Can you take a 3 year old out competing?

I think you'll find that both unaffilliated and affiliated shows require them to be 4 yr old and that means after january 1st. If any thing should happen you may find that you are not insured.
Surely there are some in hand classes to take him to. Whats the rush anyway if he's a horse to keep and not to produce to sell ?
Most professionals will not do much with a young horse if they are keeping it, the ones that do a lot as young horses tend to be the ones being produced to sell.
He may look physically mature but mentally he wont be. Just slow down a bit!
 
Why ask if you are going to argue the toss and justify doing it anyway?!
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quick reply:

I wouldn't. A few in hand classes maybe, and if he is very good, a trip out with another horse to tottle around a warmup - briefly. And even as a 4 yr old I'd only do a few baby classes (prelims or 4yr old tests) max. Plenty of time for all that when they are older and stronger. You want a horse that will last all the way to the top, and for that you need to take your time. Especially with a large horse, they take so much longer to develop their balance, and its that lack of balance that leads to strain on legs and muscles, and problems down the road.
 
Definately not under saddle - the majority of competitions run under the rules of the various organisations and none allow horses of 3 or less to be ridden at shows/competitions.
 
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Only in hand in youngstock. What is the rush? The horse is still a baby.

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I totally agree with this. Bones are still not fully developed, still totally babyish in their brains at 3, i can't think of any reason why i would ever want to ride a 3 yr old in public! they'll be adults for a long time, as long as they're allowed to develop slowly and actually get to make old bones...!
 
I would also recommend taking him to your local riding club to start him off getting used to working round other horses and in an arena. But I think you'll find that most riding clubs wont allow horses or ponies to be ridden until they are in their 4th year. I know we dont in our riding club.
I personally wouldnt rush him. If you are thinking of keeping him for life, I would take it slowly. Physically he'll last longer and mentally he'll cope better
 
We tend not to, they generally go out a handful of times in-hand as a yearling, 2-y-o and 3-y-o. More so that they are aware of the hussle and bustle of competitions without becoming overstressed or burnt out.

Then we spend the winter of their third year pottering at home, hacking and a little light school work just to keep them switched on. Usually we turn them away when the frosts and or snow comes and bring them back in the spring of their fourth year.

Then we aim for some low key affiliated BD comps and ask for early times so we have the warm-up to ourselves.
 
Ryu was 4 and just back in work after being turned away when I got him, I did the riding club flatwork rallies through the winter with 2 or 3 in a group it was really basic which was perfect for him in the spring we moved yards and he was hacked out most days in company we started doing unaffliated stuff the back end of the summer, dressage and showing and outdoor rallies and started going small hacks alone. That year was all no pressure fun stuff which I reckon gives a good basis to go on from.
 
Could you not take him out to some friendly small local shows or in hand classes etc so he gets to see the atmosphere but doesn't have to compete (unless inhand youngstock obv!)
 
I don't think a three year old should have been worked enough to be ready to go to a show, my horse won the 4 yr old champ in germany sj and his legs now show what happens to overworked babies. I know you don't want to compete him but wouldn't it be better to take things a bit slower with him and get it right rather than causing a problem you can't reverse
 
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Why dont you join a riding club and take him to some baby group lessons?
Thats how all of mine start off going to parties then there's no pressure, you can lunge them in the arena first and do as much or as little as you want before going home.

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I would never have thought of that Bossanova... thank you for the suggestion.

I had been thinking about lessons or clinics just to get him out seeing the world but as I have done these with my girls, I know it is very rare you end up riding with other people in the arena which is the aim of it
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I think you'll find that both unaffilliated and affiliated shows require them to be 4 yr old and that means after january 1st. If any thing should happen you may find that you are not insured.
Surely there are some in hand classes to take him to. Whats the rush anyway if he's a horse to keep and not to produce to sell ?
Most professionals will not do much with a young horse if they are keeping it, the ones that do a lot as young horses tend to be the ones being produced to sell.
He may look physically mature but mentally he wont be. Just slow down a bit!

