Runs per season

[BBs]

Just out of interest. How many runs do you do in a season.

I usually do between 8-12 but depends on ground etc. I like to run a few times a month at the beginning of the season and again towards the end. I may just do one or two of my favourites in mid summer, but would rather give my horse and my bank balance a break.

Now i have snoop I would rather keep him sound and happy. Some of this recent ground has been desperate, so my idea is atm that i will run him at events I know have good Old Turf which will take the sting out of ground and legs.
Currently I have planned a couple of PN runs and a break and a couple more in July ie Pavo qualifiers just for the shear fun of it then another break. I may run him at Tweseldown and Smiths Lawn because of the ground but no where else unless we have a wet spell.

I know a lot of the pros will compete their young horses during spring and autumn and concentrate on bigger/better things with their more experienced horses mid season, but the likes of me only have ONE horse to compete and feel that we dont get a fair deal ie its expensive registering as it is.

Currently it feels like its going to be a long summer, and i can see many events having less entries as usual due to baked ground.

What are your views?

 

[KatB]

Wont run on hard ground, but have 6events planned from Aug-October, and would have done 4 before the "summer" if everything had gone to plan. Prefer to do less runs and keep my horse sound, and the hot hard ground summer lends itself to doing dressage and Sjing on surface and catching up with lessons!

 

[BBs]

Whole heartedly agree with you Kat.

I had so many events planned but feel 1. he doesnt actually need as many runs as first thought and 2. I wont run him now if ground is hard.

I would rather not enter than get to an event and have withdraw and lose my money.

With the problems winston has now, i wont compromise snoopys legs for anything.

I do feel perhaps BE could drop the reg fee if you only do a certain amount of runs a year. Ie it would be cheaper to buy just tickets, but then you end up getting balloted.

 

[H-J]

I agree, it sounds like it is going to be a long hot summer = hard ground and withdrawals.

I am running 3 times a month at the mo and will do in June and July as the places im running at (apart from Stratford Hills) have lovely ground.

But as they are babies and the ground will be hard im only going to do one event in August (being SL) and then a break. And back up again Sept and October then season over! Goes so quickly!

 

[BBs]

So that averages out to around 18 runs a season

 

[H-J]

It probably wouldnt end up cheaper in tickets, I thought this wehn competing Mac I bought tickets but after buying him 3 tickets it came to as much as registration!

Such a shame as we "event" so we live for the season and getting the horses ready for march-october and you want to run at as many as possible but with the ground you cant so you end up doing less which is a bit upsetting

 

[LEC]

I do a few think I did about 12 last year but I never run in July and August. Last event I do is 1st July at Nutwell Court where I know the going is great and the 1st one after the summer I do is Urchinwood as so far for last 3 years it has always rained!

 

[H-J]

But it would be averages wouldnt it, at the moment im running three times, but I did 2 in March, 2 in April and 2 in May.

So have run 5 times so far with another one to come sunday, dont think that is too much, ground has been lovely at every event I have been to this year

 

[ihatework]

Well I'm not really in a position to comment given that I seem to get 2 runs a season and then neddie goes lame

But there is no way I'd be running a young talented novice horse 3 times a month through the summer, but each to their own I suppose.

In an ideal world I'd probably run 2-3 time a month April/May once a month June/July/Aug and then 2-3 times a month Sept/Oct

 

[H-J]

[ QUOTE ]
Well I'm not really in a position to comment given that I seem to get 2 runs a season and then neddie goes lame

But there is no way I'd be running a young talented novice horse 3 times a month through the summer, but each to their own I suppose.

In an ideal world I'd probably run 2-3 time a month April/May once a month June/July/Aug and then 2-3 times a month Sept/Oct

[/ QUOTE ]

Nor would I be if the ground wasnt great but it is at the places im going especially Tweseldown and Smith Lawn.

I am very cautious over hard ground and wont even hack mine out when the ground is hard, did a bit of trot out on a hack last night as the ground was nicer after the rain, but will get so hard again so quickly.

 

[Nickymac]

I couldn't agree more. With Ross (who's just 5) I had a plan to do a few early on when the ground was good (he did 4 PN), then concentrate on BYEH and some working hunter classes to give him some experience at shows/events with a lot of atmosphere, and a couple of PAVO classes after that. I'll review my plans for later in the season when I see how he's going after the PAVO classes.

However, my OH's hunter (who's 6) is having to go out regular as clockwork to keep him on the ball and get some mileage and experience, but I'm being very picky about going where the ground will be good.

 

[Halfstep]

If the ground is evil - enter him to do some BD on a ticket!!!!! Nice and civilised, and on a surface, and you can relax and have a glass of champers between tests - no horrid studs and getting dirty! And he can show off his lovely canter and make all us pure dressage people jealous! LOL.

 

[EmmaChal]

Probably about 12 runs at the most, most busy between end of August and end of the season.
I will run in July and August but only if happy with ground and will withdraw if necessary-most are run over old turf with good grass cover.

 

[BBs]

Sounds very similar to how i used to run my mare Lec.

Problem now seems is tha the *summer season* is getting earlier and earlier, and even ground in April was rock hard

Hard to know isnt it. Thankfully there are some events you can guarantee good ground, likes of Tweseldown and smiths Lawn and the old favourites, Purston, Highclere, Salperton and Mattingley (for me) on old turf.

Are you at WC tomorrow??

 

[H-J]

Totally agree, most of the ones I run at have great ground and always have done.

If the ground is bad somewhere though I will withdraw, or spend a few weeks just SJing. Want to keep them as sound as possibel through the event season!!

