Competing BD two consecutive days?

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dressage_diva

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Over the Easter weekend I've noticed that there are BD shows at different local venues on two consecutive days and I'm toying with the idea of taking my 8yrd old WB out to compete at both shows. He is quite green at competitions and I'm trying to get him out and about to get him to learn to relax and settle more - the more we can go out the better I am hoping he will be, but given I work FT I can only ever go out at weekends which somewhat restricts how often we can compete (due to medical reasons I can't drive him myself so I have to also rely on when my husband is free to drive lorry).

I've never taken a horse out to do dressage on consecutive days before and wondering if I'm being unfair to expect him to do two tests and travelling? If it was an overnight show at same venue I wouldn't hesitate, but it's the travelling I'm more worried about. I'd be looking at doing two Novice/Elem tests both days. The first day would be 1.5hrs on lorry each way to a venue he's competed at lots, and the second day just a 30min lorry journey to somewhere he has been once before. He is fit, ridden 6 days a week including trips on the gallops so I think physically he can cope with the ridden work but I'm worried about all the travelling (he's fine on lorry but stressy to load/unload). If necessary I could just do the one test on the second day.
 
FWIW, most comps here in Aus are run over two days. Quite a few of the Dressage Clubs will get together and run over both days of the weekend at the same venue. Many people won't stay, they will travel back and forth. If he's fit and travels well, I don't really see it as a problem. I've often found with the green horses that a two day comp has a rapidly accelerated learning curve (in a positive way!). If you're happy to enter and potentially alter plans on the day, I don't see it as a problem.
 
As long as he is reasonably fit go for it. Plenty of hay and water on the lorry and appropriate rugs. He is not a 4/5 year old and has already done a bit so it is just more education for him in my view - which is worthless !

Good luck.
 
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