xp0u4076
Well-Known Member
As it says in the title really.. How do you know when to stop going up the levels??
How do you know when a horse has reached its limit?
- Thread starter xp0u4076
- Start date
Sarah_Jane
Well-Known Member
I guess when they are not finding the level they are on easy or physically finding it demanding. It does vary depending on which disipline though.
xp0u4076
Well-Known Member
eventing, horse is competing novice and getting double clears.we've been schooling intermediate xc and sj and he's doing that no probs either. Thing is he's not the kind of horse you would look at and say 'wow' but he keeps rising to the challenge.. i dont want to push him beyond his limit but as i say he keeps improving.
Sarah_Jane
Well-Known Member
If he is happily jumping double clears then I wouldn't be worried about moving up to the next level. Many that don't look the 'typical' event stamp can do well at higher levels. Do some IN's if you haven't already and pick a nice Intermediate to start you can always drop back if there is a problem.
ElleJS
Well-Known Member
I know of many horses fantastic at 1* and novice but the step up is just too much. The reason they do so well is that they are trying their hardest. Yet some horses find it so easy they aren't impressive till they are pushed up the levels.
I guess you just know by gut instinct.
I guess you just know by gut instinct.
Silgram
Well-Known Member
Sounds like you are doing all the right things to make the move up as smooth as possible but in the end you are not going to know unless you try.
wizzi901
Well-Known Member
I would say you will know when and if they have reached a limit, either they will lose their sparkle or just stop jumping happy clears, or your marks if its dressage will become lower and lower...
With jumping, the boogers generally just stop!
With jumping, the boogers generally just stop!
flyingfeet
Well-Known Member
My hano mare with a long back reached her limit SJ'ing at 3ft 3", after that she refused to go in the box and felt like she was struggling when jumping!
Noodlejaffa
Well-Known Member
I've just come to the conclusion my wee grey gelding has reached his limit with PN. He tries his heart out (bless him), but the spark that's usually there isn't. Not fair for me to push him anymore.
Petrie
Well-Known Member
I would definitely go for it with a horse that is regularly doing double clears at Novice, and keeps rising to the challenge, as you put it.
It really doesn't matter if it doesn't look the part - it's doing the job that counts.
I made the step up to Intermediate on a horse that was going clear every time at Novice xc, and only ever having the odd one or two down show jumping.
It felt like a huge deal to me, but once I'd walked the cross country, I really didn't feel like it was the enormous step up I'd made it out to be. There is a natural progression from one level to the next, and you have the IN classes to help. I'd also made sure I had done a really good variety of Novice tracks, including some of the ones generally thought to be stiffer.
Suffice to say, we went clear, and he didn't seem to notice much difference. We did have 3 down in the show jumping as we struggled to get in a rhythm over a really tight, up to height sj track, but we seem to have made some progress on the sj front, last time out was only one down.
The only problem we have now is staying sound long enough to actually get to any events at all!
You should go for it. It sounds like he's very careful, and there's not that much difference in the height when you think about it.
It really doesn't matter if it doesn't look the part - it's doing the job that counts.
I made the step up to Intermediate on a horse that was going clear every time at Novice xc, and only ever having the odd one or two down show jumping.
It felt like a huge deal to me, but once I'd walked the cross country, I really didn't feel like it was the enormous step up I'd made it out to be. There is a natural progression from one level to the next, and you have the IN classes to help. I'd also made sure I had done a really good variety of Novice tracks, including some of the ones generally thought to be stiffer.
Suffice to say, we went clear, and he didn't seem to notice much difference. We did have 3 down in the show jumping as we struggled to get in a rhythm over a really tight, up to height sj track, but we seem to have made some progress on the sj front, last time out was only one down.
The only problem we have now is staying sound long enough to actually get to any events at all!
You should go for it. It sounds like he's very careful, and there's not that much difference in the height when you think about it.
SpruceRI
Well-Known Member
I know mine couldn't do anything bigger than PN, so we're sticking at that level.
She got up to Newcomers BSJA but found the striding too long, and the oxers too wide once they got to this height as she's only small. Although she rarely stopped I could really feel her struggling so we went down to small opens and eventually gave up. Still think we can go further in Dressage though.
So, if you want to go up a level, just try it. As you're schooling at Intermediate height and having no probs, I can't see that the competing will be. Give it a go.
She got up to Newcomers BSJA but found the striding too long, and the oxers too wide once they got to this height as she's only small. Although she rarely stopped I could really feel her struggling so we went down to small opens and eventually gave up. Still think we can go further in Dressage though.
So, if you want to go up a level, just try it. As you're schooling at Intermediate height and having no probs, I can't see that the competing will be. Give it a go.