To event or not to event.....

Y

YummyHorses

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So I have two horses and to date I have focussed on SJ but really want to open up my world and my horses! Having spent the afternoon watching Badminton I wondered whether I should give eventing a go.

However, I am a mother of two young ones and am the main generator of our family income (we have our own business) so I am worried bout the danger bit. I guess I could have a nasty fall SJ or just when I am out on a hack but I kinda feel the eventers get the harder falls. Am I being silly? Should this stop me doing it?

So say I do pluck up courage - How do i start? Where do I go? What do I need to start thinking about? And how does my training need to be different to SJ? Have a lot more questions.......but will leave it at that until I decide!!

I have a mare that I feel is well suited to event - just have this sneaky feeling she would love it and be fantastic.

Thanks everyone ......
 
You can start at riding club level, they often have classes at around 2'3 to begin with, if you joing a rc you can also take advantage of xc training sessions. Or you could do some BE80(T) classes which are well run, over very simple xc courses with a maximum height of 80cms.

Fwiw I've never fell off eventing, yet out hacking I've done all sorts, broken collar bones, dislocated hip etc. Of course eventing is risky, but as you have said, so is hacking, general horse care/riding.
 
I would start by joining a RC an getting some training in with them around some xc courses. That imho, would be the best way to start. You can compete over the same courses as BE events, but get to do it for a lot cheaper, and is a good option for us amateurs who are not rolling in it.

That, and if you are competent sj, I would just start jumping a few things out hacking, and perhaps doing a few pleasure rides that have optional xc fences. That way you get to do some xc with no pressure. imho, while risky, jumping over a few logs to get used to things is not rocket science, esp if you are happy and confident over similar height fences sj

Do it, its good fun :)
 
Badminton has a lot to answer for this weekend! Eventing has always been my favourite sport and I used to take Cleo out to a few unaffiliated/RC/PC events a year, but we didn't really have a lorry and I couldn't afford to affiliate her so it never went any further than that before I went off to uni.

Now I have her back I'm wondering if 16 is too old to get her fit and aim for a BE90 by the end of the year... She'll like that, right?

But yes! You definitely should! Showjumping is fun and all, but really, nothing is better than x country is it?
 
Now I have her back I'm wondering if 16 is too old to get her fit and aim for a BE90 by the end of the year... She'll like that, right?

i dont think its too old at all if she already knows what shes doing then its jst a fitness thing? go for it :)
 
FionaMc said:
Now I have her back I'm wondering if 16 is too old to get her fit and aim for a BE90 by the end of the year... She'll like that, right?
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Nope you'll be fine, my sisters horse is 19 this year and got a double clear in the novice section at the rc champs last year, you go for it to :)
 
frostie652 said:
i dont think its too old at all if she already knows what shes doing then its jst a fitness thing? go for it :)
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Not sure how much jumping she did whilst she was out on loan and her schooling has pretty much gone to pot (she's a very happy hacker!) but I've only had her back for about 8 weeks now and she's already coming on in leaps and bounds. Think the biggest problem will actually be lack of transport... might need to make friends with the nice big grey eventer on our yard...
 
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