Archives

Corn Maze Course

Leave a Reply

History

The corn maze came from the need for a fall and Halloween themed course.

Created by

The maze was created by Gedeon (gedeon.hawkes), with the gate slaloms and steeple jumps added by Lila (liviana.benelli)

Description

Although this is a relatively small course at only 2852 square meters, it’s quite a complex maze and easy to get lost in it. Inside the maze are 19 obstacles, either hay bales that need jumping or slalom gates that need to be passed through. These obstacles serve two purposes. Firstly they are there to get in your way and slow you down, but secondly, when you find one, you at least know you are on the right track.

Tips

  • Be careful when you fault on a hay bale jump you can easily get boosted over a wall, skipping several gates in the process
  • If you look carefully, every so often, previous generations of ponies have scratched makers into the dirt to help you get through the maze….. probably in blood…… from frustration. A clue

Location

Flintstones

Leave a Reply

History

Inspired by some fun comic terrain found on Marketplace, they tallied nicely with some comic textures already purchased. Combining them and the Flintstones course was created which in the end became a hybrid course.

The concept of the runaway boulders was taken from a course at WPG which had balls rolling down ramps. The scripts for triggering the runaway rocks was created by Jezzie (Jez Mertel)

Created by

Lila (Liviana Benelli)

Description

Welcome to the prehistoric world of The Flintstones, where health and safety have not yet been invented. This prehistoric course covers 6840 square meters and is a hybrid course consisting of barrels, jumps and gate slaloms. As a ponygirl, your goal is to safely navigate this rocky world.

The course takes you to the top of the Flintstones world before descending and exploring their living accommodations and transportation. Pony carts were not invented in the days of the caveman.

On the ascent to the top of this rocky world, look out for runaway boulders. Navigate the narrow rock bridge to the plateau where some wild palm trees are sprouting.

Heading down a couple of ladders you have to jump stacks of logs whilst winding down a narrow path in the rock face.

Zip through the slalom posts and through the house carved into the rocks. Then back out and dodge around the house, the palm trees and the rock car to finish the course.

Tips

  • Get your timing right when jumping the boulders. Be aware of the next one about to come down the hill.
  • Jump over the stone bridge for speed.
  • When decending and jumping the log piles, ensure you don’t jump too far else you’ll twist an ankle and be stalled for a second or so.

Location

Canyon Ranch Steeple

Leave a Reply

History

This course was a gift from Sammy Palletier (AKA pony Kupkake). It was originally at K’Bar Ranch but when it was moved to FFF the name changed to Canyon Ranch Steeples. Kupkake transferred it to FFF and did most of the landscaping.

Created by

Sammy Palletier (AKA pony Kupkake)

Description

A fun but challenging mix of 32 tree trunks, gates and slalom gates on a western landscape. On this run only walking and jumping is allowed.

The course starts with seven wooden gates in a zigzag line on flat ground. Then, a single gate is mounted on a small hillock, followed by a double gate further down.

The next obstacle, yet another double gate, hidden behind the canyon wall on the right. Once that is surmounted, continue down the slope over a gate on the left and a sharp turn further to the left over wooden tree trunks.

Through the canyon, reach the single gate at the end, and continue to the left with the raised double gate.

Then, three tree trunks in 180 degree emplacement lead around to the top of the canyon over yet another tree trunk gate. Don’t jump this too early as you need to clear the gap across the canyon.

Down the top, a series of 5 double slalom gates lead to a double gate and a tree trunk gate on top of the last hill. Down that hill, five more slalom gates take you around a pond and over a short ridge all the way to a last double barrier, a final slalom gate and across the finish line.

Tips

  • Don’t get distracted by whinnying or mooing. The animals will be fed shortly.
  • Most gates can be negotiated without walking steps in between. Even some uphill barriers are best jumped directly.
  • Jump instead of walk over larger distances between obstacles.
  • Watch out for the sheer drop after gate 25. It’s the perfect point for a pony to throw a shoe or sprain an ankle.

Location

 

Floating Islands

Leave a Reply

History

This particularly challenging course was created by Lila (Liviana Benelli) around 2018. This was a particularly productive period, with many old courses being repaired old and new courses being designed. Chianna developed new sensors for the raised pads, as well as a broadcasting system built into the floor to create a commentary when a pony falls.
This course took inspiration from the movie Avatar as well as a cloud steeple course at another stable which lead to the creation of the very original course we have today.

