How long do you have new horse before competing?

Molly'sMama

Molly'sMama

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As title really. This is kinda both a hypothetical and advice question...possibly getting new dressage horse on loan, nicee warmblood, competing around elementary.. I was hoping to go to some Keysoe around March time with it,would/has 3 months been sufficient/more than sufficient to get horsey and you working properly ? Horsey at the moment is ridden but no particular attention,if you get what i mean. Thanks :)
 
DEpends on horse and you really, have had mine 6 months and not competed yet as wa quite green to start with, but previously had more established horse which I took out after 6 weeks.
 
That seems loads of time. If the horse is established and you can ride, then there's no reason why you couldn't go out within a few weeks I don't think...
 
Erm, I would have been out competing at the first opportunity when I got horses previously. The last horse I got though was 18 years ago now!! :)

If the horse was or had been competing regularly then I probably would just carry on and take it out as soon as I felt comfortable.
 
It all depends how you get on with them and how they settle... some horses take months to bond with and get used to and some you could go out competing with after a few weeks. See how you get on when it arrives, and if you get on fine and you're feeling confident there's no reason why not! I would certainly think 3 months would be sufficient.
 
I think it really varies - one of mine i took to a show 4 days after she came home. The other one i tried at a show, she also the.n stayed with her old owners whilst i got used to her (more shows). Brought her home for a week and then went to another show!

When i had ponies/pc horses i used to go to a rally or clinic first but usually within the first couple of weeks.
 
dependant on the level the horse is working at and it's fitness I would potentially be out very shortly after purchase i.e. week(s)! BUT on the same vein it could be months its all very much how long is a piece of string. I have even on one occasion competed a horse to try it as due to various reasons the only time I could was at a competition!

You should go with what you are happy with and what your instructor is happy with. Just because one person can take a new horse out after owning it a week doesn't mean you have to do the same.
 
I competed mine after 2 weeks just to test the water! Realistically you couldn't expect to perform your best after that time, but I used it as a benchmark exercise
 
With an established horse (who has seemed to be settled in new environment) and fairly competent, confident rider then I would be out competing almost straight away. When daughter got her pony she was out competing at a very busy agricultural show within a week! (With excellent results as well.)
 
thanks guys :)
silly i didn't think of it -showjumpingfilly i will defo try to take horsey to some clinics/rallies away from home once we're settled and see how we do :)
 
I bought Pilfer on the Tuesday and took him combined training on the Thursday and he won his class :)
He was a real 'been there, done that' type though.

Less experienced horses can take months of work at home and hiring arenas/RC clinics before I want to take them out; I think if your horse has competed BD Elem then 3 months should be ample time.
 
Similar to Millitiger - had one fairly experiened horse, collected Sunday competed on the Wednesday at combined training. Next horse had done quite a lot of competing but probably took him to a clinic after about 2 months to check he was fine to do on my own, then after that started competing him.

Everyone and horse will be different. Just do what suits you, no pressure from anyone.
 
Took nearly 1 year with J! Took me a while to be confident enough to do so
He is very quirky not as much now though

6 weeks with A - she is young but I felt confident and comfortable to do so, it was only an intro test at a Very Low key show 5 mins away - after J at his first show with me which was a nightmare I wanted to get first show out the way or I constantly worry about it but she was a star :)

It's down to individual and horse - as you can see was Very different with my 2 and J was 13!
 
depends on the horse. I got mine near the end of february and then went to a show at the end of march. But he was very fit and competition ready. So I guess it depends :D
 
First horse took me 9 months before we did a show and even then it was very softly softly...taken to clinics, arena hire, riding round at shows etc. That approach with her really was beneficial as she's good as gold and loves going out and about and I can go to shows alone and don't have to worry.
Second horse was out just doing a clear round within the week.

As above...depends on the horse
 
My current horse I collected on the Sunday and took out on the following Sunday so a week! She wasn't overly fit admittedly, she looked fitter than she was and certainly wasn't competition fit and ready but as others have said, I like to test the water!!

I am also used to sitting on a horse once and being asked to compete it or having the first time you sit on a new horse be a full day hunting :) so it depends on the rider as well
 
I would expect to take out an established horse at the first opportunity really, unless you are a novice rider or something. I started taking my 4 yr old to lessons, hacks and the beach a couple of weeks after I first sat on her (she hadn't been ridden for nearly a year after she had spent 6 weeks at a pro backer, her entire education). Took her to her first competition after about two months. She is a chilled dude of a horse and I knew she would behave herself.
 
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