Have you ever thought about eventing? Would you do an introductory clinic?

[CookiePony]

I'm retitling and adding some to this OP because I'm curious-- are folks on the Dressage forum at all interested in eventing? Why or why not?

If you were in the vicinity of the clinic that's described below, would you go? Why or why not?

We're having a discussion over on the Eventing forum about how to get more people involved at the grassroots levels of the sport, and I think it would be useful to get information from people who are currently involved in other disciplines.

Here is the clinic info...

Intro to Eventing Clinic
endorsed by the US Eventing Association

Hosted by:
Upper Level 3 Day Eventer

Mary Bess Sigman of Triple Creek Eventing
and
Dressage trainer – Kristin Reid of Royal Salute Farm

Open to all disciplines(except current eventers)
Come spend the day experiencing the basics of eventing!
*each group will be tailored to riding ability and goals*

Session 1: Gridwork – learn the basics of gymnastics and work on position.

Session 2: Cross Country – learn to trot and canter up and down hills, jump solid objects and ride more independently.

Session 3: Dressage – learn the basics of the dressage “test” and how to get your horse on the bit and moving off of your leg.

Each session: $40 (can do one, two or all three)
Venue/insurance fee: $20
If you do all three sessions - save $10 – will be $130.00
*we will have snacks and drinks*

Join us for a trail ride after the clinic!

Date: Saturday February 23, 2008
Time: 10:00am groups will start – we will give more detail as groups sign up.

Location: Triple Creek Farm – Covington, GA (1 hour,15 minutes from Atlanta)

Please respond to India Watson – 404-394-7950 cell or
e-mail – indiawatson@comcast.net
We have limited space for participants - come have some fun and
“Think Outside the Ring!”

[CookiePony]

Bump... I changed this thread a little to try to get some of your feedback about interest in this kind of clinic.

[dutchmike]

Eventing is fun. but the 2* upwards are just asking for trouble. I'm to old for that stuff and like my poles to fall if I crash into them rather then breaking my neck. I rather jump 5' knowing the pole will fall of then 4' and knowing that wall won't come down even if hit by a 18 wheeler;)

[ToN Farm]

I got my first introduction to eventing this way. Our GMO had a beginner clinic just like the one you are advertising. It was well attended and great fun. I evented for a number of years, then lost my event horse, and eventually got too old and moved to dressage. Even now, if someone offered a clinic like this, I just might sign up. There is nothing like the thrill of eventing, even at the lowest level. I really miss it and haven't enjoyed riding since I stopped eventing.

[see u at x]

I would absolutely be interested in something like this. It sounds like a lot of fun, and I'd love to try eventing with my new mare at some point. However, I need to build some more confidence and learn how to jump better. I think that we could certainly do lower levels without me crying like a baby when we do the cross country phase. The bigger stuff...eh, I'm not sure about that. lol Maybe someday, but I don't see it happening in the forseeable future. ;)

[Anselcat]

I would love to do this. The thing that hooked me was "learn to trot and canter up and down hills" -- which suggests that the x-country session bit won't be just about jumping the obstacles, but would truly be a session on the basics to make a newbie feel comfortable.

[CookiePony]

ToN-- that is great that you got your start with such a clinic! So they work!!

dutchmike, do you have any interest in the lower levels? I myself am a lower-level eventer (think 2'11 and under, with aspirations to the 3'3" division), and I represent the VAST majority of the USEA's almost 14,000 members. If you'd enjoy a canter over a series of moderately-sized fences situated in varying terrain, among other competitors of all ages, you might like eventing, and fit right in. :D

see u at x-- there is no requirement or expectation to move up to the bigger stuff-- people will not look down on you for only competing at lower levels.

anselcat-- I am not an organizer of the clinic, but I feel safe in telling you that helping newbies feel comfortable (and have fun!) is what the organizers want to do. :cool:

[RunForIt]

I would absolutely be interested in something like this. It sounds like a lot of fun, and I'd love to try eventing with my new mare at some point. However, I need to build some more confidence and learn how to jump better. I think that we could certainly do lower levels without me crying like a baby when we do the cross country phase. The bigger stuff...eh, I'm not sure about that. lol Maybe someday, but I don't see it happening in the forseeable future. ;)

keep this idea in mind - it very well may come to your own area. The clinic is set up in 3 sessions - gridwork, XC, and dressage (piece of cake for you) -rider chooses the sessions. Some folks are doing all 3 - some just the 1 or 2 that they feel comfortable doing and are just staying to learn from the ground.

