Should I start eventing in 2008 (intro level)?

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Sunny_Star

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I'm not sure whether I should start eventing this year
I did a couple of those pre-intro BE trials last year, and came 8th in one of them which wasn't too bad.

But the height of that was only around 2ft3 to 2ft6, and intro is around 3ft
I entered a 3ft sj class a couple of months ago, but it didn't go too well.
Since then I've been doing lots of sj schooling.

I'm not sure whether to enter the intro at munstead in march, because I don't want to have a really bad experience!
How should I decide?
 
Why not try another 3 ft SJ class and see how you get on after having spent some time doing some more schooling.. you may surprise yourself!
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Ditto both Mat and LL, you need to feel confident BEFORE you start and know that you can do it. I would do lots of training, make sure you go xc schooling when the weather is better and you choose somewhere that has all levels of jumps. After that you can ask yourself the question again. Good Luck
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Dont set your heart on being ready for that particular event although if by that one you feel ready then go for it!

I would say you should make it your aim to get to intro by the end of this year - not as much ime restriction on it! If your jumping 2'6 courses easily then you will be suprised as stepping up to intro really isnt that scary at all. The whole course wont be full up 3ft and they are usually very straightforward and non technical. Good luck! Keep aiming for it and training and I'm sure you will be able to do it no problem. Have fun!
 
Thanks for the advice everyone

I'll definitely do some xc schooling before, maybe at munstead because I did schooling there last year and it was good.
Xc isn't really a problem for me, my horse is fine with it and I schooled him over some PN xc at pullborough last year.

Showjumping is the main problem because my horse can be very backward at times and sometimes runs out. It always happens when I try jumping 3ft+, if I jump 2ft6/2ft9 he seems fine!

Anyway I'm doing some sj at merrist wood tomorrow, so I'll see how that goes.
 
Why not do more RC unaffiliated at 2'9"-3'? Its much cheaper and some clubs like mine (Ardingly RC) are very professional and well run. Its not such a step up then to Intro.
 
The showjumping competition I went to went pretty well, we did 3 classes and I had one run out but apart from that it was fine so I think I will do Munstead as I know it well and has a simple xc course.
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i didnt do an intro until i hd competed at all unaff stuff at 3ft3 level...then i knew i was definatly ready...its too expensive to just go ahead and not be confident
 
Same here - I didn't affiliate until I was doing 3ft 3" - 3ft 6" Opens Unaffiliateds and getting double clears.

Unaff competitions, even at that height aren't always boldly built so some of the Intros I went to were still bigger.
 
This has answered my question as well as I am another waivering on the "do I/don't I" try Intro!

We are competing at 2.9/3ft XC and always going clear within the time, doing ok in dressage tests and working on our flat weekly but my bugbear is also the SJ. We are jumping 2.9/3ft classes no problem but he is a serial pole knocker! We are doing loads of grid work to get him jumping better over fences which is working at home but at comps he still has a tendancy to flaten (especially if we are coming off a straight line and not a corner) and knock it.

We've done unaff MK3DE (novice class) twice now and both times lost our top ten placing in the SJ. First time in May I retired after knocking the first four fences down and in September I just had 4 faults but it was enough to put me into 11th place.

I had hoped we'd be ready to try Intro this season (especially as my boy was 16 on 01/01/08) but it looks like until we can consistently jump clear over 3/3.3ft its not a good idea. I think the added pressure of having to do well because of cost & hassle is just not worth it.

I am going to stick with the winter dressage & SJ, do lots of clinics and plenty of unaff ODEs etc over the summer. I'll do MK3DE again although this September I might move up to the intermediate class [wibble]....if we do well I'll try Intro in 2009.

Good luck with your training and I'll keep an eye out on your progress given we are in a very similar boat!
 
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