EVENTERS! I need your opinions!

[Orangehorse]

Don't dismiss the smaller horse. My Novice eventer was a 15.00 TB type, although that was his limit. My niece also had a successful 15.1 eventer.

I know a couple of 15.00/15.1 going into Novice next season, having come up through the grades. The fences aren't THAT big and a smaller horse should be easier to ride and steer through tight combinations. Also they tend to have fewer soundness problems.

 

[showpony]

Just a suggestion OP but have you considered taking a horse on Loan?? If daughter has no real experience xc & with eventing she could try it out & see if its for her - saves the financial outlay on buying an expensive horse without being 100% sure of whether your daughter will enjoy eventing.

helenalbert ooh both of those are lovely too, my daughter enjoys both dressage and showjumping and although she hasnt done any ODEs or hunter trials etc she has been on a few fun rides with xc fences along the way and done a bit of xc schooling days but never a full course, She has also done a fair bit of fast work too which she loves doing but unfortunately has never combined the 2 so I suppose she may decide its not for her but it is the kind of thing she generally enjoys so I doubt it will be the case but you can never be 100% certain!

 

[kate.jessop]

Been on Sophie Martindale's website and I will be sure to get in contact with her. showpony we have been on the look out for a suitable loan horse and that was our initial plan but unfortunately we cant seem to find anything at the minute

 

[ruth24]

All horses look lovely.

Take a knowledgable person with you, try the horse out in every situation, hacking, jumping, travelling, riding with other horses, taking them away from other horses etc really put them through their paces and I’d say your daughter will know herself by the feeling the horse gives.

don't impulse buy either, take your time think long and hard about each horse.

happy shopping!!

 

[morrismob]

Totally agree with point 3. I have made this mistake with eldest daughter. Ended up with daughter losing a lot of confidence. We bought my 15 yr old daughter an eventer last year who was with a young female pro but had only evented 3 times with good results but not totally used to being placed correctly at every fence.

I would do the step up route and let her first season be fun as well as a learning curve ! Both my daughters had evented with the pony club upto Area Intermediate level and still found the jump at BE hard, there are a lot of fantastic amateur riders out there and to place is hard let alone win. You sound like you have enough money to do this in steps. Depending on when your daughters birthday is she has several years till she is out of U18's.

The BE training system is great and we have spent the winter doing them. 15 yr old is now entering her 3rd ( 2nd full ) season and I feel she is ready to have a good season. Good luck.

 

[kate.jessop]

thank you morrismob! well we have completely ruled out all the horses we had in mind originally and I think our best bet is too do it in steps as you and other people have suggested