GinaGeo
Well-Known Member
I've always wanted to affiliate with BE and do some *proper* eventing. Never had the horse power in the past.
Now I have my 5 year old who I think is about ready, he'll do a good Dressage test, he's jumping nicely around SJ courses at the moment and was getting quite bold last year around the XC. We did a couple of ODE's last year, won one but had a bit of a disaster at the second due to slipping - dressage on grass without shoes was interesting! He'd need shoes and studs if we were to affiliate.
I do need 3rd party insurance for me and the horses through a society, BD, BE or BHS regardless. I'm currently a member of BD, but whilst I enjoy dressage I'm not inspired by it and miss the rush of XC! My membership's due for renewal at the beginning of Feb, so I've a little longer to decide yet. I haven't been out to BD since the Area festivals and am not feeling like I want to go out and do any anytime soon. I'm presently filling the diary with, Arena Eventing and SJ, with some BEDE Dressage tests (the prize money's better, you qualify for something and the entry fee's lower than BD)
Realistically, we're only really ready to go out at 80cm for something new, perhaps pushing on to 90cm if we're ready later in the season.
My heart is saying going for it, I'd love to aim him for the Grassroots champs. My head is saying that it's too expensive and we'd do better gaining the experience jumping round unaff courses first, to make sure we're really ready. I feel like Feb is far too close to decide!
Is it worth the entry fees, when we could do unaff at that level? Realistically how much does it cost for one event? I'm a student, I haven't got unlimited resources to throw at it, and am still reliant on my wonderful mother chauffeuring us, so we can't be going too far afield either!
Thanks and Mince pies to everyone that got this far!
Now I have my 5 year old who I think is about ready, he'll do a good Dressage test, he's jumping nicely around SJ courses at the moment and was getting quite bold last year around the XC. We did a couple of ODE's last year, won one but had a bit of a disaster at the second due to slipping - dressage on grass without shoes was interesting! He'd need shoes and studs if we were to affiliate.
I do need 3rd party insurance for me and the horses through a society, BD, BE or BHS regardless. I'm currently a member of BD, but whilst I enjoy dressage I'm not inspired by it and miss the rush of XC! My membership's due for renewal at the beginning of Feb, so I've a little longer to decide yet. I haven't been out to BD since the Area festivals and am not feeling like I want to go out and do any anytime soon. I'm presently filling the diary with, Arena Eventing and SJ, with some BEDE Dressage tests (the prize money's better, you qualify for something and the entry fee's lower than BD)
Realistically, we're only really ready to go out at 80cm for something new, perhaps pushing on to 90cm if we're ready later in the season.
My heart is saying going for it, I'd love to aim him for the Grassroots champs. My head is saying that it's too expensive and we'd do better gaining the experience jumping round unaff courses first, to make sure we're really ready. I feel like Feb is far too close to decide!
Is it worth the entry fees, when we could do unaff at that level? Realistically how much does it cost for one event? I'm a student, I haven't got unlimited resources to throw at it, and am still reliant on my wonderful mother chauffeuring us, so we can't be going too far afield either!
Thanks and Mince pies to everyone that got this far!