I'd love to be offered the opportunity to do the same with dressage or hunters - so much fun out here for all of us. Thanks for the positive comments! Good luck with your horse! :cool:

[dutchmike]

dutchmike, do you have any interest in the lower levels? I myself am a lower-level eventer (think 2'11 and under, with aspirations to the 3'3" division),
yep I am comfortable up to 3'6. I did one eventing training level thingy a year and half ago and had a blast.

[STF]

I came from and eventing background, still play on the Training Level stuff and under, but honestly dont care to anymore.
Im done with that part of my life.
Its hard enough to spend time and money on one disipline. Its really expensive. I cant put another sport into the mix as well.

[Dune]

I came from and eventing background, still play on the Training Level stuff and under, but honestly dont care to anymore.
Im done with that part of my life.
Its hard enough to spend time and money on one disipline. Its really expensive. I cant put another sport into the mix as well.

That's how I feel about it as well. Plus I already incorporate cavaletti work and riding on a undulating galloping track (trotting and cantering) so I don't feel like I've left it entirely.

[Sabine]

I came from an eventing background, still play on the Training Level stuff and under, but honestly dont care to anymore.
Im done with that part of my life.
Its hard enough to spend time and money on one disipline. Its really expensive. I cant put another sport into the mix as well.

Agree with that statement AND- IMO you can't really be great doing it all...there is a certain style and seat for good dressage- that doesn't really work for eventing.

However I used to event for about 8 years in Germany when I was Young (a long time ago...LOL!) and loved it- we also rode annual hunts and had a blast. Now I am too old to take that risk and my horses are not really trained for it either. To top it off- we had a really bad accident with my stepdad.....and I don't want to be in that scene anymore...(admittedly he rode CCIs).

[rothmpp]

I came from and eventing background, still play on the Training Level stuff and under, but honestly dont care to anymore.
Im done with that part of my life.
Its hard enough to spend time and money on one disipline. Its really expensive. I cant put another sport into the mix as well.

I moved to dressage from eventing, when my horse was a star at the dressage phase and hated all things water. I wouldn't go back, but that is mostly because I used to come off so often XC, and as I *ahem* mature, I know that bones do not set as well or as fast on me anymore.

I do use the conditioning parts of eventing on my dressage horses, though. The mental relief they get from getting out of the arena, and the muscle and wind they develop from good hill workouts and long trots through the fields are invaluable.

[atr]

No. I'm a chicken and I don't bounce so well anymore.

[J-Lu]

I actually got into dressage through eventing (although I always wanted to do dressage), did hunter stuff and junior jumper stuff before that. Some of my fondest memories were the Area X adult rider camps and the Wendy Wergeles clinics.

I love eventing and have done some kind of horse trial/mini-event thingy with every horse I've ridden in adulthood. My current horse is slightly traumatized by cross country fences (she's a wimp and gets excited, not relaxed, on trail rides) but she's jumped two cross country courses and jumps stadium fairly well. I jump her in fits and spurts and she's actually a good jumper once she's seen the jump. I plan to event her at BN when she slows down in dressage. Mentally, I'm not sure if she can handle anything above that on a course she doesn't know. Mentally, I'm not sure if I'd go higher because my horse is not confident. I used to jump TBs - point and get out of the way. The warmbloods require a ride and the older I get, the more I realize I don't bounce.

