How to get out eventing -what trainer?

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VioletFlower

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Hello everyone, I'd really appreciate some advice please...

I am in my 30's and have always wanted to compete, I like dressage, SJ and cross country so have always been drawn to eventing, and would love to compete local level or BE 80. But I have never really 'got my act together' enough to do it. I previously had my own young horse, but it wasnt a hugely successful partnership, I didnt have the knowledge/time/focus to bring her on alone and I couldn't seem to find the right trainer.

Now I am just returning to riding after a break of about 5 years and all my competition ambitions are still there. I am currently sharing a horse and would like to find the right trainer to bring on my riding and get us out competing.

There are so many instructors about, I don't know how to choose the right one! Should I go for a BE accredited trainer? Would they cover dressage or do I need a dressage trainer for that?

Any thoughts appreciated
 
A BE accredited trainer will cover dressage at the level you are aiming for, most will be more than happy to do a flatwork and jumping lesson combined, so the flat is the warm up and you finish with some jumping.

As you are sharing a horse you would need to find a trainer that the owner is happy with, you all need to be working along the same lines so the first thing would be to find out who they use or see if they have a good suggestion as to who may suit.
 
I am Berks.

I struggle with the idea of teachers following different schools of thought/methods and all say theirs is the best ('classical' dressage, enlightened equitation, Parelli, etc etc) . What I think i want is someone really experienced, qualified/proven, mainstream, nothing niche, who will teach really good 'correct' riding. (scales of training? Don't really know how to describe it). I am not getting any younger and don't want to start from scratch, or go down the wrong route for 6 months, or go on a crusade on some 'niche method'.
 
This probably wont help but when I was eventing I had a dressage trainer, and SJ trainer and covered the XC by doing the odd clinic. I found it much better to have a master of one trade than a jack of all.
If you only want one trainer then I would decide which is your weakest discipline and focus on that initially. My gut feeling is focus on the flatwork first as it is a very influential phase but is also critical for good SJ and helps XC
 
Depends where you are in Berkshire. Giles Carradine - Huntercombe Horses covers most of that area I believe, definitely worth a try, covers all 3 disciplines and can think "outside the box" when it comes to helping each individual rider.
 
Try Warren Lamperd - he events at 4 star level and I think is UKCC level 4 coach. He does clinics all over the place.
 
Another vote for Giles Carradine - I had jumping lessons with him at a camp recently and he was excellent. He pushed us but never beyond where we could go and I came away with bags of confidence.

Jane Foster (dressage) also taught us at the camp and she was also very good. Both are Berks based.

If you're West Berks, my YO (Ali Dane) is great for both dressage and jumping. Look up Hurston Dressage & Eventing.
 
If its any help, I learnt most of what i know about eventing from books written by top event riders as I couldn't afford lessons. Although I also read showjumping and dressage authors as well. By the time you have read loads of those you soon know whether or not an instructor is really going to help you or not. Then by choice I would pick someone that I know competed at a higher level than I wanted to do plus I had seen them ride and liked the way they treated their horses. But, having said that i would also go with an instructor who suited my horse, (as have always ridden TBs and they don't react well if pressured) and if an instructor couldn't ride for some reason I wouldn't rule them out if they improved me and the horse on a trial lesson.
If you want some book recommendations then pm me.
 
Getting the right coaches is the thing. That might mean you click with an eventer but it might mean you don't. I'm not there yet but like paddy monty suggestion I have a SJ coach I really rate and have at least two lessons a month with. I work on the flat myself at the moment as there's plenty to do that even I can see - and I've had some really disappointing dressage lessons. I then go to XC clinics with various different eventers as well as hiring myself to do XC schooling. Meanwhile competing at unaffiliated and some BS show jumping the odd hunter trials and just working on everything to get a good base for the future. Planning to do more dressage over the winter as well.
 
Have a look at what your local riding club offers as well - they often run clinics so you get the chance to try out different instructors. Also, have a look at your local big equestrian centres as they will be running clinics over the winter. In Surrey, Littleton Manor is near me and they have a big range of "names" coming down to run clinics which is good to watch. As a rough plan for this winter, I will be getting my showjumping together (me not my horse) and then dressage. Aim is to do some combined training and hunting as well. XC training will run again (for me) after Xmas due to the ground. You could also look out for some of the UA events to play with first or look at running on a day ticket before committing to a BE membership for you and your horse.
 
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