Intro to Eventing?

[CHT]

Aside from reading the rule book, is there a good book/resource for getting into eventing?

I have some clients that are thinking of doing an event next May. We have access to the cross country course and have been twice this week (taking different horses/clients) and it has been a lot of fun. I, however, have zero eventing experience. The course is marked so I can easily see what jumps we would do at the two lowest levels…nothing frightening.

Unfortunately they allowed the water complex to dry out, so we haven’t been able to school that at all.

What IS frightening though, is the stabling. There are about 30 normal stalls, and then 40 or so, tiny wood pen stalls things. Do people really make their horses overnight in a 8 foot square wood pen with no protection from the elements? I don’t get it. We could haul in and out for the May event I think, but is this typical stabling? Seems odd given the current push for biosecurity.

[furlong47]

It’s not unusual to see temporary stalls in a large tent, so maybe that facility puts a tent up over them when they are in use?

Also, at least here in the US, it’s fairly common for unrecognized starter events to be run all on one day, so you wouldn’t need stabling at all unless you were going somewhere very far away.

[Highflyer]

Typical around here is 10- foot square tent stalls, or concrete or wood permanent stalls-- exactly the same as for H/J shows. I have never seen any stabling without a roof, but in May as long as it wasn’t raining that part wouldn’t particularly bother me. (The 8’ part would-- but are you sure they’re used for stabling for events? Maybe they’re for livestock or something.) I would strongly, strongly advise going to an event to spectate and/ or volunteer. Watch all 3 phases, walk the courses, ask lots of questions, etc.

http://useventing.com/sites/default/files/Guide1stEvent%20Part1_1.pdf

[Janet]

I have seen an event in Colorado where there are some temporary stalls in tents, and some open pens.

WRT the water jump, it is pretty much SOP to only put water in it the night before the competition.

USEA has a pamphlet called “Make an Event of it” which is a good introduction to Eventing. Maybe there is a Canadian equivalent.

[merrygoround]

I suggest going to at least one, listening and observing. The no assistance rules are foreign to H/J world, where coches constantly coach from the rail. There are also a thing called “times”, which can be a cause for elimination, if not adhered to. And then there are bitting restrictions for dressage.

I suspect the stabling will be the least of your problems.

[vineyridge]

Whatever happened to the Intro to Eventing clinics that the USEA used to foster around the country? They were a response to safety concerns. Did the Great Recession or apathy kill them off?

[tbchick84]

I was actually thinking of making up a pamphlet or something covering the more major rules that apply to eventing for newcomers to the sport. The most common (and most dangerous thing) I see at shows are riders jumping the jumps in the warmup ring in the wrong direction. Unlike H/J, where you can jump them either direction, eventing fences are flagged, white on left / red on right. You always jump them with the red flag on the right.

Some of the other biggies are, no leg wraps in dressage, no outside assistance (schooling show rules may vary, just check first), no standing martingales for jumping and bitting restrictions.

Enjoy your trip to the eventing world. The shows are fun and most people are very helpful, so if you have any questions, just ask.

[Highflyer]

@vineyridge

Whatever happened to the Intro to Eventing clinics that the USEA used to foster around the country? They were a response to safety concerns. Did the Great Recession or apathy kill them off?

OP is Canadian.

[Manybees]

The pens you describe are not atypical. You can buy canopy tents at Canadian Tire that provide shade and protection from rain- either just a roof or if you have a horse that does not like neighbours, with a roll down side. They basically cover the entire pen. Some venues have a few stalls available in their barns that go quickly when signing up for events. Also most of the pens do not have gates, so you need to bring your own stall guards.

[CHT]

Unfortunately the only nearby events are already over. There is an Intro to Eventing clinic, but it already happened and is right after the event we are planning to go to. One of my clients went to it this year, which is what got this whole thing started. The weather was poor for it though, so they didn’t do the theory part.

We would likely just do “Starter” which I don’t think has any water hazards, but I am not positive, as Starter isn’t covered by the Equine Canada rules.

@tbchick84 our hunter/jumper warm up jumps are flagged to be jumped one way, so that will be the same. I figure the rules will cover the tack restrictions, but none of my clients use anything special/extra.

@Manybees I can’t imagine how that would work on a small pen as they aren’t stand alone, unless I could find one the exact same dimensions. It would be nice to have a day stall, as the first day would be dressage and stadium, so nice to have a place to stick the horse(s). You are right that they don’t have gates too…but cost $70…I am surprised how expensive eventing is!

[tbchick84]

No water required at Starter at least in the US. Some have an option if you want to give it a try, but it’s never flagged so you can ride around it if need be.

[seriously1]

Why not get someone local in to run a clinic? Do a weekend, where you run through a mini-version of all 3 phases. Also, head out to an event and see it. I thought someone was offering a mid-week xc school? SOCTA events if you are in Ontario are worth exploring ahead of time, too.

[Ryde_XC]

CHT- message me and I can give you contacts for people who would be happy to come do a clinic for your barn that would be suitable.