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He is actually not necessarily a horse to keep. The idea was to see how he gets on and if he is not suitable for the job (ie. would make a stunning eventer which I know already from his futurity results) then I would sell him as such. Having had horses not built for the job and endured the frustration, I am not willing to do this again
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I just want him to do whatever he loves doing, whether that be with me or with someone else!

He is actually pretty mature mentally and was ready to start some long lining work etc before I turned him out. However, the opportunity was too good to refuse, so he went out at the beginning of April, will come in for the Futurity and go back out again until October/November at which point I will reintroduce the ground work ready to have a little sit on him at the end of the year. He is a good 16.1hh now, so I would rather sit on him a little earlier then leave him for another period than sit on him when he is somewhat bigger
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I am not into showing at all, and as I said, they are incredibly busy in this area with the show jumping and first riddens all run on the same day and usually at a similar time
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I have absolutely no idea when it comes to showing either
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He will be going to the Futurity though again this year which I think is really good for him as it was a great experience last year...
 
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quick reply:

I wouldn't. A few in hand classes maybe, and if he is very good, a trip out with another horse to tottle around a warmup - briefly. And even as a 4 yr old I'd only do a few baby classes (prelims or 4yr old tests) max. Plenty of time for all that when they are older and stronger. You want a horse that will last all the way to the top, and for that you need to take your time. Especially with a large horse, they take so much longer to develop their balance, and its that lack of balance that leads to strain on legs and muscles, and problems down the road.

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Thanks... this is the first time that I have had a young horse so I just wasn't sure what the rules and regs were at unaffiliated competitions. As I say, at one last winter there was a lady on her three year old which just got me thinking.

I don't really want to 'do' the test, I would much rather just be able to walk him around the warm up on board and then take him home. But I didn't know whether a venue would allow this, which I am guessing from the replies they would not until he was technically a four year old. I wasn't sure about this before, so at least I now know. I would never take him and try to wing it because that is just not me at all
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If I had to do a test, then it would most definitely be nothing more than a Prelim or a walk and trot test (there don't seem many of those around sadly). I did have a chat with one venue last time I was there about doing a test but trotting the canter bits (they didn't have a w&t test) and they said this would be fine as long as you mentioned it on your entry. So that is good to know for the future.

Quick Reply... I posted because I did not know whether you could take them HC or not, or even whether a venue would let you walk around in the warm up if you had another horse competing that day. I did not intend to 'argue the toss' as someone put it. I was asking a question because I did not know the answer and then throwing some other ideas in to see what would be suitable. As I say, this is the first time I have had a young horse, and do not really know many people who compete or bring on young horses. So I thought I would see what people on here do.
 
Riding Club is a brilliant suggestion. I believe that Coedcae on here also starts all her youngsters off in this way, prior to their competive careers.
 
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We tend not to, they generally go out a handful of times in-hand as a yearling, 2-y-o and 3-y-o. More so that they are aware of the hussle and bustle of competitions without becoming overstressed or burnt out.

Then we spend the winter of their third year pottering at home, hacking and a little light school work just to keep them switched on. Usually we turn them away when the frosts and or snow comes and bring them back in the spring of their fourth year.

Then we aim for some low key affiliated BD comps and ask for early times so we have the warm-up to ourselves.

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Thank you... I think that is what I will do. Aim to take him to some riding club training things just to get him in with other horses and then do some BD in his 4th year requesting early early times
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I don't really want to do in hand showing with him, more because I am always out solo doing things and I don't know enough to go in and do it properly... He is not ready for me to take out on my own yet, I would need help, so for the time being that is not an option. I even went the wrong way in the Futurity so there is no hope for me
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I think we will do the Futurity this year, perhaps even next year as a three year old if I can get some help to get him loose jumping in the summer (he has done one teeny tiny cross pole that was up in the school and we were playing). I am hoping to sit on him at the end of this year, just walk and then he will be turned away until I feel he is ready to come back in next year and start some light schooling and hacking.
 
