Speak to me about elementary level eventing? :)

[whitewolfe001]

OK, so, I haven’t evented in… well, I don’t want to say how long. Let’s just say, a long time… a very long time…

I’ve been a dressage rider for [blank] years, but I recently acquired a large pony, who was meant for a young family member but has proven to be a little much for that role.

However…I’m in love with this pony, and I wanna keep him!!! He’s smart, willing, forward, and brave (esp outdoors)

And I don’t think I"m really too big for him (I’m pretty short). I look fairly normal on him.

I’m having so much fun with him, and now I have this side dream of taking him eventing! And I just found out about elementary level (which didn’t exist “back in the day”)…

But I just don’t know much about it. Been out of the game a long time. All I know is that it’s not a “recognized” level. Reading some conflicting information on jump heights… 2’? A little more?

He’s a fast little guy. He can surely can get through a dressage test, but maybe with not much “suppleness”, lol. We just want to have fun.

What can you tell me about elementary level??? Is this just a “tad” above “tadpole”? Horses not expected to be “on the bit” for dressage test?" Are only wee little kids doing this? aka would I be laughed out of the ring as an adult on a pony???

Where can I find information on events for New England that offer this level?

Any info appreciated

[Janet]

Since it isn’t a recognized level, it means “whatever the organizer wants it to mean”.

It could be anything from 1’ to 2’3".

Check your area I website, or the USEA website (under “education”) for possible lists of unrecognized events.

[beowulf]

First off welcome (hopefully) to eventing! Whereabouts are you in NE? I am in MA, and there are several summer/fall shows that cater to Elementary.

Because Elementary is not a recognized division, you’ll find the height varies from region to region. In my experience it is always under 2’3" - most Elementary divisions I have been in are either 18" or 2’3" – but now that there is Tadpole (18") it seems E is more consistently 2’3" max.

The dressage portion seems to vary more than the jump height: some regions have you do USEA Beg Novice A/B tests while others have you do USDF Training (no canter) tests.

If you are doing it just to have fun, Elementary is definitely the place to start. I just finished a show last weekend at Scarlet Hill in Groton, they ran Tadpole to Training-Prelim (I think). It was absolutely awesome, the courses were open and sweepy and very inviting, great for first timers horse and riders alike. I rode in the Elementary Senior division aboard my green OTTB - it was his first show. Since my division was ‘Senior’, it was entirely adults. I may have been the youngest at 26 in my division. It was a mixed bag of ammies getting their confidence back, ammy reriders, ammies on green horses (like myself) and one or two pros on green horses. It was a great crowd.

As far as the dressage and how they judge you, I guess it depends on the region too. My guy had a great warm up and we went into the ring and he turned into a giraffe and I turned into an incompetent potato; we still scored reasonably well (7.5 on our final halt, 7.5 on a trot circle) for a final score of 36.2. He was in no shape or form on the bit for half of the test. I actually almost lost him at the canter depart and for a moment I think he was thinking of jumping out of the ring! :lol: I can PM you the video if you’d like.

XC was basically log, log, log, bale, log, log, log, log, coop :lol: very straightforward and FUN!

All in all, Elementary is definitely the level for fun. No one will laugh at you for entering.

[kupeski]

I’ve groomed for friends at my barn, and several started in Elementary. Definitely not only kids, we had an adult re-rider doing Elementary on her horse.
I’ve seen jumps as small foot high logs to some jumps pushing 2’3 (especially in the fall season, when they’re encouraging kids to think about advancing up the levels) Most farms will list the max height for the jumps

Since I’m a small adult and prefer ponies, I know I’ll spend a lot of time doing Ele/BBN, once I find my next eventing star.

[Manahmanah]

Around here we have intro, starter, and elementary. I forget which is the lowest (I think intro) and the height is 18" max. It’s usually just logs, a coop or two, and a cavetti.

You will absolutely not be the only adult in the class! all three of these lower levels are always packed with grown ups at our local shows, and everyone is super nice. The horse isn’t going to be expected to be on the bit.

[Snugglerug]

Go for it and have fun! Along with different definitions of “elementary,” you may find similar divisions with different names entirely! I’m in Michigan, and around here we usually see “Starter” up to 2’3", and “Green as Grass” which I think is usually around 18". Believe me, no one will look twice at an adult in these divisions. You’ll be welcomed. Those two and BN are usually the largest, and those entry fees are just as green as the ones from training and prelim riders. In fact, I’d guess many local schooling shows are dependent on those entries to keep going!

[Sticky_Situation]

The descriptions of the divisions should say how high the jumps are and what the dressage test is. Often there are multiple lower unrecognized levels, with jump heights anywhere from poles on the ground to 2’3". And most of the horses in those divisions don’t have stellar dressage either.

Also, around where I am the lowest levels seem to have more adults than kids more often than not! Go, and have fun!

[Equisis]

There are plenty of adults on ponies! No one will laugh As for dressage at that level, if you can walk, trot and (maybe) canter circles with transitions approximately where you want them, you’ll be fine. Just ride the pattern and have fun!

At the starter levels, descriptions and heights will vary (one venue’s “starter” may be another’s “elementary” and another’s “baby beginner novice”). Heights should be listed on the entry, so just pick the one that sounds good to you! XC will probably be mostly logs, with some little coops and roll tops, and maybe a water crossing. Very inviting!

Where in New England are you located? We might be able to recommend some good venues for starting out. EquineSite can be a good resource, and join the Area 1 group on Facebook- lots of unrecognized stuff posted on there.

