Showing veterans (and veterans doing dressage...)

Orchardbeck

Orchardbeck

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Hi all, can anyone give me any advice about veter an showing classes? Are they really for 'out of age' ex show horses to continue their career, or are they open to a broader range than that?

I've always considered showing my Arab x when we were younger but was always too nervous - my parents weren' horsey and I kept my pony at home so relied on only me and books for advice with the odd lesson here and there so never really got in to it.

My mare is now 22 and looks really well, she is a little stiff in her hocks to begin with but it wears off with exercise. We haven't done a massive amount of schooling recently, only hacking (the only competitions she has done in the past were Endurance rides) so we'd probably have to revisit this, but do you think this is all unrealistic?

I've also considered joining a riding club to enter some beginners dressage tests to give us some focus - do you think my mare is too old to start competing?
 
I did some local veteran showing with my cob, and would have qualified for the veteran horse society stuff if we were members. The VHS seems a good place to start, and they do dressage comps too.
 
Go for it

My oldie was 29 before he became sane enough (actually he didn't really :D just slowed down a bit) to go to shows.

We started doing in hand and ridden veteran classes. He did really well if he behaved and didn't take off with us. His schooling wasn't brilliant but we could manage a go round and a more or less in control individual show.

If you do well locally and want to affiliate then classes are marked on criteria, from memory these are things like quality of walk, trot, canter, turnout and a strange one like "whether the horse is enjoying being there". I affiliated the oldie at about 31 and he qualified for the area Olympia qualifiers.

We really enjoyed the few years we did. He only gave up last year when he was 35 :D :D And that was only because my daughter lost interest so we didn't get out much.
 
My god, what am I worrying about! She is a spring chicken in comparison! Thanks for your swift replies! These are great stories!

I've just emailed the secretary of my local riding club...here goes nothing! Lets hope I can finally put my nerves to bed and we can have some fun!
 
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