White Horse TREC Group

About BHS TREC

If you have not competed at BHS TREC before, or even if you have and would like some hints/tips about what will be expected of you and how to improve your performance - click HERE for a newcomer's guide to TREC!

Scroll to the bottom of the page to watch a 25-minute long video all about TREC, starring WHTG committee member Anna Weston. It is 25 minutes long so please be patient - it may be best to press play and then pause it for a few minutes to allow smooth playback.

TREC originated in France, but is now gaining popularity throughout Europe, and many competitions are run in the UK, from beginner to international levels. TREC is designed to increase the knowledge, awareness and enjoyment of the countryside of a diverse range of people.

First timers are very welcome, it’s a really friendly sport. Most of the competition comprises challenges you would commonly meet out riding in the countryside and BHS TREC is designed to be manageable for every rider, no matter what level of ability.The emphasis is on fun!

The competition involves the skills and hazards you might encounter out hacking, including map reading, mounting and dismounting, going through water, under low hanging trees, opening gates, crossing bridges and jumping over fallen logs. The winner is determined by points gained over the three phases of the competition. Most competitions run a pairs class so you can go with a friend for moral support. Events are usually run over either one or two days, and there is often a social event included with a 2-day competition.

BHS TREC is a fun riding competition usually comprising three phases:


Orienteering	Control of Gaits	Obstacle course

The POR is the 'orienteering on horseback' phase. This might sound scary, but at levels 1 and 2 the navigation is very basic and most people are pleasantly surprised. The route will be between 12 and 20 kms (7.5-12.5 miles) in length, designed to be completed mostly in walk and trot. You can often find yourself amidst some glorious scenery, and on tracks where horses usually aren't allowed.

The CG/CP (control of gaits/paces) is a simple test of how slowly your horse can canter and how quickly it can walk, without breaking into trot from either pace. It is measured through a corridor of up to 150m in length, and between 2 and 2.20m in width.

The PTV is a course of 16 optional obstacles, each with a maximum score of 10 points given for style and effectiveness. There is a large range of obstacles, but they are all designed to test things that would normally be encountered out hacking in the British countryside, and you will not be eliminated if there's something that you can't do. Each obstacle is only 2% of the overall score, so just not being able to jump/mount from the ground is not going to stop you scoring well.

The British Horse Society is the governing body for the sport of BHS TREC in the UK. They have an informative website here. You do not have to be a member of the BHS or register your horse to take part in BHS TREC but riders who are members of the BHS or members of Affiliated Riding Clubs including White Horse TREC Group save money on entry fees and get additional benefits. If you would like to join WHTG, please download a membership form here.

The BHS TREC rulebook 2009 edition is available from the BHS Bookshop. The rulebook contains descriptions of the phases, and the judging guidelines for the most common obstacles, and is a highly recommended purchase for anyone wanting to learn about BHS TREC.

If you'd like to find out more in a practical session, please see our events diary - we run training sessions throughout the season, but please feel free to come along to spectate or help out at an event to find out more!

The following video about TREC courtesy of online TV channel HorseHero.com is 25 minutes long so please be patient - it may be best to press play and then pause it for a few minutes to allow smooth playback.

There are hundreds more videos on the site, including some more about TREC. Star of this video Anna Weston has a biography here and you can follow her on her blog too!

Want to join WHTG? Click here.

For website queries, comments and suggestions, please contact Evie at webmaster@white-horse-trec.co.uk.