Too much work?

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Jericho

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It's coming up to school half term middle of next month and daughter has been asked to compete for her school and local rc as follows

Dressage - 1 test first day half an hrs trailer journey away
SJ - 2 rounds the next day, half an hours trailer journey away
Both days are comitted already

Then 2 days off - will probably go for a short half hour hack on the 2nd day

On 5th day potential to do 1 1/2 hrs XC clinic with her pony club which they could really benefit from but a good 1 1/2 trailer journey there.

On 6th day a combined training rc qualifier so dressage and 1 SJ round, half an hours journey away. Committed to this as well

In an ideal world I wouldn't let them do the XC clinic but it's the only one the PC do at this very good venue with a very good instructor and we missed it last year. XC is their weakest phase so they would really benefit from it but I can't help thinking it would be too much what with travelling? I know that generally at clinics there is a fair amount of waiting around whilst people take turns so wouldn't be as tiring as a competition?

Pony is 13.2hh 15 years old, daughter is only 12 and usually goes out once a week in the trailer whether it's competing or clinic or lesson and the rest of week he is schooled, hacked or lunged 3 or 4 times so he is quite fit (and he coped very well with PC camp last summer). Lives in at night.

Just looking for some advice as to yay or nay to XC clinic please?
 
As long as the pony is genuinely fit enough and travels well I see no harm in doing the xc, they do more at PC camp without the daily traveling but in the heat of the summer, a few days off afterwards to recharge the batteries and he should be fine.
 
You have time to make sure pony is really fit too. You may want to think about feeding for energy but he should be fine. Clinics involve plenty of time waiting for other riders to go and discussing technique so it won't be constant galloping!
 
Certainly not too much work for a fit pony - but the XC schooling may make him fast and flat for the CT the next day. But if it was my daughter I'd let her do the clinic. Our ponies are event and hunting fit so a week like this would be no problem.
 
I wouldnt fo 5 AND 6, one or the other. The pony is not a machine and is unlikely to get the benefit of both outings. He's already likely to be a bit tired from doing 3 outings in a week nevermind 4.
IT's not a bad lesson that we can't do everything in life for the daughter either- get her to choose!
 
I can't see any problem at all, camp is much more demanding and the pony is getting lots of variety. Just let your daughter go and enjoy her half term and I'm sure the pony will love it too!
 
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