Have we enough done to start low level eventing? (Pic heavy)

maxie

maxie

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My ambition is to start eventing at intro level here in Ireland with my mare. (I think it is equivalent to BE80/BE90 in England? )

I reported on this mare before and received some very good advice from lots of people so thank you all (Previous threads: http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=479969 and http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=483058)

I would like some opinion on what to do next in terms of aiming for our first event.

But first here’s what we’ve been doing for the past two years:

After being backed as a 3yo, the mare was given several months off and brought back into work last summer as a 4yo. We did lots of hacking, two fun rides, some cross-country schooling etc:











She then got the winter off, during which she jumped a five-bar gate with a full heavy outdoor rug on to follow us out hunting. Unscathed, she was put back in the field until January.

During Jan/Feb she went away for six weeks schooling, mainly on the flat, during which time she did her first ever dressage competition, coming 5th out of 10 in her section.

Since Feb, we’ve been doing lots of hacking, six low-key fun rides with kids and ponies, some flatwork lessons and some jumping.

In April, we did two hunter trials, going in the novice pairs class on both occasions. I would have liked to do a few more but between weather and work, I just couldn’t get it done at the time.

First hunter trial, April (Digital image paid for with permission to post online)

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In recent weeks we’ve been doing a lot more flatwork as I was preparing for my BHS Stage 3 exam (passed it woo hoo!) but we’ve also been to two indoor training shows, where we’ve been jumping 80cm and 90cm courses quite well. Last time we knocked the very last pole, otherwise we would have had a double clear.

Then last weekend I decided to take her to our first outdoor show. It was sweltering hot so I decided to enter the 70cm sportsman class to see how she would go on grass outdoors, followed by the 90cm sportsman after a break of about an hour.
Delighted with how it went- double clear and rosette for 70cm and just one down in each round of the 90cm.










Chocolate cake and vanilla ice cream for anyone who got this far!

So, based on what we’ve done so far, what else do I need to get under our belt before we enter a real life scary event?
 
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I think that if you are both confident there is not much more required but that confidence really does need to be there to avoid over facing her and it falling apart when all 3 phases are on the same day, it does effect them needing to warm up 3 times in a busy situation and needs to be taken into account.

The only thing I would want to do is probably another xc schooling session if she has not been since the pairs, just to make sure she is happy alone and has come on for the experience.

She has really matured into a smart horse, look forward to reading further reports:)
 
yeah def try a few riding club one day events. The eventing ireland comps, even at lower levels, are way more difficult and expensive. are you in a riding club?
 
TheMule said:
Yes!
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Thanks TheMule :-)

be positive said:
I think that if you are both confident there is not much more required but that confidence really does need to be there to avoid over facing her and it falling apart when all 3 phases are on the same day, it does effect them needing to warm up 3 times in a busy situation and needs to be taken into account.

The only thing I would want to do is probably another xc schooling session if she has not been since the pairs, just to make sure she is happy alone and has come on for the experience.

She has really matured into a smart horse, look forward to reading further reports:)
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Thanks Be Positive, there's an intro class on close to me this weekend so I'm planning to head over and watch it as part of my preparation.
Yes, I'm thinking of going XC schooling maybe twice more before entering a comp so I def agree with you on that. In the pairs HT, I went in front of my partner for the second half of both classes and she went lovely. I'm lucky in that she never says 'no', just needs an extra bit of push/reassurance from time to time.

paddi22 said:
yeah def try a few riding club one day events. The eventing ireland comps, even at lower levels, are way more difficult and expensive. are you in a riding club?
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Hi Paddi, no I'm not in a riding club, although I did toy with the idea. Do you think it would be worth paying RC membership and EI membership on top of it?
 
Grrr, just got a warning from admin about the hunter trial pic, even though I bought the image with express permission to use it online.
Does that happen automatically?
 
Hi Maxie,

You seem very prepared to start intro level, you seem to have taken her nice and slow and got plenty done!

