BHS (British Horse Society) TREC is an exciting equestrian competition that has something to offer every horse and rider. This friendly sport is a great way to give confidence to both you and your horse, while having fun.

BHS TREC requires the horse and rider to show versatility and training, combining the demands of trail riding (orienteering), with jumping and correct basic flatwork.

There are many competitions run throughout the UK, catering for all levels of rider.  To find out more about BHS Trec, visit the BHS website

If you fancy giving BHS TREC a go, there are TREC clubs listed on the BHS website which offer training and advice. There is also a step by step guide on what you will expect when competing at BHS TREC Competitions.

BHS TREC appeals to all sorts of riders, with all sorts of horses. Basically, if you enjoy riding in attractive countryside, with a reasonable amount of challenge and a competitive element, you’ll enjoy BHS TREC. It has many attractions and advantages over other forms of equestrian competitive sport.

1. It’s fun – and you can push yourself as hard as you like, or take it easy and enjoy it.

2. It’s inexpensive – and will be even less expensive as the number of events increases and there are more opportunities closer to home.

3. It doesn’t require high quality horses, expensive clothes and tack – or a high level of fitness (of horse or rider) – to enjoy BHS TREC and to do well.4. You can compete in pairs – with a friend, a partner, or a child.

Each event uses local natural ‘hazards’ to test horses and riders.

What’s Involved?
The usual event consists of three parts: (they are not always held in this order)

Phase 1 – POR – is basically orienteering on horseback. ou start with a map and a record card and must find your way around the course, via a number of checkpoints, at pre-determined speeds. It is not a race, and the majority of the course (usually between 12 and 0 kms at the novice levels) is in walk and trot.

Phase 2 – Gaits – this phase is designed to demonstrate that the rider can exercise a degree of influence over the horse first in canter, then in walk, on a straight line course – usually 150 metres long and 2-2.2 metres wide. The concept is that the slower the horse travels in canter, and the faster in walk, the greater the marks awarded.

Phase 3 – the cross-country phase. Even at Championship level, the size of the jumps remains reasonable (2 ft. at the most novice level to a maximum of about 3ft 3 in. at Championship level, with a maximum length of about 5 km.) It also includes some exercises, mounted and dismounted, designed to test the horse/rider’s suitability to cope with the obstacles and difficulties that might be encountered whilst riding n the countryside.

Trec origins:

• The sport of BHS TREC (Techniques de Randonnee Equestre de Competition) was brought to the UK by The British Horse Society in 1998.
• TREC originates in France and was developed nearly 30 years ago as a way to train and assess the competence and ability of professional horse riding guides.
• The British Horse Society is the governing body for the sport in the UK.