BD Four Year Old Classes

[Holding]

Yet another question - sorry.

Does anyone have any experience of BD age classes? How they work, what sort of level your horse needs to be competing at to be successful, etc? I'm really keen to do the four year old classes next year, but I have no idea how realistic that is, or whether I should just stick to regular dressage tests. Are age classes really just for professional riders/breeders? And as my horse isn't British bred, does that limit the classes I can actually do?

Any advice at all would be much appreciated!

 

[daffy44]

Hi Holding, firstly your horse not being British bred doesnt matter at all, and doesnt restrict anything you may want to do. For 4yr olds, you can do Potential International classes, for this class three horses go in the arena together, and there is no test, instead a steward tells you what to do eg. trot, change the rein, canter etc. All that is required is straight lines, big circles, sometimes a little lengthening, and walk on a long rein. The other BD class you can do for 4yr olds is the qualifiers for the Young Horse Championships, and for this you do the BD 4yr old test (ask BD for the test), its a very nice simple test that is designed for 4yr olds. You can also do the Badminton Championships, and for that you have to make up your own test. For 4yr olds i dont think the horses need to be working at a level beyond that required for the tests, it really is just correct basics that the judges want to see. Yes, these classes will probably be won by professionals, but thats no reason for you not to do them too.

 

[Holding]

Thanks so much for your reply. Out of interest, of the three types of classes you mention, is there one you would recommend for an amateur who hasn't done anything like it before? Or am I likely to find a similar standard in all of them? Are they typically all full of horses of a certain type, or is it similar to any other dressage class?

Sorry to ask so many questions, but I can't find much info at all online and I'm really keen to have a go, just a bit worried I will be laughed out of the arena!

 

[daffy44]

I think you'll find a similar standard in all three classes really, and generally the horses are all of a similar type, generally warmbloods, or warmblood crosses. As to which class you would want to do, it depends on what you prefer really, if you feel more comfortable doing a proscribed test as you would do in a normal competition, then the 4yr old test class would be best. If you feel your horse isnt quite ready to do an organised test yet, then the potential international classes would be best. Its your call! But dont feel you have to over train your horse, just good basics, and a nice way of going are the most important things.

 

[Holding]

Ok, thanks again. The horse in question is a nicely bred WB with decent paces, but I just had a quick look and previous winners of those young horse classes include Carl and Valegro, so I would be delighted to even qualify. I want to get him out and about as much as possible, so I will work on getting the basics down and then maybe aim for all the qualifiers I can.