How soon is too soon?

[Bs_mum]

To take a youngster out to a training clinic?
My boy has been under saddle for 10 weeks, mainly hacking, my friend has a horse who has been under saddle for 4 weeks, again, mainly hacking.
Near to us we have a jump cross venue. Competition season has finished, however they are still hiring out the course and holding training sessions until mid October. I’m thinking of taking my boy closer to their closing date, just for an outing really, & my friend would like to come, would that be too soon? Or just go for it? It’s not competitive, we’ll either go and do a training session or just hire it for a play.

 

[ihatework]

It’s going to depend very much on the confidence of the horse and the ability of the rider.

Assuming the horse is established and happy at basic stop/steer/WTC then I’d be happy to take a horse somewhere at the 14week mark, I wouldn’t be in such a rush at 10 weeks which is presumably the timeframe you will be at mid October.

Now there’s going out, and there is going out for jump cross - the latter I don’t think is appropriate for a first outing. I’d be looking for just a basic arena hire for flatwork and poles on ground at most. I’d want a horse morse established over a fence at home before jumping away and I personally wouldn’t have mine in that position at 10-14 weeks.

 

[Red-1]

If it is a first outing then I certainly would not join a group training session as it would likely not go so well. Hiring for a play is great, but TBH I would normally take a baby with a more experienced horse, not a second baby for the 1st outing.

For a first visit somewhere else I would not plan on anything much other than to feel happy with the travelling, offloading, new venue, mounting, being obedient in a new arena, which could start with a lunge round.

I would be happy with some nice work, and a happy return to the box.

 

[milliepops]

For a first visit somewhere else I would not plan on anything much other than to feel happy with the travelling, offloading, new venue, mounting, being obedient in a new arena, which could start with a lunge round.

I would be happy with some nice work, and a happy return to the box.

def agree with this. I also think that the first few trips away tire them out mentally quite fast, so would expect to do less work than we do at home. They are all individuals but often the wheels start to come off when they are brain-tired.