OK Another one eventers/sporthorse peeps

[Shelly]

When would you start a Dressage Horse?
How would you decide to move a horse up a rank in eventing?
What's a reasonable age for a CIC eventer?

[Rainbow]

When you start a dressage horse depends on the breed of horse (ex.: warmbloods mature slower) and the maturity of the individual horse. You can back them anytime between 3-5, just as you would any other horse -- depending on how mature physically and mentally they are. For a while, obviously, you're just training them to go, stop, turn, move off your leg, etc. Then from there you can begin "real" dressage training. There are FEI classes for five and six year olds, but some people argue that the expectations of the tests are unreasonable and even dangerous for such young horses. The five year old test is roughly training/first level, the six year old test roughly first/second level. A grand prix horse is usually in their early teens. I don't know if you've heard of Blue Hors Matine, but I believe she was nine when she began her grand prix career... that is young. Very young. Anyways, I'm sure that was more than you wanted to know... can't help you with the other two lol, sorry. Hopefully that helped.

[Christie]

Well, I figure I can take a stab at your eventing questions, though feel free to seek second opinions

When to move an eventer up the levels is really a pretty subjective thing - it's not about counting the number of blue ribbons as much as looking at the horse/rider combination's performance at the current level. If they show a mastery at their current level, then it's a safe bet that they can try out a move up. Some things I'd look for would be a good dressage score, which would show that they have mastered the moves of the dressage test at that level, and few or no jumping faults in either of the jumping tests. Not to say that a rail here or there, or a few time faults on cross country would be something to keep you from moving up, but if a horse is stopping at multiple fences, or even one stop when there isn't a clear-cut reason why the stop occured, may be a red flag that a little more schooling is required. Which reminds me, schooling! It's important to school over fences at the higher level, and if that's going successfully, then it's probably an ok time to move up. At the higher levels, there are a few regulations on moving up, such as having completed four or more Prelim horse trials to move up to Intermediate, and similar regulations for moving from a horse trial to a three day event (CCI or CIC). Sorry, I know that was a pretty broad description haha.

As for the reasonable age for a horse to be competing in a three day, it really can depend. I feel like there are probably some specific minimal ages, which I can't seem to find at the moment...grr. I'm fairly certain it's 5 and older for prelim, and 6+ for intermediate and advanced. I'm not sure if those ages translate for the three day events, but they're probably similar. Personally I don't know that I've seen a five year old do a one star, though I'm sure it's happened. I would say possibly making the horse a little older, maybe say 7, would be a safer bet for the one and two star levels, and maybe tacking on a year or two for the three and four star.

Beh, I don't know, I always feel like I'm giving out crappy info haha...anyone, feel free to add on!

[ritzy]

I haven't read the whole of this topic, but seeing as i tend to go off in my own little world on sims and move horses up unrealistically in their disciplines, maybe there should be some permenant help on the website that tells you the age preference for each level? Because, not everyone knows everything about competition - including myself, who knows next-to-nothing...

[Shelly]

That's why I ask Ritzy

Rainbow - thanks for clearing up the dressage side for me I know jumpers tend to start when they're four or five, or have read somewhere that four is the aboslute youngest they can start competing, because of the stress on their legs, but I wasnt sure about Dressage horses.

Christie - At least you have some time frames That's actually more what I was looking for, the "the ball park" for ages.

Thank you both for your help!

[Rainbow]

Ritzy (or anyone who's interested), if you go to the main bits webpage (mayakenedy.com/bits), there is a "Library" section. It's not very complete (I think we have three or four articles at the moment lol) but does have a bunch of links to outside sources as well.

And no problem, Shelly!

[Shelly]

I have to see about the articles I've collected from the project I started in All Sim. I'll submit some of them.