How long was your horse broken before it was competed ?

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Eira

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Sparked by Gamebirds post , and the fact MW was out doing a PN on a horse that had been broken 8 weeks
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. How long was your horse in ridden work before it was competed and what level did you start out ?
I'm thinking I need a kick up the arse and get out doing something on Solitaire
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Bear was broken in in 4 weeks, that was September 2006. I hacked him all winter and then did a bit of showing/xc/sj last summer and then went hunting twice this winter. Going to do a bit more XC and alot of hunting this year and some local showing!
 
6 Weeks...

unafiliated showing....

has done in-hand since he was 2.....

was backed at 4.
 
George went away to be backed in march..i had him back 6 weeks later, he hasnt put a foot wrong..yet!

he's off to do another ridden class tomorrow..has also done in-hand in between..
 
Broken at 3, and hunted for 2 full seasons as a hireling in Ireland....if that counts as competing..I didn't have her till she was 6 tho.
 
A couple of months from being ridden independently to small eventing- 8 weeks sounds scarily quick, I'm not quite sure how well developed it's muscles would be!
 
I don't think you can put any time on it, it will depend on each individual horse.
We've had horses compete within weeks of starting them, but also some who weren't ready months later.
I think if they are working to the standard of the show at home then it's fine to have a go at the same in the ring.
It also depends on how vain you are, if you don't mind looking a twit if it all goes pear shaped take the horse and consider the show as a training day, we often do that having only popped over a couple of fences at home, but provided the horse is going forward willingly, jumping a low course can be really beneficial.
The problems only happen if you overface with something new.
Regards Xc we do try to go as pair the first time, it's so confidence building for the young horse.
 
it regularly goes pear shaped here, HH!!!
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I think it also depends on how seriously, at what level and for how many years to come with that particular horse/pony.
 
Thinking about it Sol's been broken 6 months (nearly) but has only been in proper proper work 4 week(ish)
She has her first dressage test booked for June 7th
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It also depends on how vain you are, if you don't mind looking a twit

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No problem there
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Well Ru was first sat on at the end of may last year and so far we've done one in-hand show so i wouldn't worry! They are all so different. JoBo's Bodey was backed just over a year ago and he's mature enough to do all sorts but Ru isn't.
 
we broke my mare in sept 2005 as a 3 yr old, started unaff SJ (70 cm's ish) in the Jan. Although she hasn't been competed solidley like most baby's has had breaks here and there.
 
Horse I'm working with currently came to us six weeks ago having not been touched since he was a yearling (6 now) he is going to Swansea Show May 24/25 (one of those days lol) third time of riding he went for a hack..
 
Like others have said depends on the horse, depends on the rider and on what you call competing. My little mare was out troting round tiny clear rounds and green horse classes about 8 weeks after being backed might not have been pretty but we had no problems. IMO as long as you've got stop, go, turn and you're not over facing it then it's never to early to experience the sights and sounds. What MW does in 8 weeks probably matches what I do in 8 months! Always amuses me when a pro has more rounds at a single event than I'll get in a season!
 
Got mine after he had been backed eight weeks. Took him out to unaffiliated dressage about three months later. I guess it depends on your confidence levels and how ambitious you are.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Sparked by Gamebirds post , and the fact MW was out doing a PN on a horse that had been broken 8 weeks
blush.gif
. How long was your horse in ridden work before it was competed and what level did you start out ?
I'm thinking I need a kick up the arse and get out doing something on Solitaire
crazy.gif


[/ QUOTE ]
hmmmmm,8yrs on and still havnt
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pmsl,however we jumped today and things are looking good for this yr
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,he could have done easily,however i am a nervous wreck so we shall see,lol!!
I do think 8wks and to do a pn is a tad early but that just my opinion,i am a big believer in backing,bringing on in flat work,maybe pop a small jump,turn away,then start with the better jumping and flat work when they come back into work after couple months off!!
Depends really,everyone different i guess and if the horse is physically capable then i dont see why not(as i said i wouldnt
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Personally I try to get them out asap. So usually before they get backed (or during) they'll do a few in-hand shows. Then as soon as they are backed, walked trot and canter fine then Id get them out to small local ridden shows. I've had a pony from semi-wild (as in you could almost lead him in a headcollar but that was it!) to backed within 6 weeks and then straight out to do a walk & trot dressage test which he won
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The last pony I had was backed in 3 weeks and then taken out to small SJ having popped only his first pole a week before... he also won his class as the sole double clear! :P
 
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