Created by

Lila (Liviana Benelli)

Description

The course consists of 22 floating pads and begins with a ramp to launch off arrive at the first pad. This is followed by a series of 17 floating pads that a pony must land on in sequence. Most of the pad require a jump however once the you have achieved the highest pad there are some that can be descended simply by walking.

The floating pads are decorated with hanging vines in a lush green woodland. The ambience is that of tranquillity and the pads hang over a glittering rocky pool of water.

Between pad 17 and 18 is a rickety bridge clearly in need of some repair, this can be jumped for safety or walked along before jumping the remaining pads to the finish line.

Should a pony fall, the ground shouts warnings and encouragement, meant to be humorous however, some overly sensitive ponies get offended. This all goes to make the pony a better competitive creature.

Tips

  • This is a walking/jumping course.
  • Walk-jump off a pad, but then stop. Redirect your movement while coming down.
  • Some lower pads can be reached without jumping.

Location

Small Steeple Chase

Leave a Reply

History

The small steeple is one of the oldest courses at FFF.

Created By

It has passed out of living memory, who created the Small Steeple.

Description

The Small Steeples consists of 15 jumps, arranged in 3 loops and is a good introduction to Steeple Chases. The course has one water jump that can appear intimidating to new ponies however when properly trained there are ways to mitigate it’s difficulty. Unlike it’s larger course the Small steeples is built entirely on the flat. Some people believe that this makes it significantly easier, however, the Small Steeple has it’s own challenges and to achieve the required TB time is not as easy as it may first appear.

Tips

  • Keep to the edge of the gates when jumping.
  • Add ‘false’ jumps to minimise the number of steps required.
  • Always aim for the next gate whilst jumping (Turn in the air)

Location

The Small Steeple Chase is located in the South East corner of the farm.

Flower Dressage

Leave a Reply

History

Dewia (biatch.adamiczyk), who was a pony at FFF and owned by Trina Varriale, created the version that is now know as Classic Flower Dressage. From Dewia’s idea, Trina developed the version that is now known as Standard Flower Dressage. This caused a lot of drama with in the pony community.
Ultimately, Trina’s version of Flower Dressage won out as the Standard and unfortunately, Dewia quit SecondLife soon after. In memory of Dewia and her work at FFF, both Standard Flower Dressage and Dewia’s Classic Flower Dressage are taught and are requirements of the Thoroughbred Training programme at FFF.

Description

Flower dressage is a discipline where upto 4 Ponies navigate a field following the lines to a predetermined pattern. The field itself consists of 4 large circles surrounding the centre circle. Around the outside is a further 4 small circles with various lines passing through the middle and the outer circles.  Each circle is defined by a letter, usually placed in the middle of the circle. Ponies move around the circles following a pattern.

There are two set’s of rules in Flower dressage

Both of theses set’s of rules are well defined, however it is generally thought that Standard Flower Dressage is easier to learn.

Tips

  • Do not try to learn Classic Flower Dressage and Standard Flower Dressage at the same time
  • Ensure you fully understand your first discipline before changing, then do not switch back and forth

Location

The FFF Flower Dressage Field is located on the South-East ring road, just North of the Small Steeple Chase

Large Steeple Chase

Leave a Reply

Also know as “Large Steeples

History

The Large Steeples has been a part of FFF since it first graced the land at Bulgogi in 2008. Desingned and built by Jo Gallindo, it has remained in the same location in the north west corner. Over the years it has gained an infamous reputation for being highly competitive. It is often one of the first courses that a new pony will attempt due to it’s reputation, however, attempting such a challenging course at a young age can be very disheartening to a young pony. On the FFF Thoroughbred Checklist, it is not a requirement until TB 15 and a pony is not expected to succeed at this course until they have achieved their thoroughbred status.

Description

The course consists of 25 gates set across an area 4250 square meters of undulating land. The up and down hills adds additional challenges to ponies attempting this course and a full understanding of SecondLife™ physics will help. Jumps started from rising land will experience a higher more powerful jump where as jumps started from falling land experience suppressed height. This physics quirk sometimes surprises ponies and it can take a long time to be fully understood.

Tips

  • To begin the course, take 3 steps before beginning to jump.
  • The first 13 gates can be done without taking any steps.

Location

Located on the ground level to the north west corner of Bulgogi.