I had no dressage comps about 6 showjumping and about 6 hunter trials (no schooling done) and a bit of hunting when I started eventing at pre novice level (lowest level at the time), when I look back now it seems awful that I did it but we came out with a double clears plenty of days out so im happy, my horse is very brave cross country so I guess I was lucky :D

I would recomend riding clubs though to start on now as all their events are in full swing, it costs between 50 and 80 to join the rc and there events are only 50 euro so a lot better value than eventing ireland.
I would join as an intermediate member (90s) but do your first competition as ap which is 80s out of competition then move up to 90s, the events go on till sep so id try and get a few in ,then maybe do one or two eventing ireland events on day tickets and affiliate properly next year!
 
I wouldn't join EI until i was really comfortable and placing well in riding club events. Its more expensive! Even the one day tickets add up.

Smallest height in EI fences is 90 min. which is a small height, but a big ask if your horse is unused to a full day of warming up, dressage, jumping and cross country. I'd always take a horse to smaller riding club ODEs until I was sure of his fitness and confidence levels. Its a much more relaxed atmosphere to.

There's a load of ODEs coming up in the riding clubs. Whereabouts are you based? There's one on Killossory on the 23rd june and in anna harvey on 7th july
 
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snooples said:
Hi Maxie,

You seem very prepared to start intro level, you seem to have taken her nice and slow and got plenty done!

I had no dressage comps about 6 showjumping and about 6 hunter trials (no schooling done) and a bit of hunting when I started eventing at pre novice level (lowest level at the time), when I look back now it seems awful that I did it but we came out with a double clears plenty of days out so im happy, my horse is very brave cross country so I guess I was lucky :D

I would recomend riding clubs though to start on now as all their events are in full swing, it costs between 50 and 80 to join the rc and there events are only 50 euro so a lot better value than eventing ireland.
I would join as an intermediate member (90s) but do your first competition as ap which is 80s out of competition then move up to 90s, the events go on till sep so id try and get a few in ,then maybe do one or two eventing ireland events on day tickets and affiliate properly next year!
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Pigeon said:
Yes definitely :)

Ps Defo join a riding club, ours has helped me a lot!
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paddi22 said:
I wouldn't join EI until i was really comfortable and placing well in riding club events. Its more expensive! Even the one day tickets add up.

Smallest height in EI fences is 90 min. which is a small height, but a big ask if your horse is unused to a full day of warming up, dressage, jumping and cross country. I'd always take a horse to smaller riding club ODEs until I was sure of his fitness and confidence levels. Its a much more relaxed atmosphere to.

There's a load of ODEs coming up in the riding clubs. Whereabouts are you based? There's one on Killossory on the 23rd june and in anna harvey on 7th july
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Lots of votes for the riding club! :)
I suppose the reason I was going to go straight to EI is that eventually I might sell this mare and from asking round, most people would prefer a horse with EI vs RC eventing experience. Having said that, I have no intention of selling her in the immediate future.

EI, I was thinking of Ballinamona, Kilguilkey, or maybe the 5yo masterclass at Camphire- anyone been to these or know if they would be suitable for a first comp?

On the RC, do I have to go to lots of RC sessions before I could enter a comp? I'm just wondering about the cost of RC vs EI.
Day tickets to EI is €75 all in I believe.

I'm based in Tipp Paddi
 
maxie said:
Lots of votes for the riding club! :)
I suppose the reason I was going to go straight to EI is that eventually I might sell this mare and from asking round, most people would prefer a horse with EI vs RC eventing experience. Having said that, I have no intention of selling her in the immediate future.

EI, I was thinking of Ballinamona, Kilguilkey, or maybe the 5yo masterclass at Camphire- anyone been to these or know if they would be suitable for a first comp?

On the RC, do I have to go to lots of RC sessions before I could enter a comp? I'm just wondering about the cost of RC vs EI.
Day tickets to EI is €75 all in I believe.

I'm based in Tipp Paddi
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Kilquilkey is lovely there is more than likely going to be a riding club event there in July, it hasnt been confirmed yet though but Id say it will go ahead.
There are events this weekend and next down in Cork but I guess its prob too late to get registered and enter them now, But there is another one in Cork in August and Septmber! For tipperary Kedrah Castle is on 30th June and Grove on in August. Lots of rc events run over EI tracks so its a good warm up and at 50 euro a go its great value i think!

