Need help choosing between a H/J barn or an event barn

[Mohagenka]

Hi! I’m new to COTH and this is my first post on here; if I’m not following a rule of some sort let me know so I can repost this in the appropriate forum, etc.

So, my dilemma: After two years off from riding, I’m coming back to it at age 16. I’d trained for almost six years in hunters, competing in the IEA and local shows. I found two local barns and am struggling to pick between them.
Barn 1 is an eventing barn. They do offer H/J but the trainer has event background and after speaking to her has said she mostly teaches eventing. It is closer to my home, has a nicer facility, a more intimate environment, but is slightly more expensive.
Barn 2 is a H/J barn. It is cheaper than B1, but is further away with a less nice facility. I have also watched some FB videos of the trainer and she seems great, but I’m not a huge fan of her jumping style–not relaxed; lays flat on horses neck over tiny crossrails.

My question is: For a girl raised riding hunters, how different is eventing going to be??? I think it’s worth mentioning here that while at my old barn before quitting, I’d had a lot of confidence issues with jumps. I jumped up to 2’6 and was decent (I placed first in some hunter over fences classes at local shows) but I still was scared of it.
The concept of eventing, with its huge, scary XC fences, is kinda off putting to me, but B1–the eventing barn–seems to be the better barn so far…So i don’t know if I go to eventing barn and learn a new but somewhat scary discipline, or go to the less-nice hunter barn and ride what i know.

(This post seems all over the place and sounds a little confusing so I guess just tell me: How much different is eventing from hunters, is it worth going to the nicer barn if I’m going to train in something I hugely struggled with in the past?)

[findeight]

There’s not that much difference between a GOOD HJ barn and a GOOD Eventing barn. Both should teach a functionally correct position, take great care of the horses and incorporate correct flatwork into their program.

If OP doesn’t own a horse and needs a school horse for lessons, the Eventing barn sounds like a much better bet. Learning to ride and jump outside is a huge plus even if you don’t want to compete. If she’s got a horse and needs to stay on the HJ side of things? Just look for a GOOD HJ barn even if it’s farther away. Might need to wait if she doesn’t have a car yet.

But continuing to learn should be the most important thing regardless of discipline, especially if one is not tied to a discipline by the horse they own. That’s perfect for trying everything.

[Foxglove6]

Try a lesson with the eventing barn. It’s not as scary as you think. The lower levels are very similar to the low levels of hunters. A dressage background might even help you with some cross training. Go with the trainer that you click with, not the barn that matches your old style.

[rockonxox]

Are you wanting to show? If you want to do hunters and go to the eventing barn you may not have a whole lot of opportunities to do that (especially with the trainer coming along… they probably have events to go to!). I ride at a barn that is big on eventing, but we still do some hunter stuff. I love eventing, but my “personality” is definitely more hunters and I love dressage. One day I’ll put big kid pants on and go try cross country, but hunters is what I grew up with and what I enjoy.

Have you gone to the barns to see the facilities and gone to watch these trainers in action? If not, I would suggest doing so. Some great riders are not great teachers, so seeing how they relay their knowledge could be a deciding factor as well. Online photos and videos can only portray so much.

[Groom_amp_Taxi]

Go where you feel you can get the best training experience for the time and money you invest - consider the quality of the instruction, the quality of the facility, and probably most importantly, the quality of the horses you will have access to learn on. Not all horses that are good at jumping are good teachers for people learning to jump, and quality school horses for jumping lessons can be exceedingly hard to find - especially at a reasonable price.

If your choice turns out to be the eventing barn and you are honestly not comfortable jumping solid obstacles, let the trainer know that and hopefully he/she will not you press you to do so unless or until you communicate that you are ready to give it a try. I’ve heard hunter/jumper trainers make comments about not liking eventing because of the obstacles that don’t fall down - sometimes I think that’s legit on their part, and sometimes I think it’s just to keep the clients in the fold rather than exploring possibilities outside it.

The reality is that the basics of position and execution between the disciplines are more similar than they are different although the general approach to riding courses tends to differ.

[gottagrey]

Which facility offers you the best in terms of riding/lessons i.e. lesson horse, leasing etc. There are similarities and then differences. is the H/J barn an “A” show barn which goes to mostly rated shows or mostly local? What does the event barn do in terms of competitions? Many event barns go to just dressage shows, show jumping rallies and then the horse trials…

My advice would be to pick the barn that gives you the best opportunity for time in the saddle and whose teaching style you like. I wouldn’t be too critical about some photographs as sometimes it’s the timing of the photo where a rider’s angle doesn’t always look the best.

[ladyj79]

You are sixteen, stopped riding at 14. Eventers…at this level there’s really no such thing as “teaching eventing.” This barn is also closer. You need a good instructor.

Barn 2, you don’t like the way the trainer rides and it’s further away. This is a no brainer.

FWIW I left the bn local hunter barn as a kid and trained with an eventer. I won a lot in the hunters after I left the hunter barn, because my flatwork and my horses improved dramatically.

[Janet]

The real question is “Which instructor is going to be better at dealing with confidence issues?”

That is going to depend more on the instructor his/herself than the difference between hunters and eventing.

Remember that Jimmy Wofford says that eventers (horses and riders) need to start with hunters.

[Impractical_Horsewoman]

I would go for the eventing barn without question. I think the dressage will make a world of difference for your sense of security in the saddle. You don’t have to jump fixed obstacles right away–or ever. Ask your instructor to help you first focus on getting confident at the stadium phase with your jumping. I can’t imagine that your teacher will ask you to jump “huge, scary fences” right away!

