I can't decide what to do with my oldie

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blood_magik

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My BS membership is up shortly so I need to decide whether to renew it.

My oldie is still jumping competitively although not very often due to work and transport issues.
We now have transport (yay!) but have effectively lost a year due to starting at the beginning again.
We're happily jumping courses of 1.10 at the moment.

What would you do if you were in my position?

a few things you'll need to know:
1) jerry is 21 in january
2) he's registered grade A (imported) so we're limited to certain heights
3) I get 3 full weekends off out of 17 weeks.

the way I see it, I have two choices.
1) renew my BS membership and take him to shows at the few weekends I have off (effectively flinging him in at the deep end if things have changed) or,
2) retire him from affil jumping, go unaff and join BD.

He's never done a dressage test in his life :D I'm rather rusty too - my last dressage test was in 2005 :rolleyes:
help? :confused:
 
Topaz Tiger

Topaz Tiger

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Hi, Can't you jump him in the amateur classes, or the 95, 105 and 115cm opens? Or are you saying that taking him out 3 weekends out of 17 is not enough for him to settle and be relaxed about going out and jumping? :)
 
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blood_magik

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I dont think it's enough tbh - he needs repetition to remind him that the fences aren't scary.
it took 9 months of jumping the same fences over and over again to get him going clear at comps - it helped that we were on livery there but now we're about an hour away.
think the smallest is the meter open? I could do that :)

I was thinking that because BD is run during the week we might be able to get out a bit more and it keeps the jumping for fun :)
 
Topaz Tiger

Topaz Tiger

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If going out in the week is an option are there no centres near you that have BS shows during the week? I always SJ during the week now as hate all the hanging around at weekends.
 
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Hells Bells

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Hey :)

My oldie (now 33) kept doing fun jumping till he was 26, but we kept it low and fun so as not to have to push him too hard. This was normally once or twice a month. He moved to dressage for a year or two, then retired to just hacking at 26.

If i were you (which i know im not!!) id probably go unaffiliated and just have fun with it all, its always hard to have to turn a new corner as they get older, but i had some of the most amazingly fun times with my old boy in later life!!

Goodluck in whatever you choose to do :)
 
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blood_magik

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I haven't heard of shows during week up here - I know rowallan do clear round where you're expected to turn out as if you're at a show.
I'll still jump him :) there's a few venues that do clear round so he won't be missing out.

hmm.. BS or BD? if only BS still did tickets
 
Paddy Irish

Paddy Irish

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Why not try something new - a change is as good as a rest don't they say , and if it means you can keep the old guy going through the week when you have more time / less pressure , then i would go for BD - prove to us that you really can teach an old dog new tricks!!
 
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