And no need to do any rc stuff before an event you can just join and go straight to comps.


Also kilguilkey had an unaffiliated ODE last july, 50 euro entry aswell, I went to it myself and it was amazing. So keep an eye out as they might hold another one. It was me and my horses first ODE in about 5 years, we did the 90s and had a lovely double clear, the cross country has a bit of everyhting so can be challenging but rides very well.

The 5yo masterclass will prob be at a metre level I think and its doing a dressage test, then 6 showjumps then straight onto 6 cross country fences so its not really an event its more to identify potential event horses.
 
snooples said:
Kilquilkey is lovely there is more than likely going to be a riding club event there in July, it hasnt been confirmed yet though but Id say it will go ahead.
There are events this weekend and next down in Cork but I guess its prob too late to get registered and enter them now, But there is another one in Cork in August and Septmber! For tipperary Kedrah Castle is on 30th June and Grove on in August. Lots of rc events run over EI tracks so its a good warm up and at 50 euro a go its great value i think!

And no need to do any rc stuff before an event you can just join and go straight to comps.


Also kilguilkey had an unaffiliated ODE last july, 50 euro entry aswell, I went to it myself and it was amazing. So keep an eye out as they might hold another one. It was me and my horses first ODE in about 5 years, we did the 90s and had a lovely double clear, the cross country has a bit of everyhting so can be challenging but rides very well.

The 5yo masterclass will prob be at a metre level I think and its doing a dressage test, then 6 showjumps then straight onto 6 cross country fences so its not really an event its more to identify potential event horses.
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Thanks snooples, I had emailed Camphire to find out more about the Masterclass but if it's 1m, then I'll prob strike it off the list for now.

Is there a riding club event at Kedrah on June 30? I was going to go to the EI event there this Sunday for a nosey. It's where I go for schooling and only a 10-min drive away.

Will check out the unaffiliated event in Kilguilkey too. Thanks again
 
The 4yo masterclass is 90s so thats why Im assuming the 5yo will be a metre I might be wrong though!

Yep Kedrah is on the 30th for rc, its actually a qualifier for the national champs but dont let that worry you, qualifiers are usually the same as normal ODE they just go to more effort with dressing the fences and you have to register your horse with rc but thats free and doesnt take long

More info on this page
http://airc.ie/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=167


There is actually a class for young horse (4 and 5yo) so that might be perfect for you, its definately worth checking out!
If you already go schooling there and its only a short trip for your mare it would probably be a perfect first day out
 
Ok, I've done some ringing around and the RC's near me are not that cheap to join €100-110 for membership, plus €20 per lesson. Will mull it over for anotehr while, thanks!
 
What thats ridiculous that they are that expensive, tht doesnt make sense, never heard of a club being more than 80 euro and according to this unicorn riding club is 80 euro
http://airc.ie/ccs/ClubItem.php?clubsPage=2&ClubName=Unicorn

My riding club was 55 euro to join!!!

As I said you dont have to go to lessons, iv never been to any but what a lot of riding clubs will do is training where they set up a course of showjumps a dressage arena and maybe some cross country jumps and its usually 10 euro a go.
Also showjumping and combined training leagues are run throughout the year with 10 euro entry usually as well and a rosettes and small prizes to winners of the league, its very good experience for a young horse.
I cant imagine it should be too much different in Tipp!
You also sometimes get lessons at very good cross country schooling venues for cheaper than normal, we had joseph murphy here recently teaching and also paul beecher (hickstead derby winner) was teaching at Boulta!
 
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Yes.

I didn't join a RC, just went straight into BE.. I think you'll be fine. I couldn't justify the cost so just did 1 unaffiliated and lots of SJ/DR/XC schooling then did an Intro (don't think 80 existed back then!). You'll be fine!
 
maxie said:
Lots of votes for the riding club! :)
I suppose the reason I was going to go straight to EI is that eventually I might sell this mare and from asking round, most people would prefer a horse with EI vs RC eventing experience. Having said that, I have no intention of selling her in the immediate future.
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People want a horse with a good consistent record so a couple of runs at intro wouldn't count for much unless its finishing in the top 5 on a sub 30 dressage score. So if you're conscious of your horses record it might be a good idea to give her a couple of unaffiliated runs first.

