Eventing people - thoughts please?

ihatework

ihatework

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I have a little debate going on inside my head and would appreciate peoples thoughts.

I have a lovely horse that has had a fair few soundness problems. He had almost a year off, then had a lot of money spent on various treatments, and has since been in work for 11 months and been sounder than he has ever been.

He’s currently jumping his socks off and feeling great.

I am getting very itchy feet and would love to be out eventing again but at the same time would quite like to keep the boy as sound as possible.

So was wondering if I am being silly considering doing 4 events on a ticket, just for a bit of fun. Would pick events earlyish in the season in the hope of good ground. He has won 2 PN but since the rule change he is now eligible again for Intro, so might just do Intro’s.

What would you do? Have spoken to my vet, who is a typical Irish type and he said to just do it but to avoid the hard ground, I’m just a bit more cautious, especially as the horse is now un-insurable.
 
My mare has some soundness problemws several years ago after doing PN and a little novice eventing - she was not lame immediately after, but I think the work jarred her a bit. But she had a course of treatment, and my other half started eventing her again just doing PN - and now just Intros as it fits with the other horse he competes - and she loved it. She is very comfortable at that level, has not been lame at all - and obviously we pick our ground a bit. But I think she will tell us if she doesnt want to do it any more and we would then stop. Nice thing is they have great fun - and she is very competitive at that level and got to the Grass Roots champs last year. I think I'd probably go for it if I was you - plenty of events with good enough ground that you can be choosy - and if it is like last year, irt will never get too hard anyway
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I don't see why not-If the ground is good, doing an Intro class would be no different to doing 3 BSJA classes in one day really. The XC speed is so slow at Intro you'd only be cantering round the XC course. And the XC is so short!
They dont have any big drop fences at Intro either.Bigger drop fences are something that I'd always be very wary of with a horse like this.
I think that J is obv. telling you that he feels really good! As soon as he starts to feel a tad reluctant I would back off and stop.
 
I would go for it, as he was bought to event.
However, I guess like with Winston, I have decided that I'd rather keep him happy and sound as hes only 12 so he goes and compete in dressage.
However, there are events like Tweseldown and Smiths Lawn whereby I could compete him if i felt I wanted to.
But hes happy dressaging and doing the odd jump at home which keeps him sweet.
If he was my only horse, I would be inclined to event him.
 
Hi Ben and Jerrys!

Being totally objective, I think if you pick your events carefully for their good going, and just stick at Intro to begin with, and go steady, you should be OK. And obviously be prepared to withdraw if the going is not good - you can always just do the dressage and show jumping if you're not happy with the going.

However, I am a bit of a hyprocrite because I am probably not going to event either of my two any more due to their soundness issues - can't bear the time off and the vets bills! But then, I've become really keen on dressage and show jumping now anyway, and so far have had no yearnings to event.

If I was getting itchy feet, I'd wheel the older one out for a few novices on good going.

Think you should have a go.
 
I say go for it too !

It is only 4 events, at Intro/PN level and provided you pick the ground carefully and prepare yourself for the possibility that you might turn up and withdraw if you're not happy with the ground.
You know the horse better than we do so if you feel he is ready for it go with your gut instinct
 
Thanks all, maybe I will go to some parties next season
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On the same vein, are their any events in the south that run the dressage and/or showjumping on a surface?
 
I used to have to be careful with my old eventer and hard ground, I think a lot of us are a lot more picky about where and when we run our horses anyway, but I think you should go for it, if your aiming to do just 4, then I'd say you'd be spot on. And if he copes well, then you can think about doing more. Just make sure you leave enough gap in between comps, i'm sure you don't need me to tell you that though
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Moreton Morrell do their SJ warmup and jumping on surfaces so that is a good one. The course isnt too hilly either so not many drops
 
I would probably have a think about why he was going lame before making a decision? But I would try one on good ground and see how you go. You'll never know otherwise!
 
What are you doing with him at the moment?

If you are out doing fast hacking for an hour I wouldn't think that an event which is probably only an hours work in total would be any worse.
 
Moreton and Bovington both show jump on a surface. I have a similar problem with my boy. He has had nearly three years off with foot problems but like yours is sounder than hes ever been. I am going to buy some tickets for him and have a go at intro next year. I will pick my courses but if the ground turns hard quickly i will substitute my other horse rather than risk his legs.
 
He's jumping 1m-1.10m on a surface about once a fortnight.
Also 1 longer hack a week (around 90 minutes) which includes fast canters on good ground.
In between that he's just schooling and doing shorter, not particularly fast hacks (I'm trying to avoid trotting him on the roads).

For those that asked he has prior PSD and torn sesamoid liament, but the main doubts are over navicualr changes that were noted this time last year.

Cheers for the tips on Moreton and Bovington, I think both of those would be within reach for me. Although all the ones I am thinking of possibly doing all fall close together (Munstead/Bovington/Moreton/Larkhill), though suspect I will have to contend with the balloters anyway!!
 
Don't buy all 4 tickets at once, it only takes them a day to process them so get them 1 at a time and you can make a decision about the rest after you have done the first one.
 
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I don't see why not-If the ground is good, doing an Intro class would be no different to doing 3 BSJA classes in one day really. The XC speed is so slow at Intro you'd only be cantering round the XC course. And the XC is so short!
They dont have any big drop fences at Intro either.Bigger drop fences are something that I'd always be very wary of with a horse like this.
I think that J is obv. telling you that he feels really good! As soon as he starts to feel a tad reluctant I would back off and stop.

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I dont always think the time Intro is "so" slow I and alot of otehr people had to go very quick to get the time at Borde Hill, and there was only 2 people in my section who made the time!! Am sure Hattikins will agree on this at the event.

But do agree it is generally a slower pace then PN & Novice, I say go for it and have fun!
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What are you doing with him at the moment?

If you are out doing fast hacking for an hour I wouldn't think that an event which is probably only an hours work in total would be any worse.

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An hours work in total
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Sorry feel like im being moany on this post
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I warm Dexter up for the dressage for about 35mins, then the 5mins test, then SJ warm up and SJing = about 30mins then the XC = 20mins inc warm up. So thats around 1hr 1/2 ish.

Spose it all depends on the horse though
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Also second someone else's comment about leaving plenty of time to recover in between events - v. important. I would leave two to three weeks in between events with a horse that has soundness issues.
 
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Go for it.!!! As long as you pick the events v carefully, there are some that have a rep for much better ground than others..
You know the probs A has had, if J was mine I would go for it.. He looked FAB jumping the other weekend.!!!
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