Eventers are different from other competitors in that ribbons or scores aren’t their only measure of performance. Whether it’s a clear round or an improved dressage test, most eventers have personal goals that aren’t always tied to where they placed.

Sometimes those goals involve moving up to a higher level, but it can be difficult to know when the time to try has come.

Although every horse-and-rider combination is different, some general guidelines can help anybody make the move up successful.

Robert Costello believes that “the most important thing is that you feel comfortable in the jumping phases” when considering trying out the next level.

An Olympic veteran, Costello rides and teaches out of his barn in Southern Pines, N.C. “I want to feel like things are starting to feel like old hat at the level at which you’re currently competing,” he said. “You should feel comfortable, like it’s really easy for both you and your horse in both jumping phases before you move up.”

There is a little more leeway in the dressage because some horses will never score 8s for their gaits, but that doesn’t mean it should be completely neglected.

“The collective remarks are about rideability, the horse being submissive, rider’s position and effectiveness of the aids,” said trainer Mark Combs of Charlottesville, Va. “If you’re scoring well there, you’re on the right track. It’s your groundwork, and it sets you up.”

But even repeated wins at your current level shouldn’t be the deciding factor in whether or not it’s time to move up.

“Scores can be kind of deceptive,” said Gina Miles, of Creston, Calif., who rode in the World Equestrian Games in 2002. “Somebody can be finishing with zero penalties on cross-country and show jumping and yet be doing it in a seat-of-the-pants kind of way–using speed instead of technique.”

Combs believes you have to honestly analyze your own and your horse’s performances.

“You can’t lie to yourself. You should feel like you really are going clean cross-country, not just lucky enough to go clean because there were three or four shaky fences,” he said. “And in show jumping, you’re not just steering around hoping the rails stay up. Think about what George Morris would say if he were standing at the gate.”

If an honest evaluation of your riding confirms that competitions at the current level really are going smoothly, that still doesn’t mean you should just sign up for a higher level at your next event.

“You need to look at your horse and make sure he or she is capable for that level,” said Miles. “You might have a great training level horse that just isn’t suitable for moving up to preliminary.”

Miles explained that some horses might be capable of jumping all the fences at the next level but would need a very accurate ride because they lack the scope to get themselves out of trouble.

“The horse should have enough scope to cope with an error,” she explained. “A professional might be able to get the horse around preliminary, but an amateur or a junior needs a horse that can cover them a little bit more. A horse that’s had the experience and done it before is ideal.”

Of course, an experienced horse won’t do everything by himself. “You have to take the time to develop a partnership with the horse,” said Costello.

“You’ve got to remember that what the professional who made the horse can do with it is totally different than what you may be able to do. You’ll accomplish it, but it may take you a little bit longer.”

If you don’t have access to an experienced horse, it may help to ask a professional to ride your horse at the next level to ease the transition. “Then you’re not looking at both the horse and the rider being exposed to the new level for the first time,” said Miles.

Preparation Is Key

But don’t despair if neither of you have upper-level experience. With careful preparation it shouldn’t be an issue.

When a student approaches trainer Nancy Guyotte about moving up, especially to the preliminary level, she creates a plan to help them achieve their goal.

“We sit down with a calendar of events and decide the timing, where you can go, how many [events at your current level] you’ve done, how the horse went, and do you have enough time to train to move up?” she said.

Next she examines the rider’s commitment. “You’re going to have to do extra conditioning and extra work,” Guyotte explained. “You really should do some extra schooling and lessons. Are you willing to make the commitment in time, finances and fitness? I try to make sure that people are fit enough too.”

The next step is to start simulating the conditions of the next level in schooling. “I think the biggest mistake people make is that they wait to add the technicality,” said Combs. “They try the technicality and height of the new level at the same time, so not only are they swamped with the new questions, but they’re also trying to figure out how to jump the height as well.”

Combs advocates routinely schooling above your level at home so that you’re never surprised at an event. “Too many people wait and try to answer all the questions at one time and get overwhelmed,” he said. “When’s the perfect time to introduce a horse to a small ditch, creek or bank? You should start introducing them to that stuff as soon as you can comfortably sit on them because it’s going to be part of their every day routine.”

In addition to making your schooling at home more difficult, it’s a good idea to school some of the cross-country questions at the next level with a trainer or coach.

Although many eventers must make do without a regular trainer, when you’re considering the jump to the next level, it’s a good time to get a little extra help.

“Look for trainers at a competition to get hooked up with,” suggested Miles. “Watch the warm-up and see which trainer’s teaching style you like and watch their students. Ask if they’d be willing to coach you at one of the shows and evaluate whether you’re ready to move up.”

