eventing

[libbylover]

My dads just bought me a new horse n i want to go eventing, it looks loads of fun.
How do i enter and what should i wear? ;D

[duckles]

Nice Dad! Congratulations on your new horse and good luck with him.
Eventing is my favourite horse competition. Will you be going Pony Club, RIding Club or Affiliated (British Eventing)? Obviously you will have to join the appropriate organisation but BE (British Eventing) have day tickets so you can try it out without joining. Check out the websites.
You should wear dressage gear for the dressage phase (cream/white jodhphurs, black/blue jacket, stock and boots) similar for the show jumping phase and cross country gear (stock, body protector, arm band, and shirt or rugby shirt to cover elbows) for that phase.
Good luck, it is loads of fun. By the way I am basing this on eventing here (I live in Ireland) but assume it is the same with you. (Obviously we have Eventing Ireland rather than British Eventing ) Other than riding club, we do not have unaffiliated eventing but you may have and I think there are really cool winter competitions where you do x country jumps on show jumping courses- we don't have that

[slinky]

You're very lucky to have such a generous dad, congrats to you!
What sort of experiance have you had to date? That should help you decide where to start your eventing career.

[abi]

dont rush into things - make sure you know your horse really well first, you need to trust each other fully before you compete, or itll all go downhill!

as duckles says about wear, go and watch one if you can first to get an idea.

you are very lucky, we need pictures, and good luck! x

[libbylover]

Iv been riding for over a year and i can jump and do dressage.
I dont want to do pony club cause thats full of little kids. i think i might do tihe riding club stuff as a bit of practice.
Thanx guys for your help. ;D

[abi]

how old are you? do you have experience as in competing? is your horse experienced?

if you've only ever been in a riding school, id say do some dressage and showjumping competitions first, as eventing is big step, after 7 years of riding i still dont see myself as ready to event! x

[aimee]

Yes eventing can be very daunting even if you are experienced. Maybe try some practice, most areas have a local xc course you can rent for an hour to get you and your horse more used to it.

Joining a riding club is a great idea!

[Maes Seren]

Jun 24, 2008 16:20:59 GMT libbylover said:

Iv been riding for over a year and i can jump and do dressage.
I dont want to do pony club cause thats full of little kids. i think i might do tihe riding club stuff as a bit of practice.
Thanx guys for your help. ;D

My friend has been to hickstead on her gelding, and has done the qualifiers for Burghley Young Event on her new gelding twice now thru her PC. Shes 20. PC isnt full of little kids, id join PC if i werent too old.

Ive also been riding for over a year and having your own horse is much different to riding riding school horses. Ive been competeing at dressage on my 14.3hh, affiliated and unaffiliated. Its tough competition, but i suppose i was competing at a yard which holds the major paradressage competitions and stuff.

Eventing is very hard, ive been as groom to intros and PN's with the same friend mentionned above. She has two horses, a 6yo and an 8yo. Janette Brakewell almost bought her 8yo (but friend got there first) and the 6yo is already nearly a grade b SJer. She struggles alot with her horses in the different phases. No two places are alike, some places you can school round, others you cant.

It costs about £200 per year to compete - horse and rider. Only the best riders will place and go double clear.

Dont rush yourself, my main aim is to event my 14.3hh, but her nature and experience means that the past 2yrs ive been concentrating on dressage and only small unaff jumping when confidence allows.
Ive been told by a top eventer that she would make a good eventer, and she gave me her number for lessons too, which i will be taking up.

Anyway, good luck, see you out there! ;D

[maximum]

a year is really not that long to be riding.

eventing is just about the toughest thing you can do on horseback, dont dismiss pony club as almost every single top eventer in this country came through the pony club. If you think you are too good for it then think again. the pony club championships often feature some of our world and european young riders.

If you have a good instructor they will keep you right.

if the 4 year old arab is the one you mean you will not be able to event her yet she really is a bit young. most riding clubs will not allow them to do events until they are 5 although some might

[libbylover]

my instructor says I wud be gud at eventing and be able to do it soon!!!! my mare can jump high and my balance is gud!
I fink ur being rude dissing me and my mare

[Maes Seren]

Well good luck with it then, dont come whining to us when youve fallen off as youve pushed your 4yo too far and shes either hurt or is just emotionally scarred.

By the way, no one is 'dissing' you or your mare. We dont know you, but after a year of riding, youre asking for trouble trying to tackle an event, esp with a 4yo ... if thats even allowed!

Btw, my friends jumped at hickstead and has a new horse now delving into the eventing world, she came 13th y'day on her 6yo. Its an intense competition, shes bloody brave.

My mare can also jump high, shes been known to jump a 5ft electric wire in the field (and given her short ar$e height, its a bonus!) but i certainaly wouldnt risk her life around a course without more experience first. After 6 years of riding, i dont have the experience i need to get her out of trouble if i needed too.

[abi]

jumping heights arent everythng.
perhaps you should put on some pictures so we can see your skills?

a year is almost nothing and 4 year old is very young for eventing, a horse's bones may not be fully fused and could shorten his ridden life if pushed too hard too soon.

ever head the saying "green on green makes black on blue?"

[aimee]

we are not "dissing" you and certainly not your mare! We just all know that riding is a very dangerous sport so we are trying to look out for you by explaining that eventing is not like trotting around a school! Excuse us if thats what you class as rude!

No offence meant from me and I'm pretty sure no-one else meant any either!

[otto]

Well i fink U is well like going to the limpiks and evryfing and stuff so like dont take no dissin frum the wrinklies on ere like coz they shud so bug out.

[Becca]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA OMG OTTO I THINK I AM GOING TO WET MYSELF!

Libby lover if you are getting upset by a few people on a forum saying not to rush and be careful then you have a lot to learn about the horse world yet love. Go have fun, if you don't want our opinions don't ask

[slinky]

What a Goon! ;D

[maximum]

Jun 26, 2008 19:45:44 GMT libbylover said:

my instructor says I wud be gud at eventing and be able to do it soon!!!! my mare can jump high and my balance is gud!
I fink ur being rude dissing me and my mare

hahahahahah

lmao

rofl!!!!

oh you are SO funny! thanks for brightning my day ;D

[zara]

Dear libbylover, I've been riding for almost 38 years and I've owned / loaned horses most of that time. I've competed in SJ, X-country, showing and long distance. I currently own an arab. Even with this experience I wish i could say " I can jump and do dressage". No-one here is "dissing" you just providing an opinion and if you are sensible you would heed the advice Z

PS Otto - you are soooooo funny, laff? Thought my knickers would never dry x

[zara]

PS arabs are late developers and mature much later than other breeds I would stongly advise that you do not "jump high" or push her too far at a young age or she will develop lots of very expensive problems

[otto]

Dear Zara, I've been riding for 44 years and I've owned / loaned horses most of that time. I've competed in SJ, X-country, dressage and mounted games. I currently compete an ISH. Even with this experience I wish i could say; I can jump and do dressage;.

However, that has never stopped me eventing ;D
The only reason I've never made it to the limpicks is my dad didn't buy me a 4yo arab

[zara]

Otto, I hope i didn't offend you, that certainly wasn't my intention Zx

[Maes Seren]

Lol Otto, maybe you should go out there and look for a 4yo arab asap. You need your chance for 2012! ;D

[flash7]

*wets herself laughing at this post* ;D ;D

[otto]

Jun 28, 2008 6:35:27 GMT zara said:

Otto, I hope i didn't offend you, that certainly wasn't my intention Zx

Nota at all. I was just being silly. ;D

[Becca]

Maybe I could offer bernie as an olympic ride? he jumped 3'9" once! (with me on! eek)