British Dressage

[hock]

So for the first time I’ve got a 4 year old to produce for dressage next year (currently 3, he’s not a keeper although I produce as if they are). I was just looking at where to take take him for his first outing after his birthday and realised I could technically compete him at 3 as birthdays are 1st of January. Obviously this is the case with racing but I didn’t realise it’s the same with BD. What about show jumping or BE? Have I got that right? Feels a bit weird?

 

[bouncing_ball]

Presumably you mean 3.5? if he was born in june? And 3.75 if he was born in April?

 

[hock]

Presumably you mean 3.5? if he was born in june? And 3.75 if he was born in April?

Yer .. so not 4.

 

[bouncing_ball]

Yer .. so not 4.

I agree not 4, but not quite like competing a 3.0 age horse.

 

[hock]

I was just surprised. In my head it was a written in stone rule, don’t compete until 4. You are right it’s just a few months short as he is an April baby!

 

[bouncing_ball]

I also have a hard time getting my head around the fact that my horse with a May birthday, was 12 on 1st January, feels wrong, when he is 5 months off his 12th birthday.

 

[RachelFerd]

Yes its right. For BE 4yos aren't allowed to compete until later in the season though - can't remember exact dates, but think it is May onwards...

 

[LEC]

There is a reason TBs are mainly born in Jan/Feb. Sporthorse breeders are lazier as we prefer good weather so mostly aim for May. Plus usually AI so having to get cycles and semen lined up and it’s easier in May/June when mares are usually at peak cycles.

 

[Leandy]

Funny question. I would be guided by the readiness of my horse in getting it out and not by the earliest permitted time under the relevant rules. Just because something is permitted does not make it a good idea. It does of course take considerably less preparation and time under saddle to have prepared a youngster for his first baby dressage outing as compared to his first ODE. I wouldn't be taking a horse out affiliated at all for its first outing either or are you thinking that unaff. is usually under aff. rules?

 

[hock]

You should be guided by the horses maturity!

 

[Leandy]

You should be guided by the horses maturity!

Exactly, so I don't understand the purpose of your query except to drag the rules of BD and possibly BS into a conversation about the age of horses in racing which is rightly or wrongly an increasingly controversial topic.

 

[hock]

I was checking I’d read the rule right.

 

[Leandy]

Yes, under rule 9 of the BD rules a horse becomes 4 on 1 Jan of the year in which it has its 4th birthday. The minimum age at which a horse can compete is 4.