Question?          Posted by CS from Sussex

1) What type of work and how much work do you do with your 4 year old? 2) Do you take your 4 year old out to compete as much as possible and at what standard are they before doing their first dressage test or ridden show? 3) How do you keep your horse looking like a show horse in situations where you have to warm up in torrential rain?

Answer -

When I start my young horses, I keep the sessions short and sweet. I work them long enough to get a positive result. We always finish on a good note. That may come in 10 minutes or it may take 30 minutes, but generally the horses are worked for about 20 minutes. Once they are working happy and relaxed in walk trot and canter they are usually ready to ask the next question. Take them out to a small quiet show or dressage. I make sure I have plenty of time when I get there, keep it relaxed with no pressure. Whatever happens on the day, learn from it and take it away and work on it. Depending on the result would depend on when, and how often, I would compete my horse, but I am never in a rush! I believe time spent at the beginning of a horse’s career/education is very important and makes him for life.

Before my horses start showing, I usually have them working calmly, listening, with forwards motion onto a contact and obedient. I make sure I have worked them with other horses, and that other riders have also ridden them, as the judge will ride. However, there are some new classes this year for novice/green horses. Pre-Novice classes where the horses go in together as a class, but the judge does not ride them, they do a short show instead. This will be an excellent way to introduce your horse to the show ring.

With regard to weather conditions, unfortunately we have no control over this and have to tolerate what we are dealt. I think I have been very fortunate over the years and only had to suffer torrential rain on very few occasions. Again make sure you have plenty of time. Once you have warmed your horse up, spend the time working on grooming and turning out your horse to the best standard you can. The end result is proportional to the amount of effort put in. Some of the shows are now held indoors which takes away the uncertainty of the weather.

The only consolation is that it is the same for all!