 

[BBs]

Sounds all very sensible Ben_J.
Makes it slightly harder to swallow, when you think about running your horse in a sensible way but end up with a lame horse even tho youve given him the best possible ground

How is he after his exciting Sjing Sunday

 

[BBs]

[ QUOTE ]
If the ground is evil - enter him to do some BD on a ticket!!!!! Nice and civilised, and on a surface, and you can relax and have a glass of champers between tests - no horrid studs and getting dirty! And he can show off his lovely canter and make all us pure dressage people jealous! LOL.

[/ QUOTE ]

Im seriously considering doing some 5 year old classes, after reading Carthorse post yesterday.....

But im only doing it as long as you help me

Champers sounds positively brilliant.

Isnt it funny, sjers drink Pimms
Dressage divas Champers
and Eventers drink BEER LMAO or coffee

 

[ihatework]

That's life I suppose, not all of us have a never ending supply of horses unfortunately

J thinks he is the gods gift after his SJ outing, very pleased to be back partying !

 

[BBs]

Have you got more planned?

I do think you should come over to Addington

we can always find you a stable

and so you can do 2 days of it

 

[H-J]

I hope that wasnt at me. I do NOT have a never ending supply of horses, Spider is for life!! And i am given horses by a well known breeder to bring them on and compete, im not going to complain!!

I will never run babies on anything but excellent ground conditions, so yes my plans may change as it looks set to be a hot summer with very hard ground!

We are all in the same boat with the struggle of the ground and keeping horses sane and sound! all season it isnt easy

 

[ihatework]

well I wasn't going to register until autumn as I can only find 3 dates locally between now and october that run BSJA on a surface.

If addington have some long weekends of SJ then it might well be worth a trip and staying over, do you know dates?

 

[BBs]

Well there one the first weekend in June for starters.

Check out their website they have lots on there.

Dont forget Blewbury, their grass surface is like jumping on springs.

Be nice to catch up

They do a lot on a thursday sometimes fri/sat/sun too.

Alos if you fancy it, come and stay wtih me for a few days and we can take a trip to weston lawns

 

[bandit]

Well, It's my first year doing this, and already I'm still waiting to do one event !!!

Having the issues I've had, I won't run on hard ground either and will be on here asking for advice about different venues before I enter.

I'm close to T'down and Smith's Lawn so hope to do those. I also am not sure how many Intro's I'll have to do before we're ready to PN.

When you all talk of 'summer' - what months do you consider this to be? To be honest, Badminton in May was rock hard, and I don't suppose they call that a summer month!

Bx

 

[SpottedCat]

Last season I somehow only managed about 6 runs after withdrawing at WW.

This season I have 12 planned - was entered at B&W but it cancelled, then did 1 in April and 2 in May, have 4 planned in June, nothing in July and August, then 5 in Sept/October.

I give up in July/August as ground is hard and work is insane and it is just too much stress!

Have discovered this year that horse seems as happy on the top of the ground as when it is wet, so I am happier to run on harder ground as long as it isn't rutted - wouldn't run him fast on it (now that I have a choice over speed PMSL), but am more worried about uneven ground than it being slightly on the firm side.

Plan is several runs in a row a week apart then 2 months off then several runs a week to 10 days apart when ground is softer as he seems to learn more this way! All events selected on advice of trainer re ground and personal experience having visited a lot of them.

Having got it all sussed of course now one of his legs will fall off no doubt!

He'll be doing the area festival at BC (BD) in July and lots of SJ and dressage in the 2 months off - all on a surface! Plus he'll get a week of chilling in the field when I am on hols.

 

[BBs]

Summer Season to me is Jun,Jul and Aug.

But we are getting harder going in April, and Sept/Oct can be just as bad at times if we have an Indian Summer.

The thunder storms during Aug usually help tho lol

Tweseldown try and run 4 events a season so its always worth going there.

I think like Spotted Cat as long as the ground isnt rutty and uneven doing an intro or two isnt so bad, as long as they have spiked and worked hard on the ground. At the end of the day you can pootle around and use it as an educational run.

Think it depends on the horse, if they need the education, my old mare did she was a spooky madam and did much better for going to regular events - but again, was careful and listened to my trainer where to go etc.

 

[H-J]

My point exactly, when the ground is hard you dont have to run fast on it.

As long as it isnt rutted it isnt to bad, running at Intro level

 

[KatB]

Still wont jump/canter my horse on hard ground, no matter what level.

 

[SpottedCat]

[ QUOTE ]
as long as they have spiked and worked hard on the ground. At the end of the day you can pootle around and use it as an educational run.


[/ QUOTE ]

Ah yes, should have said I do expect them to have worked on the ground if it is firm - eg spiked etc - before I will run on it!

I think it depends on the type of horse as well - heavier horses probably don't cope with the harder ground as well as lighter ones - hence which withdrew from Badminton and which ran IMO!

 

[EmmaChal]

What I found interesting was watching the video diary of an American rider (Hawley something?) while at Badminton. She was saying how she thought the ground was fine, they all run their horses on such ground as if not they wouldn't get any runs at all?!!
Wonder what the ground at Kentucky was like the weekend before Badders? The ground must be hard from April onwards as warms up earlier over there.

 

[BBs]

[ QUOTE ]
My point exactly, when the ground is hard you dont have to run fast on it.

As long as it isnt rutted it isnt to bad, running at Intro level

[/ QUOTE ]

Sorry hun, but I dont agree with running 5 year olds at 2-3 events a month over a 7 month season.
If they are going to have a future in this sport you need to do the bear minimum this year IMO. Unless you are aiming to sell your horse at the end of the season for £££'s.