How many Intro's??

[Mbronze]

How many Intro's would you do before considering a PN?

I know that obviously the horse has too feel ready as well, and it may be like asking how long is a piece of string, but say that mine has taken to the heights of Intro quite well and is doing courses quite easily, just a few minor issues (ditches).

Would you carry on for this season doing Intro, and perhaps adding a few PN'S in next season, say on the basis of doing one event a month?

 

[BBs]

Depends on my horse.
If they give me a good feel over an intro ie bold and taking me into fences i would seriously consider upgrading sooner rather than later (if thats what i wanted to do).
If i had a horse who was spooky and required confidence runs i would continue running at intro.
Sometimes ppl find that if they run at a PN and then drop down to intro just to give a horse a confidence run before putting them back up to PN again helps.

I have done 2 intros and my horse will run at PN next time, but only because hes so blinking cocky and nothing tends to phase him. ATM he finds intro easy.

However should he go green on me during his PN run then he will go back and build his confidence up again over something less taxing.

Dont feel pressured to go up to PN there is nothing wrong wtih running at intro.

 

[H-J]

I agree. It depends on the horse really.

Spider run at 2 Intros and found them easy even though they were quite big and technical so went PN and again she went well, then did a massive PN and didnt go so well. So went XC schooling then another PN she went reallyw ell here but I have 2 Intros booked so will stay at Intro and give her some confidence runs.

I definitely agree with going up and down the levels so they stay confident. Id wait until I was sure then PN then Intro maybe. Or do 2 PN runs then an Intro. Helps rider and Horse confidence

Good luck

 

[MagicMelon]

I moved up after 2 intro's but I got double clears at both and was doing the odd unaffiliated intermediate ODE as well at the time. I would only move up once you've sorted out the ditch problem though as obviously if you move up a level then so will the ditches! So basically when you're confidently getting clears XC then Id move up.

Are there any BE courses near you that you could practice at (doing the PN fences)?

 

[Mbronze]

Yes, have quite a few. Somerford is our favourite haunt at the moment.
She can jump some bigger fences, although her sj is much better than her xc. There are lots of ditches to play with and water at Somerford.
Shes 5, so i think i can safely stay in Intro, until she and I are ultra confident.
We are based in the North West, so if anybody could reccommend any good practice places ....

 

[Hattikins]

It depends entirely on the horse. My 15hher i ran in 3 intros before upgrading to PN at the beginning of the next season, and Hattie i am doing 4 intros and a regional final before i take her PN, just because she has very little XC experience and i want her to find her own feet at a height she finds easy before asking her bigger questions at a higher height - i also need the experience too