how long after buying 'til you first competed?

Shooting Star

Shooting Star

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^ as per the title.

Interested to know how long after you've brought a horse until you've started competing the new love of your life.

I'm guessing for experienced horses not long (going by my own track record!) but I've got a mentally immature nearly 7yo (think 3/4yo in life experience) and I'm thinking that the local RC dressage comp in a months time might be a good goal as it's within hacking distance in a field that borders one of our bridle paths so somewhere he's vaguely familiar with, will have had him around 3 months by then.

They've got the option of intro A and Prelim 4 both of which he's capable of in his level of schooling but I strongly suspect the white boarding around the arena will be his downfall so think some nice freshly painted jump poles to lay out a home arena would be required if I decided to do it!

Sensible or stupid?! :o
 
That sounds fine- see how he feels nearer the time, but 3 months is ages :) I thought you were going to say next weekend!
 
With my ex-racer I took her to a dressage a week after I bought her from the racing yard and she won. Good job I did take her out quick as she was lame a few weeks later and stays lame to this day!
 
I did combined training on mine straight away - but it was a 'home' rc show (and I won :D)

Went sj'ing the next week, fell off in the warmup and landed on my head, got eliminated at the first fence (twice) and then jumped the judge :eek: :o :rolleyes:
 
Sensible - because of his mental age I'd say so long as you just see it as training and don't let it set you back if it doesn't go well!! You have to take them at some point and being able to hack there is great.
 
I have a very immature 7yr old. (think backed at 4 turned away then not alot done with him)

I have had him 5 weeks I am competing tomorrow. I am hacking to a small hunter trial. I am thinking of it as being a schooling session more than anything. I dont expect to go particularly well or even clear. I like them to get used to going out and about reasonaly early.

You should be fine just think of it as schooling if he is a bit spooky it doesnt matter x
 
ta all!

Was thinking of it as a training run so provided I don't hit the deck and he remains within the boards I'd deem it a sucess!

Just looked up the RC and found out they've got a pre-season training session at the same location later this month with a chance to use the arenas and have a judge assess it or have somebody to coach a session so might work well to initiate him without the hubub of a full on competition day, would be good to join & support a local club anyway.

Fortunately entries aren't needed until the end of the month for the classes so a couple of weeks to work out whether he's ready, but better a car crash near home than further away I'm thinking ;)
 
rhino said:
I did combined training on mine straight away - but it was a 'home' rc show (and I won :D)

Went sj'ing the next week, fell off in the warmup and landed on my head, got eliminated at the first fence (twice) and then jumped the judge :eek: :o :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Nice to know you have bad days too :p Even with the legendary ginger beast :D


I had F a year before I competed him. I won't compete D until I've owned him for 3 years at least... That's an age thing though :p

If the horse is settled and up for it, and you're confident to do it, I guess it doesn't matter too much how long it's been!
 
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