Having said that she probably could go do an intro now but if it were me... I'd want her to be comfortaby jumping around 90cm without using a smaller class first as a warm up. You did say you've jumped 90cm recently but it is different when you haven't already jumped the track. I know the sj phase of eventing is simpler than an affiliated sj class but nerves can kick in on the day with packed warm ups, pros jumping ahead in the queue (which I totally understand), possibly badly cut up or slippy ground in the sj arena. Also am I right in reading from your post that she hasn't gone xc on her own yet?

Ok I know I sound all doom and gloom but these things can happen easily. IMHO it would be a far better education for the mare to spend the summer sj with the aim of jumping a 1m course by September and then if its what you really want take in an event at the end of sept. Just my opinion, good luck with her, she seems like a really nice sort who's had a lovely start with you.
 
Keep an eye on the EI website for 'Try Eventing' comps- they sometimes offer them alongside the 'proper' events and the 90cm will be round the intro course. There was one at Glenpatrick up north last weekend. Also always check the day after a registered event as many courses open up for schooling or run an unaffiliated to make use of the flagged course.

Start with a two phase and then build up to a full three phase/one day to get her used to doing more things, they can be a bit surprised when you take them out of the box twice at the beginning...
 
DollyPentreath said:
Yes.

I didn't join a RC, just went straight into BE.. I think you'll be fine. I couldn't justify the cost so just did 1 unaffiliated and lots of SJ/DR/XC schooling then did an Intro (don't think 80 existed back then!). You'll be fine!
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Thanks DollyPenreath, good to know it can be done.

Bantry said:
People want a horse with a good consistent record so a couple of runs at intro wouldn't count for much unless its finishing in the top 5 on a sub 30 dressage score. So if you're conscious of your horses record it might be a good idea to give her a couple of unaffiliated runs first.

Having said that she probably could go do an intro now but if it were me... I'd want her to be comfortaby jumping around 90cm without using a smaller class first as a warm up. You did say you've jumped 90cm recently but it is different when you haven't already jumped the track. I know the sj phase of eventing is simpler than an affiliated sj class but nerves can kick in on the day with packed warm ups, pros jumping ahead in the queue (which I totally understand), possibly badly cut up or slippy ground in the sj arena. Also am I right in reading from your post that she hasn't gone xc on her own yet?

Ok I know I sound all doom and gloom but these things can happen easily. IMHO it would be a far better education for the mare to spend the summer sj with the aim of jumping a 1m course by September and then if its what you really want take in an event at the end of sept. Just my opinion, good luck with her, she seems like a really nice sort who's had a lovely start with you.
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Hi Bantry, she's been xc on her own schooling, we just went in pairs for the hunter trials competition. She's not really bothered about going out and doing things independently because she was always asked to do that from day one.

On the jumping, I've been trying to make the most of each day out without overfacing her, hence the smaller class before the 90cm but I see what you mean about it being a different challenge to go cold into a 90cm round.

As for selling, I take your point, people will look for good results at EI but I understood that if I went on a day ticket in an intro class that would not be on the horse's record? Maybe I'm completely wrong...


sportsmansB said:
Keep an eye on the EI website for 'Try Eventing' comps- they sometimes offer them alongside the 'proper' events and the 90cm will be round the intro course. There was one at Glenpatrick up north last weekend. Also always check the day after a registered event as many courses open up for schooling or run an unaffiliated to make use of the flagged course.

Start with a two phase and then build up to a full three phase/one day to get her used to doing more things, they can be a bit surprised when you take them out of the box twice at the beginning...
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Thanks SportsmansB, good advice. Where would I find a two-phase comp, are they run by EI or is it a riding club comp?
 
maxie said:
As for selling, I take your point, people will look for good results at EI but I understood that if I went on a day ticket in an intro class that would not be on the horse's record? Maybe I'm completely wrong...
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Day tickets will be on her record and you can check it all very easily on the EI website thats why I really think a couple of rc ode to get you into the swing of things during the summer then one or two day tickets at the end of the season.
RC ODE results are almost impossible to find straight after the event and definately will be in a few years time
 
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