Mr. Joey Starbuck is six this year. He has yet to show in a dressage test. He WAS ready, but then sliced his front pastern area, so he has been recovering. When he does go into a class, he will start at 1st level.
Having said that, we started him at 3. He went to Devon at three and a half, and showed in the materiale and suitability classes (tied for second in materiale, 10th in suitability.) He had been ridden a total of about 10-15 times when he went into this class, and was turned out after Devon, and wasn’t started again until the fair weather arrived in 2008. We did the same thing in 2008 and 2009.
I have a trainer that weighs about 100 lbs, soaking wet, which I believe makes a difference. IMHO … not fact. He is worked probably about 3- or 4-days per week. He is sound. He is mentally sound. He hass never had a sore back. He hasn’t had a day of lameness … well, that’s a lie. Twice … once after a trailer ride and once when he decided to goof off in the pasture pond.
April (Watermark) has been started, but isn’t ready to canter yet (not balanced) and she’s 5. Dickens will be started next fall … at 3.5. But very very lightly. Mentally, we’ll have to see how it goes. He may not be ready.
The bottom line, IMHO, is slow and steady. There was an article in Warmbloods magazine recently about a 20 year old gelding still competing grand prix (I think.) THAT’s what my objective is for all my horses. More importantly, they are all happy girls and boys. They are calm, have exceptional ground manners, trailer impeccably. And each has a distinct personality…because, I believe, they’ve been allowed to be horses, not machines.
Teddy O’Connor taught me four very important lessons:
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Just because your horse hasn't done grand prix (regardless of discipline) at the age of 7 doesn't mean he never will.
Just because your horse isn't 17-hands doesn't mean he can't do grand prix (regardless of discipline.)
It can all end in a hearbeat.
It's about the JOURNEY, not the ribbons. Treasure all moments when your horse is just being himself. THAT'S where the joy is.
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