Just somethings to ponder

IMO the long format doesn't make much of a difference - the problem seems to lie with the fact that a horse can go from a complete beginner to a fairly high level in one season. It shouldn't be that easy, the number of points required to move up a level should be increased significantly.

^agreed. If the long format comes back, people will just be able to get a horse that does that and move up again. I don't think bringing the long format back would help all that much. Jsut my opnion, I would like to compeate in some clasics though!

Problem is, there really isn't a system in which points are counted to move up. There are age requirements for the horse and sometimes for the rider but it doesn't matter how many points there are. EXCEPT when moving up to the CCI* level and above. You have to complete so many horse trials before you have proven that your horse is ready to take the next step.

I think the long format would help. We saw much fewer accidents when there was steeplechase and roads and tracks. Helps the horse be that much more agile, versatile, and fit.

I think it is so dangerous to have a horse that can't think on their own ! I was so mad the last time I went to an eventing clinic [wont say who the clinician was] bc she hated horses who thought on their own ! She wanted you to micromanage them on xc. I was shocked

I wish they would bring the long format back as well.

people are so selfish when it comes to moving up. I've seen so many good horses ruined & over faced.

Eventing's a wierd sport. In dressage, the rider has to call the shots. You're not even supposed to practice a test in its entirety so that the horse doesn't memorize it and do the moves on his own. It's all about the horse doing what the rider says at specific moments. During XC, it's up to the horse for the most part to think and get himself out of trouble while the rider is supposed to stay out of his way mostly and not micro-manage. I'm only at the very beginning phases of this sport and am already trying to find the happy medium between the two extremes. Whenever I'm out trail riding, unless otherwise necessary, I always let my horse pick his own path so he has to think about where he's putting his feet. He knows I'm there to guide him through any rough spots, but I think he appreciates the equal footing. After all we are a team.

Hmm, that's interesting. I've never heard that before and I've been eventing for years. I've always ridden the whole entirety of the test over and over and over again to ensure that both my horse and I have it down pat for when competition comes.

That is definitely a question I have to ask Dorothy Crowell when she comes this weekend for the clinic. Thanks for bringing that up.

ive heard that, but only for horses who try to memorize tests & predict what you want. Def not all horses do that

I have heard of it, you're not supposed to practice the whole test so the horse doesn't anticipate the movements when he's competing - personally I would practice the whole test, that way at least one of us would know what we were doing on the day!

My trainer likes us to do the whole test a bunch of times, I don't like doing that because some horses anticipate the movments and that can get you points deducted like jumping into the canter and such

I have also heard of not practicing the test from front to back, but to practice sections of it such as the 20 meter circle, transistions in corners, the halt. We do run through it a few times before a competition but we don't practice it daily. I was told not to do this due to the horse anticipating the next step.