When do you think a young horse can start competing?

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Happydays24

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Hi Guys,

Been floating arround the forum for a while but am new to posting. So as title suggests really.... I have a 4yr old that will be broken professionally next spring as I don't have the facilities, but I'm getting lots of people asking what our first event will be.

Obviously i'm very excited to start riding him but was only going to do 1 or two local shows later in the summer if he is up to it. Every horse is different so some maybe ready while others are not but I'm very intersted in everyone elses experiences.

Thanks :D
 
To be honest it depends on the horse and how it handles breaking and riding away. If it were mine and I wanted to get going to shows I would be inclined to break now and ride for a while then turnn away for a break before bringing back in in late spring. if the horse is big and gangly it will be less mature and able to handle competition. What type of competition do you want to do? I know you say event but I assume it's 4 year old year will be just getting out & about?!?
 
Thanks for the reply.

TBH I don't want to say specifically what i will do with him as it really depends on him. Ideally BE but nothing too serious. My plan was to just have a relaxing year (hopefully :)) and maybe just get him out to local shows for some life experience.

I was just surprised that some people (not all) were expecting me to have a schedule of events lined up for next year :o
 
I'd aim take him along to some very small local clear rounds and dressage if he was mine and just see how he gets on. If he's an idiot just don't him to the show ground and don't compete a few times. If he is backward or babyish you might want to just hack him about for the first 6-12 months. Winter stuff is good for babies, because it's on a surface so you'll be enclosed!
 
Will he be 5 then next year when he's being broken? I.e. is next year his year of turning ? That's quite late to be broken, but personally I have done very little in the year they were broken (usually autumn of their 3rd year.) Then brought them back out to compete the following year.
 
Stupid phone... if it's the spring you're looking at, then you will prob want to let him off for a while after he has been broken so maybe look at doing some easy stuff late in the summer or into the autumn.
 
He will be 4 in jan, we have already done quite a bit with him i.e saddle, bridle, long reining and have also sat on him. But as we have no school to work in I decided to send him away for the actual schooling etc next year.

Its reassuring to know i'm not strange by leaving the real work til the following year.

Thanks your replies there really interesting.
 
Think it really depends on how they take to work.
Impy was bought as a 3.5 year old who worked/competed and placed BYEH consitently through his 4th and 5th year and only had 10 weeks off over his 4th year winter, he's now 7 and hasn't had a break since.
Frazier was bought as a 3.5 year old, again worked/competed consistently through his 4th year and has just had 6 weeks off in his 5th year.
And Borris my 6 year old was broken at 5 and hasn't had any time off but has been in constant work since being broken...he is off to his 'first' competition this weekend! And he was bought to do BYEH in 2010! We never got that far, or anywhere else to that matter in his first year as he was so wild! He was re backed shortly after buying him and we will be aiming at his first BE in early 2012...2 years later than planned!!
It truely is 'horses for courses'! :)
 
Thanks for the reply 'Lisamd'. Just goes to prove that it is more the horses decsion than ours :)

If you don't mind me asking, have you found that giving them a break through the winter months is beneficial?
 
I don't think I've really noticed a difference tbh.

Impy's holiday was enforced as his feet were rubbish and couldn't keep shoes on, so I took them off and hoofed him out for 10 weeks - cue unhappy horse, he loves people and work and I think he felt abandoned! So even though I didn't ride him he still came in every eve and was pampered.

Frazier on the other hand - was quite content on his holidays, didn't want for much, mooched up the field twice a day for feeds and wondered off again shortly after, where as Impy hung around at the gate all day hoping someone would spend some time with him!

Both came back into work as if they had never had time off and didn't really feel any different.

IMHO I think we all put too much emphasis on youngsters having holidays. My lot are on a perminant holiday in my eyes, 1 hrs work a day out of 24, with the odd day at a party...sounds like a holiday! Unless you are drilling them everyday and constantly out every weekend doing hard work I don't think they need one.

Frazier had one cause I needed to do a little less for a few weeks and it felt like a good excuse!

If anyone needs a holiday round here it's normally us!! :)
 
Very much depends on the horse. I wouldnt plan for a particular event as such, I just see how the horse is coming along and then once he feels ready I'll take him to something local and small, like a local dressage competition or showing show (something quite relaxed) then move onto little SJ events and take it from there. But I wouldnt plan anything in advance, I just take it an event at a time - if he finds the first event terrifying then I'd stick to very basic events (non jumping for example) until he was happy to move on.
 
