Preparing for BE Novice!

H

Hollyhorse

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Hi,
I bought my present eventer as a 4 rising 5 year old in Feb 07. He was very green and we had some initial problems but he came on really quickly so I took him eventing in the summer doing a a few intros and a handful of pre-novices. Pleased on the whole as he was getting better and better and the only problem we encountered was his 'hotness', finding a bit that worked and the fact he couldnt seem to do all 3 phases well on the same day - something always had to slip!
I've now registered him BD and BSJA and he is changing dramatically. Been doing novice and elementaries and been well placed with mid-high 60%'s. BSJA-wise we've been doing british novices and discoveries (with many full up 1.10m jumps might I add!) and usually double clears, winning or top placings.
My plan is to upgrade him to Novice level eventing toward the end of this (2008) BE season. I feel that we're on track - I'm hoping to do some BSJA 1.05m classes before easter and then try some 1.10m/newcomers at the start of the summer. I shall start the season with 1/2 intros and then get pre-novicing. So I guess I'm really asking if people agree with me and if anyone has any further tips/advice/suggestions on how I can make sure he's really ready to make the jump to Novice?
Many thanks!
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Might be worth having a look at the new PNP classes which BE have brought in to aid those moving up from PN to N

The dressage is harder, the sj is set at 1.05m I think and then it's a normal PN xc course. Saying that, think they're all before the end of May (have been discussing them with a colleague)
 
tbh i've always let the horse tell me. if he's happy in his flatwork, not feeling challenged by the questions at that level, and he's enjoying his SJ ditto (and your BJSA sounds good), and he gets to the point where he's just happily going around the xc without giving you an anxious moment and getting/getting near the time, where you can walk the course beforehand and not worry about a single fence with him in mind, then he's telling you he's ready for the step up.
 
He sounds like he could do the step up. Just when u start again walk a couple of novice tracks at the comps u do and if u think he'd happilt do them then go ahead!!! Make sure hes (and u!) mega confident in the PN u do first! The dressage level your working at is fine for BE novice, i'd just do some slightly bigger SJ, (some 1.05 and a couple of 1.10m) so u know u CAN do it. Good luck!
 
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