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Riding Club is a brilliant suggestion. I believe that Coedcae on here also starts all her youngsters off in this way, prior to their competive careers.

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It is a fab suggestion... I have never been involved with a riding club so I did not know that this was available to members
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That is why this site is so good and why I do post on here
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I am going to have a mooch on the internet to see where the nearest one is. I think there is one at Longton which is held about 30 mins from me, but just wondering whether there is one a bit closer.
 
I would send a couple of emails out to your local riding clubs, they may have to check their insurance situation with youngsters too. Just say what you are planning to do and see if they can accomodate.

We always try our best to please!
 
Thanks ester... I will do.

Is there a website for riding clubs like there is the pony club, or do all riding clubs just have their own?
 
Most Rc's have their own website but you can locate a list in your area via the BHS website
http://www.bhs.org.uk/content/Brc-Home.asp?id=72&pg=Welcome%20Page

You might find that RC insurance only covers them for horses in their 4th year (so from Jan 1st onwards) being ridden.

RC is one of the best ways to get a young horse low pressure exposure.

Some RC are more active/catering towards young horses than others. For example my RC does fortnightly prelim flatwork clinics and poles-2'3", plus they have weekend/week camps, group hacks etc. You will probably find people in your area who will be suitable hacking partners too
 
I get easily confused
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but how old will he be when you first sit on him? If my understanding is right, he will still be 2 (almost 3). Also, why are you not planning to ride him during his third and fourth years?

I had a warmblood youngster who I had broken at 3. I know all horses are different, but he wasn't mature enough. Unfortunately, I think he was worked too hard to young which was exacerbated by weak confirmation and led to him breaking down. If it was me, I would do a lot of handling and ground work up to the age of three and then back in the autumn of their third year, turn away for the winter and start them again early in the following spring.
 
He must have changed then as he was an immature yearling. You always seem in a rush and I can see what will happen in a couple of years when you have problems we'll be saying 'we told you so'
I have been a member of riding clubs and for the welfare of the horse they have to be 4 yr old.
Don't forget he will still be growing and developing until he is 6 or so.
You say he may go eventing but let me tell you most professionals don't like them to do much before they are 5 or 6. Doing too much can have a negative affect by putting them off. I certainly wouldn't look at something that had been ridden a lot at 3.
My 5 yr old ( who did vertually nothing as a 4 yr old as he was still growing) is with a professional event rider who says if they are to last then they don't want to be doing much before then.
My 3 yr old has just been long reined. She is now turned away until Autumn when she will be sat on again then turned away again.
Mind you as someone else said you ask our opinions but never listen anyway but keep trying to justify what you will do anyway.
 
Could you maybe go & see a Horses Inside out demo or read some books by Gerd Heuschmann ??

Just to give you a idea, my big 18hh WB was started early, by the time he got to me his brain was wrecked because he had been physically & menatlly pushed to hard for his maturity.
He's just properly filled out in this last year & has just turned 9yo. Luckily for me ive got him back & working but plenty of young really nice horses are wrecked from pushing to hard to young.
There really is no rush do loads of groundwork look into working him in hand & on lines first for quite a few months. Big horse or small there still the same to back, i don't get that argument at all.
 
Completely Echo what Memo said. I have a warmblood mare who was backed last year as a 3 year old. Like you, i had big ideas of Young Horse classes and going out competing etc etc... But the reality is very different. Although to look at she looked very mature as a 3 year old and seemed to take the majority of things in her stride, in reality her body just wasn't ready. She was lightly backed in the end and then turned away and im only just contemplating getting on her now.

Im really pleased i waited with mine, as she has changed beyond recognition these past 9 months and is now more mentally and physically ready. Mine is for keeps though and i would like to think i may still be riding her in 10-15 years time and as i already have others to ride and compete im not too bothered about my babies having a bit more time to be ''horses''.
 
