When are you ready for your first event?

[riyo01]

Hi all,

I am hoping for some advice on how you knew you were ready for your first event! I have owned my new horse for 9 months - he is 7, incredibly genuine and so so sensible, and takes everything in his stride and really looks after me.

We are schooling around 80-90 at home, have been having weekly lessons since november, have done SJ clinics and clear rounds at 60 and 70, gone XC schooling and done an eventers challenge, and I genuinely feel with his attitude and temperament, he'd be so game, and would love to try eventing. There's a local unaffiliated ODE in 5 weeks I'd like to enter at 70. I can't see any reason not to do it other than the fact we haven't competed yet, and my instructor is very encouraging.

Do you think we need more time/training? I had advice from a friend who suggested we try competing in the three disciplines individually before attempting a ODE.

Thank you in advance for your advice x

 

[j1ffy]

I'm not an eventer but I've done a couple of unaffiliated ODEs in the past - I'll respond as no-one else has!

It sounds like you're well prepared but personally I'd prefer to get to a competition (in any discipline) or two beforehand to see how you and your horse react in a competition environment - nerves and busy places can produce different behaviours in horse and rider compared to a clinic or lesson environment. You've done an eventers' challenge so may have already ticked that box but maybe see if you can get to a dressage or SJ comp in the next few weeks before the ODE.

Not essential though and it sounds to me like you're well prepared!! Good luck and do report back here when you do it

 

[RachelFerd]

crack on - sounds like you've ticked off all of the basics that you need. If you can pop round an 80cm clear round SJ and do a dressage test in advance that would be good - always nice to know you are comfortable doing a little more than you need in all aspects. But 70 is small enough to trot at, so just take your time, keep calm and give your horse a nice experience and you'll be grand

Hi all,

I am hoping for some advice on how you knew you were ready for your first event! I have owned my new horse for 9 months - he is 7, incredibly genuine and so so sensible, and takes everything in his stride and really looks after me.

We are schooling around 80-90 at home, have been having weekly lessons since november, have done SJ clinics and clear rounds at 60 and 70, gone XC schooling and done an eventers challenge, and I genuinely feel with his attitude and temperament, he'd be so game, and would love to try eventing. There's a local unaffiliated ODE in 5 weeks I'd like to enter at 70. I can't see any reason not to do it other than the fact we haven't competed yet, and my instructor is very encouraging.

Do you think we need more time/training? I had advice from a friend who suggested we try competing in the three disciplines individually before attempting a ODE.

Thank you in advance for your advice x

 

[HelenBack]

I'm not an eventer but I've done a couple of unaffiliated ODEs in the past - I'll respond as no-one else has!

It sounds like you're well prepared but personally I'd prefer to get to a competition (in any discipline) or two beforehand to see how you and your horse react in a competition environment - nerves and busy places can produce different behaviours in horse and rider compared to a clinic or lesson environment. You've done an eventers' challenge so may have already ticked that box but maybe see if you can get to a dressage or SJ comp in the next few weeks before the ODE.

Not essential though and it sounds to me like you're well prepared!! Good luck and do report back here when you do it

I agree with this. It sounds like you're more than ready in terms of preparation but if you can get out to a couple of other things before the ODE event I think that would probably be helpful just to give your horse a bit more exposure.. That said, it sounds like he's a sensible chap so if you can't get to anything in the meantime then I wouldn't worry too much. I just think that ODE's are a bit bigger with more atmosphere so it's probably just a bit more for him to deal with.

I do also think some if it depends on your personality and what your expectations are. I know for me if I wait until I feel like I'm ready I'll probably never end up going! I want everything to be perfect though instead of being realistic that that's just not going to happen with a young horse on its first trip out. I've got an ex-racer who I'm just starting to get out and about now and at the moment I'm just taking him out with no expectation of him being competitive and just trying to give him a nice time. We've done a few low key things so far and I'm also planning on doing an unaffiliated ODE in the next few weeks. I am expecting it to blow his brain a bit and am going to give extra time to let him settle when we arrive. Hopefully he'll be okay and we won't humiliate ourselves too much, I could easily talk myself out of it but I just feel like if we don't go then we never will so we just have to get on with it.

 

[Patterdale]

What more are you waiting for?

Get entered and get out there enjoying your horse!!

 

[ihatework]

Your horse has been out and about, coped well presumably away from home. You are thinking of doing a height under what he has been schooling at.
Provided you are confident (that is the main consideration) then crack on.

Main thing I would say is try and have a practice on grass for dr/sj rather than on surface. You might need studholes as horses can loose confidence quickly if they dont feel secure in their footing.

 

[myheartinahoofbeat]

As per the advice further up the thread, can you enter a dressage or sj competition in the next few weeks just to get the feel of competing, packing your gear, getting there on time etc.
Also, ask yourself do you feel ready. If not, what would make you more ready; a xc lesson, practicing the dressage test or thinking through which gear you need for each phase.
With 5 weeks to go and the prep you’ve done so far, it would be a YES from me