Introducing young horses to XC

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estellebradley

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I'm planning on taking my 5yr old XC for the first time soon but I'm thinking its best to go with one other experienced horse to show him the ropes at a course I know (Eland Lodge). But a group are going from the livery yard on Sunday and want me to come. I'm a bit hesitant because I think the group may blow his head and it's at a course I don't know (Newton).

So am I being sensible or a wuss?

Any thoughts / past experiences are appreciated.

p.s. he is a forward going tb x getting double clears showjumping
 
I would take him - seeing all the horses might make him mroe confident
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What is he like out hacking in company? if okay, then I would go!
 
Personally I wouldn't because I would want to concentrate on him for his first time and not compromise and go along with what others want to do. I wouldn't want to end up a party pooper.
 
I wouldnt take him either. If its just you then you can concentrate properly on him without worrying about other people. Take him with your friends when hes a little more established, you can relax then.
 
It would depend with me as to what the group were like....if they were likely to pressure me to do stuff I wouldn't go....if they would leave me to do my own thing I'd go and treat it as a hack and possibly pop something if things were going wel and it felt right
 
After my experiences on Friday I would stick to your original plan!

My lad is 5 - I had hoped to introduce him to a little bit of xc this season but other issues have cropped up so decided to put on hold til next year. Davie has been out to some unaffil jumping comps this summer, has been excited but no major issues - but come to think of it none were on grass.

We've just had a fun mini 3-day event at yard - I thought I'd support it and have a bit of fun and on Friday it was the xc. All the fences had some seriously tiny options so I thought "what the heck".

He got over excited in the collecting ring (wasn't the only one to get this way!), there was much stomping and squealing with a touch of head tossing and then I don't know exactly what he did but I ended up in the dirt! The first competitor was galloping towards us and the finish (next to the start) as we were between fence 1 & 2. I think Davie thought there was a monster on their tail, he did a 180 in mid air and left me on the floor again!

As he's usually well-behaved I can only think that it was the grass under his feet and the buzz that caused him to boil over. Plan for next year is a bit of solo xc schooling, then with a quiet "been there" companion and gradually building up to a group lesson.

Maybe if your lad is used to working on grass it will be different (and you might have more stickability than I!). Enjoy, whatever you decide!
 
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