Right now, I don't have the money to do dressage, much less eventing, but in the future I hope to have more money, a truck and a trailer, more time, access to good jumping trainers.... I can always dream....:D

J.

[CTM]

I'm participating in this clinic with my young dressage horse. I don't have any aspirations to switch over to eventing but the clinic is at such a level that it allows some cross training without it being too intimidating. The event trainer teaching this clinic is excellent and very understanding and I don't worry about anyone being pushed past their comfort level.

[GreekDressageQueen]

Like most dressage riders/trainers I know, I am an ex-jumper turned eventer who is slowly turning to dressage full-time because I have too many broken bones and arthritis setting in. I still love jumping and cross country but I am no longer that 16 year old crazy girl who would jump a picnic table or upside down canoe for the heck of it. I still do horse trails with my young guy because he loves it and was bred for it, but I will probably retire from eventing once I buy my fancy-bred Hanoverian dressage horse. I also don't have any desire to go above 3' anymore so I will stick with the lower levels.

However, I do think jumping is an excellent exercise for all dressage horses and will probably always do a little bit here and there.

[STF]

I do use the conditioning parts of eventing on my dressage horses, though. The mental relief they get from getting out of the arena, and the muscle and wind they develop from good hill workouts and long trots through the fields are invaluable.

Yup, us too. I am still breaking babies and starting them for people. I use a lot of those old eventer thoughts too. We do trot and canter sets on a 1/2 mile "track" I have set up around a field. Conditioning several days a week and then techincal stuff a few times a week.

I hold Ingid Klimke "high in my book", she carries a lot of my thoughts as well and I love to hear and read things from her. I wish I could have went to the symposium a few yrs back, but I was very fat and pregnant them. Oh, wait, Im still fat...... darn it! :lol:

[FleetwoodStarr]

I would definately go, as long as the instructor doesn't mind complete wimps :D:lol:

[Reiter]

I'm also an Ex-Jumper/Eventer. I still do hunter paces and the occasional unrecognized event. It's great for teaching my young horses and with all the dressage I do now I need the occasional Adrenaline rush! ;)
I'm not a great fan of Eventer clinics, too much standing around IMHO, which just doesn't fit my go, go personality, but I do think they are great for a lot of people and I might consider one as a teaching tool for a more difficult young horse!

[Mozart]

Quite honestly, I think you might get more converts if you "sold" it to h/j types and the Pony Clubbers. Add me to the list of former eventers. It was fun, learned a lot, had a blast, met the nicest people but I am done with it (although I still jump judge from time to time). A lot of dressage riders (especially of the more mature variety) are former eventers and we left for good (to us) reasons. It is hard enough to find the time to be competent at one thing, let alone three things!

[RunForIt]

Quite honestly, I think you might get more converts if you "sold" it to h/j types and the Pony Clubbers. Add me to the list of former eventers. It was fun, learned a lot, had a blast, met the nicest people but I am done with it (although I still jump judge from time to time). A lot of dressage riders (especially of the more mature variety) are former eventers and we left for good (to us) reasons. It is hard enough to find the time to be competent at one thing, let alone three things!

y'know, I don't have a sense that this clinic is about "converting" people to eventing as much as "here, come do something with your horse that you haven't done, that you really CAN do...". Eventing isn't a discipline for everyone, just as any type of horse sports can be - but it is fun, and so often, a wide range of people think eventing's about galloping to jump huge obstacles that don't fall down. We all have lots in common and this clinic is simply a chance for people to have 2 successful upper level riders help H/J and dressage, and endurance, and trail rider folks get a taste of what it takes to event at the lowest levels OR to enjoy their horses more out on hacks.