Miles believes that a clinic isn’t a good time to ask about moving up. “A lot of students are schooling at the clinic, and they’re getting a lot of instruction, trying out some new ideas,” she said. “Getting the advice at a competition is probably more accurate.”

It’s also important to consider what level it is that you’re about to take on.

While the jump from beginner novice to novice may seem huge, the level of difficulty between the two levels doesn’t really change all that much.

But going from training level to preliminary, or preliminary to intermediate, involves a much bigger jump in technical difficulty. It’s important to learn what kinds of technical questions will be asked at the next level and to school them.

And at the highest levels? “You really should have a good trainer,” said Costello, “because there are some horses and riders that don’t have the ability to go intermediate or advanced. By that time, you really need to have someone who you can counton to help see you through that transition. There’s a heck of a lot more risk involved, and you want to really make sure you’re doubly prepared before youmove up.”

Planning Ahead

One way to prepare yourself for the next level is to walk courses at that level when you’re at a competition.

“Be honest with yourself about whether or not you can do it,” advised Costello. “Know what you’re getting into. I can’t stress preparation enough.”

Getting familiar with the type of jumps you’ll be jumping can only help make the move up smoother. Many facilities hold multiple events throughout the season, so if you walk the higher level and watch people ride it, you’ll be more prepared when it’s your turn to give it a try.

Walking courses can also give you a good idea of which events have an appropriate move-up course. “We look for a course that is a little bit more comfortable, a little bit softer,” said Combs. “But you see people trying to move up at a championship-level course.”

It’s also important to learn the rules for the level you’re aspiring to. For in-stance, you have to be a member of the U.S. Equestrian Federation to leap from training level to preliminary.

As you study the dressage test for the next level, think about why they’re asking these new questions. A novice horse doesn’t necessarily need to lengthen and shorten his stride on course, but the combinations at training level will require it.

And sometimes, even though you’ve done your homework, gotten some extra training, and picked the right course to move up, it still goes badly.

“If it goes badly, we try to go back and school,” said Guyotte. “If it’s something you shouldn’t school, then you try to do the concept or something similar, but easier. You build it with stadium jumps or find a baby version.”

And of course, there’s no harm in moving back down to get comfortable again. “People think that if they have a problem, they’ve got to fix it at that level,” said Combs. “It’s not like you flunked a grade and you have to go back to fourth grade. [The levels] are thereto keep the wheels rolling in the right direction.”

And if you never want to move up, that’s OK too. “Why ruin the fun by moving up if you don’t really want to?” asked Guyotte.

“It’s the same sport. So many people feel like they have to, and they don’t. I have plenty of people who are never going to do the upper
levels, and it doesn’t matter. It’s great that they’re having a good time and doing a good job with their horses.”

The Dangers Of Moving Up Too Quickly

Experienced riders and trainers often move a horse from novice to preliminary in one season, but there can be some serious consequences to moving up before horse and rider are completely ready.

“Nobody’s going to get hurt by not doing well in the dressage when you move up a level, but obviously there are serious implications of moving up in cross-country and even show jumping,” said Gina Miles. “Not just physical injury, but mostly mental confidence. A rider that suffers a serious fall on cross-country has a lot of fear to overcome when they come back, and that takes a long time.

“Horses get scared on cross-country much more readily than in other places,” she continued. “That’s why I prefer to be way more conservative. Once that horse loses confidence or develops a bad habit out of fear, they’re so hard to correct later on. Instead of being ready in six months if they’d waited, now it’s going to take two years. It usually ends up taking at least twice as long to repair something.”

Robert Costello said he’d “rather do one or two extra events when you could move up so that you’re sure and don’t have to move back down.

“We’ve all done it–moved up just one or two events too soon. And it’s just such a waste of time to have to move back down and regroup,” he added.

Jumping faults are an obvious sign that you may have moved up too quickly, but there are more subtle signs too.

“If you finish the course and your horse just doesn’t feel like he had fun, like it was a little bit of a stretch for him and his eyes were too wide open,” said Costello. “You may not have had any penalties, but it was a little scary for either the rider or thehorse and that would be a sign that you should do a few more events at the lower level.”

Another signal that the move up may have come too quickly is “if the horse starts behaving really differently at a competition than he does at home,” said Miles. “It’s a good indicator that he’s not understanding what’s being asked of him. For example, if at home he doesn’t rush his fences, but he does when he gets to a competition. A change in behavior is a good indicator.”