Jetset, I'm sort of with Memo on this.

I didn't realise you were planning on backing him this year - as a 2yo??? I hope I am wrong.

Youngsters go through spells when they might look mature and then they have another grow. At this age you have to be really careful of what you ask with them.

Really as a 2yo I wouldn't want a horse to have done anything more than a little bit of light long reining (if at all) and to have worn tack. As a 3yo again a little bit of long reining and light hacking if you are planning on riding at all, I personally wouldn't be purchasing a schooled 3yo.

4yo it sort of depends on the horse but still wouldn't want too much pressure put on. When my horse was a late 3yo I lightly backed him and turned him away looking like a solid round ball, he came into 4yo spring, 2" taller and looking like a lanky teenager. ANy half plans for 4yo classes went out the window as he wasn't physically strong enough to even contemplate working properly.

I also notice you seem to think that after your OH helping you for the first couple of times that you think you will be fine to just get on with it on your own. I think you may need to re-evaluate that, having an extra pair of hands is invaluable and even on the most angelic baby it is a necessity IMO.
 
He is pretty mature, much more so than the two colts (of the same age) he is out with, both in muscle structure and height. I have not seen him for a few weeks due to personal problems, and I was very very surprised at how mature he is looking. I expected him to look much less so than the entires he is with!

I was planning on bringing him in from the field in October or November time depending on the weather and start some long lining in walk and trot, some inhand work that has already been established and desensitising before introducing a saddle (he has had one on to long line in April this year before being turned away) and just do mostly that kind of work with him twice a week at most.

If (and that is a big if) he is ready, I will have a sit on him, walk him around a few times and then that will be it (looking probably Dec or Jan for that, so he will be just under three) until later in the year as he will be turned away again at grass and allowed to be a pit pony again
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If everything goes well, he will come in from the field again, perhaps a bit earlier in September and at this point I would like to get some front shoes on him and do some light schooling (and by this I mean just walking and trotting in large shapes, to re-establish the steering etc) and hacking with him. Fingers crossed we should be completing the yard by then and there are lots of lovely quiet country lanes to potter around. If we have not moved at that point, then he will just do a few light schooling sessions and have lots of time off.

Depending on how he starts his fourth year, I hope to take him to some riding club things now I know about them, some low key BD competitions at Prelim and then aim for the four year old classes. Again, this all is in an ideal world, but none of it may be possible.

I will have my other half with me the first few times I get on, and then after that I will unfortunately be solo. I know it is far from ideal, I have thought of nothing else but how to change this, but there is not much I can do about that other than send him away. I really did not want to do this due to financial reasons must mostly because I want to take it as slowly as he needs which I can't monitor if he is sent somewhere else. I have heard of so many horror stories of sending them away, I don't care if we just walk for 4 months until someone can help me on the ground, I really would like to do this myself. But you never know, my situation could change by then and I could have an extra pair of hands to help me on a regular basis which would be the absolute ideal!

I above anyone know that if you make a plan, be prepared for it to be demolished. So although I would love to do the 4 year old classes with him, I am not making any aims or goals that need to be reached. After all, this is all the fun of breeding and doing it from scratch. It is the reason I initially had a foalie
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I honestly do not intend on doing a lot with him as a three year old, he will spend most of the year turned out in a field with his friends he is with now, that was not the aim of this post. I just wanted to know whether people did take their three year olds out for the experience (as I came across a lady doing an unaffiliated last winter with her three year old) and I did not know whether it was 'allowed' so to speak.