Your comments about event people are so on target - I'm glad you enjoyed the time you spent eventing. I bet you were more than competent! :cool:

[Grady]

Hi - This is India - the organizer of this clinic - thank you so much for all of your responses - we just registered our 20th rider and after only 2 days of posting have closed entries. We have a mix of riders coming from 4 states - so we definitely appreciate the interest and I know we are going to have a very fun day! To RFI's comment - we are definitely not trying to convert anyone. We are just opening the door to cross training by 2 very accomplished riders who also believe in the fact that our horses also loved to be challenged in a non-stressful environment - just like we do! This is going to be a learning experience and hopefully we will be able to host these types of events all over the country. I rode in the hunters for 15 years and would have loved a "Intro to Dressage" clinic - what a great way to meet new people and share best practices within our equestrian world.

I am adding riders to the waiting list if anyone is still interested. Thank you again for the support and the suggestions - please keep the ideas coming - if there is something you would like to see - let me know - we can design a clinic based on the needs of the riders.

[lizathenag]

Good job of organizing and filling the clinic.

I too am of the "been there, done that, wore out the t-shirt" former eventer group. But it was fun (back in the days of Phase E)

[CookiePony]

Welcome to COTH, India!

One thing I have learned from this thread is that many dressage riders have come from eventing backgrounds. Over on the h/j board, far fewer riders seem to have done eventing before.

atr-- I don't bounce anymore, either-- I took a tumble some months ago and was surprised at how much it HURT! Somehow it wasn't so painful to hit the dirt when I was younger.

[lizathenag]

One thing I have learned from this thread is that many dressage riders have come from eventing backgrounds.

I have heard that dressage is for those who have done everything else or can't do anything else!

[EqTrainer]

I am skeered.

[Daydream Believer]

I have heard that dressage is for those who have done everything else or can't do anything else!

I wish I could go. Wrong time of the year for me to be going anywhere with 11 mares closing in on their due dates. I evented for over 20 years and I do miss it. More than missing the sport, I miss the camaraderie. It is a much more lighthearted crowd and I enjoy the atmosphere a lot.

Now I know how well my boy can jump, I might not be able to resist giving it another try. You only live once! :cool::winkgrin:

[Grady]

One of the purposes of this clinic is to create a model that we (the USEA) can create for all areas of the country. So - I am working on a "turn key" program that can basically be picked up by a qualified USEA trainer anywhere in the country. We already have CT and NC as the next locations because of the tremendous response we've had and would love to add VA on the list. I've seen on other threads that there are people "trying" eventing by going to a CT show or schooling show. I think that's great - but how do you learn? In this environment - we hope to be able to address all the questions, have someone get on your horse first and address the question with someone who will build confidence in the horse (In eventing that's what we call the XC jumps - each one has it's own question and correct answer) if that's what you want and have every rider take away something new. We have 10 Dressage riders coming to this! I think that's huge given that most of them have never jumped and 9 of the 10 signed up for the 2 jumping sessions! How cool...I can't wait to see the grins on their faces...

[DieBlaueReiterin]

oh man, i would LOVE to go to that!!! have one in PA or NJ next :D

[Mozart]

I have heard that dressage is for those who have done everything else or can't do anything else!

Too funny. Add me to that list. :lol:
I have recently been taking some jumping lessons to provide my young dressage horse with some variety. I am really embarassed at how nervous I am trotting through a grid considering I used to happily gallop on down to a big solid oxer :o

[lizathenag]

I am really embarassed at how nervous I am trotting through a grid considering I used to happily gallop on down to a big solid oxer :o

I think this is the definition of growing old.

Here I was a mere 26 years ago.

[STF]

I have heard that dressage is for those who have done everything else or can't do anything else!

Yeah, Id like to see the person that said that put a horse through a correct (key word there) FEI level test, or hell even HALF a test that would score in the high 60's or 70s to precision.
They would not say that very long! :rolleyes::rolleyes:

[kkj]

I would not go. I would be worried my horse would get hurt. Now I believe in all day turnout and do cross train including trail rides, cavellitis and jumping. However the footing is very good and the jumps fall down. I paid a lot of $ for my horse and have spent a lot of time getting where we are. I would not jeopordize that for the adreniline rush of riding cross country.

[canticle]

I already have experience eventing, but I would love to go! It is so much fun! :winkgrin: My horse and I both love it.

