EQUESTRIAN


Most of the 2000m long cross-country track is mown, but sheep or cattle are also used to graze and help improve the quality of the turf


Offchurch in June 2019.” With equestrian events in March, June,


August and October, plus a Wolf Run using the venue, Lloyd says that his greatest asset is the old parkland turf, which recovers well from damage. “At the start of the season, I slit everywhere, harrow and roll; a month before each competition, I’ll slit again to ease any compaction. If the root structure is good, the turf will cope with the impact of the hooves, even given the variable weather,” he comments.


“I also use a lot of portable fences which can be moved to fresh ground while any damage recovers, but the plan is to expand the amount of permanent fences as conditions improve.”


The river crossing, a feature of many events in the past, has gone out of use, partly as it is difficult to meet British Eventing specifications on water depth with a natural watercourse, but also as it is on a public footpath. An artificial water complex has taken its place.


Most of the 2000m long cross-country track is mowed, although one field benefits from being grazed by sheep or cattle. “Sheep are brilliant, because they are less selective in what they will eat than cattle and you can really see how the grass has thickened up where they have been,” he comments.


Dressage and show jumping arenas are mowed, but mindful of the risk of clippings clogging the surface, Lloyd may slit again afterwards, while he says that he also finds a Verti-Drain useful to get the optimum footing required for jumping. Long hours are required to keep turf surfaces in pristine condition for equestrian events, whilst building the sward’s resilience to constant pounding by iron- clad hooves, but the dedication shown by Lloyd, and by Grant and Tessa, should ensure that riders will continue to enjoy this historic equestrian venue for many years to come.


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Historic Offchurch Bury, parts of which date back to the 16th century, is a traditional setting for equestrian events in Warwickshire


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PC December/January 2020 109


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