Obviously, I am assuming this is a safe barn with a competent instructor who isn’t going to push you to do things outside of your level of ability or comfort. If that’s not the case, then that changes the equation completely!

[RockstarPony]

I think maybe what’s missing here is that eventers don’t immediately start with the big scary stuff! The stuff you see in pictures of Rolex is not at all what you would be jumping at your level.

The fences on a 2’ cross country course are usually just some little logs and other simple jumps; the littlest stuff that you would probably start out over is not much bigger than a pole on the ground.

The eventing coach might push you a little bit to try them if they think you’re ready for it, but they should be able to respect your decision if you don’t want to do it.

I’ve personally found that even though I’m a little bit anxious about jumping, I still really enjoy going out and popping over the little stuff, and that jumping weird stuff around the farm has made me a lot more confident when I do run into an intimidating-looking jump in the show ring.

[mmeqcenter]

If you’re not a fan of the H/J instructor’s riding, then I’d choose the other instructor.

Eventing may benefit you in that, your instructor could perhaps introduce you to dressage. If you have low confidence over fences, why not try some dressage?
If you must jump, using an eventer for a trainer doesn’t mean you must event. Jumping is jumping, basics are basics, and as others said, a good over fences instructor shouldn’t matter what the strict discipline is. You can always go to local H/J shows by yourself when you’re ready, or perhaps your instructor will be willing to go with you if enough of the other students want to go - maybe some want to practice their show jump rounds and would benefit from a show where they can do just that.

[Lyssabd]

I grew up riding H/J and switched early 20’s to eventing because my horse DID NOT want to do H/J. There is a definite difference in riding style, but it has done wonders for my confidence and I can say with confidence that dressage changed my life for the better. I never knew you could feel so much of the horse while riding, and the sense of security in the saddle is amazing and has helped my riding all around.

I’ve been in clinics with a lot of event trainers both local and 4* riders, and they have all been amazingly patient and have given me more confidence than most of my previous trainers. A good trainer is a good trainer, no matter the discipline, and I would encourage you to give it a shot with the eventing barn! Eventers know how to have fun outside of the arena too, which I think is hugely important in someones riding life.

Good luck, and have fun! Test out a few lessons and see how it goes, I bet you’ll be happy to be back in the saddle no matter what you choose.

[Release_First]

@mmeqcenter

If you’re not a fan of the H/J instructor’s riding, then I’d choose the other instructor.

Choose the best INSTRUCTOR with the best horses for your level. I grew up doing all, H/J, Dressage, Eventing and eventually chose the discipline that clicked with me. I clinched with the best and always had the best instructors, not necessarily the most expensive. How a person rides will not help or hurt your riding but how they teach will.

[mmeqcenter]

@Release First

Choose the best INSTRUCTOR with the best horses for your level. I grew up doing all, H/J, Dressage, Eventing and eventually chose the discipline that clicked with me. I clinched with the best and always had the best instructors, not necessarily the most expensive. How a person rides will not help or hurt your riding but how they teach will.

To an extent. But if there’s an instructor whose position is just awful, or they’re very heavy-handed and harsh, I’d assume that will transfer into their teaching as well. Perhaps not in teaching bad things, but in neglecting to correct things you’re doing incorrectly, because it’s not seen as an important item to them.

[hoopoe]

remember that stadium jumping is an important part of three day. I would not hesitate going to the eventer barn. You will get, most likely, a good correct dressage base. Jumping is a discipline open to all, no matter their pocket book. You can compete in jumper classes on any horse that can, as opposed to hunters where you are often at the mercy of the fads of the day. The eventer trainer likely makes use of local H/J shows for training and experiences for the student.

I would pay a visit and talk about your horse and your needs. I think you will find a lot of positive. truth be told. I admire the correct , functional seats on many 3Day riders and wonder what has become of the hunter equitation we use to see.

I am an olde fart

[NCRider]

Try the eventing barn and find out their riding options for non owners. If it looks like they have a good program for someone like you, give it a go. I second whoever said that working on the dressage flatwork will help your confidence. You may also find that hopping over tiny logs/coops on a been there done that eventing school horse that jumps with proper pace will do wonders for your confidence over fences.

[Mukluk]

If you are horseless, why not take a few lessons at each and decide which is a better fit?

[tbchick84]

Just on your description of the trainers alone, the eventing barn makes sense. The XC jumps at the lowest levels are logs on the ground, very easy. You’d also gain a dressage education which will make you a better jumper regardless of discipline. You’d be surprised how many self described timid riders come back from XC with a big grin on their face.

[CFiona]

Hi there

Welcome to COTH! Glad you wrote. I just went through this in March and choose the Eventing Barn. Not saying that you have to do the same, but here are my $0.02.

• XC doesn't have to be big scary jumps. They often have a division called Grasshopper which is teeny-tiny logs. I mean, these logs are 1/2 buried in the ground.... the horses can walk over them! It's a gradual process to move up if and when you want to. And any trainer worth their salt won't push you.

• I had lost some confidence last year due to some green OTTB stuff, and I've already gained it back in spades. After you've successfully and safely done something XC (even if it is grasshopper) it's impossible not to feel amazing and strong and confident.

Best of luck with your decision! And remember, nothing is permanent. You can always change your mind later!

[SonnysMom]

I actually find jumping low level xc jumps less scary than jumping some hunter/jumper courses. At the low level there are no much where I have to find the perfect stride between fences. I have a lot more time to regroup. It doesn’t matter if I trot or canter a fence I just need to leave it up. Wrong lead, not a big deal. I find it easier to slow things down with eventing.
Dressage has improved my jumping a huge amount.