[Mozart]

Yeah, Id like to see the person that said that put a horse through a correct (key word there) FEI level test, or hell even HALF a test that would score in the high 60's or 70s to precision.
They would not say that very long! :rolleyes::rolleyes:

Then you would be in the "have done everything else" category. ;)

We're just having a little fun at our own expense. No one that has ever actually tried dressage would EVER call it easy. Not seriously anyway.

[RunForIt]

Then you would be in the "have done everything else" category. ;)

We're just having a little fun at our own expense. No one that has ever actually tried dressage would EVER call it easy. Not seriously anyway.

I had the incredibly good fortune to spend a short time riding with Grand Prix rider Lynda Alicki when she still lived in Georgia - Lynda was once a WS for Jimmy Wofford, and then decided Dressage was her passion...all of her horses went on trail rides and I got to watch her ride Gino around on a loose contact out in a field like a backyard pony once in a snaffle bridle; Rio went out on trail rides through briars and crossed creeks...

Dressage is the ultimate "it ain''t easy to do nothing and do the near impossible" - I've watched Grand Prix tests and held my breath through the entire ride - exquisite is the closest to the experience I can describe.

but does that lessen the pleasure of cantering cross country and never missing a beat in stride as you and your horse fly over a big, solid fence and keep on flying in the best sense of that word? Never.

I'll always be at the ring marveling at the beauty, strength, and incredible ability in you and your horses as you perform tests and move through the levels. come admire my baby OTTB as we canter up and down hills in balance and gather ourselves to canter a small log or two. Beauty - and balance- comes in small packages, in small goals, and in small accomplishments, one after another - we're all here for the horses. You might want to try it, maybe not - if you do, I bet you'll love the bit of time you're out in the field and I hazard a guess, your dressage tests and training won't be the worse for it. I learned that from Lynda too. :)

[lstevenson]

I would not go. I would be worried my horse would get hurt. Now I believe in all day turnout and do cross train including trail rides, cavellitis and jumping. However the footing is very good and the jumps fall down. I paid a lot of $ for my horse and have spent a lot of time getting where we are. I would not jeopordize that for the adreniline rush of riding cross country.


That's a bit overly dramatic. Horses are certainly not in danger doing lower level cross country. No one is going to make you go in bad footing, and when you are talking about small jumps (3'3" and lower), they are no more likely to make a mistake and get hurt than jumping in a ring. Horses are not stupid. They can tell that the jumps are solid, and they don't want to fall down.

If YOU are afraid to do it, that is one thing. But the horses will be fine, and will probably love it. ;)

[Sabine]

I have heard that dressage is for those who have done everything else or can't do anything else!

Emphasis on the word OR!!! It's the beauty- refinement- challenge- sophistication of the dance that fascinates me now- after I did barrel thru the courses, jumped the jump-off and used to HATE dressage...funny how you come around after you've lived a while and learned a lot...;)!

[goeslikestink]

That's a bit overly dramatic. Horses are certainly not in danger doing lower level cross country. No one is going to make you go in bad footing, and when you are talking about small jumps (3'3" and lower), they are no more likely to make a mistake and get hurt than jumping in a ring. Horses are not stupid. They can tell that the jumps are solid, and they don't want to fall down.

If YOU are afraid to do it, that is one thing. But the horses will be fine, and will probably love it. ;)

tend to agree- and will add if you want to try eventing or as near as then go for sponsored rides as the distance is more or less the same and the jumps are optional
this is a nice way to introdunce young inexpreinced horses or people or neavous people
then you can moved up into pony club or riding club activities that hold x/c events
or hunter trials-- then to one day events--
they always have a novice section-- then intermediate then pairs then open
if you go round with a mate and try sponosred rides you will soon move up into pairs the jumps are only 2ft 6 to 2ft 9-- so not big andlow in level
a sponosred ride has jumps upto 2ft 9in - 3ft as thats what most people jump but like i said the jumps are optional so no horse or doesnt have to do them