I think your right 'MagicMelon', although I think it's a good idea to have goals I don't think i would plan for a specific event anything could happen (fingers crossed it won't :rolleyes:) especially when horses are involved. :D

In your opinions what would you be looking for from the horse to confirm your thoughts that he is ready to go to a party?

I have always trusted my gut instinct I know that sounds a bit fluffy but as soon as I feel the horse can deal with the changing surroundings and excitement, while still listening too me, I would happily take them out about.

Thanks for all your replys, there really interesting!
 
I have a 4 yr old that will turn 5 next year. She was broken about Sept last year. We did a few unaff dressage comps in the spring to give her some life experience and we are doing our first clear round SJ on Sunday! We have been slightly delayed as i hurt my knee in May so was out of action for a couple of months. As others have said, it depends on the horse and I would just do things when it feels right. I totally feel that my horse is now ready to do a clear round and then maybe a low level comp before Christmas but I wouldn't have felt that about 2 months ago. Trust your instinct and don't be tempted to rush just because people are asking you when you are doing a competition (i know what its like as I keep having my in-laws asking me when i'm taking her out!)
 
My 4yr old was broken in April and he has done a little yard competition (just for fun) and he has been taken out to a local SJ and HT event and was an absolute star! It definitely depends on the horse but you'll be able to tell by the way he's going whether it's a good move to take him out to complete or just take him for the experience.
 
My 4 year old started full time work in March this year. He was beautifully produced by the people I bought him from and did two events this summer, as well as a little dressage/SJ, before I bought him at the end of Sept. He rides like a much older horse in terms of attitude and ability, but I feel he has a fair bit of maturing in terms of growing/changing shape, so he's going to have a quiet time till next summer - not least 'cause I'll have my finals in June.
 
Hi I have a 4 year old 17hh Oldenburg who will be 5 next year. He was broken in the early this year, can walk , trot and canter under saddle and pop over a small fence. He is a big horse and needs to mature so is now off until March next year to give him time to grow and fill out. He will the be brought back into work then and hoping to take him over a few British novice/ discovery tracks by autumn and if all goes well start to do some bigger tracks next winter.
 
Mine was backed at 3, turned away til feb of his 4th year, by may we did a walk trot dressage then mooches around at a few local events that summer - culminating in a mini ode in the September! (2'3 and walk trot dressage!)
As a 5 year old he's now doing prelim tests, has done 2x 80cm ODE and has just in september started jumping bsja.
Mentally I think he would have coped doing more at an earlier age as he has a very grown up head on young shoulders but I didn't want to risk causing physical wear and tear and looking back in 5 years and regretting having rushed things.
 
Thank you everyone for your replies it really has put my mind at ease that i'm not being too over protective. I'm definitely going to stick to my plan and just take it easy next year with 1 or 2 fun shows if he is up to it.

At the moment although physically he is almost there he hasn't seen much of the world so think it will be a bit of a shock to the system when he leave he field buddies and goes to a new yard :D

I'm getting very excited now and all your comments about doing lots of fun things with your guys is not helping the situation :D:D:D

thanks again
 
The BSJA & the British dressage will not let u compete any horse or pony untill it has reached the age of 4 yrs old which i think is good rule!
 
Even if you don't want to actually compete a youngster, it's a great idea to get them out to shows for experience.
We've got quarter horses which are backed late in their second year and may be competed in selected ridden classes as 3yos.
I didn't go down this road with my 3yo as he's quite a big guy and will take time to mature, but he was shown in hand, and by the end of the summer, was happy to be ridden around at the shows, warm up in the collecting ring and chill out with the other horses working around him in the main arena. He went from being a bit nervous and fidgety to be quite happy to hang out at the ringside, and it has made him more patient at home. He also got used to being bathed, trimmed, dressed up in travelling gear and staying away in temporary stabling.
Although a 4yo probably wouldn't be eligible for youngstock classes at most shows, you might find a sports horse in hand class, or even just a condition and turnout would give you valuable ring experience.
So hopefully when you start your ridden outings, be they showing, eventing or dressage, the young horse is much more chilled out about the experience and it's one less thing to worry about :D
 
Ditto Ironhorse - I think getting them out and about in hand is important, before you take them to a party and expect to ride them. Our 2yo has been to two in hand shows this year, and will go to more next year. I would have a go at that before you put any pressure on yourself to do anything. It gives you something to do, and lets you know how they might react in an atmosphere :)
 
Ironhorse - thanks for your reply, I have to admit I have been so caught up in his training I hadn't even thought of doing some in hand shows!! This is probably quite bad considering he is almost 4! :eek:
I think this is an excellent idea :D:D Will make the added stress of being ridden at an event that much easier to comprehend.
Thanks:)
 
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