
the next event we try. Also, (2) it was almost impossible for the
pairs, with their 4 wheelers, to approach, turn, and get lined up to
reverse successfully across the roughish grass, because any tussock
could cause "bump steer" of the back axle and thus a complete failure
to get the rest of the carriage into the box. Drive in and reverse out
next time perhaps? I'm a bit sceptical about the hazards too.

I have several other suggestions that I'll put forward for next time,
such as, driving into a rectangle or circle, halting while groom
dismounts, circles the carriage at a walk, and remounts, horse
meanwhile to remain immobile; driving into a box, groom to get out and
move an obstacle (eg a plastic drainpipe laid on the ground or across
two blocks or cones) so that the carriage can pass, and remount;
collect and post a letter from/to a box, or a ball from/to a bucket.

We must have done all right today, in spite of the "motorcycle
levade", as Ruby was second for the safety and presentation aspect,
third in the drive and third in the "twiddly bits", and third overall.
We had a superbly sunny and crisp day for the event and thoroughly
enjoyed ourselves; I'd certainly compete or help at another Driving Le
Trec.