Change of Disciplines

[dianchi]

I think im looking for reassurance more than anything else. Really sorry for long post!

I owe a rather lovely chestnut TB mare, who i bought to showjump. We had 4 wonderful years where she went from strength to strength. Jumped Foxhunter classes with ease and even got me round the young riders at Hickstead which i was pretty chuffed at!

2 years ago we hit the bottom, Colic resulting in trip to Newmarket, Serious field accident where she had to be imobolised for 6 weeks, then when she was finally better, did her high suspensory ligament in the field. All in the space of 6 months.

Needless to say it has taken until now to get her fit and healthy again. We went out jumping (trailblazers) and had a disaster. Not interested at all. Jumped round once but wasnt happy and didnt seem to be enjoying it as she used to.

So we have been having a go at dressage, which surprisingly wasnt too bad and qualified for two unaff. regional champs at first go, and never under 60%

But has anyone had a showjumper turned dressage that has still been competitive? Im only doing prelim/nov currently but i dont want to stay doing that. Has anyone gone to Elem/Med with ex showjumpers?

 

[cornwallexracers]

Well mine is a bit different, my old lad was a decent chaser, who I then reschooled to go eventing, I evented him up to Intermediate and then he did his SDFT, so after that I decided jumping was a bit of a no-no for him. We kind of drifted into showing as something to keep him occupied after he'd recovered and he proved really rather good and we went and did county level showing, quite sucessfully too!

I can't see why you couldn't be sucessful with your horse in another discipline if its something she's showing an aptitude for. Good luck with it!!

 

[Moggy]

Yes why not? Mine was doing BN/Dis when I bought him to do dressage. He's now doing BD (just about to do first Elem) with 65% + at Novice. All being well we should start Mediums late summer.

 

[Thistle]

eventers do 3 at once

 

[H-J]

Do 3 what at once? Didnt understand!!!

 

[Nic]

disciplines?

 

[Imonone]

I do some show organising and a bit of judging and have seen TB's all the way up through the levels. Loads of different types competing up to AM anyway.

You can compete to Grand Prix on any horse but it depends on the dedication of the rider and the disposition, talent and conformation of the horse.

You will only really find out if you've got what it takes by going for it and seeing how far you get - just like you did with the jumping........... Good Luck

 

[katiejaye]

I bought Louis as a showjumper and we started off our careers together doing SJ training and lots of comps etc. He was very green when I got him and quite unbalanced so I had to go back to basics to do a lot of groundwork and schooling to get his basic paces strong enough and to build up his backend. People started commenting on how well he moved and carried himself and I was convinced to try out some unaffiliated dressage, something neither me or Louis had ever done, well we became hooked on it

A complete change of discipline for us both! We did both SJ and BD for a while and then eventually 2 yrs later I gradually stopped SJ competitively and affiliated BD as he was doing so well.

Now we compete BD elementary level and are hoping to move up to Medium some time this year

So yup a horse that has been bred and trained to SJ can def have a change of career and be very sucessful

Good luck