I now know that it is best to wait until he is four (which will be 2011) and have lots of suggestions as to how I can get him used to working with others. I am definitely going to look into the riding clubs as I think that would be an excellent place to start him out, and I am sure they would not even mind if I just go to one of the competitions and have a look around with him under saddle as long as I clear it with them.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions, it has cleared a lot up for me with regards to the original post... Plus given me lots of ideas to try with him in the future. As this is my first baby, I tend to look around and see what others are doing with theirs and this was the reason I posted this. I do not know how things are going to turn out and I have never done this before so do not claim to be an expert, god, I am far from it! I also recognise that I have a very steep learning curve ahead; some things I try will work out, others will not, but I hope to learn from my experience.

Thank you again to all those who have offered advice, I have saved this thread so that I can keep referring back to it
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Sorry if I have not replied to your post directly, this does not mean that I have not found your reply useful or am ungrateful. Far from it, I value the opinions of those who have far more experience in their little fingers than I do right now
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I just hope you will all continue to help me through this next chapter in my horsey experience as I am sure I will have lots of questions to come over the next few years!
 
I dont think you can when they're 3. But if I were you, there's nothing stopping you taking him to these things (perhaps with another horse who's competing) and simply riding him about at the venue, that'll do wonders for his experience and it'll be so non-stressful for him.
 
Echo those who have said about RC stuff. Our new boy arriving in 2 weeks is a fairly mature lad for his age (turned 3 this spring). He'll be having a month-6 weeks to settle in before backing him, then plan is to spend winter hacking at weekends and IF he proves sensible/mature enough maybe a light session in school once a week or once a fortnight.
We are also planning to get him out and about over the summer to some in hand shows - we totally aren't in to showing but really don't think that is at all the point - it is the experience. We are also planning over the winter to box up and go elsewhere for hacks quite regularly so the travelling experience becomes an everyday thing. Then next spring (feb/mar) he will start doing a bit more in the school and we'll maybe look to take him to some of the dressage comps I go to to just ride in the warm up a few times, and as ben_and_jerrys said some RC clinics (same RC!). If he can do a half decent prelim test and pop round a 2'3 course of SJ by the end of next summer we will be THRILLED, and if everything goes better than expected a dream would be to get him to the MK 3 day in September next year for the shortened 2'0 to 2'3 class - he will go to things like the RC camp next summer etc to get used to going away overnight and will hopefully go to most things alongsde my sensible 'been - there - done - it - all' 12 year old who takes life entirely in his stride!
So I think if I were you I wouldn't even dream of getting on a horse til the spring of its 3rd year - I don't really see why you'd need to? And why not just to go to some inhand stuff, and then once turned 4 start riding at shows (even 'tack and turnout' at local shows!) and see how he is then?!
 
I'm glad you asked this Jetset as I'm trying to find somewhere to take my youngster later in the year and he is 3 and so far the best I've found are rding clubs.

Before anyone gets on their high horse about my 3 year old being ridden frequently I know my horse and am only too aware of the problems that can be caused at a yound age but I also know they can come to a horse broken at 5 too.

When I bought my horse as a yearling I had it planned that he wouldn't be broken and ridden until he was at least 3 proper (ie past his 3rd birthday) and then turned away till 4 and then young horse classes (BD). However, come January he started to show very obviously that he was very bored in the field and wanted to do more. We worked him in hand but he was still very bored so since he grows evenly and slowly and hadn't grown for a while (about 6 months) we set about backing him. He loves it and loves coming in to work. We are taking it easy in terms of level of muscle and if he ever needs time off he gets it no question. He is now broken in and is doing more schooling etc and loves it. He is very grown up mentally and physically in a lot of ways and we don't pressure him. We take things at his pace.

I get quite upset when people judge me in terms of backing and riding him early. I love my horse dearly and want the best for him but I also know that he wants to learn and do things with his body. If people are worried about his balanced he is extremely balanced and we will stop the second he says he wants to. So please stop and think before judging anyone if you don't know the horse as you may or may not be aware of how must those judgements can hurt.
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I think you will have to enquire at local unaffiliated shows. Certainly at BD shows he would not be allowed in the warm up arena. Only horses competing can do that. It is hair raising enough in there sometimes when there are youngsters around.
 
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