When you think of eventing, you probably imagine a group of horses racing through challenging obstacles with their riders poised above them. While that might be a decent representation for beginners, experienced riders know that eventing is much more than that. In fact, eventing is a competition that tests horse and rider’s skills across different disciplines ranging from dressage to jumping. If you are an experienced rider looking to test yourself against the best of the best, read on to learn what eventing horse is right for you.
Know your level of experience
The first thing you will want to do when buying an eventing horse is to determine your level of experience. While jumping is definitely the most challenging event in eventing, not every horse is best suited to jump. Instead, you may want to look at a horse that specializes in one type of event, like dressage or cross-country.If you are still fairly new to eventing, you may want to consider a horse that specializes in one event, like dressage or cross-country. If you are an experienced rider, you may want to choose a jumping horse. Depending on where you ride, there may be different types of jumping events, so make sure to do some research ahead of time to see what is offered in your area.
What does your horse need?
Before you make any purchases, you will want to make sure that your horse is in peak condition. To do this, you will need to have your horse evaluated by a vet. Before the vet performs the evaluation, you will need to be prepared with a list of questions that will help them determine the health of your horse. For example, you may want to ask about the horse’s hoof health, the overall condition of its muscles and bones, and any health issues the horse may have such as wounds, lacerations, or other abnormalities.Once your horse has been evaluated, you can begin looking for the right eventing horse for you. Depending on your goals and your horse’s skill set, there are a variety of different types of horses out there for you to choose from.
Dressage horse
If you want to focus on your dressage skills, you will want to choose a horse with a calm, steady temperament. You will also want to be sure that your horse is well-groomed and has an even coat. You will want to avoid a horse that has large, unruly manes or tails or one that is overgroomed.Since you will be spending a lot of time focusing on your dressage skills, you will want your horse to be comfortable with being in the ring. You will also want a horse that is calm and level-headed. You should avoid a horse that is high-strung or overly sensitive, as this can be very challenging for you to ride.If you are an experienced rider, you may want to consider purchasing a dressage horse from a breeding program. While you will not be responsible for breeding your horse, you will get to choose from the best bloodlines out there.
Cross-country horse
If you want to focus on your cross-country skills, you will want to choose a horse with a calm, steady temperament. You will also want to be sure that your horse is well-groomed and has an even coat. You will want to avoid a horse that has large, unruly manes or tails or one that is overgroomed.Since you will be spending a lot of time focusing on your cross-country skills, you will want your horse to be comfortable with being ridden. You will also want a horse that is calm and level-headed. You should avoid a horse that is high-strung or overly sensitive, as this can be very challenging for you to ride.If you are an experienced rider, you may want to consider purchasing a cross-country horse from a breeding program. While you will not be responsible for breeding your horse, you will get to choose from the best bloodlines out there.
Jumping horse
If you want to focus on your jumping skills, you will want to choose a horse with a calm, steady temperament. You will also want to be sure that your horse is well-groomed and has an even coat. You will want to avoid a horse that has large, unruly manes or tails or one that is overgroomed. Since you will be spending a lot of time focusing on your jumping skills, you will want your horse to be comfortable with being in the ring. You will also want a horse that is calm and level-headed.You will also want to be sure that your horse has good conformation and is well balanced. You will want to avoid a horse with bad feet or a long back or one that is unbalanced.
Conclusion
When buying an eventing horse, it is important to consider your level of experience and the level of competition in your area. While jumping is definitely the most challenging event in eventing, not every horse is best suited to jump. Instead, you may want to look at a horse that specializes in one event, like dressage or cross-country.When you find the right eventing horse, you will be well-prepared for any type of show or competition. Now that you know what to look for when buying an eventing horse, you will be able to find the perfect fit for you.