From 4 yr old to BE Level - how long?

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almrc

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Hi All

Bit of a random question that probably doesn't have an exact answer, but my 3 year old is 4 in April next year. I *hope* to event her, getting to any kind of BE level would be great! :p So my question is, I am starting to break her as a 4 year old. What should she be doing ideally each year and how old do you think she will be when she is able to compete at BE level. I know this is all approximate as all horses are different and anything could happen, but in an ideal world..?
 
Whatever you do don't feel rushed in your horses training that they have to do BE at X years old. So many horses are totally different in how they mature and with a baby you have all the time in the world :)
 
First sort of eventing competitions in my experiance (having worked partly in a yard producing young event horses) begin when the horse is 5/6/7 years old (starting small and progressing up to eventually BE). Obviously it will depend on your horse, as some mature quicker than others. Just don't rush, work heavily on the flat to begin with to get the basics right, and your horse will let you know when hes ready :D x

Obviously its good to be out and about by then, the occasional dressage and Showjumping competition, i'm refering to stringing all 3 phases together :D
 
At 4 years old you CAN compete at BE80(T) and BE4yo (BE90 height) for a maximum of 4 runs.

A lot of horses will not be mature enough to do this however, and there is no harm in not competing at 4/5 years old.

You will be able to tell what the horse is ready and able to do, and I would always use the time to take them to a variety of places/shows and just try and get some general life experience. There are always unaffiliated events/jumpcross etc. to try first.
 
Thank you for the help so far. We have come a long way to rush anything now, so I will only ever go at her pace and I like to do things thoroughly so will never do anything until she is ready. But I just wondered in general, if there is such a thing and what other people have done.

Shes my little darling and I know she will go far, but only when we are both ready :)
 
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