BE80 to BE90

silvershadow81

silvershadow81

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I've a lovely bold 6 year old and have so far this year done Shelford and Frickley. Our DR isn't great (I get FAR too nervous and tense) and showjumping she just isn't that careful, so those phases tend to mean we start XC almost last in the section! (this will be worked on over winter, but for the meantime, im just trying to enjoy each outing and have some fun!)

XC- she is BOLD, we usually make the time (unless ground is firm and ive slowed things up!). When I watch her XC I think, that looks easy and start looking at 90 courses, which we have trained over and haven't been an issue.

However, I am in no rush to push things and it all go wrong/ end up with confidence issues (for either of us!) and I also think that if we cant SJ clear at 80, why move up? AT 80 she can still get deep and get out of trouble.

Few people have said bigger will make her respect/ concentrate better?

If I were to look for a 90 run towards the end of the season, which venues would people suggest would be best to look at?

Richmound
Frickley
Bishop Burton
Askham Bryan
Oatsby
Norton Disney

I guess something with not too many technical lines/ skinnies/ jumping downhill is preferred!

Or if I stick to 80, just to try and improve the other phases, which of these competitions are tougher XC (so less on DR/ SJ scores!)?

Thanks in advance!

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Photo of the brave girl from Frickley! xx
 
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Frickly and Norton Disney are nice I think - Epworth is also lovely and within your area by the sounds of it :)

I wouldn't go with Bishop as a first 90, if I remember rightly - it's quite technical and hilly?

Richmond also is nice, but hilly, so if you choose bishop or Richmond you might struggle to get the fitness levels you'd like with the ground being so hard if you don't have access to gallops.
 
I don't think I'd use Richmond as a step up to 90 but Askham Bryan is lovely and inviting. It has a relaxed atmosphere and is just generally a lovely event. I'll be using this to step my horse up to 100
 
Thank you both, I know Epworth well, hoping they will get one added at the end of the season, which I could try. Askham sounds good. I couldn't find last years photos though, so hopefully not snuck anything horrific in it!

But should I even be thinking about a 90 when we cant go clear 80 sj?! I swing from one approach to another!!
 
I am in a similar situation - have gone XC clear at 80T all season even over fairly technical courses like Somerford, Kelsall and Eland. But well down the leaderboard after dressage and only 1 SJ clear this season. I don't see the point in stepping up until I am competive at 80T. Or at least finishing in the top half of the section. (Also a shedload of time faults but that;s for getting lost EVERY SINGLE TIME I compete. Numpty that I am. She is easiyl quicky enough already.)

But that's just me - if you want to step up now then why not?
 
silvershadow81 said:
Thank you both, I know Epworth well, hoping they will get one added at the end of the season, which I could try. Askham sounds good. I couldn't find last years photos though, so hopefully not snuck anything horrific in it!

But should I even be thinking about a 90 when we cant go clear 80 sj?! I swing from one approach to another!!
Click to expand...

It’s lovely to have XC in the bank, after all that is the main distinguishing feature of eventing.

Another perspective - why not knock eventing on the head for the rest of the season and filter the funds into training and competing dr/sj. You will get more bang for your buck (so to speak) and could then start 2019 at BE90 with a chance of a rosette or three
 
I think, with a young horse, what is the rush? As above, it is great to have the boldness XC, this is something that can rarely be taught. I don't think you have to be DC every time in order to move up to the next level, but it sounds like the first two phases need work and so if you want to do some more ODEs this season, I'd stick to 80 to consolidate before working hard on the dressage and SJ over winter.

What is the issue SJ, are you having just the one or is it quite a few poles, is she rushing or just careless? How is she when you go out pure SJ?
 
Askham Bryan is very inviting and a great opportunity to step up. I also thought Oasby 90 was pretty straight forward and inviting, whereas Bishop and Norton are a bit 'brighter' IMO.
 
Id stick at the BE80 for now but mix it up in between with a few BS sj rounds. Start with the 85cm amateur classes, and step up to the british novice.

My 6YO started doing British novice, and then started BE80, she found the jumps easy. Shes moved up to discovery now, so we've moved her to BE90, and again the SJs are not an issue.


She looks lovely, and with plenty of scope so im sure you will get there. Maybe a few lessons with a SJ instructor ? again this helped my girl
 
I suppose the question is why are you not going clear at BE80? Is it because the horse isn't balanced? Spooky? Lazy?
 
Think I'd be working on the SJ and dressage tbh first. No point in moving up a level and demolishing all the show jumps/coming last in the dressage :) (sorry, know what it's like)

SJ is the easiest to practice normally, and I'd be going to plenty of that as well as getting the canter more adjustable and grids at home.

Dressage comps. too and as many lessons as you can afford.

BE isn't cheap and if your horse is good XC then maybe wait and nail the other phases better first, then you can go out and be competitive?
 
Thank you all for your responses! Really helpful.
I think I'll stick to 80 for this year, as many have said there is no rush (other horses evented to 23, so we have a LONG time to go- hopefully!)

Ive just started DR lessons, and already seeing some improvement in test scores, so ill keep on with that. Ill try and get some BS 90's in over winter too to try and help. I'm going to have to do a couple more BEs this year (only because it is the XC we both enjoy and winter is far too long not too enjoy it!!) ;-) we are lucky to just have had an arena built, so feel as if ive been limited a little on what I can do at home since January, which probably hasn't helped.

Think the SJ issues (and DR) are balance and rushing, once on XC we hit a lovely rhythm, so have found this is why it works well. I think some time spent adjusting the pace and staying balanced will be the focus for the winter! I also need to fiddle less (which I tend to do more when the jumps go up!)
 
Try and find a show jumping instructor and see how you like those lessons and if they are more productive. Agree that eventing is expensive, so you might want to feel that you are at least well prepared - even if things go wrong on the day, and we all know what that is like!
 
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