[whichchick]

I didn’t see this mentioned, but some smaller local venues will let you school the xc course the day before for an additional fee. Usually this is mentioned in their flyer. During schooling, you can try some of the less-imposing bigger obstacles if you feel brave and play in the water complex if your venue does not have water on the BBN or “starter” level course.

Nobody will bat an eye at an adult on a pony in “starter” or “very green” or whatever. The lower levels at unrec’d events are full of assorted folks – people on super-green baby horses, people who haven’t competed in a while, people who are just starting out in eventing, people who don’t feel very comfortable riding out in the big wide fields… some of these people are adults. There’s also a lot of variety in the equines – ponies, experienced and un-, lanky ottbs enjoying their first off-the-farm trip, mutt-bred schoolies packing beginner riders, multi-jobber horses (the barrel horse dutifully hopping over obstacles with an expression that says “I’d rather be team penning,” the arab who flails giraffe-like in the dressage ring, the cobby draft cross who is sweating as he chugs 'round the starter fences)… it’s a grab bag of diversity. You will not be out of place because all kinds of people and horses will be out there.

[Sing_Mia_Song]

[QUOTE=whichchick;8835985]

Nobody will bat an eye at an adult on a pony in “starter” or “very green” or whatever. The lower levels at unrec’d events are full of assorted folks – people on super-green baby horses, people who haven’t competed in a while, people who are just starting out in eventing, people who don’t feel very comfortable riding out in the big wide fields… some of these people are adults. There’s also a lot of variety in the equines – ponies, experienced and un-, lanky ottbs enjoying their first off-the-farm trip, mutt-bred schoolies packing beginner riders, multi-jobber horses (the barrel horse dutifully hopping over obstacles with an expression that says “I’d rather be team penning,” the arab who flails giraffe-like in the dressage ring, the cobby draft cross who is sweating as he chugs 'round the starter fences)… it’s a grab bag of diversity. You will not be out of place because all kinds of people and horses will be out there.[/QUOTE]

And this is why I switched to eventing after 35 years in the hunter ring!

[JP60]

[QUOTE=whichchick;8835985]
I didn’t see this mentioned, but some smaller local venues will let you school the xc course the day before for an additional fee. Usually this is mentioned in their flyer. During schooling, you can try some of the less-imposing bigger obstacles if you feel brave and play in the water complex if your venue does not have water on the BBN or “starter” level course.

Nobody will bat an eye at an adult on a pony in “starter” or “very green” or whatever. The lower levels at unrec’d events are full of assorted folks – people on super-green baby horses, people who haven’t competed in a while, people who are just starting out in eventing, people who don’t feel very comfortable riding out in the big wide fields… some of these people are adults. There’s also a lot of variety in the equines – ponies, experienced and un-, lanky ottbs enjoying their first off-the-farm trip, mutt-bred schoolies packing beginner riders, multi-jobber horses (the barrel horse dutifully hopping over obstacles with an expression that says “I’d rather be team penning,” the arab who flails giraffe-like in the dressage ring, the cobby draft cross who is sweating as he chugs 'round the starter fences)… it’s a grab bag of diversity. You will not be out of place because all kinds of people and horses will be out there.[/QUOTE]
I think you take the post of the week for describing the heart of this sport. Well said

I started fresh 8 years ago on a full blood, 16.1 hand Trakehner. As I stood quiet with my long necked, long back, big boned sweetheart I over heard a mother of one of the kids say “What’s the old guy doing here?”. I so wanted to turned around and say something to the effect of “He and his big old horse are here to stomp on your girl’s little ponies” :eek::lol: Instead I just smiled, performed a great test and accepted our blue ribbon at the end of the show.

Funny thing is, I got to repeat this when I got my new horse and we started all over. Go, enjoy, have fun and when starte/elementary becomes boring, you’ll be ready for BN. Kick On!!

[beowulf]

OP, if you are in MA I will be at this show on Oct 9th and would be happy to meet up/walk elementary with you – or if you aren’t ready but want to get a handle on what a 3-phase is like, you’re more than welcome to tag along - it will likely be me, SO, and my younger sister:
http://grotonponyclub.org/clinics_and_shows/GPC_October_2016_show.pdf

I also might do this derby Oct 16th:
http://www.orchardhillequestriancenter.com/events/calendar/

I’m part of a small Google Group in MA that meets up with other adult ammies/riders and schools at various venues - if you want in on that send me a PM. It’s super fun and casual and I’ve been able to school from elementary to Novice with my guy this summer with them. No judgement, all about fun deals.

As far as local venues… there isn’t really a website that tracks them all but I have had good luck with the Area I group on Facebook. There is also another google email group for NE called ‘Lochiatto Group’ that regularly has clinics, shows, horses for sale, etc blasts.

[whitewolfe001]

Thank you everyone for your informative and encouraging replies! Sorry I’m so tardy in replying. I’m getting forgetful in my “old age”…

I’ve been taking Pony over small fences and so far he’s really into it and we’re having fun. Since I’ve done only dressage forever and haven’t jumped anything bigger than a ground pole since I was in my teens, even a 2’3 fence seems really big to me! So I would definitely be interested in any schooling events with max jump heights that are verrry low.

We are in Western MA. I scoured the USEA(?) website for schooling events and see some promising venues that aren’t too far away. So, I really hope to see you in 2017! If you see an adult sliding off a small fat pony this spring, that could be me! haha