How much dressage for a baby???

[jsharpe]

Hi All

Well Dinky Den and me had our 1st prelim yesterday...more on that in a mo

Den is a 4 year old Anglo Arab, I backed him last year under the expert eye of my instructor and although I say so myself, I've done a good job and he's at a good point in his training for his age. His main issue is relaxing...that'll be the Arab then

but he does eventually and is moving really well. Instructor is really please him and me

I took him to a the show, for experience more than anything, just a schooling session with a judge! Well he fell out of his stable on completely the wrong side of bed and basically was a git for the rest of the day

he simply didn't want to play! So after bucking his way round the ring, doing rather a fantastic trot/halt transition, I went to the pub

Don't get me wrong, i'm laughing, we all start somewhere and at least I stayed on, but how often would you take a baby out to a competition? I want him to get used to the atmosphere - he is quite chilled, but I don't want to blow his brain, he's too good to ruin by being impatient.

 

[hellspells]

Hi,
I think everybodies horses are slightly different (obviuosly!) in what they can take. With some babies just going up the show rifind round for a bit and then coming home is ok. But for others going down the centre line time after time is important. I think if you are only doing one test an outing then you could be going to 2/3 parties a month. I'm sure everyone has different views on whats right and wrong though!

Good luck with him he sounds lovely

 

[jsharpe]

Hi, Thanks for your reply. The boy is learning so much at the mo, not just doing everything correctly

but hacking and jumping and growing up

He copes really well, he's got a level head on him and everything has been done slowy - for me as well as him

The comp didn't stress him out, i think it was more to do with him being tired - the last few days we had to practice in the rain - poor baby

so he'd act up and the sessions were longer than planned - until he'd calmed down, hence a bit pooped on the day. However he must learn that trying to kill his mother is not allowed

We're doing another in a month and hopefully i'll be less stressed (bad with nerves

) and he will be a happy teddy.

PS - he is lovely, i'm biased, but he is