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- Your event horse should eventually be able to slow-canter about a mile, walk for a few minutes, and then do the same again without being stressed.
- © Stacey Nedrow-Wigmore
Eventing looks like such a fun challenge that you've decided to try it. An exciting idea, but where to begin?
It all starts with choosing the right horse to partner you in entry-level eventing. If you already own a horse, stay with me; my guidelines will also help you know whether he's a good fit for the sport.
You may be drawn to eventing at least in part because its upper-level horses are among the world's most beautiful and accomplished equine athletes. However, remind yourself that the horses who compete at Rolex and Badminton are not the type you should be riding now, even if you can afford one. Your first event horse doesn't need an extended trot that will score a 10 in dressage; he doesn't need to be able to gallop forever. He needs to be fun to ride and fun to be around, able to carry you safely and comfortably around your first few entry-level events, both in and (especially) out of the ring. Don't worry about your competitive results at this stage, because your goal is to learn the sport.
It may well be that after 18 months or so you'll be ready to sell your first horse to another new eventer. You'll have had such a good experience with this horse who you'll know what your next event horse needs to be like.
On the ground, your first event horse must be a pleasure to work with. He cross-ties, stands politely for the vet and farrier, loads easily and tacks up without problems. Any horse who is unpredictable to work around in his stall, or who kicks or rears, is totally unacceptable for you.
Under saddle, your horse needs to have reasonable aptitude for the three different sports that make eventing such a unique challenge.
Dressage: It all starts with three good gaits.
Walk: I want to see a smooth, free, swinging walk in any horse I'm considering. I don't want to see a choppy stride or a tendency for the horse to stub his toe or look ungenerous. I want him to track up--that is, his hind foot should step ahead of the footprint of the forefoot on the same side--and I want to hear a steady, rhythmic 1-2-3-4 with no obvious irregularities.
Trot: This gait needs to be a cadenced 1-2, 1-2 that covers the ground comfortably and attractively. When you watch the horse being ridden, his knee action shouldn't bring a sewing machine to mind. When you ride him, he should be willing to maintain the trot (that is, without breaking back to walk) in response to a minimal amount of pressure from your lower leg and heel.
Canter: You're looking for a horse with a regular, clocklike three-beat stride--the kind my father used to call a "candy canter." For your level of eventing, look for a horse who will hold himself in that canter: You should not need a death grip on the reins to prevent his speeding up, and you should not need stick and spurs just to keep him cantering (again, a little lower leg is OK).
In addition to three good gaits, if your horse takes both leads, steers well (turning easily in both directions), accepts the bit well and maintains a consistent head and neck position with the front of his face just ahead of the vertical, he has the basic ingredients you need for the entry-level dressage tests.
Cross-country: Among the joys of eventing is that one of its phases takes place in the countryside, not in an enclosed ring. This is something new for the many riders who've never ridden outside a ring before, so it's important to begin with a horse who's safe and sensible in the open. If you're trying out an event prospect for purchase, be sure to arrange to take him out for a trot and canter along trails through the woods, around open fields, across rolling terrain and (if possible) through shallow water. He needs to accept these situations as a matter of course. In a perfect world, you will also be able to jump him over a miniature ditch and up and down a little bank--or to ask a more experienced rider to do it for you. My point is that I want the horse to already know how to do these things, so that he can help you learn to do them.
